churros and exploring triana

I can't believe that I've almost been here four weeks! Time has passed so fast!

Just got back from a walk with Alice around the city and Triana. Triana is a neighborhood in Sevilla that is across the river. It is charming, with narrow streets (though not nearly as narrow or as pretty as Santa Cruz, but it's also much easier to find your way around.) I hadn't explored Triana yet because it is about a 30 minute walk from my house in Nervión. We didn't get to see very much because by the time we got there it was almost getting dark, but we did duck into a tiny church that looked like a storefront off the street to see a beautiful gold display of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. It's incredible what treasures you can find tucked away on the streets of Sevilla!

On our way we walked by the river and stopped for churros at a stand by the bridge to Triana. Churros, which are very popular and a traditional food in Spain, are served with thick hot chocolate used for dipping.

Churros and thick hot chocolate. I quickly found out that this chocolate is much better for dipping churros than it is to drink-- it's about the consistency of pudding and very rich!

Mmm... churros

Alice excited about some churros and coffee

On our way over the bridge to Triana we stopped and looked at the locks. It's a tradition in Sevilla to buy a lock and write you and your lover's name on it, and lock it to the bridge. It's called a "love padlock." So cute!

Night view over the river from the Triana bridge

Yesterday was a boring day... after class I stayed at home and did housekeeping stuff. I applied for scholarships from the j-school (apparently they have hundreds of scholarships they give away every year, and I just had to submit an easy online application-- why not?), talked to my roommates about our housing for next year (check out our new house! It's behind the McDonalds on Franklin street and they're signing the lease this week! http://www.chapelhillrent.com/nc/chapel-hill/190230-5-or-6-br-on-franklin-street, http://www.uncrents.com/417-yates-motor-company-alley.php)) and skyped with Kevin, who was having a hard day with work.

This is a pretty busy week... we have our first exam in my Spain and Islam class on Friday! Also still trying to book trips to Morocco, Portugal and France. France is proving especially difficult because we are traveling during Semana Santa, when prices skyrocket! It's especially frustrating because the day we are leaving, Friday April 15, flights are 55 euros in the morning but 150 or more in the afternoon... and we have an exam in the morning or we would be able to leave then!