It was a pleasant day when I arrived in Seville (which I'm going to be writing as Sevilla from now on) which apparently was quite a contrast to the last few days. It's becoming a really bad habit of mine but I arrived at the station and realised I had absolutely no idea where I was going or even what the hostel was called so I used some nearby computers. 0,50 euro for 10 minutes. Not too bad.
I was wandering the streets for a while until, miraculously, I found the hostel just there next to me. This hostel wasn't nearly as fun as the others I've experienced but it was really central and it had all the facilities etc. I guess I can't complain.
(Who could possibly complain about this guy who never left the room ever?)
And as it turns out I actually had a friend in Sevilla at the time anyway! In fact, the night of arriving we went to a Flamenco show with his friend who lives in Sevilla. Flamenco is famous in Andalucia (Southern Spain) and particularly here in Seville. I don't know a whole lot about Flamenco I'll be honest - I had pictured something like West Side Story even though, yes I know, the Sharks were Puerto Rican and not Spanish... but the whole swishing around of the dresses etc. you know?
(I bet she wants to be in Ame-ri-ca. Okay be her in Ame-ri-ca)
Flamenco as it turns out is actually quite soulful and a lot of the show involves a singer singing deep songs of lament until the dancer gets up and works her magic. Her dance magic. The whole show isn't sad though it definitely gets up tempo and the dancer goes nuts but it was still a really interesting experience. I was glad to be doing something so interesting so quickly!
I spent the next day going around and doing the sites. Plaza Espana is a beautiful building/semi-circle that was used as a location of Queen Amidala's palace on Naboo in Star Wars (for like ... 10 seconds). La Real Alcazar is an old building and gardens that has had parts torn down and rebuilt over the centuries and now has a bundle of art styles all throughout due to the constant changes. It has a whole lot of fountains in there but the water pressure is super low. So instead of a majestic lion statue gushing water out of its mouth ... it just kind of looks like its vomiting. Also worth noting - I took my first selfie of my entire trip.
(LOVE ME)
We went out at night to some really interesting places including a sort of hidden-down-a-strange-alley African themed outdoor market slash party? A really strange combination but it was really unique. There was an 80's bar that played both Spanish and English songs and the final nightclub which did that thing I hate where they chop up good songs just enough for you to recognise the song, but not enough for you to enjoy it in the slightest. It's already a good song. Don't feel the need to turn it into another song. Your new song is terrible. Just saying. Walked home in the POURING rain. My shoes are still wet and I'm worried it's going to cause like - mildew problems or something.
There's a beautiful cathedral near the hostel that is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the tower has a stunning view of the city. There's another structure called the Encarnacion (meaning 'Incarnation' - sloppily turned into 'Mushrooms' in English) which also offers a beautiful view but it's slightly different. Only slightly. I went there on the last day I had in Sevilla while trying to avoid the massive crowds for the Semana Santa festival. I was eating almonds.
(Looks like you could jump from one to the other. You can't)
I actually booked my stay in Sevilla without knowing about the Semana Santa festival. I'm not terribly into religious festivals (just don't want to encourage religion in general) but this one involves people dressing up in eerie pointy hats and then doing a massive procession for about 7 days until Easter Sunday. I've left today just as it's beginning. I was umming and ahhing about where to go next but I've just decided on Valencia. It means I miss out on some other parts of Southern Spain but maybe it would be a reason to come back? Sevilla is really wonderful. Spain is really lovely in general.
Also the Macarena was started here. Savour that one.
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