3 October 2019: Seville to Carmona (36 miles-48 total)

October 04, 2019

Route

The first riding day invariably has a late start as everyone packs gear on their bikes, makes minor adjustments, and tries to establish what later becomes routine.

We had a light breakfast, brought the bikes down from the 3rd floor patio, and left a bit before 10 am. We followed Greene Route bike paths in the city, approximately 4 miles to the Seville limits. Their bike trail system is extensive, well planned, but fraught with wandering pedestrians, traffic lights, street crossings, and speeding local cyclists and electric scooter riders who know where they are going.

Our route passed cotton ready for harvest, beautiful orchards, and olive trees. Large haciendas managed these fields. We had a lot of traffic for the first 15 miles around Seville, then in spurts at towns and near major highways. drivers were exceedingly courteous.

Lunch was a shady picnic outside a Lidl store, where we purchased food and end-of-day supplies. Our hotel, booked the previous night, was excellent, easy to locate, and near the historic center of Carmona. We stashed our bikes in the cellar, showered, explored, had dinner, and retired.

Our Seville Hotel

Robin Admiring Michael's Bike Box. The hotel agreed to store the box outside on the upstairs patio. It was too big to fit in the elevator, so they might rent it if their rooms are fully booked.

Hot Chocolate and Churros. I convinced Michael and John that this is an essential Spanish experience. Located just around the corner from our hotel, it was a bit less thick than what I had in Madrid, but delicious. Churros? Better eat them while hot, and much better when dunked in hot chocolate. Spanish hot chocolate is much different. Essentially, a churro would stand up in my Madrid version. Yummmmmmm.

Churros!

Cruzcampo Offers and IPA. Robin and i spotted a banner for this IPA in the Madrid airport. While Cruzcampo beers are offered nationally, the IPA seems to be available only in the bottle, and only in grocery stores.

Departing Seville. First day of riding.

Cotton. The first crop we encountered as we left Seville. The Boll Weevil refrain kept running through my head. Wisps of cotton were staged on weeds and grasses along the road.

City Traffic Circle

Most Excellent Washing Machine.

Belfry Across the Street form our Hotel.

Carmona Mayor's Wall Plaque.

Carmona Alkazar. Carmona's signature fortress, sets atop the Puerta de Sevilla, the imposing main gate of the old town. It had been standing for five centuries when the Romans reinforced it and built a temple on top. The Muslim Almohads added an aljibe (cistern) to the upper patio, which remains a hawklike perch from which to admire the typically Andalucian tableau of white cubes and soaring spires. It is now a parador, a luxury hotel owned and operated at the direction of the Spanish government.