30 & 31-Dec-24 Seville, Spain

Faro hotel has rooftop restaurant. Perfect way to start the day having a brew admiring the view. Before a bus journey to Seville. There are only three rail crossings between Portugal and Spain. And none this far south. A bus it has to be. Am assured by the website that the bus has extra leg room seats. Therefore book that particular bus company. Which also allows you to buy adjacent seat to keep vacant for more space for a discounted price. No brainer.

Bus station is across the road from the hotel. Quick amble in time for the 1045hrs departure. Bus station is small but its grubby nature reminds me of Nottingham’s Victoria Bus Station in the 1970s and 80s. Diesel fumes and exhaust dust on the walls.

Bus originated in Lisbon early this morning. So already pretty full. Sit in allocated seat. Extra leg room seats my a**e. There’s bugger all room. Cannot physically fit. Two girls sitting in front had reclined their seats but are asked to sit up. Which they do. Jeez. Cramped. Sit skew-whiff as bus rolls out of Faro.

Not sitting like this for two and a half hours. No.

Beady eye spots that the middle seat of the back row is free. People sit either end of back row next to window. Middle three seats free. Make the move. Plonk myself in the middle seat. With acres of leg room down the aisle. That’s more like it. Actually quite comfortable now.

Bus advertised a pit stop at the border but this comes and goes as we motor all along to Seville non-stop. A few hours of fluid management needed. Knowing that the onboard toilet will be both disgusting and too small for my massive frame.

Bus arrives a lot earlier than expected so just over two hours driving. Not too bad.

Spent considerable time researching hotels in Seville. Decided that one within walking distance of railway station would be wise. Given I depart early on New Year’s Day. And not knowing how many taxi drivers would be up and about and in a fit state. Has to be the Only You Seville Hotel (https://www.onlyyouhotels.com/en/hotels/only-you-hotel-sevilla/). Across the road from station.

Need laundry doing. Reception do not know the laundry situation for New Year’s Eve. There is some doubt about availability. Check the laundry list in room. Decide it would actually be cheaper to fly back home and do it myself in my own home and then fly back. Rather than paying hotel. Jeez. Quite an expensive laundry service. Plan B. Local launderette. Few blocks away. All my worldly possessions wrapped up in a Sainsbury’s bag. Fortunately there’s one washing machine free. Launderette has a central control panel. You select the machine and pay. It automatically feeds detergent and fabric conditioner. Not like the old days. Thinking the control panel accepts credit cards. Slip credit card in a credit card sized slot.

And then.

Mild panic.

When.

I realise it’s not a slot for credit cards.

Hells bells.

Credit card now stuck in a slot.

And can’t get it out. With fingers.

Tweezers might do it.

But don’t have tweezers.

Obviously.

Bugger.

What to do.

But don’t worry, dear reader.

Bit of lateral thinking.

Use two other credit cards in wallet to act as tweezers.

Carefully. And delicately. Use two cards to pinch the card in slot firmly. And slooowwwly pull towards me. To extract stranded card.

Phew.

It works.

As my wash starts an immigrant family enter. And over the next few minutes deposit loads of black bin bags in launderette. Which soon resembles a refugee camp. And progressively take over the launderette as machines become free. God only knows how many people they’re washing for.

The final day of 2024 is freezing cold. It’s +2C this morning. Nippy. Very nippy. Still bunged up with manflu. Take taxi from station. For the short drive to Plaza de Espana. Taxi driver moans he’s been waiting 2hrs at the station. And now it’s a small fare. That’s the way the cookie crumbles mate.

Last came here in 2009 when I took the train to Tangiers. A shake down trip for the Around the World in 60 Days trip the following year. Back then in the summer of 2009 it was 40C. Flipping freezing now.

Built in 1928 for the 1929 Exposition, the plaza is a large expanse of fountains and small canals. Surrounded by a semi-circular and architecturally stunning building now government offices. Alcoves around the building are designated to each Spanish province. Simply stunning.

The many tourists try to avoid the Gypsy women selling sprigs of heather.

Royal Palace is sold out so a meander around the side streets. To find a jewellery store. Selling handmade earrings. Are you one of the lucky ladies? Now have three to cater for!

Unsurprisingly. Hotel has no tables free for tonight’s New Year’s Eve celebration. It’s freezing cold. Have been walking about all day. Can’t be bothered going out in search of a restaurant. Still full of manflu. Need a quiet night in. For a long day of travel tomorrow.

So.

Picnic in room.

Supermarket across road from hotel has the necessary for a picky tea. Fresh baguette. Brie. Salami. Olives. Tomatoes. Red wine. Beer.

So. There I am.

In bed by 9pm.

On New Year’s Eve.

Full of manflu. Feeling dreadful.

It’s a giddy existence, dear reader.