see ya, Sevilla

On May 21st, I reluctantly said goodbye to the city that had been my home for 10 months. Spring was by far Sevilla's best season, and not just because of the world famous Semana Santa and Feria de Abril. The orange blossoms flowering at the end of March flooded the streets with a floral scent, and the people took to the streets day and night, celebrating life with beer, wine, tapas, and loud conversations. On the weekends, friends flocked to the sexy beaches of la Costa de Luz Here are a few quintessential photos I took of Sevilla during my stay...

Cruzcampo, the Andalucía state beer, and the only beer you will ever drink (save for a few Mahou) in Sevilla. This sign was located on a main intersection at the end of a bridge 2 minutes walking distance from my house. Like I explained to my visitors, "if you ever get lost, Cruzcampo will guide you home."

This is THE quintessential Sevilla photo, taken from the San Telmo bridge. In the foreground, the mighty Guadalquivir River and the Torre del Oro. In the background, La Giralda - the tower of the Cathedral of Seville, and the unofficial symbol of the city.

Thousands of bitter orange trees line the streets of Seville, providing residents with a splash of color and pleasant fragrances for a few weeks of springtime.

Long, narrow, cobblestone streets characterize Seville's city center. They're charming, until you get seriously lost in them.

Plaza de España, featured in a Star Wars film, is located in the largest park of the city and is home to several government offices. Moreover, it's a fun tourist destination with the option to ride a row boat or horse carriage, and browse over 100 tile mosaics that represent each of Spain's provinces.

Seville was once one of the most politically and economically important cities of Spain, and even Europe. Christopher Columbus sailed from the Guadalquivir in Sevilla during this momentous time.

Triana, my neighborhood, captured from the opposite side of the Guadalquivir. It's known by all Andalucía natives as a vibrant neighborhood with an incomparable street-life, due to the high number of tapas bars and even higher number of people that frequent them. Triana is the gem of Sevilla.

Crossing the Triana Bridge, or Puente de Isabel II, never failed to brighten my day. On the other side of the yellow building (a bar where I spent my last night drinking tinto de verano and watching the sun set over the city) used to stand Castillo de San Jorge, the main tribunals of the Spanish Inquisition.

The Arabic influence is strong throughout Andalucía, which wouldn't be the same without the ubiquitous geometric-tile walls.

I'm grateful that William was visiting during my last week in Sevilla. Here we are in Plaza de España for his first and my last time.

hasta luego...