Sevilla

Spain just loves their water fountains in the south.

So we left you at Sierra Neveda, ok. After a bus ride from Granada (awkward for Leah because there was no toilet and no breaks)  we arrived in Seville, the 4th largest city in Spain.

Seville used to be a dominant force in the world for gold trade after Christopher Columbus had discovered America. Many sailors made their way to find the gold and trade it through the largest river port in the world. After the port was moved to Cardez, majority of the population moved with it, leaving Sevilla without a major income for the city. Our tour guide was very opinionated and informed us a lot about Spain after World War II under the dictatorship rule of Franco or ‘little f*****’ as he called him. Although people generally didn't like him there are still a lot of people in Seville that support the work he did.  Spain went through a tough time during the civil war and are still recovering financially and as a country.

The Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla is the oldest bullring in Spain.

Bullfighting originated in Seville and every year Seville holds the first fight to open the season nation wide. Many Spanish people don't go to bull fights and is only really kept running by tourists buying tickets wanting to see something quintessential to Spanish history. We weren't really keen to see a show. 

Torre del Oro or known as the gold tower

Plaza de España

The wind blew a fine mist of water from the fountain all over us.

a moat around the inside the Plaza de España to represent hugging arms to welcome all countries

Seville hosted the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition World's Fair

The Plaza de España was built in the 1920's to host the Ibero-American Expo to attract visitors and get Seville back on the map of important cities. They constructed buildings all around Seville for each of the different countries such as Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Portugal etc. Sadly it didn't have the the desired effect as it was the start of the Great Depression. All of these building are now Museums of different topics like science, aquatic life etc. The Spanish building was a Casino and now a disco tech, how bizarre.

This is what they call the mushrooms

A German designer created this massive umbrella type sculpture for Sevilla. construction started in 2005 and finished in 2011. It looks really impressive,containing different viewing platforms and a restaurant and lights up beautifully at night. The spanish laugh a little at it because 1. It's made out of wood and Sevilla get a crazy hot 50 degrees in summer and chilling winters so the wooden structure bends, stretches and warps from all the elements and 2. It was ment to create shade but provides very little as the big gaps in the crosshatching let light through during the hottest time of the day being around midday.

Seville river (yukky water)

We visited the massive cathedral, I think 3rd biggest in the world and it looked awesome. All around the cathedral the façade is different because of the different times it was extended. Apparently all the gold inside is fake because they had to sell it all.

Back of the Cathedral 

one of the doors to the cathedral 

Different styles that make up the Cathedral

Door to the Alcázar

Really awesome buildings and all different. 

A look back over Seville and the Torre de Oro

We wanted a little slice of Southern Spanish culture so we went out in search of Flamenco. Flamenco originated in the Andalusia southern Spain. In Triana, located across the river from Seville city is where they claim Flamenco first invented. Triana is known as more of the fishing/market/slumy area that comes to life at night. We had some beers and listened to some live spanish Flamenco music. What we were really hoping for was some spontaneous dancing from some locals. Sure enough a few ladies started to do the traditional Flamenco dance of Seville and everyone was doing palmas  (hand clapping) along with the music. Very cool experience.

Nice, cool run before the heat of the kicked in, only 21 degrees! 

 - Arvi