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price has been paid in endless ‘urbanizaciones'. seaside developments which now scar nearly the whole Southern coastline. No longer the ugly highrise hotels ofthe Seventies. today‘s holiday accommodation is in a glistening.
3 white complex ofvillas. Minaretted F and decorated with keyhole arches. they are like giant wedding-cakes of i cardboard and icing. In the midst of
conditions are iust the basic
these rootless cities. signs of the natural order must be cherished: against a horizon of half-built apartments. a mule pulls a plough across the only open field for miles
,- Ifseaside resorts are mournful in winter. the city of Seville is full of life. When. after the expelling ofthe Moors. the town‘s mosque was destroyed. the churchmen are reputed to have said: ‘Let us build a cathedral so immense that everyone. on beholding it. will take us for
madmen‘. Such exuberant self-confidence seems typical. Seville. like Glasgow. is limbering up. In 1992 (the 500th anniversary of Columbus‘s voyage) Seville will host Expo '92. an International Fair on a bewildering scale. The Exposition site. an island between two branches
blossom into a city within a city, complete with vast screens of trees and water-cooled pavements. railways. cablecars and canal boats. Expo ‘92 has caught the Sevillan imagination. Every car displays the Spanish answer to Glasgow‘s Miles Better. a white sticker sporting an orange which is also the globe. Even in winter. Seville has a summery air. Every street. it seems. is lined with pretty orange trees. the fruit like Christmas decorations against green leaves. Staying in the Barrio Santa Cruz. the old Jewish quarter. we discovered wonderful.
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with bottles and white-aproned barmen. In the bitter cold of Saturday night. the young. chic. chattering clientele pack the narrow streets between the white buildings. spilling out of the bars into the provocative atmosphere of a Sixties ‘happening‘. 'l‘hree streets away lies the Alcazar. that odd memorial to King Pedro the Cruel. who. while all around him struggled to destroy the Moors. built this monument to their masterly culture and architecture. In this country of a thousand and one contradictions. its strangeness goes
around.
How to GetThere
There is a Superpex airtare currently availableto Seville (ex London) lora mere £97 return. Booking
- no relund. no alterations at existing bookings. There are no direct tlightsto Granada. Student tlights probably will be available later in the spring, butare not listed as yet. Contact Campus Travel. The Hub. Hillhead Street and 90 John Street. Glasgow (041 357 0608 and 041 552 2867) or the Edinburgh Travel Centre. Bristo Square.
Edinburgh (031 668 2162) tor details in a low weeks. Train tares lor under26s cost £116.10 return to Granada and 2117.50 return to Seville.
What To Know Beiore You Go
Spain has a population at aboul38 million.
The principal language is Castllian (Spanish). although Catalan. Basque and Galician are spoken in the relevant areas.
Seville (Sevilla) and Granada are in Andalusia (Andalucia), a region which covers most olsouthem Spain.
Seville isthe Andalusian
ofthe River Guadalquivir. will
capital. and is Spain'sthird largest city.
The average temperature in May is 18.4C. in June it's 22.9C and in July and August it's 260.
Andalusia is particularly well-known lor its tish cuisine and tor its sherries.
Opening hours lor shops and ottices all lollow the same basic pattern at the Spanish day. People generally work lrom 9am or 9.30am till lunchtime. then they take a midday break until 4.30pm or 5pm, retumlng to work until 8pm or 8.30pm. Shops in tourist areas olten stay open later than this. Banks are usually open lrom 9.30am till 2pm.
ll driving. you‘ll need an lntemational Driving Licence (lrom the AA). You also need a Green Card (lrom your own insurance company). Seat belts are compulsory.
Spanish currency is the peseta.
Where to Stay
In hotels, hostels. paradores and albergues. The Spanish Tourist Board in London will be able to advise you on specilic areas. and ‘Let's Go: The Budget Guide to Spain, Portugal and Morocco‘ (see belowlor details) lists some cheaper
accommodation inthe cities.
warm bars reminiscent of Dublin.
fUSEFUL I INFORMATION
l l
unremark
What To Do
In Seville, visit the area ot Santa Cruz, and visit El Alcazar. La Giralda and La Torre de Oro. In Granada, visit La Alhambra. the Generalile and Carmen de Ios Martires.
Useiul Addresses
l The Spanish National Tourist Ollice at 57/58 St James's Street. London SW1A1LD(01499
I 0901/499 1169/499 3257)
can help with general enquiries. The telephone
line is often engaged. so it's ;
probably better to write. A
l
SAE is requested. The tourist olllce in
TO BEAT THE BLUES
From London £230 single £455 return
E 5 ® Wu: TRAVEL
ed. (Julie Morrice)
i Granada is at Casas delos
l Tiros. C/Pavaneras. 19 (Tel:
i (958) 22 59 90). In Seville. you'll lind it atAvda. de la Constitucion. 21. (Tel:
(954)221404).
Useiul .Pubficafions
Let's Go: The Budget Guide to Spain. Portugal and Morocco is published by Harrap Columbus at£9.95.
' The Insight Guide to Spain gives historical and cultural background to the areas. Published by APA
Publicationsat £9.95.
Richard Drew do a nitty
Spanish Travelmate which
lists basic words and
expressions lor £1.50.
Campus Capital Charters
Details out now, contact your nearest office
TAKE OFF WITH OUR WINTER WARMERS
ICK FROM PRE ewYork f I37 TELAVIV BOStOn/ , Return fr. £219 0 \ande/M‘éranclsco om London Ans ‘95 a“ TA £329 “3‘ {ares are retum LON 5 THE TRAIN VANGE“ from “14 siSN‘PRA Gus (NP 8’8 £ GFrorSnC-265 single (4 30 retUr“ [4'60 feta.»- HONG KONG SPECIALS
The Hub ‘Hillhead St, Glasgow G12
Tel: 041-357 0608 \ Open: Monday to Friday 9.30— 5.00
Strathclyde University
Students’ Association‘ Level 3, 90 John Street, Glasgow G1 11H Tel: 041-552 9867
‘Entry by Reciprocity
72 The List 24 March—6 April 1989