Sevilla

My tour through Portugal started in the unlikeliest of places, Sevilla Spain. The journey to Sevilla was rather tough on the body as the cheap Ryan Air flight did not depart at the most convenient time. This means that the eve of the trip was spent on the floor of the Bergamo Airport in order to catch our 6 o’clock flight. After a less than restful night full of annoying security guards and huge trains of baggage trolleys whizzing past my head it was finally time to board the plane. One good thing about leaving so early is that we arrived in Sevilla with a full day to explore. The first order of business was to get bus tickets to Faro Portugal for early the next morning. Once the travel arrangements had been made we went to check into the hostel and drop off our stuff before hitting the town. When we got to the hostel we were informed that some of the credit card information had been incorrect and our reservation was canceled. This turned from an inconvenience to a crisis when we were informed that they were completely booked and we would have to find other accommodations. After a few seconds of panic the receptionist saved the day by getting on the phone with another hostel down the street and booking us rooms for the same rate we were going to pay originally. With big smiles on our faces we checked into our less than extravagant rooms and then went out on the town!

The first stop on our tour took us to the Plaza de Toros. The arena stands strong with its bright colors, huge doors, and wrought iron gates. We were lucky enough to be in Sevilla during the bullfighting season but unluckily there were none scheduled for the day we were there.






From the arena we went to the enormous cathedral. The guide book said that the designers wanted to make the building so big that people would think the designers were insane. The cathedral is a unique and beautiful mix of the Gothic and Moorish style. Despite the difference in style it still has the ability to humble and amaze. Inside the cathedral is the tomb of Christopher Columbus which was amazing to see. He is one of those people that I always kind of lumped in with the characters from tall tales so to actually see his tomb was an incredible experience. The tomb is really striking as it is a casket carried by four large figures which feel like they could come to life at any moment. In addition to the tomb I marveled at the enormous golden altar and the other ornately decorated naves before heading to the top of the bell tower for a panoramic view of the city. From the tower I could see all of Sevilla; the bull fighting ring, amazing bridges and huge parks that define the center.








Next we walked down to the river and headed to the Plaza de Espana. Our walk took us through one of the parks which was filled with beautiful flowers and huge tropical trees. The entrance to the Plaza is dramatic as the park just seems to disappear as you walk into the enormous square. The wings of the huge building engulf you as you are drawn towards the mammoth fountain in the center. Each province of Spain is represented through painted tile moments which line the inside of the square. We were so moved at the grandeur of the space that we simply could not control ourselves and luckily Tamara was there to capture the beauty of that scene for all to see.









After an amazing day of sightseeing and a night of half sleep in the airport it was time for some rest so we went back to the hostel for naps. When we awoke we closed the night in true Spanish style with a lengthy dinner of Tapas and sangria which lasted until almost midnight. After dinner we caught the end of a Flamenco show and then went to bed because we only had 5 hours before we needed to catch our bus to the south of Portugal. The trip to Sevilla was far too short for that amazing city and just a small glimpse of all the wonders that surely lie ahead for my future travels to Spain. I considered myself lucky to have been able to catch a little of Spain during my trip through Portugal.