The high-speed train from Madrid (Atocha station) takes two hours, including (in this case) a brief stop in Cordoba. The trainitself, the AVE, is a study in service, efficiency, and comfort. There are other trains that aren't as fast or as expensive but even at the increased cost, the AVE is worth every euro. Security is exact and quick, the information and departure times are easy to recognize, and the AVE personnel are pleasant and helpful. Their website, that covers all of Spain, is www.renfe.es.
The first thing one notices about the Sevilla train station (Santa Justa) is the utilitarian design. Like many other places in Spain, frills are kept to a minimum but tourist-friendly design is the order of the day. At Santa Justa, visitors are off the train, up the platform and can choose from three large exits that all lead to major roads. Most tourists are going to want Pablo Iglesias (to the right) to head towards all of the tourist areas of the city and if tourists and visitors paid attention they saw a tourist information area (marked with the lowercase "i" in a blue dot) at the top of the automated jetway at the train station. If visitors have a map of Sevilla then they have everything. It's that simple.
If travelers are visiting Sevilla to do research in the Archivo de Indias they should bear in mind two things; one, much of the major archived materials are online via the Biblioteca Nacional "PARES" system. Two, the people at the Archivo de Indias are aware of this and they will automatically ask any visitor why come all this way to see something that might be digitized and on the internet. Visitors should not get discouraged by this sort of chilly behavior. There is a lot of truly valuable material in this archive and they take their jobs very seriously. Once visitors get past the demanding gatekeeper though, the Archivo de Indias is a wonderful experience for anyone doing research.
Travelers not interested in academic pursuits will find everyone else in the service industry (still Spain's principal source of money) in or around Sevilla immensely helpful. There were smiles aplenty at the downtown tourist information center which is conveniently located near the Giralda and cathedral, the Alcazar gardens, and the Casa de Contratacion/Archivo de Indias. Those tourists with the best plans enjoyed the Alcazar gardens first thing because the train arrives at about 10 a.m. and after a light breakfast at a sidewalk cafe (a croissant and a cafe con lechecan go for less than 3 euro) the best anyone can possibly do is get to the tourist district by about 11:30 a.m.).
The reason to see the Alcazar gardens first is simple. At almost mid-day, in Sevilla, at any time between May and October, no one should want to be in the sun for too long. It is hot in Sevilla. It isn't warm. It isn't humid. It is hot. Tourists of all persuasions will notice that even the locals don't stand around in the sun unless absolutely necessary. Shade is commodity in Sevilla; as is lightly-colored cotton clothing, wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen (SPF 30 at least), bottled water, and light and comfortable shoes with maybe an extra dose of baby powder tossed inside to keep your feet feeling dry and comfortable.
Specifically, hit the Alcazar gardens first and try to find that lovely little garden filled with orange trees (dangling with plenty of oranges in May). Tourists should not try and grab an orange, however, Sevilla - like Spain as a whole - has embraced closed-circuit security systems wholeheartedly and while the people who run these national monuments are pleasant - they aren't pushovers. After the Alcazar gardens most will want to stroll through the cool and spacious cathedral and tour the Giralda - both of which close at around 5pm. Then there are decisions to make and hidden gems to discover but as tourists will have a map and as they will already be so very close to the tourist information center then they can do what they like at their leisure.
Some tourists might be able to enjoy Sevilla in one day and catch the AVE to Madrid that leaves a little after 7:00 p.m. (they should check the schedules and purchase ahead of time, of course, as schedules can be seasonal ). Those who choose to stay overnight should be ready to drop at least 40 euro minimum for the most basic of hotel rooms. The good news is that there are numerous hotels and hostels scattered throughout the tourist district, the bad news is that they all know the value of convenience. The same can be said for restaurants. Furthermore, if travelers are ready for a flamenco show at night the best people to ask are the hotel staff or the tourist agency people. Again, tourists should be ready to pay for the entertainment. However, a good flamenco show can change a person's life, se lo juro.
Students interested in study abroad programs or cultural exchange programs will be pleased to know that there are quite a few, as evident by the young people traveling in packs and speaking English - again - all of them had smiles on their faces and pep in their step despite the heat. Travelers should be advised, however, not to commit the serious faux pas seen way too often in Sevilla. Just because, for example, it says Starbucks on the sign and on the door does not mean that the staff was imported from Seattle along with the tacky clothes and substandard coffee. To walk into a store and speak English as if someone was not in a foreign country where they speak a foreign language is tacky. The key to budget travel is to plan in front. When it comes along to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved trips and/or going to see new destinations we have never been before, the reality of expense and budgeting is generally in the back of our minds. Considering and expending our travel budget carefully is a main concern for most families. Lowering consuming and charges, while still savoring your vacation to its fullest, is the key to guaranteed success and fiscal responsibility. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thinking regarding economizing money while journeying is simple: Even if your personal finances is highly limited, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or leaving the homestead! Also keeping in mind that while traveling, whether on a finances or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a big vacation or travel charge!. It would be much more appropriate to at least make an effort - even with a pocket dictionary in-hand - than to assume that people speak a language besides Spanish (even though they probably do).
Hasta luego ybuen viaje.
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