Buh-bye Sevilla

Well, I said "Adios" to the city that has been my home for the past 4 months last Wednesday. I leave this blog off with a picture of the symbol of Sevilla.

Legend has it that King Alfonso X's son tried to usurp him back in 13th Century, but the people of Sevilla continued to remain loyal. He rewarded them by giving them the "NO8DO".

The motto is a rebus, combining the Spanish syllables (NO and DO) and a drawing in between–the figure “8.” The figure represents a skein of yarn, or in Spanish, a “madeja.” When read aloud, “No medeja do” sounds like “No me ha dejado,” which means “It [Sevilla] has not abandoned me.”

The NO8DO is all over the city, mainly on every manhole cover and other city-utilites.

I might have left the city, but it will always be there if I want to relax in the hot sun, sipping café con leche and conversing Spanish with a lisp.

Hasta luego Sevilla.

Love,corey

La Feria

Hola todos

La Feria is a week long celebration that began Monday night/Tuesday morning 12:00am with the lighting of the Portada (the gateway into the fairgrounds) and the entire fair grounds.

The party lasts until next Sunday night.

From 2pm to about 9pm is a family atmosphere with dancing, drinking of el "rebujito" and manzanilla, a sherry wine from the Andalusian region that has a flavor reminiscent of chamomile (in Español, manzanilla = chamomile). There is also a parade of the most beautiful equines you will ever see, pulling carts ladden with dressed up ladies and gentlemen.

From 9pm to 8 am, the party intensifies, and all the Spaniards head toward their families' casetas to drink and drink some more.

The casetas are mostly private tents, but there are a few public ones that us tourists can buy drinks and food in. You can't just walk into a random caseta and be welcomed; they have security guards and you have to be invited.

It is craziness, just like the rest of Sevillan life...

Love yall, and promise I'm not staying out too late :)

-corey