Sevilla

This past weekend I went to Sevilla from Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening. Of course everyone has heard at least something about how amazing Sevilla is, or they have experienced it themselves. So what do I write in my blog about Sevilla?

To get to Sevilla from Jerez de la Frontera there are three ways, although only two are available to me, train, bus or car. Since it is always important to remember that in Spain, and especially in smaller cities, the weekend always has a more limited availability for transportation, shopping, and access to necessities.

I did not check the train schedule before getting to the station, which I would now always suggest to do, even if the train says it leaves on the hour, and found the next train was not for a couple of hours.

Luckily the bus station is right next to the train station in Jerez and I was able to catch a bus for only 7.30 euros with an easy 1 hour and ten minute drive from Jerez to the center of Sevilla.

The bus station is conveniently located next to the parque Santa Louisa, which is also located very near the city center of Sevilla, making a first visit and orientating yourself quite easy and, well almost entirely pain free.

I say almost pain free because my choice of shoes for the two day trip were my new Macy's open toed ankle boots, that sadly failed to comfort my feet just after stepping off the bus in Sevilla.

Despite the pain, walking around the city was really an enjoyable experience with all the Moorish architecture, horse drawn carriages and expansive blue skies. The weather was warm for this time of year, and even going out at night I was comfortable without a jacket.

Unlike Jerez, Sevilla maintains a steady flow of people throughout the day as there are many more tourists in Sevilla. I could not help but get excited to see all the other people walking around in the early afternoon and feel the anticipation for what the night would bring.

I have found that in Spain, with the night comes the Spanards. I stayed in a new and comfortable hostel on calle Sierpes, the main shopping street in the center of Sevilla called Hostel Nuevo Suiza with breakfast, internet, international telephone, and coffee inlcuded in the very reasonable price. Yes I did say there was free coffee included with the Hostel and you can bet that I took full advantage of that, practically paying for the three person private room in the amount of coffee I consumed in just under 24 hours.

Of course my budget for the trip was lower than the normal traveler, being only 65 euros, my weekly pay here in Jerez. I managed to survive the weekend spending just 65.45 euros. including transport, room, a nice filling Spanish lunch on Sunday, and even a new sparkly shirt from H & M for just 20 euros that I used for going out.

As I mentioned before, the night is the time of the Spanish, and as the sun set, and the busy shoppers outside our hostel, well we were included in those shoppers, left the closing stores around 9 pm, a new rush began.

A rush to get ready and get out into the city. Sevilla is famous for offering riverside bars, discotechs, or clubs, and high class flamenco. I of course went for the cheaper and visited the local bars for the majority of the night. Popping into one called The Oscars, where I was given a flyer to have a free drink. Then I hit the bars across the river on Calle Betis along the river front with a spectacular view of the lit up Cathedral that you can see from practically anywhere around the city.

We had a couple shots at a bar for just 1 euro each and finished the night about a five minute walk into Triana at a Salsa bar, which is not all that common to find in Sevilla.

The next morning was a trip into the impressive and ancient Cathedral of Sevilla that proclaims to be the third largest after those in London and Rome. While the giant complex was shocking to behold from outside, once I stepped through the door, I found it vacant and a little creepy.

After a nice Spanish lunch eating from the menu of the day with a paella, lamb, fish and finishing the meal off with arroz con leche, I spent the afternoon resting on an ornate bench in the Plaza de Espana, getting home around 9 in the evening.

Out of all that I did and saw in my short first trip to Sevilla, I would have to summarize the city in just one word, culture. It is truly a magical city bursting forth with culture and creativity. This first trip to the city was really just the first bite, to learn the flavor and orient myself, but it left me only wanting more and more, and it looks like I will be making many return journeys!