Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
13th August >>> Day 57 and onwards.
So because I completely failed at keeping my blog up-to-date for the rest of the time I was in Seville I figured I will do a generic run through of the high-lights and finish off with my last week when we moved from the village back to the city flat.
Once I got back from Italy, things took a turn and I started to spend a lot more time out in the evenings with my Spanish friends and the kids started to get more and more comfortable with me; feeling more like family to me now more than anything. I never expected to get attached to them but I definitely realised this during my vacation to Italy - I don't think I've ever spent all day every day for 2 months together with the same people, like ever - so this could explain why! Most of the days consisted of playing games in the swimming pool consisting of never-ending shoulder rides, hand-stands and chasing them through the water! I started to cook a little less as the parents started preparing some of the meals which was a nice break and I got to see what kind of food they liked cooking. My Spanish friends introduced me to more of their Spanish friends and we went out for dinner most weekends at the cutest little tapas bar in a village near to our village - our village, I eventually found out, is called Rosaleda!! ...The food at this tapas bar was amazing and the family and I had been once before for Alvaro's birthday. The jamon is out of this world and all tapas is €2-3 for a decent size! The only downside of this tapas bar was that the owner seemed to take a liking to me unfortunately. He was oldish, had a lovely pot belly and most of his teeth missing...just what you want really! My friends teased me a lot in Spanish and he liked the idea that 'this Australian girl would come and work for you!' Haha oh dear!
The rest of the summer in the village was spent either in the pool, going out on the weekend or going into the city via the extremely reliable (not) bus!
I met up with a group of people who were friends of a friend and are part of the Baha'i community here in Seville. I think I may have mentioned them in a previous blog, but I may not have ...either way I met up with them most weekends and once the family and I moved back to the city flat (for my last week in Seville) I was meeting up with them most days to go to children's activities that we would hold or just to walk around the city sightseeing! The two people who I spent most of my time with were Majon and Yasmin. They are both younger than me but are such beautiful people and really made me consider not leaving Seville haha!!! On one of my last days we went for a walk around the city stopping at Plaza de España (the profile pic for this blog) which was swarming with tourists and as usual, Africans selling illegally on the sidewalks (the norm here in Spain it seems), but the horse and carriages trotting along, the sun shining onto the plaza, and the atmosphere of the whole place was so cool. We walked up some steps that led into the balcony of the plaza which gave a beautiful panoramic view of everything; the centre-feature fountain and the little rivers with tourists all in little boats going around under each bridge - similar to Venice but of course not as dramatic or romantic! Apparently this plaza was used in a Star Wars film as well as the movie The Dictator!! And also, apparently, the plaza faces towards the direction of America for some reason - it doesn't help when you forget that reason though! ...The architecture and detail of of the plaza is so exquisite and beautiful with not one panel, pillar or corner left forgotten.
We then proceeded to walk downtown back into the city and went to Maria Louisa Parque which I had been to a few times already to feed the pigeons with the children, but I never realised just how big the park was! We found little secret gardens, ponds, and even a mini tropical rainforest with steps spiraling upwards to a little balcony overlooking a man-made waterfall and scenery. The tropical trees were apparently transported from South America or something and planted here - not bad eh! Earlier in the day, before meeting with Majon and Yasmin, I briefly went to a Catholic Mass celebration with Eva (the Mum) and the girls. There was a huge parade swarming of people that apparently doesn't happen at this time of year but was in celebration of a 75 year anniversary...of something haha again I don't remember what specifically but it was big and grand and colourful with a lot of horses, instruments and people wearing weird garments! The parade began in the park and then commenced back in the park in a different area and so that meant that Majon, Yasmin and I found ourselves amongst a mass of people walking and watching the closing of the parade. It was extraordinary to say the least - I think that would be the word!! I enjoyed the atmosphere though and afterwards we walked back to the city centre for tapas...
