Sevilla Weekend, 9-11 November

The weekend of the 9th to the 11th saw BCEA students travel to Seville,the capital of Andalusia on the optional trip offered to students. Friday found us witnessing the atmospheric vastness of the Cathedral, the largest church in the world. We took in the stunning retablo and the grandiose tomb of Columbus. We climbed the ramp (built for guards´horses) up the 82 metre-high Giralda- the former mosque tower. The view from the top is of a magnificent, jumbled cityscape puntuated by a soaring church tower or monument. Seville is famous for its tapas amd no visitor should skip a trawl through the tapas bars of the Barrio de la Santa Cruz. After a busy first morning we were in need of sustenance and sampled some specialities in a bar in the mazy Santa Cruz district.

This district-the old Jewish district with its whitewashed, bougainvillea-clad walls and welcoming bars provided the photographers amongst us with interesting material.As we discovered the city has been home to different cultures which have left it today with a rich and great cultural heritage. The city retains remnants from the Roman period, and many Moorish features.

On Friday evening, we experienced the passion and rhythm of Flamenco in the beautiful Patio `Casa de la Memoria´. A great performance which had us truly captivated. The patio setting was just so gorgeous, the tiled patio filled with flowers which surrounded the dancers and musicians. After the flamenco the night was ours to taste the Seville nightlife.

On Saturday we had a packed day visiting the Plaza de España (the colossal monument left over from the 1929 Expo). We strolled along in the warm Sevillian sunshine past the Torre del Oro and the majestic Maestranza bullring.

We had saturday afternoon free to shop and browse, and then met back at the hotel in the evening, got freshened up and beautiful, and headed out again for a tipica cena española as a group.

Sunday was spent visiting the Real Alcázar de Sevilla, the Moorish geometric tile designs decorating the Alcázar are just stunning, and then we walked through the peaceful walled gardens behind.

Sevilla really impressed, I have fantastic memories and photos from this weekend, it is a beautiful city with a people so full of alegría ( high spirits) that it´s impossible to have a bad time. As the saying goes: ¨To whom God loves, He gives a house in Seville¨.