Fotos de un día libre:

I just finished my two week intensive class yesterday. Woop woop. I celebrated by spending some wonderful time outdoors in the 65 degree weather. Feel free to tener celos.

Most people were still wearing boots, pants, coats, but I went out in shorts, a South Alabama tee, and a pair of Aviators. I had a mission to accomplish and it wasn't to look like a Sevillana (though someday, maybe, I will achieve their haughty style).

My mission was simple:

Tomar sol (Sit in the sun)

Escribir muchas cartas (Write a lot of letters)

Here is a sort of menagerie of photos from my free day in Sevilla:

I sat near the river

I watched men fish and row on the river. (This photo is dedicated to my father, fisherman extraordinaire)

I watched Spanish teenagers par-kour on the various obstacles surrounding the river.

I wrote letters to these people. All of whom I miss tremendously.

Although I miss so many things about America and many people there as well, today was grand. It's not over, though. Right now, Consuelo is taking a siesta. We just finished having lunch. I've got to be off to a cafetería to meet some friends. We're planning a trip to Germany. Can anyone say Lutherstadt Wittenberg? I can't wait. It's pretty Catholic in Spain.

Pieces of my days thus far:

Our first week in Sevilla, we've had some presentations, but most of the time we've been walking around the city, getting lost, and trying to find landmarks/the University/the CIEE study center/our homestays. Not only do my feet hurt at the end of the day, but I've also taken a lot of photos from these walks, most of which you can see on my facebook page.

Here is a montage of different sights around the city, everyday while I walk.

Things I see every day:

A bird's eye view from my 9th story apartment in Triana barrio of Sevilla

Los naranjos: a type of orange tree. All over the city, so beautiful. The fruit is bitter, apparently. They line sidewalks and plazas.

Bike paths. They are part of the sidewalks, but designated by the green paint and white lines as paths for bikes only. If you walk on them, you get fined like 90 euro. More than 100 dollars. This is a great city for bikes, though, I'm thinking about renting one because my walk to class Monday through Thursday is going to be about 40-60 minutes.

El Rio Guadalquivir. The River between downtown (El Centro) and my barrio (neighborhood, Triana). I walk across el Puente de Isabel Segunda everyday, either to class or the Palacio (study center) or for shopping in El Centro. I run along the river and the row of houses on the right side of the picture. One of my favorite things about Sevilla.

Night view: