10/5/2015: Donana Park

We were looking forward to our trip to Donana National Park and related side trips. The park has much wildlife including a rare protected species of Lynx.  We were picked up in a 4 WD with four other Britons. Of course it rained. We have had perfect weather until today. The drive into the park was on sandy roads, slick and muddy. Our driver/guide did a good job in negotiating the difficult driving (while trying to spot wildlife). We saw some deer and wild pigs from a distance. It was difficult to get photos (even with the new lens).  We did a shortened trip through the main park.

We went to El Rocio, a pilgramage town many centuries old. It was basically empty now. But when the pilgrimage is on, 200,000 descend on this place. They come to the town in covered wagons, chariots, according to our guide. Had coffee. Ran through the pouring rain to the church. It was opulent, but after what we have seen for the last week, not stunning. Next we went to the Palacio Acebran. This is a likeness of our White House, on a much smaller scale. The man that built this lived three years in it and died. It is a monument to the Park now.

We next went to a secluded, beautiful beach and had a few minutes of no rain. It was difficult to get to, so when the rain threatened, again, we left for lunch. After a very nice comida fixe, we went back to the park in an area dominated by birds of all species.  The rain had subsided so we saw numerous wading birds as well as some rare black herons.  This area is bordered on by huge rice farms.  Spain supplies 10% of the rice to Europe. The birds feast on the rice.  For some reason, the growers brought in the red crawfish from Louisiana to supplement the diet of the  herons. Well, the herons loved it and stayed year round to eat them. This has caused a problem in Africa, where the herons eat some form of pest. Think kudzu.

Tomorrow the Cathedral, Alcazar and Giralda.