21 August, 2019
I am strolling through the narrow streets of Seville with no clear plan in mind. Rows of white and pastel-coloured houses keeps me cool in their shade. Overhead, balconies decorated with tiles and flowers keep guard over the alleyways below. This city smells like orange blossom.
It's siesta time and all is calm and quiet. I meet only a handful of locals who share a "buenas tardes" and a smile as we cross paths. Everyone seems to have mastered slow living in Seville.
There's no such thing as a wrong turn in this city. I take a left and encounter La Giralda, the distinguished bell tower of Seville Cathedral, the largest gothic cathedral in the world.
A few steps farther I find the illustrious Royal Alcázar palace, a Unesco World Heritage Site, better known as the Water Gardens of Dorne among Game of Thrones fans. It is considered one of the finest examples of Mudejar architecture, a fusion of traditional Moorish, gothic and Renaissance styles. As I walk through its ornate rooms and lavish gardens, I breathe in the splendour of the Seville of centuries long gone.
Upon leaving, the sight of tables surrounded by people enjoying tapas whets my appetite. In the old Jewish neighbourhood of Santa Cruz, I squeeze through the crowds at the cosy Taberna La Goleta where diners stand, rubbing shoulders. Making my way to the bar, I order a glass of its renowned orange wine and a montadito - a small sandwich.
There's something charming about Seville, with its rich cultural history, delicious food and easy-going approach to life. I am under its spell.
