Sassy in Seville

The plaza surrounding La Giralda, Seville

Yes, I´ve had to get a bit sassy, after a series of misadventures involving various hotels in Seville have tried my patience.

It all started in Paris. I was waiting outside my apartment building for the taxi to take me to the airport. As the taxi arrived, I stepped into some lovely fall leaves on the ground, with an unexpected bonus. It seems one of my lazy neighbours hadn´t bothered to take his or her dog directly across the street to the park. Instead the dog had done his messy business amidst the leaves on the sidewalk. And I was wearing LK Bennett driving loafers, which have lots of ridges on the sole. So you can image the mess. I spent the first few minutes at Orly removing the last vestiges of French chien! Merde!

Thankfully, the Iberia flight to Seville was uneventful. The taxi ride from the airport was fine. And when I arrived at the B&B, the receptionist watched me get out, pay the driver and struggle with my two bags. I showed her my written confirmation of my booking and she nodded. Then she said there´s something wrong with the water in my room, so they were sending me to another hotel.

I argued with her as best I could, considering that she barely spoke English and I knew only a few words in Spanish. But she was adamant there was no room at the hotel; alas, the manager was nowhere to be found. So she gave me a map with the alternative hotel circled, phoned a taxi and off I went, with a bad feeling about this unexpected turn of events.

And I was right. As the taxi approached a construction site with a huge hole in the ground, to my dismay, the driver stopped at a dated building next to the site. I went inside, where an elderly gentleman informed me I was there for one night at the same price as the other B&B. I asked if the hotel was air-conditioned and he replied, "Ah, who needs air-conditioning in this weather?" Uh, someone like me who was just getting used to lovely fall weather in Paris?

Then he took my passport and copied it into his computer. When he handed me the printout to sign -apparently for police verification - every part of my name was wrong. I said, "No, that´s not my name." He shrugged, assuring me it was "of no consequence." Not to him, maybe. By this time I had the dreaded feeling that things were about to go from bad to worse. He gave me the key and I took my luggage to the sixth floor. I took a deep breath, before opening the door to a box room containing a bed with a brown bedspread, a chair and a desk - no lamp, television, air-conditioner or accoutrements of any kind. The blinds were drawn and I opened them to see - what else from the top floor - a splendid view of the construction pit!

Obviously, this just wouldn´t do. These days I´m a little old to be roughing it. And I was in a fury that the reservations I´d made in June had seemingly disappeared into thin air. So I phoned the language school and explained my predicament. They said they would phone around and try to find alternate accommodations. Meanwhile, I walked around the neighbourhood near the Cortes Ingles department store, going into one hotel after another to find them fully booked.

I got out my French cell phone and again called the school, but they´d had no luck. So after a series of phone calls with confusing directions (I´d left my map in the horrid hotel), I arrived at the school. Its location was only a few blocks away, but the route through narrow pedestrian streets was inaccessible by taxi. The staff phoned practically every hotel in town, even one across the river in Cartuja - all were full!

I was beginning to despair, because there was no way I was staying in that horrid place. So I asked Jessica of the school staff to phone the B&B where my original booking was and ask questions in Spanish. She spoke to the manager, who had just arrived. He spoke to me in excellent English and said it had all been a big misunderstanding - that the receptionist had thought I was staying only one night. I asked how that could be, considering I had presented her with written confirmation of the length of my stay and he had no answer. Apparently whatever problem had sent me to the horrid hotel would be resolved by the next morning.

This still didn´t resolve the issue of where I could stay that night. Finally, a staff member suggested Hotel Colon, a four-star hotel that actually had a vacancy! So I went back to the horrid hotel, retrieved my luggage, paid the bill (I´ll argue that with the B&B manager later) and went off to the (relatively) luxurious air-conditioned room with a small balcony. And phoned my husband saying I wish I hadn´t come to Seville, it had been such a horrid afternoon. Of course, I was just hot, tired, irritable and hungry - by this time 6 p.m. and I hadn´t eaten or had so much as a cup of tea all afternoon.

