Andean Drift » : Around the World Travel

Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, Bangkok

Tom Bartel — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:40:44 +0000

What Can You Say When You’re Housesitting?

Tom Bartel — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:57:07 +0000

We made arrangements to house sit in Murcia, Spain for two months. We thought, originally, that the house was in the city of Murcia, as the ad sort of implied, but turns out it’s a long way from the city, and a long way from the beach, and in the middle of an English colony [...]

The Bulls

Tom Bartel — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:25:12 +0000

I've seen perhaps six or seven corridas (bullfights) in my life. Most of those were in the late 70s in Madrid and Barcelona...back when Barcelona had corridas. We saw some good ones, and some bad ones. We saw some brave bulls and toreros, and we saw other days when the bulls and toreros seemed to be running away from, rather than toward, each other.

The Tomb of Christopher Columbus, Cathedral of Sevilla

Tom Bartel — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:03:45 +0000

There’s a little controversy here as to whether the Admiral is actually in this box, but it’s a nice tribute nevertheless.

Arches, Alcázar de Sevilla

Tom Bartel — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:00:19 +0000

Arches in the Alcázar de Sevilla. The Alcázar was the original Moorish palace of Sevilla, which was remodeled over the centuries by various Christian kings. Hence the mixture of the Mudejar and Baroque styles in these arches. For the pure Moorish art, you’ll have to go to the Alhambra in Granada.

A Few Days in Sevilla, No Bull

Tom Bartel — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:38:51 +0000

There are lots of things to do if you have a few days in Sevilla. If it’s your first time, you should stick to the obvious tourist attractions–not because they’re tourist attractions, but because they’re worth seeing. That’s why they are tourist attractions, after all. 1) The Cathedral. It’s the biggest one in Spain, and [...]

Flamenco on the Street in Sevilla

Tom Bartel — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:57:23 +0000

We were just wandering around Sevilla, when we ran across this. Two euros for a song and dance, made up on the spot.

The Dangerous Game

Tom Bartel — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:23:37 +0000

At the Feria de Abril in Sevilla, Spain, new bullfighter López Ramón, in his first fight in a major ring, did a great job and was rewarded by the crowd with loud, long applause, and an ear. His courage was in no doubt as he repeatedly passed the bull’s horns very near his body. As [...]

Three Andaluzas

Tom Bartel — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:28:16 +0000

Three Andalusian girls before the bullfights at the Feria de Abril. Sevilla, Spain, April 2012.

An Odd Night of Poker in Murcia

Tom Bartel — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:17:31 +0000

Every poker table is a little different. I’ve played in Chile, Ecuador, Australia, and now in Spain. I’m used to playing in Las Vegas, where the tables sometimes get a little animated, but the players are usually experienced and don’t get too upset unless some jerk insists on violating the implicit etiquette. I had a [...]