Location: Seville, Spain
She sat awkwardly on the hard sofa attempting to ignore the feigned groans from the prostitute in the adjacent room. The old hotel room shifted as he walked through the door. He was carrying bags of groceries and a beaming smile.
Everything was forgotten; there wasn’t a place in the world that she would rather be.
Everything was forgotten; there wasn’t a place in the world that she would rather be.
I stepped into the glaring sunlight of Seville like a sullen teenager. I grumbled at the passing people and surrounding buildings like an old man. There was no doubt about it, I was suffering from “it’s-too-early-and-I-need-a-proper-coffee”.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes yawning softly finally noticing the approaching structure, Plaza de España. My fatigue was replaced with curiosity; I had never before seen such architecture. The semi-circular building was adorned with colourful tiles, small boats sleepily glided down the turquoise moat and the tune of a flamenco guitar echoed through the plaza. Superman gently took my hand and explained that the mosaics depicted the 50 Spanish provinces. Before I could ask how he knew such a thing, a staircase I simply had to explore distracted me!
After examining every dusty corner of Plaza de España we strolled to the city center passing clay houses, bubbling fountains and tall palm trees offering little relief from the searing heat. Finding a quaint café we ordered a coffee to relieve my caffeine withdrawals. The hum of chatter filled the air along with the humid mist, I sighed in relief as the creamy brew met my lips. I liked this city; it was unique from the last. The picturesque buildings were a mixture of Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque architecture with bright colour that splayed across the streets. Horse driven carriages occupied the roads and ice-cream parlours were found on every corner offering temptations too enticing to resist. Walking back to our hotel we indulged ourselves with a siesta until we would once more forage the streets for nutrition.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes yawning softly finally noticing the approaching structure, Plaza de España. My fatigue was replaced with curiosity; I had never before seen such architecture. The semi-circular building was adorned with colourful tiles, small boats sleepily glided down the turquoise moat and the tune of a flamenco guitar echoed through the plaza. Superman gently took my hand and explained that the mosaics depicted the 50 Spanish provinces. Before I could ask how he knew such a thing, a staircase I simply had to explore distracted me!
After examining every dusty corner of Plaza de España we strolled to the city center passing clay houses, bubbling fountains and tall palm trees offering little relief from the searing heat. Finding a quaint café we ordered a coffee to relieve my caffeine withdrawals. The hum of chatter filled the air along with the humid mist, I sighed in relief as the creamy brew met my lips. I liked this city; it was unique from the last. The picturesque buildings were a mixture of Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque architecture with bright colour that splayed across the streets. Horse driven carriages occupied the roads and ice-cream parlours were found on every corner offering temptations too enticing to resist. Walking back to our hotel we indulged ourselves with a siesta until we would once more forage the streets for nutrition.
Hours later, our arms were linked using one another as support as we balanced precariously on the white line. The little man turned green, we could now cross. We danced awkwardly across the road grinning like Cheshire cats; we resembled six year old-school girls with our squeals of laughter. Leaping from one colour to the next we travelled down the dark winding streets passing clusters of beautiful buildings and restaurants. Solemn waiters glared at us, couples shuffled out of our way in annoyance and I am sure I heard the word "imbecile" muttered. I didn’t have a care in the world. You see, if we stood on shades of grey we would surely die!
We died a few times on our journey to the next flamenco bar. To our disappointment it was closed making it five now in total. It seemed more restaurants and bars in Seville were closed than they were open. We continued with our quest until eventually, we stumbled across a congested restaurant with a cue of people waiting out the front. We joined the line while regaining our breath gazing lustfully at the other patron’s meals. The waiter stalked out appearing flustered, he told the group behind us to leave. Once we were seated and enjoying a chilled glass of Sangria I contemplated how lucky we were to have arrived not a minute later. To our stomach’s pleasure an assortment of tapas arrived, our delicious meal was well worth the wait and the journey!
At midnight feeling satisfied from our meal we sluggishly walked back to our hotel. I had expected the streets to be quite and desolate but on the contrary they were bustling in activity. Children played in the town square, old men smoked in groups over chessboards and people roller-skated past us in energetic enthusiasm. That night I slept like a purring kitten unbeknownst to the licentious activities just outside our door.
We died a few times on our journey to the next flamenco bar. To our disappointment it was closed making it five now in total. It seemed more restaurants and bars in Seville were closed than they were open. We continued with our quest until eventually, we stumbled across a congested restaurant with a cue of people waiting out the front. We joined the line while regaining our breath gazing lustfully at the other patron’s meals. The waiter stalked out appearing flustered, he told the group behind us to leave. Once we were seated and enjoying a chilled glass of Sangria I contemplated how lucky we were to have arrived not a minute later. To our stomach’s pleasure an assortment of tapas arrived, our delicious meal was well worth the wait and the journey!
At midnight feeling satisfied from our meal we sluggishly walked back to our hotel. I had expected the streets to be quite and desolate but on the contrary they were bustling in activity. Children played in the town square, old men smoked in groups over chessboards and people roller-skated past us in energetic enthusiasm. That night I slept like a purring kitten unbeknownst to the licentious activities just outside our door.
El Pimenton Restaurant
29 Calle Garcia de Vinuesa, Seville, Spain.