Feria de Abril de Sevilla

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Sometimes when you travel you happen upon magical moments which is precisely where I found myself on a recent trip to Seville. Once we arrived I noticed many of the women walking around town in gorgeous traditional Spanish dress. One thing led to another and here we were, standing in the middle of Seville’s “Feria de Abril“, Seville’s April Fair.

Lasting for six days these rows of “casetas” are built on the fairgrounds in which a parade of decorated carriages and riders trot back in forth in front of. Casetas, which are elaborately decorated tents, are each individually owned by families, groups of friends, prominent businesses, or political parties where inside Spaniards enjoy live music, traditional dance, rebjuito, and tapas.

It was a magical transition stepping into a world I’d never known or experienced, so rich in tradition and culture. I was an invisible witness as I wondered through with my camera, smiling the entire way.

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Snapshots from Seville

Snapshots from Seville, Spain

We found ourselves with a few days off in Spain after our Dom Pérignon experience in Barcelona so we asked around where would be a great place to visit outside a big city. Everyone said Seville. Typically before we travel to a new place I do extensive research on the town, best places to stay, eat, activities, cultural norms but I didn’t have time in this instance, we just hopped on a plane and let discovery find us.

First thing I did was find a beautiful boutique hotel, Corral del Rey. We had breakfast every morning on the terrace overlooking Seville and it’s skyline dotted with steeples. We discovered Iberian ham, the world’s largest gothic cathedral where Christopher Columbus is buried, where they filmed Star Wars, where they filmed Game of Thrones (OBSESSED), and that Spain has hands down the best food in the world… and sangria. We also learned that Spaniards don’t do mornings and love to eat dinner around 9 or 10pm. And finally, we found Spain to be very affordable which is always fun for travel.

One of the things that makes travel magical is opening yourself up to new experiences, sights and sounds which you could never have anticipated, and become immediately enchanted with. Walking around a small city under a canopy of orange tress was as intoxicating as getting lost in the small narrow hallway walls that wind you around town in a magical maze of wonder. Once, one of our walks led us by AIRE baths, the concept of a Roman bathhouse reopened in Roman ruins and a 16th century mansion. Imagine floating in a candle lit room between ancient walls from the first century AD and then going in a hot tub on the roof of the mansion overlooking Seville to the sound of church bells ringing.

Favorite places:  Alcázar of Seville *pre-buy your tickets with your hotel so you don’t have to wait in a crazy long line and go when they open so you’ll have the place to yourself*|| Cathedral of Seville || Mamarracha *this place was SO GOOD we went twice for dinner and have cried about missing it ever since* || Corral del Rey || Aire de Sevilla || Mercado Lonja del Barranco *to eat, drink, people watch and dance*

Here are some snapshots from Seville…

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