A mi me encanta Sevilla.
My trip to Sevilla was bittersweet because I got to get a taste of a beautiful city but only for a short while. Cruel world, stupid tour bus schedule.
But I shall be optimistic because this was definitely one of my favorite days on the break. And for a mere 18 euro it was really quite a deal.
So once again on Friday morning Karen and I awoke at 5 a.m. to get on our tour bus. The pick ups at other hotels took so much longer but our tour guide more than made up for it. His name: J.C. and the way he dressed you knew he was pure suavemente. We didn't notice the long drive because the man was hilarious. He transitioned flawlessly between Portuguese, English and German and I later learned he could speak a total 9 languages! He was a whole new level of brilliant and witty.
"I know this city well, after all I've
been giving tours of it for over 420 years now"-J.C.
He found out that Karen and I were from the United States and later during the drive he gleefully pointed out an American Consulate, we looked out the window to see a McDonald's. Touche J.C.
By 11 we were in the heart of Sevilla and my infatuation started to begin.
Karen and I fell upon La Heralda, the biggest gothic Cathedral in Europe. Because we are students we only had to pay 2 euro instead of 8! Finally, a country that understands our ever dwindling bank accounts.
Gorgeous Gothic
La Heralda is divine, we spent nearly 3 hours in the cathedral just gaping at everything it had to offer. I couldn't believe the decadence inside this building, elaborate vaulted ceilings, giant silver sculptures, bejeweled and golden altars, this place was so opulent and overdone I forgot I was in a place of worship and not the national treasury.
Too much good stuff
After our wanderings on the first floor we climbed the adjoining tower and got views that were even more proof that this is the largest gothic cathedral around. What I found interesting was that this was built upon a massive mosque that was torn down after the Spanish kicked the Moors out. And although they were rabid Christians, the Spanish still kept some of the artistic and architectural elements of their predecessors. In La Heralda's case they kept the courtyard full of orange trees and the first two levels of stone from the Mosque's minaret for the church's tower.
What up Sevilla
We ate our sandwiches in the middle of the orange grove
After a lunch break under the shady orange trees, Karen and I trekked off to the Jewish Quarter, famous for its charming and labyrinth-like streets. My crush with this city turned into a full blown romance after we passed all the colorful shops and delicious smelling cafes, ah que chevre!
We then decided we should check out the Alcazar Palace. Instead of paying 7.50 euro we got in for free! Good times!
The Alcazar Palace was just one beautiful room, terrace or garden after another. I am so used to English castles which are dark and sometimes quite drab, this palace was bursting with light and color at every corner. I easily took over 100 pictures here, mainly of the gorgeous gardens overflowing with oranges that I wanted to nom.
Oh hey there....
Once again the Spanish pulled all the stops to show off how much money they had and yet again they borrowed a lot of Islamic art and architectural elements. Considering this was originally a Moorish fort it makes sense.
Why mess with a good thing?
Stunning, we spent the majority of our time in the serene gardens gazing at all the lush colors and sights. There was also a lot of tile here which just made the palace even more luxurious and beautiful.
Colorific
Bit different from Buckingham
With only an hour left we went back to the Jewish Quarter for some shopping and eating. It was there that I discovered the most ridiculously delicious snack on earth: CHOCOLATE CON CHURROS. Granted it was 80 degrees outside but when I set my sights on a sweet, I will stop at nothing to consume it.
Before entering gastronomical heaven
Om nom does not even begin to describe my ecstasy in devouring this traditional spanish treat. When I get to dip pastry into a cup of hot, liquid chocolate I have reached nirvana.
Karen, having found a suitable souvenir and I, delirious with coco, wandered back to the square in which the bus dropped us off. J.C. was waiting for us and the group all hopped on and got a tour of the 1929 expo buildings. They were constructed in order to host an exhibition of the Americas and Iberian nations. All were beautiful and were built in order to show off the unique flavors of their respective countries.
What an experience, I am so grateful I found a way to get to Spain and see one of its finest cities. J.C. told all of us that: "I don't know when but all of you will come back to Sevilla"
So true
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