Another unforgettable trip to Spain in the books. Having traveled to northern and central Spain before, I found my experience in southern Spain’s Seville to be very different, with a sprinkle of similarities included. 

From the very first day it was evident to me that Seville was a unique Spanish city unlike others I had traveled to before. The stunning architecture of the city is what first struck me as a clear difference; a city so clean and vibrant that you would never guess many of it’s breathtaking structures were built over a millennium ago. During our time in Seville, we got to experience first hand many of these works of art with even more knowledge being gifted to us by our tour guides. The guided tours of both the Royal Alcazar and cathedral were two of the highlights of the trip for me, coherently connecting the history and identity of the city. Aside from the stunning architecture, the clear influence of many cultures can also be found. The synergy of Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim religions all can be found in the details of these buildings due to the presence of all three in the region during the time of construction over one thousand years ago.

The unique mix of cultures and the city’s history also provided another highlight for the trip: the food. Growing up as the world’s pickiest eater (if you don’t believe me, ask my parents), I never thought I’d be saying things like “wow, thank kangaroo meat tasted amazing!” or “this bull tail is so flavorful!”. The small portions of tapas for these unique dishes allowed me to try many more foods than I ever would have if ordering for myself. Many nights, we would go from tapas bar to tapas bar ordering a plethora of interesting-sounding foods to share, knowing if we didn’t like it we would only be having about one to two bites each due to the size. However, more often than not, we found ourselves needing to return to order larger portions of the food we were initially hesitant about. The main food highlights that come to mind include croquettas de jamón, kangaroo, ostrich, paella, and the aforementioned bull tail. 

To further learn about the culture of Seville, we also had the opportunity to experience two of the iconic symbols of Spain: flamenco and bull fighting. The flamenco lesson was one of my favorite parts of the trip, learning from a flamenco teacher how a traditional flamenco show is organized, making the flamenco show we watched an hour earlier more meaningful. Award-winning students at the flamenco school we learned at then performed for us, with us clapping along to keep the beat. The difficulty we had simply clapping along really showed me how talented these dancers are, and talking to the students after taught me that many start learning from a very young age since it’s such an integral part of their culture. 

Touring the bull fighting arena in Seville also taught me just how cultural this institution is. Despite its undoubtedly cruel practice, bullfighters grow up learning the art for an opportunity to be hailed by their country as one of the best and most talented fighters. Those considered the best are revered due to the cultural roots bullfighting has in Spanish culture, so many young men strive to become one of these icons one day.

Another highlight of this trip for me was simply getting lost in the streets of Seville and seeing where the roads took me. It felt as if with every turn we took, a new breathtaking view was unlocked, requiring a stop for pictures. While the beauty of the city was not lost on me, I often found myself wondering what the locals in Seville think of the paradise they walk through each day; do they realize they’re living in a picturesque scene from a movie, or have they become numb to it? Furthermore, if these people were to visit New England, would they think the same thing about us? 

While the affinity I have for Spain creates a bias for me to believe they would never become blind to the city’s grandeur, I’m not sure this is actually the truth. After living in one place for so long, people tend to become used to their everyday surroundings, forgetting to be grateful for where they are. Especially as a part of American culture, I rarely find myself putting my busy schedule on hold to stop and take a moment to appreciate where I am and what surrounds me. While I would love to remain in Seville and continue to travel Spain to appreciate more of the beauty the country has to offer, I’m excited to return home with this new perspective and see how this change in mindset allows me to see my everyday life differently.