Sevilla D8 - Cultural Legacy

ok, so the main pic is a cultural legacy of sorts: an old fashioned knife sharpener, who goes around town on his motorcycle, beeps his horn at appointed times, and people bring him their knives to sharpen (given the prevalence of jambon sliced really, really thinly, it's a useful trade!). He uses the engine of his motorcycle to activate the stones that sharpen the knives.

But onto the main legacy of Seville: Moor culture. We had a 2-hr session this morning with a university prof who led us through the rise and fall of the Moors in Andalusia (over 800 years, so that's more than a parenthesis in local history!). Fascinating history and, around middle ages, a much advanced society relative to the rest of Europe. But all good things come to an end, with the advent of intolerance, rigid adherence to religious principles, as well as perceived illegitimate and distrusted leaders who were more preoccupied with advancing their own wealth and agenda than with the common good.  Jeesss: does that sound familiar? Something about those who don't study history are bound to repeat its mistakes...

After another out of this world lunch, we went to visit the Alcazar -- one of the two main architectural legacies of the Moors (along with Alhambra, which we'll visit in a couple of weeks). A few hours doesn't do that place justice, but certainly peeked my interest. The tile work, the buildings, the fountains, and the wonderful gardens are a sight for sore eyes. I've added a couple of shots as extras from what could've been many candidates.

Another full day ahead of a visit to Còrdoba tomorrow. My senses are on overload...