Last weekend I went to Sevilla. Below is a video I took of flamenco - my first time seeing it. (Akel, I went to the place you told me about :) ) It was great! I hope the video isn't messed up. My experience lately is that the audio doesn't match up with the visual. We talked to a woman from Sevilla and she told us about another part of town with good flamenco and salsa and dancing, but we didn't make it. I may make another trip at some point and try to hit it up. There was an amusement park called Isla Magica that I want to spend a day at since Sevilla is only two hours away from Cadiz :)
This is just some random waffle looking structure in one of the plazas.
Fans are super popular in Spain, and I saw several stores in Sevilla. They were expensive - 15+ euro, but very beautiful. On the street some were being sold for 3-5 e. I think the quality is cheaper as well, but you know...
This is the Ayuntamiento building, its like City or Town Hall, a public services building. I think the Alcalde (mayor) works here. Spain is divided into regions. I live in Andalucia, with is the biggest region, and in the south. Sevilla is the 'capitol' of Andalucia, and so the governor is here. This may be the building, but I'm not sure if its separate.
This is a church. There was a wedding going on.
In Spain, all the women wear these big flowers or hats, or feathers/veil things on their head when they go to weddings. It might be kind of like what was seen at the prince's wedding on TV (but I didn't watch, so I don't know) - with a Spanish flair of course. The flamenco dancers a lot of times wear these clips that have flowers or designs that stick out, similar to some of the wedding things.
THE Cathedral of Sevilla. Cost me two euro to get in with a student discount - which turned into un leo (a problem) because I didn't have anything other that my drivers license, and my group wasn't enough proof. I didn't want to pay 8 e, so one of our members gave me his ticket and got back in line for another :)
We went up a tower in the Cathedral, and this was the view.
The bull fight ring view from the tower.
The smallest gas station I've ever seen... I think only for motorcycles and mopeds. There are mopeds everywhere. Typical Europe. I want one. I wish Seattle didn't rain so much.
This was the front of the University of Sevilla.
The Plaza Espana!! SOOO pretty
We saw a TON of weddings. I heard on the news... or maybe my host mom... that September is the month with the most divorces, but I've seen a LOT of marriages... hmm. Regardless, they are beautiful.
This was in a park across the Plaza Espana.
Spanish water fountains... sometimes it shoots water straight up. Its hard to drink out of... it was so hot though!! I wouldn't have cared if it got all over my face.
This is where we went for dinner. (Akel, I didn't make it to your recommended restaurant :( )
As we waited.... quite a while I might add. It was pretty popular, and very good.
We ordered a tapa each and all shared: Duck something, Ox something, Steak Sirloin, Salmorejo (like a cold tomato soup), honey BBQ ribs, and Salmon. First time I ever ate Salmon!! And I liked it!! (I've now had it twice because my host mom made it yesterday. I was not excited when I saw it, but when I tried it, again, I like it! Amazing! It doesn't have that same super fishy smell or taste I think it does back home.)
This was a bachelor party I saw in the Street. It says "I'm gettting married, toss me a euro for my escape" It was amusing.
On my walk home... I think it was the Cathedral...
People playing flamenco outside a restaurant.
In the Flamenco place, called La Carboneria
This sweet tennis court ( and basket ball court in the back) right along the water....
Incredible architecture everywhere! This is one example in the Real Alcazar.
hehe had to...
The Real Alcazar is beautiful! One of my favorites! I think its where officials and the King and whatnot used to meet.
The Cathedral outside during the day. When we were walking these ladies came up to us and offered us these little branches with leaves on them.. don't know what kind. They seemed very nice and then took us by the hand and asked if we wanted our fortune... well they didn't need a response. I was told, better yet I should say, we were told, long life, positive energy, someone in love with us - pagare la fortuna!! Pay for your fortune! They were some kind of Italian/gypsy. Pretty sure they were gypsies, but they had an Italian accent. Anyway we split, not paying for something I didn't ask for. I kept the little branch though :) and made it a bracelet.
I went salsa dancing for the first time out here tonight. It was good. People scared me saying that it was a different style out here. whatever. I did fine. And the best part, is that it doesn't even matter what shoes you wear! While I was out, I ran into my host mom's son-in-law's brother... you follow? jeje
Tomorrow I'm going to try and make an 11 am surf class. My last one got canceled on Wednesday because of lack of waves. We'll see...