The next morning things improved when I arrived at the original B&B to confirm that a room was actually available. The receptionist was full of apologies and said, "Oh, yes, come now and bring everything." So I went to the Hotel Colon, a short walk away, retrieved my luggage, checked out and got a taxi. And the taxi driver - even though there was a sign pointing towards the direction of the B&B, with the name of the B&B clearly in his line of vision and even though I´d showed him the name and address of the hotel written in Spanish - he pretended not to understand any of these things. I had to direct him past every sign clearly pointing to the hotel. He was feigning ignorance, trying to run up the meter.

As the hotel was only a short distance away, the meter read two euros. But he immediately switched it off, hoping I wouldn´t see that and insisted I pay him four euros. I argued with him that the meter indicated two euros; he claimed the other two were for my bags. I knew that wasn´t true; besides, he´d been rude since the moment the hotel bellman put my bags in his cab. Obviously, he was just trying to take advantage of a tourist. The sad thing is, he probably behaves this way with every tourist who gets in his cab.

I frowned at him and gave him four euros, but no tip. I went inside to the B&B, where of course, the room wasn´t ready. So I left my bags and went exploring. More about that in the next post.

Comments

[Mike]

Wow!! That is about the best way I know to put it. That is certainly not the best foot to start your trip out on, but it does make for a heck of a story to hopefully compliment what becomes a wonderful adventure in Seville. Pura vida :)

[miss*R]

I wasn't going to comment because there were soooo many others but just wanted to say - dear Tara, if that had of been me, I would have been absolutely depressed - I would have sat in the gutter and cried. I hope the rest of your time there goes alot better!

[sheela]

Ugh! What a start. Wishing you much, much, much better days ahead, and sending you a big hug for having to go through that ordeal!

[Catalina]

Well Tara...I hope you will find as well nice, friendly and desinteresed people in your way...
chiens at the park? no...........I saw in TV that you HAVE to pick up those dogs things even in the park...if not you get a "contravention"

My advise for difficult travelling times in foreign countries: Relax, enjoy your time and dream, do not expect things in a particular way, just take them as they come........, difficult... I know...

Spanish people complains, so do it. You will realise soon that Almodovar's movies are not just movies.....:).......but this is part of the charm...isn't it!

Buena suerte Tara! besos

[Ali la Loca]

Sounds like an awful time, but stories like this are generally the precursor to a fabulous stay in a new country. I mean, you have to have at least one "everything went wrong and I had to get sassy" story up your sleeve!

Glad it all seemed to work out in the end, and I look forward to seeing more photos.

[AscenderRisesAbove]

What a horrible first day you have had - and what a brave person you are!! I think you kept your head about you quite well. Shame on those people for trying to take advantage! Looking forward to hearing more of your trip later.

[Rosa]

Every traveller's nightmare! After a flight and fighting with luggage who needs to fight with people? I cannot understand how (and why) these unhelpful folks get jobs where they have to deal with the public! We're off to Amsterdam, Bremen and Dusselfdorf, Zurich, Geneva and Brussels next week. Wish us luck!! Hope your next post shows you having a better time of it. hang in there!! xoxo

[Gemma]

Dog doo on your shoe
Seville with most dreadful of
accomodations

[Sophie]

That is truly a wretched start.
Horrid is a perfect word.
Can't WAIT to see pictures and hear
all about your adventures!!!

[awareness]

Let me add to the responses! OMG!! The moral of the story? when one steps in it, one should just turn around go home and start fresh the next day?

Travelling can be such fun, n'est pas?

[tinker]

Merde, indeed! Oh, sweetie, I hope things look brighter and more cheery after a good night's sleep - and a good meal!
Good for you, not letting them railroad you, and not settling for any less. Sheesh! Some people...but then there're some people everywhere. Hopefully you've now gotten the worst out of the way, and can now enjoy the best the city has to offer.

Take good care of you.

Bisous!
xoxo

[rel]

Tara,
Oh my, what a disheartening beginning to what will more than likely turn out to be a gratifying sabbatical.
My compatriot and I usually have some misadventures where ever we go. These seem to be the events that get retold again and again when we retell our story to others.
We agree that if everything went totally smooth, it would make less interesting telling.
I hope the rest of your adventure is smoother, but with some unanticipated events to make the telling more engrossing.

hasta la vez próxima, ;-)
rel

[tongue in cheek]

What an adventure! Now go enjoy that beautiful city, have a cinnmon rum with fresh cream! Oh to be in Sevilla!

