Exploraciones de España
Without a doubt, my favorite place in Sevilla is el Puente de Isabel II, more commonly known as el puente de Triana. If the Prudential Center is the Polaris of Boston, then this beautiful bridge – which traverses el Río Guadalquivir – is the North Star of Triana: If you can find your way to this bridge, you can find your way home. (You can also find an excellent vantage point from which to observe the beautiful Guadalquivir, and perhaps capture some breathtaking photos.)
I think the reason I love this landmark so much is because life in Sevilla seems to orbit around it. Below, rowers glide across the glassy green surface of the water. People meander along the sidewalks, chattering happily and soaking up the Spanish sunshine. By night, an accordionist takes up his post in the middle of the bridge, and the Old World charm of Sevilla is set ablaze by a romantic soundtrack. The Guadalquivir is lined with bars and clubs, and as the evening wears on, you can see hordes of people imbibing their inhibitions and taking to the dance floor. Because of the Guadalquivir, life is possible in a region that would otherwise be an uninhabitable desert, and el puente de Triana is the perfect location from which to take in its beauty.
While el puente de Triana is easily closest to my heart, my class has done its fair share of exploring other places. Here in Sevilla, we experienced the (literally) breathtaking 34-story climb to the top of la catedral y giralda, the world’s third largest cathedral. Furthermore, we visited el Real Alcázar de Sevilla, a beautiful Arab palace that apparently doubles as the kingdom of Dorne from Game of Thrones. Our group has enjoyed beach days in Cádiz and Huelva, where we also toured beautiful castles and monasteries. On Friday, we will attend our second feria, where we will witness traditional dances such as el flamenco y la sevillana. The weekend that follows will be spent in Granada, where we will see the renowned la Alhambra palace.
Most of my classmates agree that this trip has been eventful. Traveling with a school group certainly alleviates the stress that comes with planning a global adventure such as this one. Without guidance, I would not have known which cultural experiences to seek out. As it is, I feel satisfied with the smorgasbord of Spanish culture that has been laid out for us.
