Traveling Solo: Spain Edition
BY Maxi Cabrejos
The idea of traveling solo came to me during winter break - I talked to my sister, and she asked me about the places I wanted to visit while studying in Paris. I hadn’t put too much thought into it, but after our conversation, I began researching and created a list. After finalizing my desired destinations and talking to some friends, I realized one of my top destinations wasn’t on anyone else’s list. As a Sevilla FC and Game of Thrones fan, I knew I needed to go to Seville, Spain, at some point. I began planning my Spring Break and found the perfect opportunity to go to Seville before meeting my friends in Lisbon, Portugal. A short one-hour flight between the two locations gave me enough time for a two-day trip to Seville.
Two Days in Seville
Due to the strikes in France, my last midterm was online, which gave me enough time to leave for the airport on Thursday. The flight to Seville from Paris went by quickly, and I arrived at my hotel at 8 pm. I only had time on Thursday to eat dinner and relax after a stressful midterm week.
Since traveling alone, I booked everything in advance to avoid lines and save time. On Friday, I began with Las Setas - due to a private event, I couldn’t go inside, but they looked beautiful from the outside. Then I proceeded to go to the Plaza de España, where I spent most of the day as it is connected to the Parque de María Luisa, the Museo de Artes Modernas de Sevilla, and the Plaza America along with other touristic places. I ended my day going to the Sevilla FC store - unfortunately, there wasn’t a game happening while I was in Seville.
On Saturday, I spent my morning at the Real Alcazar - where Game of Thrones was filmed. After that, I went to the Seville Cathedral and the Giralda. I walked around Santa Cruz, the Archivo de Indias, and visited the Torre del Oro. I finished my trip with a sunset boat tour of the Guadalquivir River.
The food in Seville was terrific! Everything was cheaper than in New York City and Paris - my most expensive meal was 16 euros (with appetizer and drink included). Most restaurants offered a healthy menu, and I was delighted with all the places I visited.
Things to know…
Since it was my first solo trip, I took several precautions. I always carried an emergency alarm with me and had a small backpack instead of a purse to prevent pick-pocketers. I also planned all my daily activities to avoid getting lost. I picked my hotel after reading several blogs from female travelers that recommended it for its central location and friendly staff available at all times. If traveling solo, I recommend building a good judgment of the destination and talking to other people who have been there for advice. Knowing the language was extremely helpful; I could move around the city without any issues, and all the locals were friendly and recommended what to do if I had extra time. I recommend a solo trip and hope to do it again. Seville was a 10/10 experience!