Day 10: Palma del Rio

September 25, 2004

After a fine breakfast buffet at the neighboring hotel (the one with no space for our bikes) we enjoyed an almost traffic-free Sunday morning ride out from the city. The first half of the day we followed dullish but pancake-flat roads alongside or near to the Guadalquivir. As we left the city behind us, suburbs and industrial zones gradually gave way to cotton fields. Once again, overcast skies kept the temperature mild and manageable.

Finally beyond the outskirts of Seville, we’re back in the cotton fields again.

We broke at midday ar Lora del Rio at a lively neighborhood bar - the only open eatery we could find. It was a very pleasant stop though as we enjoyed tapas, chips and drinks surrounded by a hoard of chattering, animated locals.

Beyond Lora del Rio the quality of the ride steadily improved. Skies cleared, and emerald green orange groves began to intersperse with the cotton fields and now rolling farmland.

Probably doesn’t speak well for a day if one of your clearest memories is of the snails.

Looking past the citrus groves and across the broad Guadalquivir basin.

We ended the day in Palma del Rio at around four at the Hospideria Convem Santa Clara, originally a fifteenth century convent but now a luxury hotel. It is a lovely, peaceful spot full of beautiful spaces, with a large swimming pool in the back. We spent the afternoon lazing around in the shade reading books, idling the afternoon away until enjoying a great dinner.

Hospederia Convento Santa Clara was a lovely, quiet place to stay. I’m sure that if we ever pass this way again we’d stay at the same place.

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For the day: 50 miles, 1,500’; for the tour: 335 miles, 20,730’

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