For those reading some of the other posts on this site, everything being written is true: it is extremely difficult to keep up a blog while abroad.  I’m glad I have made a commitment to the GeoBlog, since I am obligated to post with a certain frequency (I just spelled frequency like this: frecuency, similar to the Spanish equivalent frecuencia).  But scheduling time to write is very hard, especially when I am trying to form relationships here with my peers as well as dedicate time to my Spanish familia.  I apologize for not posting sooner but I plan to write again towards the end of this week.

I think part of what is getting me is the energy of this city and the people around me.  There is an element of frantic desire to live and experience things, which I think the photograph above these paragraphs captures.  I took this picture at a bar/cafe in el centro of Sevilla; I went with some friends there to get churros con chocolate (a type of fried dough, covered in sugar, which you then dip in the melted chocolate).  The cafe-tenders were yelling and in a sort of purposeful frenzy.  They seemed to be loving every minute and were joking and laughing with the many customers at the bar.  “Proximo!  Un cafe con leche!  Vamos!” they called out.  The customers fed off of the energy of the men behind the counter and laughed right along with them.

This is the energy that I become wrapped up in every day.  I lose track of time and when I do have a few hours free, I feel the need to rest and recharge, probably due to my inherently introverted nature.  But my friends in this program are eager to see and do everything they possibly can, as am I, and when the situation demands your full attention and participation, you find that you have the emotional and psychological resources to get your head in the game (so to speak).  I think this is part of how you grow and mature.

But enough of this psychological mumbo jumbo!  Here I list some of the things that have been occupying my time in the past week and a half, during which time I have not written a blog!

Dinner in Sevilla, plus a trip to the discoteca

Last Saturday night, January 17, a group of us went out to the centro in Sevilla to celebrate our one friend’s birthday.  It was a fairly large group–I think around 15 total–and because the restaurants in Sevilla are fairly small (especially in el centro, where cafes and bars thrive on the visits of small groups, not large ones) we had to sit outside.  Luckily there were heaters, but oh my gosh.  It was around 55 degrees with a breeze.  Warmer than State College, but not quite summer weather, or even spring.  Regardless, it was a nice dinner: I ordered a small bocadillo (sandwich) with smoked salmon and cheese, served with chips.  Then we headed to a discoteca called Buddha (if you look it up online, it is actually called Kudeta, but for some reason everyone calls it Buddha).

We were stamped in and explored a little bit!  Buddha has three floors, all playing great music, but a group and I decided to stay on the second floor (actually considered the first floor in Spain, and the rest follow accordingly), where they were playing some Spanish hip hop.  It was about 1:30AM when we arrived, and we spent the next 4 hours dancing.  One of the things that amazes me about the nightlife in Sevilla is how late it starts and how long it lasts.  We were there until 5:30AM and there were people that stayed hours longer than we did.  I have no idea how they have so much stamina.

Local Finds

One of the things that has been really fun in Sevilla is just walking around and seeing what kinds of things you can stumble upon.  Restaurants, sights, cafes, artwork, you name it.

Ofelia’s Bakery

A friend in my intensive class discovered this before coming to Sevilla and it happened to be very close to the CIEE center in el centro.  They sell cupcakes, brownies, coffee, all kinds of sweets.  It’s tiny but wonderful.  I bought an Oreo cupcake for my host mom and a carrot cake cupcake for me.  Yum.

Apparently nameless tapas bar

We actually first saw the back of this tapas bar while walking along the river one day.  We thought it looked really cool!  Then a week later a few of us were on our way to buy bus tickets to Portugal (look for the post about my trip on Friday!) and we walked into the same place.  We looked everywhere for a name but couldn’t find one.  It seems like it is more of a building that houses many small vendors, each selling something different–wine, gelato, focaccias, etc.  I’m excited to come here intentionally one day and spend some time trying different foods.

Various architectural sites

Sevilla is teeming with incredible architecture, even in places where you wouldn’t think to find it.  After class one day I was walking around with a friend and we took a random turn down a street that looked pretty.  We ended up in a pretty little park that didn’t have a name (seems to be a trend).  We found a bench where we were able to sit in the sun and bask while watching the people and their dogs (plus many stray cats) pass.

Some other great things I’ve seen/done/been to:

• a coffee shop/bar (the combo is pretty common here) called Mercado Provenzal, where they sell coffee that costs half of a Euro
• the church (iglesia) where my host parents were married (doesn’t your heart swell?)
• a local chain of coffee called Cafe de Indios (I think that is the right name)
• another local chain for sandwiches called 100 Montaditos (where they actually have 100 different kinds of montaditos, or tiny sandwiches)

It’s that time again.  Currently it’s 12:53AM in Sevilla and my bed is calling me.  But, like I said, I’ll be writing again towards the end of this week, and I’ll have pictures of my weekend trip to Faro, Portugal.  Hasta luego!

Location: Plaza Nueva, Sevilla