Sevilla, Everything is a Footstep Away

Three sites not to miss include the Cathedral and Giralda, the Alcazar, and the Museo de Bellas Artes. For flamenco dancing, Los Gallos in the Plaza de Santa Cruz is great place for Americans to learn to appreciate the intimate connection between the guitarist and dancers up close. The most memorable highlight is simply walking through the small streets while sampling rich coffee, fresh pastries, and tasty tapas, especially the cured ham, with a local cerveza.

Quick Tips:

Keep an eye on your wallet as a pickpocketer almost snatched mine when I was waiting in line at the post office. Other than that, Sevilla seemed perfectly safe with people crowding the streets till three in the morning.

Best Way To Get Around:

Walking is the best way to get around, and if you are coming in from the airport, a short and inexpensive taxi ride will land you right in the center of the city.

The Hotel Regina offers simple amenities including sparkling clean rooms that are newly renovated, a light breakfast, and cable tv, including CNN. The staff was very friendly and knew of all the close by eateries as well as how to get to the main attractions in the city. The hotel is a 12 minute walk from the city center, a 15 minute taxi ride from the airport, and a 10 minute taxi ride from the Santa Justa train station.

Los Gallos is a great venue to see flamenco dancing up close, and the winter crowds included a large local audience. Being a guitar player I truly appreciated the skill and showmanship of the two guitarists who provided the intensely rhythmic and melodic backdrop for the dancers to reveal their own skills. Service was friendly and drinks were affordable. Be sure to sit in the first two rows to be able to make eye contact with the performers and really see the thought that goes behind every tap of the foot and snap of the castanets.

Quite a few of my friends travelling to Sevilla missed this museum and although it probably does not attract as many tourists as the Cathedral and Alcazar, it is well worth the visit. The museum showcases the Sevillan School of Art as well as having Italian paintings on display. Check the hours for the museum as it varies day by day. Entrance is only 250 pesetas, but keep in mind you could spend quite a few hours here.

I sampled a few tapas bars in Sevilla as well as a few cafes. I generally found the quality of food to be excellent in most of the places near the city center. Be sure to drink the coffee. Ordering a simple caffe con leche will get you an equivalent of a Starbucks Latte, only with a much fuller flavor, fresher taste, and simply tantalizing aroma. Also, do not miss the cured ham offered at the tapas bars. The best that I tried was a jamon serrano, which is mountain cured and unlike any ham I have had in the USA. The pigs' legs look unappetizing hanging above the bars in restaurants, but the taste is not to be missed.