Tips for the feria
by fairy_dust
During the week of the April Fair, I went to the fair every day because I loved it so much. Here are a few tips I picked up/learned while there, specifically for the feria:
-no matter how loud your cell phone ringer is, you will NOT hear it during the feria. The music and people talking/yelling will be too loud. Put your phone on vibrate and put it in your pocket, or if you don't have a pocket, in your cleavage (if you're a girl). Yes, it is normal to stick a cell phone down your cleavage during the feria! That's the only way I avoided missing phone calls! (besides, if you're well-endowed, no one is going to see the phone anyway).
-at least during the daytime, don't wear your nicest shoes. During the day, horses are all over the fairground roads and this means that the roads are filled with horse crap. Also, there are trucks washing the crap out of the roads, which means there is lots of mud too. The best thing to do is buy a pair of cheap shoes, wear those for the week, and if they have fallen apart, just throw them out.
-go all-out when it comes to doing like the locals do. Wear a flamenco outfit and learn to dance Sevillanas - it makes the week so much more fun! If you have a Spanish friend who can invite you into a private caseta, even better (the parties there are better than the public casetas). Even if you don't know anyone beforehand, you might get picked up by a group of flirty guys who can take you around to their friends' casetas - it happened to me on the first day!
-bring your own toilet paper or tissues. Casetas run out of toilet paper fast, so you'll definitely need it.
-there are times during the day and night when it's near impossible to get a taxi - early afternoon when everyone starts to head out to the feria, and late at night (anytime after 2am) when the casetas close and everyone goes home. If you wait for a cab at those times, it can seriously take hours (I got in line at 4am and got a cab at 8am).
River Promenade
by sandysmith
The Guadalquivir River flows through Sevilla and there are pleasant riverside walks and promenades alongside and the bridges crossing over to the Triana district - with only 2 days in Sevilla we didn't get time to explore this area which is the former fishing quarter of Sevilla.Still ist was nice to look across and see the houses. Our hotel was near the river and a pleasnat 10 minute walk took us past the bull ring and towards the Torre del Oro (Golden Tower) btw this is where the Seilla tour bus can be caught if you want to explore Sevilla the easy way!
The pavement just above the river promenade was lined with orange trees - their lfoliage providing welcome shade for the bus stops in the summmer heat.
Bullfighting
by tompt
Bullfighting and Seville are closely connected to each other.
In 1730 when Philip V gave a concession for holding bullfights, the Real Maestranza decided to build its own bullring. It was square and wooden. Later it became oval because the corners had prooved to be dangerous.And in 1761 they started to built of stone. In 1786 Charles III prohibited bullfights. The building stopped. Later it was allowed again and building commenced in
1881 it was completed.
Bullfighting is not actually fighting but ritually killing a bull. It is highly controversial because of the cruelty against the bulls. The bulls are specially breeded for this slaughter, but have no training at all. They graze on green meadows until it is time for the bullring.
Decide for yourself if you want see to this or not, it is however populair in Seville.
Good Friday - Viernes Santo
by spanishguy
To witness a cofradía is relatively easy: the processions are held throughout the city and along any point of the marked route one can approach a float to contemplate and enjoy the "Paso"
Seguir una cofradía es relativamente facil: las procesiones se desarrollan en la ciudad y se puede acercar al recorrido para contemplar el "Paso" en cualquier punto de la ruta.
We left riding on donkeies sometime ago...
by nulain
As you know Seville is one of the warmest cities in Europa, so you shoulnd´t carry back-bags or heavy bags if you dont´t want to die thirsty. The city is plain, so you don´t have to worry about slopes (it´s ideal for riding).
I found the picture in internet. I remember this year! It was horrible!! If you are comming in summer, be prepared for an extreme hot, so take light clothes. In winter it´s not too cold, between 5ºC and 16ºC, I think. From November to March, mornings and nights could be a little cold, but never less than 2ºC. During summer afternoons, 42ºC is a very usual temperature. Nothing special. If you have any problem, there is a lot of pharmacies around the city. Seville is a tourist city, so there is films and batteries everywhere. If you decide to go to the beach, it´s only one hour from Seville. There are frecuently buses to Cadiz and Huelva provinces everyday. They leave from "Plaza de Armas" (take care, there are two bus station in the city) If you can read spanish I also recommend you the page where I found the picture:
http://www.antonioburgos.com/antologia/indices/sevilla.html"
He write in a sevillian style and most of the things are interesting to read.
Catedral de Santa María de la Sede
Inside the airport bus
Plaza de España detail
Seville - Spain
