Lazy Sunday

Last week we had everyone over together in our apartment for the first time to hang out before hitting Calle Betis, which is the street for bars/clubs for international students. Usually about 98% of the people in the places on Calle Betis speak English. I like being among peers, but I would definitely like to find out where the Spaniards go out and go there also. It was great having everyone in the apartment though. My natural love of hosting was showing as I happily opened our door and offered finger sandwiches to the 20 people crammed around our table playing Ring of Fire. I am looking forward to many nights like these and many more happy memories in our chateau, as we like to sarcastically call it. Really though, it doesn’t matter how nice a place is as long as it’s safe and filled with people you love and good times with happy memories. And since that is the case, I see a very bright future for our little chateau.

The Sevilla v Real Betis soccer game was last night, which is a very heated rivalry since, with both teams being based out of Sevilla, it divides the citizens of the city. We went back to the same bar as before to watch the game again. It was not quite as exciting as the last game because it ended in a tie. Apparently the rivalry can get pretty violent though, so I’m almost glad that no one team won, or we might have seen some intense bar fights. (It is on my bucket list to see a bar fight though, but I guess I’ll just have to wait until another impassioned rivalry) I chose last night about 10 minutes before the game started that I would be a supporter of Sevilla, based solely on the reasoning that Sevilla’s team color is red and Betis’ is green. I look much better in red. I’ve already planned to by a red scarf with the team’s emblem on it. Gotta show team pride! This then lead to my friend Blakely, who chose to support Betis 2 days before the game, and I ironically screaming in each other’s faces about “our” teams. It’s much more fun to watch sports when you care next to zero about the turn out of the match.

Yesterday afternoon before the game, we took a walk around the city with some friends, exploring small streets and big streets and restaurants and landmarks. One sight that we found is called “Las Setas” (literally meaning “The Mushrooms”), which is a giant sculpture in the middle of the city that is in the shape of several different mushrooms. It is made out of huge criss-crossing beams of wood and claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Taking an elevator to the top and following the pathways can provide a beautiful panoramic of the city. I’m still struggling to comprehend why this structure is here. What purpose it provides, why they decided to put it where they put it, why it is designed so modernly and then placed in the middle of vintage, quaint buildings. I suppose it’s supposed to be artsy and I just don’t get it. Maybe I should be taking an art class while I’m here. Regardless, it is a great way to see the city in a unique way.

While we were out exploring yesterday, we came across a busy street in the Triana district of the city. With restaurants and shops lining the sides of the streets, vendors and musicians posted up on the sidewalks, and people scattered everywhere, it was so alive. It’s about a 30-minute walk from the apartment, but I would still love to spend some more time there. While strolling down the street, one of the many signs taped to one of the many light posts caught my attention. It was advertising yoga classes! Josie and I are going to check into it, and I hope that it ends up working out. Yoga is a culture of its own that can be practiced in all parts of the world, each place with its own culture. It would be interesting to see how the culture of yoga translates to an entirely different place; to see how the culture of the place that it is being practiced is reflected on the practice of the yoga itself.  If it ends up happening I’ll be sure to report my findings!

Today we spent the day in a grassy park right next to the river, watching rowboats, kayakers, paddleboats, and tour boats pass by. Sitting in the sun all day is just what I needed. Our chateau doesn’t get enough light, and if I am there for more than 3 hours, I start to get very antsy. So we packed a lunch, threw some books and our computers in our backpacks, and headed to the river. The walking pathway that runs parallel to the river is lined with palm trees and trees that look like willow trees. The contrast between the shade of the trees and the bright sun is so picturesque. I would be content to spend every Sunday this way (except the weekends when we are in fabulous places like Morocco and Ireland of course!). Also, as a side note, we discovered while lounging on the lawn today that the phenomenon of leggings as pants being worn by people in questionable shape does exist here. I thought I had escaped that when I left the States. Darn. Photo evidence: 

The place that I am updating my blog from is almost unbelievably pretty. Sitting riverside by the Guadalquivir on a cobblestone walkway lined with palm trees and tropical flowers, with a skyline of church steeples and charming apartments in the background, all while the sun sits at the perfect level in the sky where its not blindingly bright but still warms your whole being. Days like these are the reason that I know I was right to choose Sevilla.

Love from Spain! xoxo