It's been over 30 days since I began my semester abroad in Europe. No longer immersed in the fast-paced life of NYC, I have begun to look more at my surroundings and to appreciate the little things, whether it'd be the mere sight of flowers or the architectural style of the buildings.
One weekend in the Spanish region of Andalucía opened my eyes to observe and admire more of the things I see when I walk the streets in passing. From the flower pots that dotted the buildings of Córdoba's historic districts to the vivid colors that brightly adorned the buildings of Sevilla, Andalucía is rife with things that constantly remind one how great and beautiful the world truly is.
Scroll down to see the sights of Andalucìa that have forced me to embrace more of the sights along city streets than what appears on the screen of my phone.
1. Seville Cathedral, Sevilla, Spain
These views from one of the first places I visited in the quaint, vibrant town of Sevilla, the Sevilla Cathedral, gave me a bird's eye view of the many buildings that dot this Andalucían city's skyline. Not only did I get to see Sevilla's skyline in its entirety, but my eyes also finally got to meet several new shades of yellow, red, and orange that adorn the buildings of Sevilla. Seeing all these buildings shone under the rays of the sun made me all the more appreciate my ability to see with both my eyes. So, Andalucía lesson learned #1: appreciate your ability to see.
2. Casa de Pilatos, Sevilla, Spain
As my friends and I began to make our way on foot to Sevilla's city center, we unexpectedly came across a small palace. Naturally, we decided to take a look at this historical site and take some pictures of it simply because it was so beautiful! (Because why wouldn't you?) Honestly, the one spot in this entire palace that won my heart was a corner adorned with vines of pink flowers attached to a column as white as snow. Seeing this combination of simple, white columns and flowers on vines made me happy for two reasons: 1. I got to see flowers in the heart of winter. 2. The delicate nature and the beautiful colors that flowers come in are friendly reminders that peace still exists in the world, even when conflict and hatred still continue to afflict our world. With that said, lesson #2: appreciate flowers for all they are!
3. A local Sevillan Church, Sevilla, Spain
Honestly, unexpected finds are the best. Unfortunately, the name of this Roman Catholic Church remains a mystery to me, but it honestly has one of the most gorgeous exteriors I've ever seen. The red-orange hue and lemon yellow used to decorate the outside of this church make it seem as if it's a church from another world devoid of all darkness. I suppose the bright color scheme of this church had me mesmerized because churches in the United States are not nearly as bright and as colorful as this church in Sevilla. Every time I look at the photo I took of this church, I always ask myself, "Is this real?" Its unmatched beauty and unique color scheme led me to another important lesson: appreciate colors, because they're what make the world beautiful.
4. Calle Santa Isabel, Córdoba, Spain
After nearly 24 hours in Sevilla, my trip to Andalucía concluded with a visit to another Andalucían city: Córdoba, where more lessons were learned in the midst of touring and wandering the cobblestone streets of this city rich in history. One thing that immediately melted my heart in the first few minutes of walking around Córdoba's historic districts were the narrow, cobblestone streets lined with buildings colored in white and occasional hints of red, blue, and yellow. Something about the color of the buildings, the orderly arrangement of the windows, and the balconies along the building walls evoke images of a utopian society, where everything is simply immaculate and charming. Lesson learned? As mundane and prevalent as they are, take the time to appreciate the sight of your city streets.
5. Palacio de Viana, Córdoba, Spain
Since being in Europe for over a month, I have seen several beautiful palaces and castles that are all beautiful in their own ways, and Palacio de Viana is one of the palaces that has definitely topped my list. Its series of patios decorated with flowers and various species of plants were all so cool and interesting to look at, but the one thing that caught my attention beyond this palace's flora and fauna was its doors. I'm not one to take time to look at doors, but the vibrant colors and shapes of the doors of Palacio de Viana made me stop to closely observe the makings of a door. Though this may sound weird, Palacio de Viana taught me to appreciate doors, because they too, have beauty.
Colors, flowers, eyesight,streets, and doors are all very random things to become more aware of, but they are a start developing a more deep appreciation to become more in tune with what is around us as we walk on the city streets than what is on the screens of our phones. Being in not only in Andalucía but in Europe in general has trained my eyes to look up instead of below.
