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    Home » Lifestyle » Adventure » Travel » Europe

    August in Seville

    April 23, 2015 / Updated Aug 15, 2020 / by Carolyn Gratzer Cope / 4 Comments / This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more.

    You might remember when we left Málaga last summer. We belly-crawled like Navy SEALs out of our hotel in the middle of the night and shared the back of a pickup with live chickens as we hitchhiked our way to Seville. Whatever it took to escape to a place more fitting before the clock struck midnight on Cope’s 40th birthday. Plus, traveling is all about teaching the kids flexibility, life skills, and hand-to-hand combat. Sometimes you’ve gotta walk the walk.

    And that — well, something like that — is how we arrived in Seville in August. Seville, the “frying pan of Andalusia,” where everyone knows that everything closes in August.

    Alcazar of Seville 780 | Umami Girl-3

    We loved it, thanks. We’re off-season folks at heart in so many ways, including the actual way. And traveling is all about teaching the kids how swimming in the clear waters of the great wide world helps us see ourselves with clarity. Off-season and proud. Off-season and aware.

    Of course, the swimming was purely metaphorical, as Seville is landlocked and surprisingly devoid of public pools for a place that averages 97 degrees at certain times of year that shall not be named.

    We balanced the self-discovery with several truckloads of ice cream. Traveling is all about stuffing the kids with ice cream.

    Seville AirBnb 780 | Umami Girl

    Seville AirBnb

    There’s Cope making 40 look like it ain’t no thing on the roof deck of the airbnb we rented in the old town (Casco Antiguo) — the one with the “please eat the grapes” and the rad modern layout and the attentive decor that all cost half of what you’d pay for a decent dinner for two in New York. It couldn’t have been more reasonable. Unfortunately we learned from our hosts that unemployment in the region, particularly for women our age, is so high I blacked out the percentage: 70%? 80%? We thought we detected subtle signs of scrimping: people drinking more Coke than cerveza, people sharing entrees, but not in that fun tapas way. Beyond that, it was hard to separate the quiet of August from the quiet of scarcity. Even in tough times, though, Seville can’t help but shine. I mean, just look at it. 

    Seville Metropol Parasol 780 | Umami Girl

    Metropol Parasol

    Here’s the Metropol Parasol at the Plaza de la Encarnación. This is what a shopping center looks like in Seville. Oh, and by the way, underneath the shops are some preserved Roman remains for your perusal. I mean, it’s a toss-up whether to prefer that or the parking deck under your average New Jersey mall, so I’ll leave it to you.

    Seville Cathedral 780 | Umami Girl
    Seville Cathedral 780 | Umami Girl-2

    Seville Cathedral

    Oh, this old thing? This is what a church looks like in Seville. The Seville Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the world and one of the most ornate I’ve seen. Some of us were impressed.

    Seville Cathedral 780 | Umami Girl-3

    Some of us a little less so.

    Her Cathedrals Dragged To : Years of Life ratio is maybe a little high.

    Alcázar

    And here’s Alcázar, a UNESCO world heritage site along with the cathedral. It’s the oldest royal palace in Europe that is still in use as a residence for a royal family. It’s a stunning example of Mudéjar architecture. Although I’m sure you know what that means, I’ll say for my own sake that it is “a partly Gothic, partly Islamic style of architecture and art prevalent in Spain in the 12th to 15th centuries.” Obviously.

    Alcazar of Seville 780 | Umami Girl
    Seville Photojournal 780 | Umami Girl-2
    Alcazar of Seville 780 | Umami Girl-4
    Alcazar of Seville 780 | Umami Girl-2

    We loved that even though it’s super-fancy, there’s also a hedge maze. Boo! And lots of sweet, sweet shade, only some of which was provided by our own very stylish hats.

    Alcazar of Seville 780 | Umami Girl-5
    Alcazar of Seville 780 | Umami Girl-6
    Street Photography Seville Spain

    The beautiful streets of Seville

    In a city like Seville, it’s not just the officially recognized world treasures that make you want to commune with the architecture. It’s everything. The residential buildings. The markets. The graffiti. And the churros. (Naturally the churros. What are we, robots?)

    Seville Photojournal 780 | Umami Girl-4

    Feria Food Market

    Pictured above with the dudes outside. Seville’s oldest market. Much of it was closed while we were there, but there’s tapas, fresh fish, flowers, you name it.

    Churreria La Esperanza

    Pictured above with the giant paper cone of churros: Calle Feria, 108. There are lots of places to get churros and chocolate in Seville. This one was recommended by our hosts.

    Plaza of the Alameda de Hercules

    Not pictured, because I’m even less organized than I look. Great place to walk around or sit at one of the many restaurants to have a drink and tapas. Local kids play in the square late into the night while parents smoke and drink, as only Spain can make normal.

    Although even I wouldn’t listen to me about “normal.” Send your off-season questions this way instead. Talk to you soon.

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    More Europe

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    • A Visit to Oia, Santorini, Greece
    • 18

    About Carolyn Gratzer Cope

    Hi there, I'm Carolyn Gratzer Cope. Welcome to Umami Girl, where I've been sharing recipes and more for thoughtful folks since 2008. Learn more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ed Gilbert says

      April 19, 2016 at 12:09 pm

      Hello, we're thinking of visiting Seville in August - did you find there were still plenty of bars and restaurants open or had many closed for holidays? Cheers! Ed

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        April 19, 2016 at 3:09 pm

        Hi, Ed! We found a little of both. While many places were closed, there were more than enough open to have plenty of choice of where to eat and drink. I think if we'd had our hearts set on certain restaurants we may have been disappointed, but arriving and going with the flow, we had no problem at all. Enjoy!

        Reply
        • Ed Gilbert says

          April 19, 2016 at 3:17 pm

          Thanks, that's a big help! Ed

    2. Karla Valenti says

      April 24, 2015 at 5:36 am

      Sevilla is one of my favorite places in Spain. I loved re-living it through your post, thank you!
      K

      Reply

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