[pepek]

Sounds awful! But I can hardly wait for the next installment!

[Donna]

There is nothing quite so unnerving as being "homeless" in a city you don't know, not being able to speak the language and hauling your belongings around in a daze. I'm sorry this is how your trip started, it can only get better from here.

[giggles]

What a kafuffle! I could just imagine the room, nasty. I certainly hope things are looking up for you! I can’t help but wonder why your reservations were blatantly disregarded. Did the receptionist have a relative that owned the skuzzy hotel, was she getting a kick back? Okay maybe that’s a tad pessimistic. Just seems odd that they suddenly have a room. I guess the doggie do-do was a precursor and a metaphor for the whole ugly day. Sounds like a scene from a movie! Hugs to you!There really is no place like home!

[Lisa(oceandreamer)]

OMG - there are no words for that horrible, horrible nightmare. I would have probably been crying and definitely ready to board the plane home. I hope after all that you went through things improve (they can't get any worse) and you are feeling a wee bit more settled. I agree with you about BAD accomodations.....no way!! Here's hoping all goes well from now on!
XOXO
Lisa

[Tammy]

That just plain sucks! Now that's out of the way (the worst part of traveling) you will eat, learn and enjoy! Don't forget to tell us about the food ;) Gorgeous architecture!

XXOO

[Amber]

Oh, No! I hope the rest goes better. I bet you will be happy in the end, that you had this little adventure. :) Trust me. It is still more fun than trying to potty train Lil' G! LOL. She pretends she doesn't speak my language, too, and I get no tip for the clean up!

ox
:)

[Deborah]

Oh my Tara! What a frightful start to the journey ... I suppose that means it can only get better from here! (knock on wood!) Hugs, D

[Becca]

Well, at least you got a good travel story to tell from all that mis-adventure! May things only improve from here on in :)

[Britt-Arnhild]

Well, this is not going to prevent me from stop travelling :-) I've also had experiences like this, not as bad though. And I always try to say to myself that they come just to give me things to write about,lol. I hope your stay will improve ALOT from now on.

[kristen]

Oh I'm sorry your start in Seville was crap,literally. I despise a-hole taxi drivers who take advantage even when the gig is up. We had a similar experience in Prague. I'm sure your school and time there will be incredible and I look forward to hearing more, with lots of pictures. See how demanding I can be!! (=

[Alexandra]

Eiyayi!!! Those are the types of travel moments where you temporarily wish you'd never left home in the first place, but I'm glad in the end you are staying where you planned and once all the dust has settled and you have a good night of rest I'm sure you are going to be rejuvenated and thrilled to be there! I look so forward to reading along about your adventures. Adios for now!

[leonie]

wow, that's quite an adventure! hope your trip gets better and less frustrating for you and i hope to hear all about it.

[Laura]

Oh, Tara, my sweetie---this is awful!! I feel so bad that your adventure started this badly, but that means you're getting all the merde over with at first, I'm just sure of it! (We had a different, but horror-filled start to a trip to the south of France this May, before I 'met' you, so I can fully sympathize.) Keep up your spirits, just as you are, and go forward with the best wishes and support of all of your many fans.
Xoxo,
Laura

[Hundred and one]

Oh my goodness, what a horror story!! I'm amazed you were able to keep your cool. I would have been screaming blue murder. I can't wait to read more.

[susan]

It's one thing to make lemonade from lemons but "merde"...hmmm, well I certainly cannot come up with a clever saying that would have anything at all to do with turning it into something consumable!

You already know all the upbeat its-gonna-get-better-and-be-worth-it-all upbeat empathy that you'd tell anyone else if they were in your situation, so I'll commiserate instead and say to "them" rather loudly "Sea razonable! justo déle qué ella desea! entonces nadie conseguirán lastimados :-)"

Can't wait for the next adventure...hoping that it is adventuresome in a more enjoyable vein of course...xo

[naturegirl]

Oh my and where is the romance of Seville we all were expecting! ....and you survived to talk about it!!
I do hope things improve for you!

[jzr]

Wow, Tara, what a nightmare. Hope you are all settled in and comfortable now!