Something that has always interested me about Spain is the pride of all of the regions, 17 to be exact. If you come across a local and were to ask them where they’re from, they don’t say “Spain”, instead they’ll tell you their from “Catalonia”, “Basque”, or “Valencia”. We’ve been lucky enough to visit 3 of the 17 regions and now we add a 4th, Seville the capital of Andalusia. Known for bullfighting, flamenco, gastronomy, fiestas and their beaches, it’s no wonder why everyone raves about it.
Bring on the Tapas!
Jamon? Si! Croquettes? Si! Patatas Bravas? Si! Everything… Si! Si! Si!
If there is one thing we love to do it’s eat out, and man oh man is Spain the place to do it! We love the idea of tapas style eating and had the best time at Casa Roman. We ordered plate after plate of everything under the sun, washed it down with a few beers and glasses of wine, then like true Spaniards headed home for a siesta.
A word to the wise, when traveling to Spain throw out the American idea of eating schedules or you’ll go hungry. Trust me, we learned that the hard way when we first came to Madrid a few years ago. Have an early breakfast and do any shopping you want in the morning because promptly from 1pm-3pm all of the shops close down and all of the restaurants open for lunch. And you better make sure you’ve ordered plenty of tapas because you won’t find a restaurant open for dinner a minute before 8pm.
Maria Luisa Park & Plaza de España
After all of the eating be sure you make time for walking, and there is no better place to do that then heading over to the river to enjoy the Maria Luisa Park and Plaza España. We had the most beautiful day walking around the gardens, strolling down the tree lined paths, and listening to music in the plaza.
The complex is a huge half-circle with soaring towers at each end, a huge fountain in the middle, and four bridges over the moat you can boat down. Most notably are the alcoves decorated to represent every province of Spain.
There were impromptu Flamenco shows, Spanish Guitar players, and other park entertainers every where you turned. It made for the most perfect Fall Sunday just strolling around enjoying the weather and the sights.
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We are leaving Seville with the fondest of memories and would absolutely put it on a “Must See” list when coming to Spain. We love cities and found this one to be diverse with lots to do, but still walkable and manageable. Spain is one of our most favorite counties, and in a few weeks we’ll be back to see more, but for now we’re going to follow to coast to some place really exciting…Portugal! We have never been and can’t wait to experience new food and new culture!
From Abroad With Love – AG
