Sevilla, Espana

18 April:
In route to Spain! As I said before, it's Semana Santa (Holy Week). Sevilla is the city in Spain that has the largest festival for this. I have a calendar that each day has a destination you should travel to. Once I arrived home, it turns out the day I was in Sevilla my calendar had Semana Santa on that same exact day! Hotels, hostels and everything are completely booked! They practice all year long for the festival. Students in class start asking in September when is Semana Santa. Trust me, it's a huge deal here. 

The guys I met in Faro were on my bus in the morning too. Our plan worked out, we said we were going to Spain! Anyhow, I met my couchsurfing host Martina at the bus station (knew she was going to be awesome right away!)I was her first couchsurfer too! Woo! She is from Slovakia and used to live in England, but now working in Sevilla! 


After dropping my bags off at her house and skyping with my mom really quickly, I had booked tickets from Venice to Sicily, Italy and then from Sicily to Munich! Our European adventure with my mom and aunt is finally getting organized. Can NOT wait for that!
We then went to explore the city. They spent millions and millions of Euros to create this structure for tourism so that Sevilla has an icon within the city. People either love it or hate it because it's so modern compared to everyting else. Nicknamed the mushroom.

The Mushroom

Will eventually have shops at the top!

Everyone ready to watch Semana Santa Processionals

The traditional costume

Semana Santa is even bigger than I could have imagined. Yes, the costumes for us are a bit scary as we relate it to something else; the KKK. Well it turns out that the KKK actually got their costume ideas from this particular festival! It is 100% traditional here in Sevilla and extremely popular as you can tell. Being a part of the processional is an honor in the family.

I only see Starbucks!

Upstairs

After a delicious Starbucks treat, we decided to walk around a bit more and have tapas! Many drink options we had!

Martina!

Classy

Trashy

Deliciousness

Went back to the place after exploring a bit! What a fun place!

Living room

Cow Kitchen!

Couchsurfing!

View from the balcony

Exploring again and we went to Plaza de Espana, where I had once been before! In 1929 Seville hosted the Ibero-American Exposition World's Fair which is why it was built!

Plaza de Espana

Detailed railings

Botas!

After on our way back, we found a park. 

In a tree, typical me!

After the park adventure, we made our way back into the main part of the town with a mission of buying fresas (Strawberries)! Took us awhile as Semana Santa was going on everywhere, but after enough searching, goal accomplished!

Still happening!

Very expensive wine. :)

Taken just for you Megan Saunders!!

Edible kisses from us!

After such great service, we enjoyed our fresas, uvas, queso, y vino. 

Eventually, Alex the other CS staying at Martina's place showed up. He's from Sibera, but now lives in Prague. 

Martina told me that she used eat spaghetti with chocolate. Random!
 
We then went out with all my amigos.

Great People

Who won a 5euro bet? Thanks Johannes!

This bar had fishbowls under the lights at the bar!

 

After dancing, we went back in the streets where Semana Santa was still going on! 

Back to the house to get some sleep. Tomorrow morning we are going to have a typical Semana Santa breakfast. Torrijas, which is basically french toast with a lot of honey! 

19 April:
After we had breakfast, two new couchsurfers arrived at Martina's place! Susie from Alaska and Irma from Hungary, who both lived in northern Spain. Susie teaches English!

It was a rainy day, but we still had fun and enjoyed the city. Walked around and explored as usual.
Oh and Starbucks of course.

Always wanted a clear umbrella! Thanks Martina for letting me borrow it!

We then went to have Tapas, which we had little sandwiches. They got our order wrong,and one of our sandwiches was a chocolate sandwich?!? We didn't we intentionally order that?  

Had to go back to get my stuff, said goodbyes, and off to the airport to my next destination. Not until after one last group photo of us amazing couchsurfers!

The bus route was all messed up due to Semana Santa. Meaning, the bus never showed up, so I went to another stop, bus drivers had no idea where número treinta y dos... Entonces tome un taxi al aeropuerto.

While checking in, there were three very very sterotypical American girls in front of me in line at Ryanair. Hysterical, trying not to laugh out loud. They can't wait to sleep in their bed, how many people are going to cut them in line, they give up on learning Spanish, Northface bags, Louis Vuitton, etc etc etc. Entertaining. Stereotypical.