Day 170
6 hrs, 7 .0 kms
Day Totals: 16 hrs, 25.3 kms

The day is still young, and I know just what I have to do: catch a bus back to Sevilla, hurry across town, then catch another bus to Carmona. I'm determined to be able to say I've thoroughly explored Sevilla province, and Carmona seems to be a "must see"

It is.

Carmona has an exquisite walled Moorish style city, built overlooking the vast plains of southwest Andalusia. With its towering gates, claustrophic alleyways, buildings all painted in glimmering white, it really takes you back to another era...

I'm torn between giving this town a thorough exploring, or trying to squeeze in one last town on my way back. I opt for the latter... but when I think that I'm heading back towards the bus station, I find that I'm actually heading the opposite direction (just like Moroccan medinas, Moorish old cities seem to have been deliberately designed to get an outsider lost and going in circles) ... so I miss the bus. No worries. I really should take my time exploring the city. So, as dusk sets, I head back inside, following the different alleys that encircle the hilltop city at different altitudes, soaking in the various surprises... an ancient market square hidden away... an alley suddenly leading to a beautiful panoramic view... a cozy little chapel...

Coming across a plaza a have another surprise. An old man--maybe 80 or so, knocking another old man to the ground and getting ready to beat him with his cane! A young waiter rushes out to the rescue just in time.

"He called me a f---t!" the attacker explains.

That's a new one to me. I've seen a lot of streetfights in my days--but I think this is my first senior citizen smackdown--broken up by a young guy! Usually guys have gotten all the fire out of their system by the time they reach that age...