Sevilla

Just got back from another weekend trip, this time to Sevilla. What a beautiful city! It's about 5 hours south of Madrid in car. I was amazed at first when we got there to see such a mix between the old and the new. In some parts of the city there are walls of former fortresses still standing among modern architecture. There is also a huge Arab influence from the time Spain was ruled by the Moors. It makes for some really cool architecture and history.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon exploring the city on our own. We saw the Plaza de Toros and the large cathedral of the city (supposedly Christopher Columbus' remains are kept in the cathedral, but there is a rumor that they are really those of his brother since they were stolen...so who knows). Something I noticed right away was how chill the city was. It's not as fast-paced as Madrid, and the people are a lot friendlier. There are also palm trees everywhere and it's close to water, so it kind of seems like a tropical local. Last night we saw a little bit of the night life of Sevilla. Again, nothing like Madrid, but it was still fun.

At one point when we were walking as a group, we stumbled upon some sort of religious parade in the street. There were loud drums and trumpets playing, and the streets were crowded with people. It was actually pretty cool to see. On our way home we saw a group of young people having an impromptu flamenco session by the river. They were keeping rhythm with their hands and formed a circle to dance in. It was really cool to see how the younger generation is keeping such an old tradition alive.

Today we got to see the Alcazar palace. It is a perfect example of the mix of Arab and Spanish influence. Apparently parts of the movie Kingdom of Heaven were filmed there. We also got to see the Plaza de España of Sevilla where they filmed parts of the new Star Wars movies. We had to leave this afternoon to make the long journey home. I really wish I could have had more time in Sevilla, but I'm glad I at least got a little taste. It is bigger than some of the other cities we've visited, but it has its own special charm. The laid-back attitude and gorgeous buildings really draw you in. Hopefully I'll get to go back someday.