Seville, a brief summary of what you’ll find

Seville, Seville, Seville, where should I start? It’s difficult to single out one individual thing as I could spend months talking about it. And because I’ve been studying here for 5 years now at la Universidad Pablo de Olavide (which I will talk more about later in this blog, which I have only just created), I’ve experienced a lot of different things up until this point.

If you could only visit three places in Seville what would they be?

A difficult question, which is really making me think, but if I had to choose right now I would say:

1º- La Alfalfa

It’s the place to fiesta as there’s always a party going on. It’s in the very centre of Seville and it’s a small plaza (square) with a playground and a lot of bars. In these various bars and pubs, you can get all sorts of drinks at a reasonable price.

However, the key isn’t in what you can buy but the atmosphere that Seville has in its centre. It’s incredible to see so many people mixing together with the sole goal of having a good time which further adds to the atmosphere.

I won’t go into full detail about any of these places because this is only an initial summary about Seville. I will talk more about certain places which I believe are particularly interesting in future posts. So, I’m asking for a bit of patience while I leave Alfalfa here.

2º- Calle Betis

Another street with the same sort of atmosphere as Alfalfa but also very different because of where it is. It has night clubs and many pubs and bars but the fact that it is right on the river Guadalquivir definitely gives it that extra special feeling.

Also, it’s the hunting ground of the mythical "guiri" (a foreigner, usually from Northern Europe) that can be found there on certain days (Wednesdays are a popular one) because of the cheap drink offers that lure them in. Of course, every little helps to push Spain’s precarious economy in the right direction.

3º- Avenida de la Constitución

Seville’s grandest street starts at Hotel Alfonso XIII, which frequently welcomes famous guests from all over the world. Walking along the street, you’ll pass Seville’s cathedral with its famous bell-tower called the Giralda. You can’t miss any of these types of monuments if you’re going to Seville, that’s why you need to see this street.

Getting lost in this area is a delight as you’ll end up on an interesting walk as there’s so much to see such as Seville’s modern features, the tram, and many places where you can "tapear" (go for tapas) or get an ice cream. Because of its diversity and openness, you won’t get bored walking round Seville.

I could go on forever, but remember it’s only a summary.

What are the people like in Seville?

Well there’s a bit of everything, Seville isn’t as cosmopolitan as Barcelona or Madrid but it’s still a modern city. You see visitors from all over the world who respect one another, and you’ll definitely experience a lot of “compadreo”. But, what is “compadreo”?

Well it’s this: you can get to know someone in just 10 minutes and within that time they’ve already invited you over to visit their village and meet all their friends. Maybe I’m over-exaggerating, but typically in Andalusia, you get to know someone in no time at all and it seems as if you’ve known them all your life. These things you’ll realise in a matter of seconds and you’ll learn whether you’re going to be BFFs or just have a quick catch-up the next time you bump into them in the street.

In any case, although it’s been a few years since “canis” dominated youth culture, it now seems that this phenomenon has become extinct (thank goodness). Now, you’re much more likely to come across “pijos”. They are usually very well-groomed and always in their Sunday best, but don’t judge them just on this. They are very open and always the first to poke fun at themselves. They’re people who will often help you out with whatever you need and so long as you respect them, they’ll respect you.

All in all, a lot of friendly and very open people, but now let's move on from this topic so it can be saved for another blog post

Does it have a beach?

Almost, beaches such as Chipiona are flooded with "Sevillanos". Sanlúcar and the beaches of Huelva are also close by. More than one million people travel here each year to escape some of the heat!

There is of course the fact that Seville, in a way, has its own beach on the Guadalquivir. However, the river is no place for swimming or jumping in (although many people still do), but it is a very pleasant place for topping up your tan on the grass of the river banks, which I’ll go into more detail about in the future.

Conclusion?

As the song goes, “Sevilla tiene un color especial” (Seville has a special colour) and it’s definitely somewhere you need to visit at least once in your lifetime. Thanks to its combination of great people, impressive districts, such as Santa Cruz or Triana, and the beautiful plazas like Plaza España. Every day that you spend here you’ll feel like you’re in a cultural paradise.

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