Since moving to Spain, I’ve learned that Spaniards love their holidays. They celebrate every god, goddess and saint possible. Thus, I have a lot of puentes, or long-weekends, in which I hope to do a lot of traveling (eh em, providing I have the funds!). This past weekend was a puente and I went to Sevilla, Spain with three of my friends.
I hadn’t heard much about Andalucia or Sevilla prior to heading there, but I pretty much want travel anywhere I am able during my time in Europe!
While Madrid is a huge, urban city with plenty to do and see, I feel like a bit of the Spanish culture is muted by all of the hustle and bustle of big city life. Sevilla was exactly the opposite; it was the epitome of Spanish culture. That said Sevilla has quite a long and distinct history (involving the Moors, Muslims, 2,000+ years, etc. etc.) of course making the city a place to behold.
The bus ride to Sevilla from Madrid was only six hours. We checked in to our hostel right when we got there, and ended up in a room with three other Americans who live in Madrid (two of which are also in the Auxiliares program). That afternoon we wandered (and snacked) through city. At night, we barbequed at our hostel and hung out with our new hostel friends.
The next day, we did a FREE walking tour of the city, organized by our hostel. We had an awesome tour guide and saw most of the city within about 3.5 hours!
Some of the sights...
Metropol Parasol, by a german architect. was originally a contest for an architect to design & build something to promote tourism. long story short, it cost way more than it was supposed to, took way longer and locals hate it...they call it "las setas" or the mushrooms...tourists (like me) love it
Gothic Catedral (built 1401-1519)
University of Sevilla
Torre de Oro (the Tower of Gold)
NO∞DO is the official motto of Sevilla & is everywhere. The infinity sign-thingy represents yarn or "madeja" When you say "no medeja do," it sounds like "No me ha dejado", which means "It [Seville] has not abandoned me"...created by Alfonxo X
Second largest bullfighting rink in Spain (the largest is in Madrid)
Christopher Colubus' ashes...have been DNA tested and all!
The rest of our time there, we spent further exploring the city: we went IN to the Cathedral, ate a lot of delicious (and cheap) food, did a tiny bit of shopping, rented bikes, and of course, celebrated Halloween.
my pal linds, looking out cathedral window
Plaza Espana...my fave!
happy halloween!!
bike ride through Sevilla
All in all, it was an incredible weekend that went by WAY to fast if you ask me. I hope to return to enchanting Sevilla again someday…boy, I feel like I’m going to say this after all my trips!
