Andalucia

It might sound cliché to say this, but if you've ever heard Sevilla described as a feast for the senses (and if you haven't, just play along, because I'm telling you now), the sentiment is not an exaggeration. I can't think of any other way to describe this city myself. But I don't want to be trite, so in order to convince you just how Sevilla will tickle your fancy, I'll tell you literally.

Andalucia 101: How to Experience Sevilla in 5 Simple Senses

See: The Royal Alcazar of Seville, a thousand year old castle that dates back to the first caliph of Sevilla, Abd Al-Rahman. This was my favourite part of Seville, and one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The gardens in the court yard are even greener than the photos.

Feel: your way through the Labyrinth outside Alcazar (pictured above).
Feel: how much your calves will sting as you scale the tower of the Cathedral. It hurts, but it's worth it. Bonus: no stairs, the climb is a ramp (below).

Hear: the soulful plucking of guitar, hand claps, and wavery singing of flamenco. Often performed by dark, handsome soulful Spaniards that put Antonio Banderas to shame. Bonus sensory experience: watching the dance. I tried to get a picture (below) of one of the dancers but it came out blurry because he moved that fast.

said gorgeous Spaniard with soulful guitar and flowing hair

Smell: the overpowering scent of the orange trees that appear to outnumber Spaniards in Seville. The oranges on these trees are bitter, not to be eaten. They are there for decoration, and apparently, to make you hungry because of how good they look and how tempting they smell.

said orange trees in the Cathedral garden, sitting there and looking delicious. Lies!

Taste: when you're hungry from staring at the most orange oranges you'll ever see, and when you're tired from walking around tourist sites, I recommend a good lunch. If you want to go the typical Spanish route, tapas and paella are your best bet. But as much as I loved the paella myself, I can't help but instead recommend a good ice-cream cone. True to the stereotype, Sevilla is hot (!) and nothing is as soothing as something sweet and cold. My favourite combination: one scoop blackberry with one scoop turrón (nougat).

Our group Lto R: Amalia, Doris, Sima, Amanda, and Amalia's marido Jesús.

Doing what Spaniards do best--relaxing.

If Madrid breaks stereotypes of what one imagines a Spanish city to be, Sevilla lives up to them. Nowhere else can one lunch on some paella while viewing Mudejar--Muslim design in Christian building-- architecture in between watching flamenco concerts, attending bullfights, or scaling to the top of Spain's largest Cathedral. Located in Southern Andalucia, Sevilla is the picture of colour and movement, much in the same way as the skirts of flamenco dancers. In this part of--as the Andalucians pronounce it--Epaña, visitting mudejar castles and exploring the history of the conquest of the New World is all in a day's work.