Seville, Spain - Part 3 Hate versus Love

Before I start my last post on Spain, I cannot go without speaking of the terror that occurred in Barcelona a few hours ago. I had just turned on the news before it started to unfold and have watched it on and off since. I can barely sleep - in fact I am writing this at 3.30 am, as I keep waking up thinking about it. My heart goes out to all the people who were hit by that van and their loved ones, all those who witnessed it and all the police and medical teams dealing with the aftermath.

It is all the more meaningful because I stood in that very place on both of the days we were in Barcelona, and walked along that very popular, vibrant pedestrian walkway for some time on the second day. To see the brutal carnage that took place there made me feel ill. The loss of all those innocent lives and the damage done to so many others, quite probably including children as it is school holidays there, is simply horrific. The mindset of the perpetrators and of those who incited them to do it is unfathomable. When will they learn that their hate will always be overcome by love and their desire to create fear will always in the end achieve the opposite - people standing together against their barbaric ideology?

I guess it is only fitting, then, that I finish talking about Seville in Spain by showing you the cathedral that represents the faith and hope of many Spanish people, and the huge Spanish pavilion built for the 1929 exhibition, showcasing their pride in and love for their country, which they still have today, despite everything. 

Part of the cathedral. 

The cathedral was undergoing restoration work.

We could not see much of the cathedral on the inside because a service was still occurring, and most was roped off. We could hear the wonderful sound of the choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus, but could not see them. 

A stained glass window in a chapel that was fenced off just near the entrance to the cathedral. 

A painting on display in that chapel.

Some of the beautiful tiling in the relatively small humble entrance to the Spanish pavilion.

At the entrance.

And this is part of the immense circular building we saw when we walked in!  We were blown away by its beauty and scale. 

Right around the building were these little 'gems' showing some of the 'story' of Seville.

A circular canal with bridges was inside the massive arena. See the size of the people in the background.They are dwarfed by it all. And notice the beautiful ceramics on the bridge.

Another view of the bridge and building behind it.

Part of the incredible carved staircase inside the building. Even underneath the stairs was carved.