On one of my last nights I met with my friend Naomi who is the older sister of Celia;; one of the girls from the village that I became friends with. They were born here in Seville but moved to France when they were young. Now they come down to the village every summer and Naomi permanently lives in Seville. We were to have dinner at a restaurant in Alameda de Hércules which I had never heard of but was just outside the city centre and was like a super-charged version of Adelaide's Rundle Mall with all different shops, restaurants, bars, ice creamerys and buskers filling either side of the pedestrian-only street. We had dinner at a really top quality tapas bar along with her boyfriend, Harold who I was yet to meet. He is an anesthesiologist and will be going to Cuba in some months to begin a contract there as apparently the medical profession doesn't pay well here in Spain - so I don't blame him for going! Half way through our meal, Naomi's friend Anyi joined us and fortunately everyone could speak English which helped a lot thanks to my Spanish still being pathetically minimal! We had a lovely evening together and sometimes; I feel like you don't really have to know people for very long at all and yet you just click and feel completely comfortable - and that's how it felt with these friends. You may not even see them again for a long time, if ever at all, but that is the beauty of making friendships when you are traveling!! And thanks to social media - you can keep in touch and update each other on your where-abouts. ..After tapas we got some wicked Italian ice cream (yes I'm not meant to have lactose) but it was seriously delicious. From here, I was to catch the tram home but by the time I got there, I discovered that I had missed the last one and so I proceeded to walk home, baring in mind that my phone was now flat and it was pitch black (night time) - thank goodness I kinda knew the way though and that simply consisted of following the tram line all the way to San Bernado. A surprisingly enjoyable walk and Seville tends to feel very safe and trouble-free at night time :)
So my last few days were spent mostly in the city with a bit more flexibility from the family which was great and even though I was excited for the next chapter approaching - I knew I was going to miss the children here and my new friends so much. I thought about how weird it would be waking up in the morning without the kids there and to have no one to cook for! I somehow had become accustomed to cooking for at least 7 people at a time haha :)
This part of the journey for me has definitely been eye-opening and an experience that has taught me not only so much about children but also about myself. I have so many new skills I can take away from this and I feel like I know 'Chloe' a little bit more! And if I dare say, I am quite proud of myself as friends back home teased that I would come out of it all with grey hairs or even worse; pulling my hair out hahah but (checks head), nope my hair is still there and even quite blonde after all the sun exposure and swimming in the sea :)
On my very last day in Seville I met up with my friend Marta (cousin to the children) and we visited the Real Alcazar - a huge castle where the Queen and King used to resident. The cost shocked me a little especially as it is free if you are; 1. a resident of Seville, 2. a student, 3. in a school group, or 4. elderly - so basically I'm the only non-categorized person!! The castle was beautiful though inside with many different courtyards, gardens and waterfalls, and the most stunning carvings in every wall and ceiling with all different forms of art and architecture. I later discovered that only about 20% of the castle is accessible to the public with the real beautiful rooms hidden behind locked doors. I only know this because Enrique (the Dad) informed me afterwards and that he has done some work with a company for the castle and so got to inside these hidden rooms! (Damn it!) ...A couple of hours passed by before I had to say adíos to Marta... Marta really took me under her wing during my time in Seville and had been my little pocket rocket of information and such a caring friend - something you appreciate always but even more so when traveling.
Afterwards, I briefly met with Majon and Yasmin to say bye and we ended up going to Yasmin's Aunty's Indian-hippy clothing store where I treated myself to a pair of hippy pants ready for Granada. In Australia we like to call these type of pants 'poo-catchers' ...haha well, at least I do!!!! They're funky and comfortable and great in hot weather...
I said 'bye and see you soon' to Majon and Yasmin; my new friends...my new family; who I knew I would miss very much going forward...
So this next chapter of my journey would include going along the south coast to Malaga, Granada and then Mazarron in Murcia where my Aunty, Uncle and Grandad live. And, in terms of being completely behind on these blogs, I hope you will forgive me - I have been surprised at how many people have messaged me asking what's happened and why have I stopped blogging hahah so I'm sorry!!!!! I can now start to include more detail again and have you all up-to-date on my little crazy expedition around this side of the world!!!
Mwah xxx
- comments
Carlo Chloe I am speechless. I'm so proud of what you're doing with this exploration of yours. It's fantastic! When you eventually come back home (that's if you do) you'll want to make new plans & head off again. I know you will. Because Adelaide is boring. You have a long way to go still. Good luck Chloe. I'll keep reading your blogs, they're amazing. As I read I picture myself alongside you as you go about your journey. Take care Chloe. Til your next blog. Carlo. xx.