Back to to the big city for a weekend: Sevilla

Casa de Pilatos
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So API took us to Sevilla last weekend, and we had all been looking forward to getting out of granada for awhile but not having to pay for anything (except food...) but best of all not having to plan anything! Oh and staying in a hotel instead of a Hostel! Woohoo!

We got into Sevilla late friday night, had a fun little tour around the city with our directors, who just continued to warn us how much bigger Sevilla is than our new home of Granada... haha. We made sure to hit the sack early as we had a big day ahead of us on Saturday.

I love spanish food most of the time don't worry. but i miss take out.

Just fooling around... haha
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I got up early with some friends, and we headed straight out to the Casa de los Pilatos. It is an ancient old arab palace that was built in the 1500s. It was fabulous. We called it sevilla's mini Alhambra. But it was definitely worth it. Plus with the entrance ticket you got a tour of the rooms and what not. All my tours I take are in spanish now. I'm so proud. i don't feel like such an idiot tourist when I walk through a famous tourist landmark with a group, and we are being spoken to in the native language of the country we are in. It is an amazing feeling to laugh at the huge groups of tourists with the standard hawaiian shirts and rick steve's money belts and they just stare at this group of people who are half their age, speaking and understanding the language. I love it. :) haha. Anyways, we then wandered around a little and headed back to the hotel to meet to group to walk to the famous Cathedral. What a sight! 3rd largest cathedral in the WORLD, and the first 2 are in Rome. go figure. Also, its the largest gothic cathedral in the world, if you only consider that style. and damn. its huge. It was fantastic, again to have a tour in spanish, I loved our little tourguide she was so cute.

I climbed the Giralda (belltower) to get to the top for a view of Sevilla... NOT as pretty as the views in Granada.
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After that we broke off again, and headed across the river to what is technically another town, but only a 5 minute walk across the bridge. And did the famous walk along "Calle Betis" following the river. (lets just say they actually have a river here... where as we have a place where a river SHOULD be in granada haha...) We grabbed some lunch.

Next, we went to Plaza de los Toros. The bullfighting ring! So cool. I think that might satisfy my want to see a bull fight while I'm here. After I learned the process and what they do to the bulls I got a littttttle turned off by the whole idea. But the bull ring included a museum of old costumes, and reasons for the traditions, as well as the old bull heads on the walls of course. Awesome. haha. Lets see... Then on the way to the hotel we stopped at Torre de Oro (the Tower of Gold...) and a ton of the other just famous landmarks around the city. Saturday night, we went to Feria de Naciones (Fair of the nations), which is a huge fair where each country has a booth and they serve food and sell goods and it was amazing. Cheap fun dinner. We got to try new foods from all over the world! I love spanish food most of the time don't worry. but i miss take out. i miss phad thai, and chicken chow mein... I miss my mom's egg chicken, and jerry's HUGE caeser salads. I miss it not being rude to mix your meet with your salad... and make a chicken salad, or something. I miss not having half a plate of carbs when i come to lunch, or "hamburguesas" which are NOT real hamburger meat, and they are grey in color. and very pink inside. haha. Especially I miss REAL green FRESH vegetables.... Not to complain or anything... :) So the Fair was wonderful to have a break from the standard foods.

In the Bell Tower!
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Sunday, we got up early again, and decided to go to a mass at the cathdral while we were in town. it was alright, I had been promised organs... because thats what i miss about church... but nope. It was an early mass, so thats why. but ohh well. :) It was still amazing to go to mass in the LARGEST gothic cathedral in the world! haha how cool! Then API took us to the Alcazar which is the old Fortress of the town, and old palaces. The Gardens were great. The palaces were alright, but The weather was wonderful and all i wanted to do was hang out in the gardens all day! :)

Torre del Oro!
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After that we headed back to the hotel, checked out and boarded the bus. We made a pitstop in El Torcal on the way home for a nice hike. A good stretch of the legs, and relaxing hike. It was in these old limestone remains that, millions of years ago were at the bottom of the ocean, and are now up in the mountains. Oh Global Warming... what have you done.

Other than that, Got home late sunday night, and went to class Monday morning, way too early of course... Remember to click on "view More pictures" because I try to upload as many as it will let me!) Enjoy!

Plaza de Toros
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Ohh Good news! Took my final for my October Class on Wednesday, and I passed it! I start level "Advanced A" on Monday! Wish me luck! I don't feel like i'm an advanced spanish speaker... haha.

Anyways. Wanted to catch you all up on that Trip. This weekend was Halloween of course and went out and had some fun in town. Tons of people out despite the lovely pouring rain. Literally reminded me of Bellingham weather. I dressed up as a Sheriff... I had a nice cowboy type hat and the best part was the toy gun. tried to keep it nice and warm since I'm still fighting a lovely cold...

in the bull ring
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Other than that, I'll have more for you after this weeked. I'm off to ANOTHER COUNTRY. Heading to Morocco for the weekend! I"m so excited! I'll keep you posted!

I send my love everyone! xoxo Take Care, and Hope everyone had a Wonderful Halloween! :)