Surprisingly, there are a great many Web sites dedicated to the imaginary city of Sevilla, and to the imaginary state in which it is supposedly found, España. I guess it's a bit like Star Trek, eh?

Hey, Scouser, was Mrs. C.S. late with the Earl Grey this morning? What got you so cranky?

The hills are abloom, the new lambs are gambling. Smile and spread some of that Christian love you've heard about at all those masses you've attended!

If new lambs are gambling, their parents should be talked to. Shocking on a Sunday, too!

If they're bored, let them gambol, to work off the energy.

LOL, tedgale . The only fauna to speak of in South Florida are alligators and palmetto bugs, so forgive my ignorance! (Glad you caught it before Scouser did.)

And I have to wonder about his "church is not a fashion show" remark. Neither is the opera or a wedding reception, but I bet he wouldn't wear shorts to either of those. While I'm sure that God is quite the "come as you are" type of fellow, I see no reason to take advantage of His kindness. Besides, who wants to look at a pair of white, boney legs just as they try to connect with the Eternal? I live in a place where summer mornings are so hot they will leave you gasping for breath, and I wouldn't dream of wearing shorts to church.

Hi B,

In general, to be polite, in a house of worship everything from the shoulder to the knee should be covered.

Men are expected to cover their heads in synagogues and uncover their heads in churches.

Does God care? Probably not.

Wife & I were going to Sevilla (not so-called imaginary place) for Viernes de Semana Santa: wife's cousin drove me to a Corté Inglés in Madrid and bought me a pair of walking shorts. She said Sevilla would be very hot; and it was!

I have attended Mass at Churches in Madrid, Sevilla and even Santiago de Compostela, wearing walking shorts: nobody ever asked me to leave. I have also toured many Churches & Cathedrals (Toledo, for example) wearing shorts.

BTW
Pentecost Sunday is 4 Jun: Andalucia's Feria del Campo & Romeria al Santuario de la Virgen del Rocio (near Almonte, in Huelva) peaks that weekend. If you're in Spain then, you might consider altering your itinerary to 'take in' that happening along with about 1-million Pilgrims/Participants

Oh my CotswoldScouser! I hope you're feeling better now...

Here's a link to the "imaginary" city of Sevilla http://tinyurl.com/et46l

We English-speaking people call it Seville, just as we call <i>Roma</i> Rome, <i>Firenze</i> Florence, and <i>Venezia</i> Venice.

You don't even want me to get into the mauling of English pronounciations on Asian cities...

Seville seems to be one city that many Americans insist on using the Spanish pronunciation, even hitting that &quot;ya&quot; at the end. I'm curious if they also say Par-ee instead of Paris. What's wrong when speaking in English with using the English pronunciation? Using the foreign pronunciation when speaking in English seems so -- well -- pretentious.

Yes, Neo, people can be inconsistent at times. But still, wasn't Cotswold Scouser overreacting a wee bit by calling it a non-existent city?

Sometimes people use the native pronunciation by accident (perhaps they were recently looking at a website that had it) or perhaps they are being what I would call &quot;ironic-pretentious.&quot;

When traveling with a friend through eastern Europe years ago, it was only Praha, Wien, and Budha-Pesht for us!

If you're still reading this, all I can say is that I wish I could have gotten to my computer sooner! Since I'm from the non-Christian world, I forgot to say that I visit churches ONLY as a tourist. However, I believe I can get the message that I needed about shorts anyway! Oi vay!!!!!!! Thanks all.

Basil, make it quick on those church vists, we wouldn't want you to get converted or anything!

What's the big deal about wearing pants? In my opinion the fact that you are a visitor alone, no matter where you are visiting, warrants smart dressing. I personally wouldn't wear shorts many places other than the basketball court. Is it so difficult to buy a couple pairs of linen or thin cotton pants? Often they are just as cool or cooler than shorts.

The big deal is that trousers are usually warmer than shorts, and in the extremely hot weather that increasingly plagues not just the Sahara but also Europe, cool clothing is becoming unavoidable, for those who don't wish to develop heatstroke&mdash;especially given that Europe has so little air conditioning.

Shorts also allow more freedom of movement. The difference can be quite small, but small differences can become large when one is walking a dozen kilometres or more in a day.

Add this to the fact that the way you dress is really nobody else's business, and there is no reason to avoid shorts.

I have just returned from the Semana Santa in Seville, Carmona and Cordoba. What a picture to watch all those well-dressed locals - male teenagers in most elegant suits, girls in long robes - and among them tourists with white, hairy legs and their cameras shooting everywhere!

BTW, no Spaniard is so crazy to run around in the midday's heat. Life starts with sundown and it continues untill well after midnight.

&quot;and among them tourists with white, hairy legs and their cameras shooting everywhere!&quot;

OK...so where did you post your pictures?

Sorry, Anthony, but I disagree. During a typical day bopping about Paris, for example, I would only wear long pants. What if I notice the lines at Laduree aren't bad and want to have some lunch? What if mass is being sung at Saint Whatever, and I want to take a seat? What people do here in the hinterlands of the US of A is one thing. Europe is something else entirely. Better to be a little warm than feel like a slob.

Neopolitan writes: &quot;What's wrong when speaking in English with using the English pronunciation? Using the foreign pronunciation when speaking in English seems so -- well -- pretentious.&quot;

Andalucia's Capital city is: &quot;Sevilla,&quot; not Seville. Do you also call Jerez de la frontera: &quot;Sherry?&quot; When speaking in English, how do you call: &quot;Gijon,&quot; or &quot;Rioja?&quot; Have you attempted to buy bus or rail tickets to any of those places.

Back to Basil's initial topic: a lady may find herself more 'out of place' at a Church service with her shoulders uncovered.

I'll start using foreign pronunciations of cities when my local chinese restaurant starts selling Beijing duck.

As for shorts in church - well I wouldn't - it's disrespectful. However we Yurpeens have long been past being suprised by how americans dress. And the whole &quot;american hair&quot; thing too.

&quot;As for shorts in church - well I wouldn't - it's disrespectful. However we Yurpeens have long been past being suprised by how americans dress.&quot;

David, that was a snide, totally uncalled for remark. Are you joining CS on his campaign to make sarcastic, belittling remarks about Americans whenever possible?

FWIW, we noticed the dress code restrictions on a church in Angers, France. They seemed so straigtforward (cannot enter the church without wearing a shirt), that we asked: who would not know to follow them? The lady volunteers said their biggest problems were with the Germans. Brits were the second biggest problems--they dressed ok, but talked loudly and made no effort to control their kids' behavior, they annoyed worshippers, etc. Americans, they said, generally showed great respect for the church both in dress and behavior.

Being &quot;surprised&quot; is one thing; dressing just like them is something else again.