Quien se va a Sevilla..
pierde su silla! -- He who goes to the fair, loses his chair 
¡Hola amigos!
¡Coming January, on friday the 2nd I'll wake up in Seville; the warmest city of Europe, the European city with the biggest historic centre and of course: capital of Andalucía, the most stereotypically Spanish province of Spain. It's a dream come true! :D Thursday after that, on the 8th, I'm expected at the airport. Isn't that something? :D I've never been in Andalucía before and I'm very excited! :D I've already got a cheap place to sleep in the historic centre while my friend from Cataluña is there with me (yay! :3), except for the last night (of 7th to 8th, when he's gone). We won't have a car unless we really need to go somewhere awesome; then we can rent and drive one for a day or so.
I was wondering if some of you who went to Seville'd like share some stories with us, be it fantastic or godawful experiences, or maybe you'd have some tips for absolute must-see's in and around Seville? I'd absolutely love to hear them. :D
We'd love both its high, historic culture and the fiesta on the street type. :D I would absolutely love to see a flamenco dance and a bullfight just once in my life before it's forbidden. (also for my project on bullfights in Spain) We don't care about other sports.
I've done quite some internet research (tourism sites, reviews etc.) and concluded that, as far as I can tell at a distance, these would be my favourites:
Must-see's
Catedral de Santa María de la Sede (incl. Giralda + tumb of Columbus)
Alcazar Real + gardens
Archivo General de Indias (incl. Casa de Contratación)
Plaza de España
Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla (incl. Museo Taurino & Sala de Pinturas)
Museo del Baile Flamenco (+ workshops! :D)
Casa de la Guitarra
Maria Luisa Park incl. Museo Arqueológico (free entry!)
Museo de Bellas Artes
Torre del Oro (incl. Museo Naval)
Barrios que no saltar: Centro main attractions - (cheap shopping: main streets = big shops: Calle Sierpes, Calle Cuna, Calle Velázquez & Calle Tetuán, side streets = boutiques + Plaza Nueva)
Santa Cruz (touristic but awesome)
El Arenal (non-touristic: tapasbars @ Guadalquivir )
Triana (non-touristic: Calle Betis = alcohol, food & flamencoclubs(Peñas & small cafetaria with spontaneous music))
Macarena (non-touristic: Basilica & fancy kitsch people)
Alameda (youth & students: nice nightclubs like Jackson @ plaza Alameda de Hércules & restaurants like Al Aljibe)
Casariche (pet exposition & market every sunday!)
Day trip out of Sevilla? - Parque Nacional de Doñana / Dos Hermanas?
So if you've visited these places, I'd love to hear your opinion, and if you just thought: 'hey! x is missing from that list!, if you know about a good tablaos (flamenco bar) or a local party in this week unknown to the big tourism sites or really if you have any other tips on food or transport or whatever comes to mind - please let me know! :D
Thank you in advance!
