Seville: A Tale of Expectations and Discoveries
Sometimes, it’s good to listen to people. This is something I’m still working on, but it does seem to improve with age. A friend of mine highly recommended booking train tickets in advance for our trip. My first thought was hesitation, I enjoy flexibility when traveling. However, when we arrived at the Cadiz station to get tickets to Seville, the trains were fully booked until late that evening. We hadn’t expected that, but as my life motto goes: there is always a solution. So, we headed to the bus station to see what was possible. Luckily, a bus was leaving in just 30 minutes, and the journey actually turned out to be very pleasant.
I had read so much about Seville and listened to countless podcasts that I felt as if I already knew the city, but I forgot something that I often tell my own clients: “too much information isn’t always helpful.” My expectations of Seville were sky-high, perhaps even too high.
As we walked from the bus station to our hotel, which was a 20 minute journey, the city began to reveal itself to us
. The streets were lined with orange trees, their fruit glowing like little jewels, smiling at us from nearly every corner. Coming from a country where December means snow for over 20 years of my life, seeing orange trees at this time of year felt almost magical.
Seville’s history and architecture are undeniably captivating. Its magnificent buildings exude the wealth that once flowed through this city, when gold from the Spanish colonies made it one of the richest cities in Spain. The grandeur of the city is evident in every corner, from its historic landmarks to its vibrant streets.
The energy of the city was dynamic. However, many travellers had raved about Seville’s food, so my expectations were quite high in this department as well. Unfortunately, I found myself a little disappointed. Many of the restaurants seemed to cater primarily to tourists, offering mostly deep-fried dishes. On our last evening, we decided to splurge at a recommended restaurant, hoping for a more authentic culinary experience. Here’s something to make you laugh: when I asked for a salad, they initially told me they only had onions. A few moments later, they returned to inform me they had managed to find some tomatoes as well! Such are the joys of traveling and the little surprises that come with it.
Ironically, the best-looking vegetables we encountered were at the market. Perhaps we should have had dinner there instead. While Seville is undoubtedly stunning and full of life, I’m still unsure how I truly feel about it. I can understand why so many people love the city, perhaps if I were younger, I’d feel the same. We had a wonderful time exploring with my brother and sister-in-law, but would I return? Probably not. I’m glad I saw Seville and experienced its rich history, but the city felt a bit too touristy for my liking.
Not every place is for everyone, and that’s okay. I wouldn’t want to discourage anyone from visiting Seville, it’s a fascinating city with a vibrant soul and incredible history. For me, though, leaving it felt just as satisfying as arriving.
As my brother and his wife went back to the Czech Republic, Gerry and I were ready for another adventure. Our journey led us to yet another captivating city, with the magnificent Alhambra in Granada promising to be the crown jewel of this trip.
Lesson learned from this part:
One key takeaway from this trip: expectations can often lead to disappointment. Sometimes, it’s best to embrace a destination with an open mind, free of preconceived notions. Traveling, after all, is as much about discovering yourself as it is about discovering new places.
