Today, everyone woke up at 9 a.m. and gathered for breakfast to start our day. We were ready to explore some of the most iconic landmarks in the city of Sevilla – the Catedral de Sevilla and the Giralda Tower.
Our first stop was the Giralda Tower. As we approached, the sheer night was quite impressive. When we arrived, we climbed up the ramps of the bell tower. Although the walk up the tower was a true test of endurance, we were rewarded with breathtaking views of the city of Sevilla that left us in awe. After visiting the Giralda Tower, we split up into groups and explored the cathedral, learning more about the history. We saw many historical sights, such as Christopher Columbus’s gravesite. The exquisite architecture, carvings, statues, and paintings were truly remarkable.
After soaking in the beauty of the cathedral, we made our way to the grocery shop at Mercado del Arenal. Our group split up into categories. Each group was given money to spend for our picnic. Some were tasked with purchasing bread and fruit, and others with sweets, and meat. The market had a variety of bakery, sweets, fresh meat, and food. Also, we stopped by to get some beverages of our choice. A short 10-minute walk led us to Jardines de Chapina, a lovely park in Sevilla. The park was flourishing with trees, flowers, with the river that runs through Sevilla. This was where we spread out our picnic and indulged in the tasty food. The weather was absolutely perfect and warm, making our picnic even more enjoyable. Following the picnic, we went back to the hotel for siesta time, which gave us some time to recharge before our guided tour at the Alcázar Palace.
We had an hour during siesta time to refresh before we took a 15-minute walk to the palace, where we were greeted by our tour guide, who gave us earpieces in order to listen to his commentary. He was very lively and funny, making countless jokes throughout the tour and making the experience much more enjoyable and memorable for all of us. We saw beautiful interiors and exteriors during our one-hour tour at the palace, including a flower-filled courtyard with a maze and amazing halls with mineral-stained designs (colored designs stained by minerals and gems such as lapis lazuli, jade, and turquoise) on the ceilings and walls.
We took amazing photos of the scenery at the palace and learned many things, including the history of the dollar sign, which comes from the Latin phrase “plus ultra,” (it is the national Spanish motto and means “further beyond”) which is embedded in a ribbon between two pillars, making the “S” shape with the two lines. We also learned about the Spanish royal family and their history, as the tour guide walked us through each person of interest through their self portraits on the walls. After saying thanks and goodbye to our guide, we concluded our tour with a self-exploration at the courtyard, where we split up in groups to explore the amazing greenery and environment the palace had to offer, which many of us said was breathtaking. Finally, we took a short break at the cafe right on the outside of the palace to regroup before the next activity together.
After the courtyard, we went shopping for two hours, at a street called Calle Sierpes (Serpent Street), named for the way the street weaves around like a snake. There were many different varieties to the shops, going from cute bakeries all the way to clothing, jewelry, and perfume stories. Everyone found a bunch of things to get for themselves and their family members. Several members of the group indulged in buying expensive perfumes that would have gone for way more in the U.S. Some members also found expensive collectible items for really cheap! The streets were also very beautiful and. Some people also went into a soccer jersey store and bought some jerseys from iconic players such as “Mbappé” and “Bellingham.” Overall, the shopping experience was amazing, and everyone had a great time!
For dinner, we were able to choose where we ate, so people ate a variety of foods. Some people ate delicious hamburgers, while others enjoyed foods like salmon and pasta. Afterwards, while we walked back to our hotel, we stopped by an ice cream and dessert shop. The shop had a delicious variety of foods. Some people got ice cream with flavors such as Kinder and strawberry, while others got more traditional Spanish desserts, such as torrijas, which is similar to the French Toast we have in the U.S. Afterwards, everybody went back into their hotel rooms to go to sleep and get ready for the ride to Málaga.
Buenas noches, Barleen, Berra, y Kayla