Featured image is Madeline posing at Plaza de España
Seville, Spain is the place of my dreams. I spent the entirety of my trip there in a trance, mesmerized by the massive magnolias and sycamores, the quaint streets and apartments, and the gargantuan cathedral that spans over 2 blocks.
Of course, it wasn't without misadventure. Getting on the outbound flight was a saga in itself. Queue...
Chris forgetting his metro pass.
Getting on the wrong train.
The right train delayed over an hour.
Panic.
Not being able to leave the train station.
Trying to speak Spanish to the attendant.
Waiting in a huge taxi line in the rain.
Panic.
Going to the wrong terminal.
Sprinting through the airport.
Getting flagged cause my dumbass tried to bring water through security.
Panic.
Queue making it to the gate to find out our flight was delayed two hours.
Queue an entire bottle of sangria while we waited.
Finally, relief. We made it on the plane without killing each other
My roommates and I finally met up at the Airbnb with 2 of our friends, Nicole and Courtney. The next day they all got up early, but I slept in and met up with them later. We went to Triana's market and snacked on fresh fruit and amazing Bocasus, which are Andalusian creme-filled pastries with unique flavors like honey saffron. Yum.
The weather was absolutely beautiful, sunny and 75, so we all sat along the river and soaked up some sun. Then, we walked over to the historic Plaza España, where parts of The Dictator and Star Wars: Episode 1 were filmed. The square is framed by an architecturally impressive building, with a fountain in the middle and a moat going all around that people row boats in. It was pleasantly empty, which made it even more grand. A man blew giant bubbles for children (and us). It was really incredible - we took lots of photos.
Next stop was Las Setas (the mushrooms). These giant wooden structures look too modern for the historic city, but somehow they fit right in. We paid a couple euro to go to the top for a view of the entire city. We watched as the sun set, took photos, and were just about to leave when I started talking to an inspiring couple from outside of Asheville, North Carolina.
Retired engineers, they embody a lot of what I want from my life. When they first retired, they bought a sailboat that they lived on for 5 years, sailing around the world and doing humanitarian work. Now, they live on 7 acres of land on a sustainable organic farm outside of Asheville, North Carolina. My best friend, Mindy, and I stopped in Asheville on our road trip when we graduated from high school (link to post) and discovered for the first time a place that we could both live, with mountains to satisfy her wanderlust spirit, and sea for my endless need to be sailing. This was a big deal, because up until this point we thought that our different passions would pull us separate ways for the rest of our lives.
I talked with the couple for what seemed like forever, as the night got darker around us. I got their email, and we are going to be pen pals!
their email, and we are going to be pen pals!
I really am an extrovert to my core, because I was on cloud 9 after that, a renewed surge of excitement for the huge future that lies ahead coursing through me. My soul felt so expansive, with all my ideas and love and desire, though my human body is still subject to biological processes, AKA my uncontrollable sweet tooth. Thus, we ended up getting half a dozen warm cookies and smiling and snacking on our way to dinner, where we indulged in traditional Andalusian food.
Everyone but Chris and I had an early flight the next day so we had each other and the city to ourselves for the day. I went to Palace Alcazar while he took a tour of the Sevilla football stadium.
Palace Alcazar was the highlight of my trip. I was lured in by the ornate high-vaulted ceilings, the labyrinth of gardens, the numerous reflecting pools, fish ponds, and free wandering peacocks. My senses worked overtime to take in the sight of the endless Spanish tiles, the ambiance of native Spanish birds, the magical scent of flowering magnolias, the textures of hundreds of native plant species; I seriously thought that I might never leave. It was enchanting. Google says that people typically spend 45 mins to 2 hours here, but I was there for over 3 and a half exploring each hidden room pretending I was a 15th century marquess.
On the plane ride home I made friends with the lady sitting next to me, a Barcelona native who was traveling with her friends for a horse exhibition. She didn't speak any English, so I got tons of Castellano practice! I taught her American card games and learned that Spaniards don't use the same 52 card deck I carry. This was a huge shock to me, I thought that playing cards were universal! She even told me that my Spanish was good, which warmed my heart (at least I think that's what she said). Connecting with this person was a great end to my trip to Sevilla :)
Comments