Thursday, August 1, 2013

Back in Spain! Seville

     I arrived in Seville on the 20th at 5 AM after an overnight bus ride from Lisbon.  I met a really nice French guy named Marc prior to leaving and so it was great having a friend on the 7 hour drive.  When we arrived in the morning, we grabbed a coffee and caught the sunrise on the river.  It was really beautiful.  Marc was flying from Seville back to Marseille and so we shared a cab because my hotel was close to the airport.  I love how easy it is to make friends while traveling.

     The first 3 days I stayed in Seville Este at a hotel with a pool a bit outside of the city center.  I knew I needed some rest, but I only swam one day unfortunately because I injured my back.  One evening I took a free walking tour.  This one was a particularly good tour because I found out a lot of information on the legends of the area that I know aren't just written in plain site for people to see.  After this, I switched to a hotel in the center of the city.  Mei and Keisha arrived in Seville as well and so we all spent time together.

Sunrise on the first day:













Walking tour:












































Giralda Tower





On this day, I did absolutely nothing but lay in bed and swim.  Traveling is hard work, sometimes you need a holiday!

     Keisha arrived in Seville first and we spent the afternoon wandering around.  The cathedral is the 3rd largest church building in the world.  We then went to the Alcázar of Seville which is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe.  I loved seeing the blending of Spanish and Moorish designs all over the city.  Mei arrived in the city in the afternoon and we enjoyed some tapas.  I love tapas!







































































Seville Cathedral

Metropol Parasol

I love Spanish ham and cheese!






     After parting ways with my friends for the evening, I was heading home and got lost.  I stopped a French Canadian woman that was in Spain learning Spanish for 3 weeks.  She told me she was heading to the river for a festival and asked if I wanted to join.  I had no idea about this festival...  What a great person to stop and ask for directions!  I went there and was able to watch free Flamenco.  I told the girls about it and we ended up going to this festival for the following 2 nights and met some really nice people.





















     On my last day in Seville, the girls and I went to see Plaza de Espana which is very beautiful.  I had been debating during my whole time in Spain wether or not seeing a bullfight was the right thing to do.  The girls and I decided that we should see it because it is part of the culture.  I did not enjoy this at all!  I had a couple of drinks prior and after seeing the blood, I left to puke.  The 3 of us could not sit through the whole thing.  We left early because we just felt so sad by it.  I don't know if glad is the right word...  But I am glad I gave it a go and never again...  





























"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word".
-Martin Luther King Jr.

No comments:

Post a Comment