ANTEQUERA, ANDALUSIA

One of the most spectacular places I take people to outside Seville ius the beautiful town of Antequera. The photo above is one of the famous dolmens that are to be found in the town. This incredible structure was created by prehistoric Iberian peoples somw 5000 years ago.

Above  are some other photos of Antequera and surrounds. Please contact me if you are in Seville and would like to see this gem of a town in the centre of Andalusia.

The New Taxi

The new taxi waits patiently for passengers in front of Seville's San Telmo Palace.

The Truth about Seville Taxis

As a means of legally taking people to the white villages and other interesting places out of Seville I have invested in buying a Seville Taxi Licence. The paper work around such an investment borders on the surreal but now it exciting to be able to work taking people to all sorts of amazing places (see the other entries on this blog) And it is great to be Sevilles only native English speaking taxi drive.

Now Seville taxi drivers do not enjoy the best of reputations and perhaps this is because the first and sometimes only contact the visitor has with a Seville taxi driver is at the airport.

There are strict regulations governing the price of  a taxi ride to and from Seville airport. The price at the time of writing (and this will go up when the new VAT rise is programmed into the meters at the beginning of 2013) is between 21 and 27 euros depending on the time and day you catch your taxi.

Now when you arrive by plane yours truly will not be able to pick you up at the airport, I like the majority of Seville taxi drivers don't pick up at the airport. To do so would risk a punture or broken windsceen.There is a group of drivers who call themselves a "Union" (other drivers refer to them as the "Taliban" ) who pick up at the airport and use any means possible to ensure no non-Talibans are greeting the incoming air passenger. This "union" is not open to anyone who may wish to join.

So if you take a taxi from the airport be aware that it is there that  Seville's rip off taxi drivers are concentrated, and that the 40 euros that they may ask for is totally illegal. 

Don't however be afraid to take a taxi in Seville the drivers around the city are a friendly,honest and knowledgable bunch . They are all willing to take you to the airport at the  very reasonable, official price.

Natural Spain

While the history and arquitecture of Southern Spain are famous world wide many visitors are surprised by the natural beauty of Andalusia. As Seville's only native English speaking taxi driver I like to specialise in taking people away from the "crowds and the concrete" The following photos and many of the others on this blog are some examples of what I mean.
Paul

A cool river outside of Seville

Olvera,king of the white towns in Southern Spain

In the reconquest of Southern Spain by Christian forces the first town to fall in the east of Andalusia was Olvera in 1327. The Christians changed the name used by the Moors up until then  'Wupira' to Olvera for the great number of olive trees in the area. This spectacular town is still surrounded by olive groves in all direction.The massive Moorish Castle dominates the town and the entire region.

Spring in Southern Spain

Spring in Andalusia, Southern Spain defies words

Cave Houses in Andalusia

While many of the cave houses in Andalusia, particularly those around the area of Granada, have been excavated the dwellings and workplaces situated underground in Setenil de las Bodegas are in naturally formed caves that have been occupied since prehistoric times.Here are some photos.

Roman Ruins Outside Seville

Just outside the city of Seville are the remnants of the first permanent Roman Settlement in Spain.

The city was established by the famous warrior , Scipio the African as a place to rest his soldiers after doing battle with the Carthaginians. Later Hadrian (he that built the wall) extended the settlement as a tribute to the his predecessor Trajan who was born at the site previously named "Italica"

When you come to Seville give me a call   (34)657889875 and I'll take you out and show you around the magnificent ruins which include the third biggest ampitheatre in the Roman empire.

Magnificent Seville in Southern Spain

• If architecture is your thing you might like to visit Seville ("Sevilla" in Spanish). It is a little known fact that the capital of the Spanish Autonomous Region of Andalusia has the largest historical centre of any city in Europe.  

Zahara de las Sierra. Perhaps the most beautiful of the White Villages .

www.theotherspain.galeon.com

Photos by Paul McGrath

Roman Ruins--Acinipo

Just near Ronda are the ruins of Acinipo, sometimes known as "Ronda la Vieja" or Old Ronda. These ruins were the site of the largest town in the area during the time of Roman rule and the town had around 12000 inhabitants. The highlight of the site is a well preserved theatre in this spectacular rural setting.