If you don't find what you are looking for, are you lost?
Okay, maybe some explanation is required. This morning, we headed to the Sunday morning Charco de la Pava flea market. This market was formerly located in the Alameda de Hércules, but it moved to its new location in 2005. Our guide book clearly indicated the current location, about a 30 to 45 minute walk north of our apartment.
As we walked, we decided to search out the Universidad de Sevilla school of engineering. We have concert tickets for an event at the school tomorrow night. We decided to look for the school as we made our way to the flea market. The school eluded us. We were sure we knew its approximate location. Clearly, we did not.
Abandoning the search for the school, we headed to the exact location of the flea market indicated in our guide. We found a large empty parking lot with grass growing through many cracks in its surface. This parking area was not actively used. We started to move along a path parallel to the parking lot hoping to find some trace of the flea market. We noticed a couple ahead speaking to a jogger. The jogger departed and the couple moved in our direction. I noticed a guide book like ours (ours was back in the apartment as we were sure of the location of the flea market). They asked, with a French accent, if we spoke English. It seems that they were in search of the same flea market. The one that was clearly indicated on the map in both of our guide books. We came to the conclusion that the market was not being held on this particular Sunday for reasons that eluded all of us. We parted ways abandoning all hope of exploring the flea market.
Now our attention was refocused on the school of engineering. With the assistance of Google maps, we found ourselves crisscrossing the same streets over and over. Each time we passed a building we dutifully approached the main entrance in hopes that it was the school of engineering. We endured many disappointments. The blue dot on the Google map was never on the path indicated on the map. No matter which direction we headed, the blue dot would not approach the desired route. Finally, we asked for directions from a cafe worker who was setting up the outdoor tables and chairs. With confidence, he pointed straight ahead and then slightly to the left and said it was the round building just ahead.
With our confidence restored, we followed his directions. After 15 minutes and no round building in sight, we were again following the blue dot on the Google map. We found ourselves in an industrial park and soon worried that a perimeter fence was going to block our passage through the park. The Google map blue dot indicated we needed to pass through this industrial area. Escaping the fenced area, we now felt confident that the school of engineering was only a mile ahead. We had no proof, but we were confident. To avoid further frustration, we decided to abandon the search for the school of engineering and take a taxi to the concert tomorrow night.
We turned east and crossed the bridge over the Guadalquivir River into what we believed to be the Macarena neighborhood. After walking a few blocks, we were in the plaza, Alameda de Hércules. This is the original home of the Charco de la Pava Flea Market; one might think this to be ironic. We had not ventured here before as it seemed too far north. Clearly, it wasn't as far north as the school of engineering.
As we walked, we decided to search out the Universidad de Sevilla school of engineering. We have concert tickets for an event at the school tomorrow night. We decided to look for the school as we made our way to the flea market. The school eluded us. We were sure we knew its approximate location. Clearly, we did not.
Abandoning the search for the school, we headed to the exact location of the flea market indicated in our guide. We found a large empty parking lot with grass growing through many cracks in its surface. This parking area was not actively used. We started to move along a path parallel to the parking lot hoping to find some trace of the flea market. We noticed a couple ahead speaking to a jogger. The jogger departed and the couple moved in our direction. I noticed a guide book like ours (ours was back in the apartment as we were sure of the location of the flea market). They asked, with a French accent, if we spoke English. It seems that they were in search of the same flea market. The one that was clearly indicated on the map in both of our guide books. We came to the conclusion that the market was not being held on this particular Sunday for reasons that eluded all of us. We parted ways abandoning all hope of exploring the flea market.
Now our attention was refocused on the school of engineering. With the assistance of Google maps, we found ourselves crisscrossing the same streets over and over. Each time we passed a building we dutifully approached the main entrance in hopes that it was the school of engineering. We endured many disappointments. The blue dot on the Google map was never on the path indicated on the map. No matter which direction we headed, the blue dot would not approach the desired route. Finally, we asked for directions from a cafe worker who was setting up the outdoor tables and chairs. With confidence, he pointed straight ahead and then slightly to the left and said it was the round building just ahead.
With our confidence restored, we followed his directions. After 15 minutes and no round building in sight, we were again following the blue dot on the Google map. We found ourselves in an industrial park and soon worried that a perimeter fence was going to block our passage through the park. The Google map blue dot indicated we needed to pass through this industrial area. Escaping the fenced area, we now felt confident that the school of engineering was only a mile ahead. We had no proof, but we were confident. To avoid further frustration, we decided to abandon the search for the school of engineering and take a taxi to the concert tomorrow night.
We turned east and crossed the bridge over the Guadalquivir River into what we believed to be the Macarena neighborhood. After walking a few blocks, we were in the plaza, Alameda de Hércules. This is the original home of the Charco de la Pava Flea Market; one might think this to be ironic. We had not ventured here before as it seemed too far north. Clearly, it wasn't as far north as the school of engineering.
these columns were put in place in 1571 in the Alameda de Hércules
atop the pillars are Hercules and Julius Caesar
at the north end of the plaza are two pillars topped with lions
There was a small market in the plaza, which offered some distraction from our failure to find the flea market and the school of engineering.
walking through the plaza offered the opportunity for shopping
we observed a better way to dry our clothes
We headed south in the direction of the city's historic center. We passed the Iglesia San Perdo, and it was open. On two former occasions we found the doors to be locked. Another bonus.
Iglesia San Pedro main altar
We veered toward El Rinconcillo hoping to have some tapas, but they had not yet opened. It wasn't 13:30; no one eats before 13:30. El Rinconcillo claims to be the very place where tapas were invented; it dates back to 1670. We will try again.
We headed in the direction of a restaurant recommended by an Austin friend and restaurateur, Emmet Fox, owner of Asti. We found ourselves seated in the Restaurante Fargo, an organic farm to table establishment.
our amuse-bouche or if you prefer, amuse-gueule
my main course
Emmet's recommendation did not disappoint. Leaving Fargo, we now steered in the direction of our apartment. We knew the way from this part of Sevilla.
So, were we lost or not? I'll leave that to you as I am seriously considering a siesta.
PS: The map in our guide book was incorrect about the location of the Charco de la Pava flea market. It was about another 1 mile north of the location indicated on the map in the guide book. Perhaps, it is near the school of engineering.
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