Wow, what a weekend! This weekend the girls from San Diego State and I went to Sevilla, in southern Spain. It was a great first trip away from Madrid. The city had perfect weather very similar to the weather in Southern California and was really beautiful. To save some money we all decided that taking the bus from Madrid (about 6 hours) was the best way to go. Even though it was a lot cheaper than taking a train, it is not the most comfortable way to travel. I was able to get by with my ipod, homework and a little sleep. One interesting thing that happened on the way to Sevilla was that our bus driver got pulled over, that was a first for me. : ) Thankfully, we arrived in Sevilla safely and there was a taxi driver who was nice enough to tell us that we were close enough to our hostel to walk. Since this past weekend was a national holiday and we booked the trip last week there was no space available at any of the hostels for 16 girls. We were able to get 10 girls at one hostel and the others had to get another place to stay. The hostel I stayed at was with the 9 other girls. Wow, what an experience! Even though I have already stayed with most of these girls when we first arrived, this trip was a lot different. I knew eventually we would break into smaller groups (which is probably for the best) and that is what happened this weekend.
When we arrived the first night we went straight to sleep. When I woke up the next day I started to realize why there was a lot of space available at this hostel. Since it was getting remodeled while we were there, there were some things we had to adapt to such as sharing one bathroom…yes, that is right with 9 girls. The first day there was also only cold water in the morning. Thankfully most of the girls were able to survive and realize this is all part of traveling. The hostel was very nice besides the bathroom situation. There was a common room where people could eat, a kitchen to make your own food, and a terraza. The first day we naturally broke up into groups. The girls I was with went to see the Alcázar. The Alcázar in Sevilla is one of the oldest European palaces. It was amazing. I loved it so much! It was not only beautiful, but it was free for students. This palace has a mixture of Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. I noticed the Moorish architecture the most from the tiles and ceilings, which were remarkable and very detailed. This palace looks like a place I would want to live if I lived back in the 15th century…hehe…the gardens and patios are extravagant. My pictures do not do even capture what it really looks like. The most well known king and queen to live here was Fernando and Isabel. Even though we spent a lot of time walking around in the Alcázar I know there was even more things to see.
After the Alcázar we got some lunch and took a walk around the city. Even though it feels as if Sevilla should have an ocean near by there is only a river. I say it feels as if there should be an ocean because of the wonderful weather and there are a lot of palm trees. We walked to Plaza de Espana, which was another awesome sight. It is a huge plaza with a large fountain right in the center. Throughout the whole city there are horse-drawn carriages, and it seems as if they all end up at the plaza. Right across the way from the Plaza de Espana is the Parque de María Luisa. This is another beautiful park, just like in Madrid. To me he parks here in Spain are the center of the community. Everyone meets throughout the day or on the weekends to enjoy life. We enjoyed the park by renting a bike that holds 5 people. It was great especially since I did not have to peddle..hehe..thanks girls. Throughout the day we explored the city and then we met up for a fun night out on the town.
That night before going out with the girls I had a great conversation about my dad. It meant a lot to me. Not only was I am able to share with them about my life I was able to get to know them better. I am happy I feel comfortable with many of the girls here and I trust them, something I was hoping for. At the beginning of the night we met some Spanish boys who invited us to go with them to a club. They were really nice guys and were very helpful with us while we were speaking Spanish. Some of them were lawyers and one was a farmer (look at the pictures and guess who the farmer is) I had a lot of fun that night despite the fact that they played some of the same songs over and over again at the club.
Like a typical night out in Spain, we did not return home till around 6 a.m. so I knew the next day we would be taking it easy. I think I enjoyed this trip a lot because it was very relaxing. Even though I did not see all that Sevilla has to offer I enjoyed getting to know the city (meaning I enjoyed getting lost several times) and I enjoyed the atmosphere. The atmosphere is a lot different than Madrid. Even though I love the slow, charming vibe of Sevilla I still love the chaotic, cultural vibe of Madrid. I love big cities. After our day of relaxing and enjoying the city we went out for yummy Spanish food. We got paella. To save money on alcohol we also bought some of our own. We shared sangria, wine and two bottles of champagne. I know there is not place in the U.S. that would let us do that and if they did I do not think it would have the same ambiance as there was in Sevilla. That night we also went to another club that was pretty cool inside. It was all white and there were big tables that had cushions (looked like you could fall asleep on them) and an amazing bathroom. The dj played old school music plus some techno, which I liked. The place was still pretty empty around 1 a.m. and the people finally arrived around 3 a.m. I guess that is just how it is in Spain. : )
Again since we planned the trip late we all had to take different buses back home. Patty and I had the late bus home at 6 p.m. We enjoyed the city that day by buying our own food to make sandwiches by the river and then we hung out at another park. Even though I did not see every main attraction in Sevilla I will come back for the weather and sights. Since I will be here till next June I know I will also plan trips to other cities in the area such as Cádiz, Cordoba, and Granada. This trip taught me a lot. I am learning to adapt to people and places. I can only imagine what is ahead. I am excited to continue to meet new people and hopefully travel even more.
