CAPITAL OF ANDALUCíA: SEville, Spain

A post dedicated to the most beautiful city in all of Spain and the city that I've had the privilege of living in for the past four months:)

Me & the Torre @ Golden Hour

Must-see's and must do's (I'm sure there's so much more to do than this, these are just based off my experiences).

1. Come to Seville mid-May or early June because the weather is likely to be beautiful and sunny but not sweltering -- AND the orange trees and honeysuckles are in bloom so the city smells indescribably delicious.

2. Spend an evening with a picnic dinner, guitar and friends, cheap wine, etc. and watch the sun go down by the Guadalquivir River. The river banks are lively with groups of friends, music and laughter and its such a jovial atmosphere.

3. Stroll through the Gardens of Real Alcazar; although it's a main tourist attraction and you often have to wait on line for awhile to get in, the gardens are worth it! Real Alcazar combines lush greenery with Moorish architecture and is the perfect place to take an hour break and walk around at your leisure (student discounted tickets).

4. Eat at a classic tapas bar around 10 pm for dinner (Spanish dinner time). I have so many that I recommend but the top three for me are Duo Tapas (get the "solomillo" or "sirloin steak"), Bar Alfalfa (get a tapas classic "braised pork cheeks" OR order from the menu of the day), and Arte y Sabor (get "croquetas espinacas" or "spinach croquettes").

5. Find a Turron / Nougat place and just INHALE DEEPLY. I have never experienced fresh nougat and peanut brittle being made openly in a giant silver cauldron in a store while samples are laid out for guests to taste! Sabor a España is a popular chain throughout Spain and that sells nougat and marzipan & I would highly recommend giving it a shot.

6. Visit the Plaza de España and Parque Maria Luisa, both are lovely and unique to Seville, the Plaza is encircled in water and small boat rides run all day long in rings around the place -- really cool.

7. Walk along Avenida de Constitution, beautiful architecture and buzzing area for lunch to the left of the cathedral. Also do a cathedral tour and go to La Giralda (the top) to overlook the city.

8. Go to Triana Market in the morning on Sunday, a fresh outdoor market speaks for itself. Walk around Triana as well, its a beautiful neighborhood and is one of the oldest in Seville.

9. Go out in Alameda de Hercules at night, the place is buzzing with a strip of bars and restaurants; my favorite place to have dinner and spend almost the whole night outside socializing with friends & locals :)

10. Buy yourself something nice & expensive & LEATHER! There's so many shoe / jacket / wallet stores with amazing leather products that will last you a lifetime (supposedly).

11. If you're spending time in Andalucia, travel to Seville's neighboring cities! Ex: Granada, Córdoba, Málaga, Ronda, Cadiz. Each has its own charm and vibe and truly are worth visiting.

12. See a flamenco show! Flamenco is incredible and the dancers are true professionals with so much talent and passion -- a traditional flamenco show is unlike anything you've ever seen before. (I recommend Museo del Baile Flamenco).

13. Eat at Restaurante La Cueva for fine dining, paella, and sangria. The restaurant is located in a small square lined with trees and is amazing for a big paella lunch outside in the shade.

14. There's so much more to do but I'm at a mental block so I'll keep updating this post as I think of things :)