Mi barrio, mi casa y mi gatita

Today during my breakfast my Señora asked me if I wanted to go to the mercado with her, my curiosity about what a Spanish grocery store looked like won out over my tiredness so half an hour later we were walking to the store. I was surprised at how different the mercado was from grocery stores in the states. It was much smaller and the baskets converted into little wheely carts which I thought was super funny. Also, you have to pay one euro to use a cart, which you get back if you return your cart at the end of your trip, I think Madison stores need to invest in this. Another difference was how inexpensive groceries were, but there was less variety. After the grocery store we went to a fruit stand and then a fish market because she is going to make me Paella soon! I'd never been to a fish market before and I have to say I don't care to ever go again, it did not smell good. 

After all the shopping was done we carried the groceries home, because most people in Sevilla don't have cars they go shopping more often and either carry or wheel their groceries home in special carts. On the way home we stopped in the Plaza de Jesus del gran poder, who my Señora informed me is the most important saint, where we got a refresco. I had a cola light, which is supposedly diet coke but I'm not sure. I was so glad I went shopping with my Señora, she told me a lot about the city and it was nice to spend some time with her.

I didn't do much else today other than practice walking to the building where I have class, and go shopping with my Señora but what she told me about the city has inspired me to write about my neighborhood, house and cat here in Sevilla. 

I live in a neighborhood that everyone here calls Centro, because as I'm sure you can guess, it is in the center of everything here in Sevilla. I'm very lucky to live here because it is close to shopping, many plazas, the river Guadalquivir, and my school! It is also the oldest of all the barrios and many of the buildings used to be palaces and some of the churches date back to the 15th century. One of my friend's host mom told her that all the churches that have ramps instead of stairs were built before the Moors were expelled from Spain! My Señora took me into a church today that is usually closed because it is very tiny and filled to the brim with expensive relics. The walls are rimmed with Saints and the alter is topped with a gigantic Jesus, and it all is covered in gold, silver and precious jewels. I wish I would have gotten a picture it was absolutely breath-taking. 

The roads in my neighborhood are very small and sidewalks are almost non-existant so you have to be on the look out for cars. It is very confusing because the roads have no order to them and often times the name of the road changes suddenly, seemingly for no reason. You would never know that though because street signs are few and far between and when they are there they're on the buildings. 

The view down my street. 

My street. Calle de Pascual de Gayangos.

I live on the second floor of an apartment building. The apartment is not fancy by any means but it is clean and well kept up. The furnishings are sparse but that is because Spaniards don't socialize in their homes, the do it in the calle. They go to tapas, the movies or drink on a plaza. 

The front of my apartment building. 

Gate you need to unlock to get up to my apartment. 

As I said before the buildings here are all very old, that combined with a temperate climate and high energy costs means there is no central heating. This is fine during the day but it does get a little chilly at night, but my Señora made sure I have plenty of blankets. Also, all of the floors are tile and those get very cold, but it is considered rude not to wear slippers indoors so that takes care of the cold feet problems. I have my own room, it isn't very big but it has everything I need and I'm not in Spain to spend time in my bedroom anyways. 

View from my window. 

My closet. 

Entrance to room. 

My looking glass.

Desk and heater. 

Bed and slippers. 

My homestay also came with a gatita. Her name is Pantera which means Panther. At first she didn't like me because I almost ran her over with my suitcase when I moved in, she even hissed at me! But now she has warmed up to me and we're besties. 

 Pantera. 

She never leaves me alone, she always tries to come into my room and jumps up on my lap when I'm eating. Her favorite thing to do, if I let her, is to climb all over my room, she really likes to get inside my suitcase. 

 Pantera's favorite pastime. 

She isn't as sweet and cuddly as theDuke but she also isn't as chunky either... I'm glad to have her here, I would miss having a pet otherwise and there is something comforting about having an animal around, even if it is just a crazy kitty.