It’s a day of mixed emotions as I wake up early and pack my bag to leave Cordoba. I’ve so enjoyed my time here, feeling relaxed and peaceful, taking my days at a slow and leisurely pace.
Conversely, the nomad inside me is ready for the next adventure and is looking forward to exploring a new city. Coming to Seville also ends the solo part of my trip, and I’m excited to see my friend Lucy who is flying in from the UK this morning.
It’s still dark as I leave the guesthouse and make my way through the sleepy pedestrian streets up to the main road. As if waiting for me, a taxi appears and I hop in, headed to the train station. I get a last look at the Alcázar, the palm trees a silhouette in front of the palace. I give a silent thanks for the joyous experience of the last 3 days.
By the time I reach the train station the sun has risen and I feel I have re entered civilisation. The bustle of commuters on a Monday morning is a stark reminder of the reality I left behind only days earlier. I’m on a slow train back to Seville which means I see a lot more of the Spanish countryside than the direct train I took to get to Cordoba.
I grab some breakfast at the train station and it’s not long before I see Lucy walk in with her backpack. I get a wave of excitement at seeing a familiar face and in anticipation for what the next few days will bring.
We jump in a taxi and 15minutes later we are deposited at the edge of the pedestrian shopping area, where somewhere within the maze of streets is our apartment.
The crowds of people and the buzzing of the shops feel electric, as we navigate our way to a small, nondescript alley and find the door to our apartment block.
The apartment is beautiful. I particularly love the use of fun wallpapers and bright furnishings.
It’s so quiet you can barely hear the bustle of the shops below. The crowning glory (and part I’ve been most excited about) is the rooftop pool. A little oasis of calm and relaxation hidden among the rooftops.
Our stomachs rumble and we decide to venture out to find some food and familiarise ourselves with our new neighbourhood. We stumble across the Plaza de San Francisco and enjoy cold cerveza’s, calamari and Iberian ham on a terrace, as the relentless sun beats down. We escape back into the shade of the shopping streets and find ourselves unexpectedly dwarfed by the Metropol Parasol.
This amazing mushroom like piece of architecture is the world’s largest wooden structure, and Seville’s third most visited landmark. Market stalls, bars and public picnic tables are dotted underneath it, taking advantage of its shade and creating an urban pocket in the middle of the historic city center. It’s a juxtaposition of history, architecture and culture that just works.
We enquire about tickets to the viewing platform on top, and decide to book them for 10pm this evening when the whole structure will be lit up and we can see the cityscape at night. By now we are both flagging from the heat and early starts to the day. We decide to head back to the apartment and take advantage of the rooftop pool.
We emerge back into the city a few hours later refreshed and revitalised, ready for our walking tour of Seville. We meet our guide, Julio, a local art historian, and I’m astounded and delighted to be introduced to 25 other people from across the world who have signed up for the tour.
Julio is masterful as he manages to remember everyone’s nationality and relates the history of the city to the different countries and cultures around him. When he calls our group to order he shouts out “follow me family!” And in those two hours it feels like we actually are a family, hungry for knowledge and adventure.
We visit the cathedral, the Jewish quarter, the Alcazar and end up at sunset at the Plaza de España. We are hot, our legs are aching but our brains are full of the stories of this amazing city.
As day turns to night we retrace our steps back to the cathedral quarter to find a restaurant for dinner. We manage to snag a rare table outside as the restaurants and bars are full to bursting. Our choices are easy, wine and paella. Halfway through the meal a group of men wander by and start playing music, the ladies on the table next to us get up and dance. I think to myself how quintessentially Spanish but also how carefree and confident those ladies look enjoying their evening. A reminder for us all to endeavour to live with their spirit!
We finish our meal and head back to the Metropol Parasol eager to see what awaits us at the top. It does not disappoint. A stunning walkway that gives 360 degree views of the city and maps of the skyline which explain what all the buildings are. Undoubtedly the best part is the light and music show that illuminates the top of the mushroom. The colours changing in time to the music like waves across the night sky. It truly is magical.
When we can barely keep our eyes open another minute we take the stairs down to ground level and find our way back to the apartment. I take advantage of the beautiful evening to sit with my feet in the pool at midnight with a glass of wine meditating to the hum of the city. How could tomorrow top today?
Live Wild and Free 