A corner of Seville

One of many corners with a BVM, Christ, or a saint on it. This is Our Lady of Hope, and the panel is on the site of a prison where the prisoners used to pray when the effigy of Mary passed by on Good Friday.

Last day here, so naturally it was a beautiful sunny morning. When S went out for his early run, he was startled to be confronted by a procession of dinky little caravans drawn by oxen (see extra). A pre-breakfast Google, and we realised that this is the start of the massive annual pilgrimage to the hamlet of El Rocío, in the Doñana national park. It attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all the provinces of Andalucia, and some from other parts of Spain, who travel over multiple days, usually sleeping outdoors. We were very sorry not to have realised it earlier! Here's an article in Spanish with photos.

They are not processions as such, just the associations of Seville setting off into the countryside early in the morning, probably to minimise disruption to commuters. After breakfast we headed hopefully to Triana in case there were any stragglers, but all were gone and the streets returned to normal. So it ended up being just a stroll, with a pause for a cold drink and to buy some more pasteis de nata for our journey (they are very good indeed).

The bus left promptly at 1 pm, and after an hour's stopover in Granada, we were home just after 6:30. Spanish long distance buses are efficient and excellent value. Initially there was no sign of Mystère, but my trained eye soon spotted him huddled glumly under some stacked chairs by the pool. He crept cautiously out when I called him, and then was all over us, purring -- no sulks from him, and we were as happy to see him as he was to see us.

After some cuddling and a special treat for him of expensive cat food, we decided we were too tired to go to the intercambio. Instead we sat in the evening sun on the terrace for a glass or two of wine and some nibbles. It was hotter than it had been for the entire time we were in Seville. So a beach day may be on the cards yet.