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I was back there again yesterday evening - can't seem to stay away from the place. Seville's Metropol Parasol, which has now been finished for two months, changes every time I go there.
This time I went up the pasarela with my family. The new archaeological museum, Antiquarium, was closed, but the kids' appetites was whetterd by what they saw through the plate glass windows (my son has been studying the Romans at school, and recently went on a trip to Italica, the Roman ruins near Seville) while waiting in the queue to take the lift up.
The first changes were the opening hours: now from 10am-2pm and 6pm-12 midnight, much longer than when it first opened. This will be to acommodate the restaurant(s) when if/they finally open. It's also a great place to spend one of Seville's sultry summer nights, since it gets any breeze, a welcome relief after the streets, which can get stuffy and airless.
The second change is that you now have to pay to go up, unless you were either born in Seville, or you are currently resident in the city. The good news is that it is less than was originally proposed - just 1.20 euro.
When we came out of the snazzy, spotty lift, which wouldn't look out of place in a design hotel, we realised that the pasarela iss not very well designed for either pushchairs or wheelchairs. The first steps, straight ahead as you start walking along the pasarela looking towars the Giralda and cathedral, are fairly shallow. But when the walkway turns back and heads upwards, towards the mirador (viewing point), the steps become considerably steeper, and my husband struggled with the buggy, where our two children, aged two and four, were asleep.
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Even worse, we saw a lady who had had to get out of her wheelchair, as her companion couldn't push it over the steps. Major design flaw for families and the mobility challenged on the part of the architect, Mr Jurgen Mayer H.
On a more positive note, there are now two information boards, showing landmarks to look out for in the city's skyline. I remember seeing an excellent version of this at the World Trade Center in New York, years ago (obviously), where buildings such as the Chrysler and Empire State were etched into the glass windows.
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This being Seville, the landmarks include many churches and convents, as well as Plaza de España, Torre de Los Perdigones, and some of the Expo 92 bridges. Each building has its construction year, architect and style.
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If you haven't been yet (as if you haven't already guessed) I would highly recommend it this walkway as a place for both visitors to Seville, and those who live in the city. For a small price, it offers fantastic views, and a breath of fresh air (literally).