Seville! My idea of Spain. Green, expansive parks, wide boulevards, elegant, balconied, decorative facades in soft shades of amber, blues, and lemon amongst the brick and ubiquitous white. Horse and carriages trotting through parks, around sweeping round-bouts filled with smiling tourists, old ladies selling sprigs of rosemary, stalls bright with fans, umbrellas, belts,bags and tiny flamenco costumes. The Plaza de Espana - what a stunning building - even the balastrades surrounding the lake are mosaics. People rowing ancient skiffs, horses, everyone enjoying the warm sunshine.
We ate lunch in the cool, marbled La Prada restaraunt before leaving for Portugal.
Along the way we watched the dynamic change of countryside. Mountains gave way to undulating hills covered in low scrub, few trees and rocky soil. Everywhere - so dry, yet supporting vast groves of olive trees and then citrus. Passed a farm breeding black bulls for the bull fight - bare ,rocky paddocks filled wuth bulls and complete with a miniture bullring to test the courage and train the bulls before the big day.
Entering Portugal the landscape changed again - rocks,rocks, and more rocks. Fences; terraces in fields and buildings made from rocks. Dwellings here much poorer and poverty very evident. Yet close to the golf estates incredible wealth and luxury- hugh estates with green and lush gardens, swimming pools (no pool fence code here) and terraces.
Tourism is Portugal's saviour - entering the European Union did provide benefits but also destroyed much of the agriculture and fishing industries through quotas. Education and health care is free but 60% of uni graduates have no jobs and youth unemployment is 36%! Food for thought!
Our hotel is the best yet - our 2 bedroom suite has 3 bathrooms - pools and terraces, a gym and spacious green surrounds. Golf course a 5 iron away! Still makes you think as you enjoy the elegance of our very swish hotel and lifestyle in these resorts that Australia is still the lucky country!
No comments:
Post a Comment