Random Goings-on in Sevilla

Can I just repeat that I love Sevilla?

The other day, I went to fnac (media store) on Avenida de Constitución to buy a replacement camera for the next month. I picked up a decent Olympus...it feels kind of cheap, but it'll do for now. I'm going to sell it to the electronics store before I leave.

When I left the store, there was this street performer setting up outside. On his back were a puppet of a man and woman, and on a little stage were two empty boots. As he bent over, I realized what he was going to do, and he didn't disappoint. He dropped the "dress" over his head and stuck his arms in the boots, and it really looked like the pair was dancing. It was really cool. Then I continued onto my university. As I was approaching I heard music playing loudly. When I got there, there was a huge pack of people by the entrance. Apparently the month of modern dance that's going on in Sevilla made its way to the Universidad. It was really cool (I took a couple of pictures). One of the songs was "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service, a song I haven't heard in a while. :)

When I got through the walls into the courtyard, it seemed that there was another performance about to start. This one was weird, almost more acting than dance. Dressed in a blue jumpsuit and wearing a tube of newspaper over her head, a woman ran through the crowd into the central courtyard and around the fountain. She then proceeded to rave around the place, jerking and spazzing. At some point, she took off her newspaper, and at another point she was in the fountain. Then, for some reason, she started screaming the alphabet. First in Spanish, then in English. It was weird, and I'm pretty sure no one understood it, but we clapped anyway. There was a third performance, but I didn't see it because I had class.

Today I walked to class, passing by the courtyard as a stage was being set up. When I left class, I heard loud music playing and saw a large crowd of students there, grooving and drinking beer (remember this is at 2:30 in the afternoon). Apparently this weekend is a big electronic music festival at the University. There was a DJ on stage running the music, and everyone was having a good time. There was an act on also when I went to my 5pm class later in the day.

On la Avenida de la Constitución, there are these big signs on the street--like the ones that have the maps and ads in shopping malls. The ones in Sevilla are always an art display or an ad for the big cultural event going on. Last month they had weird flamenco photography up for the Biennal de Flamenco, and now they have photos chronicling the big European Film Festival that is starting soon in Seville. I might check out a show or 2, tickets are only 3 Euros each.

Anyway, elections. First off, YAY. Anyway, while a big part of me wishes I could have been home in the US to experience it, I was very interested in the European response. My novels professor spent 45 minutes of class talking about the European perspective and asking us what we thought. She said the first thing she heard on the radio was "El mundo se reconcilian con los Estados Unidos," which I thought was very interesting. I heard stories of people's host families waking them up at 6am to celebrate. Today I saw a headline that read "Todo del mundo celebran su victoria." The people in my barbershop (got a haircut today--didn't even need to tell him what I wanted; he had remembered even after 6 weeks), when they found out I was American, were asking me about the Electoral college and stuff.

I will be in Granada until Saturday evening. Next week I have a free weekend, and then Barcelona on the 21st and London on the 28th. I also have my first midterms next week. Should be interesting. 'Taluego!