Sevilla

As we were only a short drive away from the city, Sevilla was definitely on the cards during my time in La Puebla.

I spent the day in the city shown round by Tamara and her friend Eva, who had both studied there and therefore knew it well. This was the first time I had been a tourist with Spaniards and I found that they do things very differently. When I visit places, I’m used to fast paced sight-seeing; not wasting a second of the day by cramming things in at a high tempo.  However, these girls had an alternative style when it came to days out. We had a very lazy start, no early wake ups necessary, and didn’t finish breakfast until gone 11am. This meant we didn’t get to Sevilla until midday, why rush? We were blessed with a beautiful day for sightseeing. On arrival, the sun was shining and I immediately noticed that the city had a wonderful, relaxed feel to it. Perhaps this was because we went on a Sunday and there were therefore less people around. Sevilla lacked the haste and hurry that normally surrounds you in the middle of a big city. People were meandering around, soaking up the glorious weather and enjoying the city’s stunning architecture.

Sevilla is not like your average Spanish city. It has a unique mix of grand, gothic buildings, such as the cathedral, and a Moorish influence; represented the best by the famous Giralda. La Giralda is the bell tower of the cathedral but used to be the minaret of a mosque. The city’s Arabic qualities were evident and gave the place an exotic and warm touch.

After admiring La Giralda and the ancient castle walls from La Plaza de la Virgen de los Reyes, (what a name for a square!) we headed to a very special rooftop terrace which had unique views of the tower. The terrace was part of a swanky hotel but anyone could go up for a drink. You definitely paid for the view, an ice-tea cost six euros, but it was completely worth it. Up here the sun was so strong that we were forced to sit in the shade (in February!) to soak up the stunning scenery. This rato in the middle of such a beautiful city was definitely a highlight of the trip. The terrace was unknown to most tourists which made it made it particularly special. Another characteristic of Spanish tourism is its relaxed tempo. For the girls, eating and drinking was an essential part of a day out. This meant stopping every half an hour to enjoy a beverage or snack.  We visited La Plaza del Salvador, a busy square where it was typical to drink beer and eat crisps. The atmosphere here was electric, as many Sevillanos had come here to enjoy their Sunday. We then headed towards the river to El Mercado, a new and upmarket dining area. El Mercado was clean and sophisticated and offered a wide selection of different foods in small portions to be eaten in tapas type style, standing up. The place was pretty swanky and very pricey so we didn’t stay long.

We crossed the bridge to a more casual market (which was unfortunately closed on Sundays) but, thanks to Eva’s recommendation, found a delicious sushi bar. Not long after that and it was time for a merienda (afternoon snack) of cafés y dulces. I ordered two specialities of the city; a palmera (a huge chocolate pastry) and a torrija (sweet bread soaked in a honey type sauce.) That afternoon, we also caught a glimpse of the famous neighbourhood Triana, known for being the oldest and most artistic of Sevilla. The people here are extremely proud of their area, and say they are from Triana rather than Sevilla. We then walked along the river, a wonderful place to wander, relax or have a drink. It was lovely and laid back and so peaceful compared to other cities. The next stop was the Torre del Oro, the golden tower, built as a military watchtower along the river. The climb up to the top was not very arduous but both the girls declined so I went up myself to admire the views.

What surprised me most about Sevilla was how smart the people were. Andalucia in generally very religious and visiting on a Sunday meant many had gone to church and were in their Sunday best. All around were men in immaculate suits and women in beautiful dresses; los Sevillanos really care about their appearance. Even the children were dolled up; I saw young boys in shorts and tights! It was like the whole city was off to a wedding. Sevillanos not only like to dress up but they are also very good looking. I couldn’t help staring at the attractive groups of young people- they were all gorgeous!

At the end of the day, we took a trip up La Seta (the mushroom.) For me, La Seta was an untasteful bit of modern architecture built right in the middle of the old city centre. It stuck out a lot; and wedged into a small square meant it lacked space to be properly appreciated. However, despite my dislike for the construction, going up to the top was special. For a small fee, you could jump in a lift which took you to the top where you could walk around the structure. Up here there were magnificent views of the Sevilla’s skyline, and going just after sunset meant we could watch the night descend on the city. La Giralda was lit up, standing tall above the rest of the buildings; a wonderful sight.  

Sevilla was a very special place and it definitely rates as one of the best Spanish cities.  What’s more, I couldn’t have asked for better company than two Sevillanas themselves. The day went by far too quickly and I needed more time to soak up the city’s unique laid-back atmosphere. But like I said, I’ve fallen head over heels for Andalucía so there’s no doubt that I’ll be returning soon.