SEVILLA

1. Learn the Language

There is no better way to learn a language than to immerse yourself in that language, and there is no better place to do that than in Sevilla. There are four co-official languages of Spain in addition to Castellano, or Spanish (Gallego, Catalan, Euskara, Valencia). Each is a dialect quite different than Spanish and is spoken throughout various regions in Spain. In Sevilla, the official language is Spanish so you don't have to worry about learning some difficult dialect. Also, unlike in some bigger cities in Spain, no matter where you go, almost everyone will speak Spanish to you – what great practice!

Located in the south-western region of Spain, Sevilla is a great jumping off point for all types of travel. If you're looking for an adventure, Sevilla is just a short bus and ferry ride away from Morocco, Africa, where you can experience a whole other continent's rich language and culture in a weekend. It is also only a short way away from Gibraltar, the British peninsula that over looks the straight of Gibraltar marking the entrance to the Mediterranean. You can also easily get anywhere in Spain including Granada, Madrid, and Barcelona for cheap. If it's the beach you seek, Sevilla has beaches less than an hour away, including the beaches of Cadiz (some of the best in Spain), and is only a few hours away from the crystal waters of Portugal's southern coast.

La Feria de Abril (Sevilla's April spring fair) is a six day festival located on the fair grounds of the Los Remedios neighborhood in Sevilla. There, a massive amount of “casetas”, or tents, are set up for the occasion. The casetas are where everyone goes dressed in their traditional Flamenco garments to sing and dance, enjoy tapas, the special “rebujito” drink (manzanilla wine and soda), and great company. The atmosphere is like nothing else you have ever experienced: vibrantly striped tents, small yellow lights twinkling over-head, joyful chatter, the sound of rhythmic clapping and flamenco guitar floating through the air, a blur of colorful dresses dancing on by. If you want to experience a thick slice of Spanish culture in only a short amount of time, this is where it's at. There is also a more carnival like section with rides and games if you're interested!

Tapas, an Andalucían tradition, are small amounts of “finger-like foods” usually shared amongst a big group of people. Dating back to King Alfonoso XII in the 16th century, tapas were originally served on little plates and used as lids on glasses to keep the flies out of the drink – hence the name “tapa”, Spanish for lid. There is an abundance of delicious tapas, but some of the most famous are tortilla española (omelette with fried potatoes), espinaca and garbanzos (a mixture of spinach and garbanzo beans), croquetas (croquettes) filled with cheese, spinach, chicken, or tuna, and in the summer months, caracoles (snails). Tapas are delicious, cheap (about 1-3 euro!), surprisingly filling, and a great way to socialize with friends and family.

Sevilla is the birthplace of flamenco, the Andalucían musical style that combines Spanish guitar, passionate vocals, rhythmic clapping, and quick dance steps to create a sound that embodies the soul of Spanish culture.

With the University of Sevilla that has a student body of over 50,000 students spread throughout the city, a large Erasmus presence at the University (the student exchange program within the European Union), and numerous other exchange programs in Sevilla, you are sure to meet students from all over the world. Beyond students, the Sevillano people are some of the friendliest - they love to talk and take great pride in their Spanish tradition, roots, and culture. There is a great mix of all kinds of people – different neighborhoods/bars/clubs are known for the type of crowd that they typically draw, although most of the time it is just a mix  of all types of people. So no matter where you go in the city, you are bound to meet people with whom you will love and form lasting relationships!

Sevilla has been formed around several distinct cultures. Sevilla was first under Roman rule and quickly developed into one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire by the beginning of the 4th century. Today, you can still see the well-kept ruins of the old Roman city, Itálica, dating back to 206 B.C. just outside of the city.  After the Romans, the Islamic Moors ruled Sevilla for over 500 years. You can see an abundance of Moorish influence in the architecture of the city, like in Alcázar, the old Moorish fort now used as the official residence of the Spanish royal family, or in the remaining parts of the old Moorish wall that once surrounded the city. Also, La Plaza de España is a breathtaking Moorish-revival style building originally built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 that encompasses the beautiful Maria Luisa Park. Replacing the Moors during the 13th century, the Catholic Kings or Los Reyes Católicos took over Sevilla. Catholicism has remained a driving force in Spain ever since. Some amazing architecture dating from this time is The Cathedral, the third largest cathedral in the world. If you decide to go to the University of Sevilla, one of it´s buildings was originally one of the first tobacco factories in Europe, dating back to the mid 18th century. Even besides the big monuments and museums, you can experience a huge part of Sevilla's history and culture just by walking through the streets and old neighborhoods.

Sevilla's southern location makes it home to a mild Mediterranean climate and one of the warmest cities in Europe (average annual temperature of 61 degrees!). It has long summers with the warmest months being july and august, when temperatures usually hover around 95 degrees, and short, mild winters with temperatures usually around 50 degree's - quite a treat if you're used to snowy below-zero winters like me! Besides the warm climate, Sevilla is known for it's constant sunshine and clear blue skies. The warm sunny weather can't help but make you smile every time you step out onto the warm cobblestone streets or lounge on the grass near the banks of the Guadalquivir River that runs through the heart of the city.

Accompanying the beautiful Sevilla weather are endless amounts of lush parks and gardens. The tropical green foilage, bright flowers, lingering sweet smell of orange blossoms, and hints of old Arabic influence in the form of trickling fountains, rustic statues, and colorful ceramic tiling, combine to make the parks and gardens of Sevilla a tranquil paradise. Whether you want to hang out, have a picnic, study, or take a stroll, the parks and gardens have something to offer. Some of the most famous ones in Sevilla are El Parque de María Luisa, Los Jardines de Alcázar, Los Jardines de Murillo, y Los Jardines de Valles.

Completely different than the fast-paced lifestyle you may be used to at home, everything in Sevilla is just a little more relaxed, a little more laid-back. Most shops or businesses don't open until 9 or 10 in the morning, then take a siesta from 2-5 pm, and open back up in the evening until about 9 pm. Almost everything is closed on Sundays, except for restaurants and cafes. The meal times are also a lot different. Breakfast is small, usually during mid morning, and is followed by the heartiest meal of the day, lunch, which is eaten around 2:30 or 3 pm. Dinner is a smaller meal, eaten around 10 pm. Almost everyone, including business people and school kids, go home to eat lunch for a few hours with their friends or family, and can take time to "siesta" (nap), or just relax. From outdoor bars along the river, summer terraces, or open-aired shops in the city plazas, the Sevillano life takes place outside in the street.

Everywhere you go, there will be people at little bars and cafes, taking a break from their day to drink a coffee or beer, eat a light snack, and catch up with friends. There is a huge emphasis here on enjoying the company and city around you - on enjoying the little things in life. In such a relaxed, beautiful city, it's hard not to fall in love with it.