After Cordoba, we took a short train trip to Sevilla. Daytime temperatures were still off the charts, so we took things slowly. Highlights included:

• A flamenco performance that was out of this world. This was probably the best dance I’ve ever attended. We were in the second row of a tiny space and felt like we were sharing the stage with the dancer and musicians. The emotional intensity of the show was incredible. Slow builds, wild frenzies, and everything in between.
• A visit to Centro Cerámica Triana, a ceramics museum on the site of a former factory. The Triana neighborhood is famous for its distinctive ceramics which blend Christian and Muslim aesthetic traditions.
• The Royal Alcázar palace. Quite different from the palace in Madrid, this one features extensive courtyards and gardens. With peacocks. And a full-size hedge maze.
• The Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. We got to climb the bell tower for impressive views of the city before exploring the interior. I hesitate to say it, but despite being staggered by the scale of the place, we didn’t find it as compelling as the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba.
• A full-size replica of the Victoria, the first ship to circumnavigate the globe in 1522, part of Magellan’s expedition.
• The Plaza de España, built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. The surrounding Maria Louisa Park is quite lovely and includes massive Australian fig trees which the kids enjoyed climbing.
• We attended a beautiful evening concert in the Alcázar gardens showcasing historical Andalusian music. The elegant event started at 10:30 PM, which seemed crazy late, but we were trying to adapt to the late night culture of Spain. And, to be fair, it would have been intolerably hot while the sun was still up.