Since last time, I’ve gotten to enjoy a little more sunshine and spend time around town. A fun thing I’ve begun doing often here is renting a bike through a bike share app and riding it around town. In León, as in many other cities in Spain, dedicated bike lanes allow quick traversal through town and around the numerous city parks. I’ve gotten to explore the opposite sides of León, ride alongside both rivers, see the nearby village of Las Lomas, and ride all the way to the Espacio León, which is our shopping mall in town. Being in a walkable/bikeable city is neat, since you never are too far of a walk from anything. With that, waiting at traffic intersections tends to take the most time whenever we try to go somewhere in León. The worst part to traverse is where the older districts and new districts meet, since traffic can’t move the same in these older areas. Once in the old part of town, it is generally impossible for cars to traverse since many of the streets are so small.
Since originally beginning here, I feel a lot more confident and capable in my Spanish speaking skills. Even though I have a lot to learn, I still feel like I can get through a conversation without kicking myself for having said something wrong. I’ve been able to communicate my haircut preferences to a barber and receive generally what I’ve wanted, spoken to pharmacists, waiters, etc. and communicated with people who do not know English. Even some of the other students in the language center don’t speak English, so I can practice Spanish with them in between classes, and speak English with them when they try to. It really does make the word feel a little smaller when you can converse with people in another language.
This past weekend, I travelled to Sevilla, Spain with some friends and we had a great time. The daytime weather was sunny and in the 70s. That day was the first time I have worn shorts outside in Spain. With that, Seville is a beautiful, picturesque town with white stucco buildings and orange trees lining every street. Terrace seating is available everywhere, and who wouldn’t sit outside in the beautiful weather? The southern region of Spain in very distinct in its cultural provenance, with it being occupied by the Moorish longer than the rest of Spain. With this, ceramic tiles with intricate designs and vibrant colors serve as handrails, street signs on buildings, and artwork as well. The finest example of these tiles was at the Plaza of España. Though built in the 20th century, this area pays homage to 48 provinces of Spain entirely in ceramic tiles. We walked 14 miles around Sevilla, seeing many different monuments, paying a visit to the cathedral, and many more things. I would recommend a trip to Sevilla!
Additionally, we found a cheap set of flights from Sevilla to Mallorca, which is a Spain island near Ibiza in the Balearic Isles. We spent a day in Palma and explored the streets lined with hundreds of market stalls and folk dancers all celebrating the Day of the Balearic Isles. My friends choose to take a cold dip in the Mediterranean, but I chose to freeze only my fingertips instead. The weather was nice, but the breeze made it a little uncomfortable. A large stone-walled citadel is the most prominent part of Palma’s old town, where a cathedral and an accompanying palace tower over the rest of the coastal skyline. We bought dinner, sat on the wall, and ate our food overlooking the sea. Palma is a beautiful, bustling town and would surely be a fun place to go in the summertime.
Pictures:
Me at the Plaza de España in Sevilla, Spain
The view of the cathedral from the water in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
