latest celebrity holiday gossip
The Cruise family get carried away by the culture of Seville
For the children of yesterday's Hollywood stars, visiting their parents at work usually involved standing in the corner of some giant studio warehouse in downtown Los Angeles.
These days, however, with the movie-making industry becoming ever-more globalised, the biggest names of the big screen think nothing of jetting their families half way around the world to join them on their latest job.
And it looks like, far from being bothered by the upheaval, three-year-old Suri Cruise has rather taken to the jet-setting lifestyle, having been snapped immersing herself in the local traditions of the Spanish city of Seville, where dad Tom is busy filming his latest project, Knight and Day, with Cameron Diaz.
With Mrs Cruise Katie Holmes also in Andalusia, the happy family were spotted getting away from the set and enjoying the pleasant climate of Seville in the early winter-time.
Strolling around a city centre park, little Suri made sure she was the focal point of the happy family, dressing up in a pink polka-dot flamenco dress and mini high heels for the waiting paparazzi.
And while some may have questioned the wisdom of allowing a toddler to wear heeled shoes, it seems fair to assume that, like millions of visitors before them, the Cruises found themselves swept along by the vibrant history and culture of Seville.
Known as the home of flamenco, the historic city boasts numerous late-night bars, from the tourist traps surrounding the magnificent cathedral - the largest Gothic cathedral in the world - to the less formal venues of the city's Old Quarter and the gypsy-inspired Barrio de Triana, where the dancing and singing is more spontaneous and, to many, more authentic.
However, even tourists with two left feet cannot help but be overcome by Seville's charms, which are widely-regarded as being representative of the 'true Spain'.
For instance, bull fighting is still big news in the city in the summer months, while late-night drinking and dining, particularly the 'tapas culture', can be enjoyed year-round.
At the same time, however, just as with nearby Granada, Seville boasts clear links to its Moorish history.
The Torre del Oro, constructed by the Almohad dynasty to watch over the river and defend the city, is one of the most-visited historic landmarks in Seville, and nowhere better is the contrast between the Islamic and Christian traditions seen than at the Alcazar, the city's old Moorish palace and gardens situated directly opposite the Cathedral, the main tower of which interestingly enough started out as part of a mosque and still has ramps leading up to the top rather than stairs to allow a muezzin to ascend on a horse.
As the Cruises would no doubt testify, Seville makes the ideal winter-break destination due to its dry and relatively warm temperatures, though these can drop in the night.
The lack of a coastal wind means most Sevillianos leave the city in peak of the summer, though at least those tourists brave or foolhardy enough to visit in July or August can take shelter under the vast canopies keeping the narrow streets of the old city in the shade.
But, for locals and tourists alike, Seville is at its finest at festival time, with tens of thousands of the faithful and not-so-faithful crowd the streets to celebrate Semana Santa every Easter, while the April Fair sees the city practically shut down for a week of dancing, drinking and socialising, though even Tom Cruise would struggle to find a last-minute hotel room at this time of the year.
These days, however, with the movie-making industry becoming ever-more globalised, the biggest names of the big screen think nothing of jetting their families half way around the world to join them on their latest job.
And it looks like, far from being bothered by the upheaval, three-year-old Suri Cruise has rather taken to the jet-setting lifestyle, having been snapped immersing herself in the local traditions of the Spanish city of Seville, where dad Tom is busy filming his latest project, Knight and Day, with Cameron Diaz.
With Mrs Cruise Katie Holmes also in Andalusia, the happy family were spotted getting away from the set and enjoying the pleasant climate of Seville in the early winter-time.
Strolling around a city centre park, little Suri made sure she was the focal point of the happy family, dressing up in a pink polka-dot flamenco dress and mini high heels for the waiting paparazzi.
And while some may have questioned the wisdom of allowing a toddler to wear heeled shoes, it seems fair to assume that, like millions of visitors before them, the Cruises found themselves swept along by the vibrant history and culture of Seville.
Known as the home of flamenco, the historic city boasts numerous late-night bars, from the tourist traps surrounding the magnificent cathedral - the largest Gothic cathedral in the world - to the less formal venues of the city's Old Quarter and the gypsy-inspired Barrio de Triana, where the dancing and singing is more spontaneous and, to many, more authentic.
However, even tourists with two left feet cannot help but be overcome by Seville's charms, which are widely-regarded as being representative of the 'true Spain'.
For instance, bull fighting is still big news in the city in the summer months, while late-night drinking and dining, particularly the 'tapas culture', can be enjoyed year-round.
At the same time, however, just as with nearby Granada, Seville boasts clear links to its Moorish history.
The Torre del Oro, constructed by the Almohad dynasty to watch over the river and defend the city, is one of the most-visited historic landmarks in Seville, and nowhere better is the contrast between the Islamic and Christian traditions seen than at the Alcazar, the city's old Moorish palace and gardens situated directly opposite the Cathedral, the main tower of which interestingly enough started out as part of a mosque and still has ramps leading up to the top rather than stairs to allow a muezzin to ascend on a horse.
As the Cruises would no doubt testify, Seville makes the ideal winter-break destination due to its dry and relatively warm temperatures, though these can drop in the night.
The lack of a coastal wind means most Sevillianos leave the city in peak of the summer, though at least those tourists brave or foolhardy enough to visit in July or August can take shelter under the vast canopies keeping the narrow streets of the old city in the shade.
But, for locals and tourists alike, Seville is at its finest at festival time, with tens of thousands of the faithful and not-so-faithful crowd the streets to celebrate Semana Santa every Easter, while the April Fair sees the city practically shut down for a week of dancing, drinking and socialising, though even Tom Cruise would struggle to find a last-minute hotel room at this time of the year.