Who knew that going to mass and a public library could be so difficult....

Today, after my siesta I decided to go to mass to make up for the one I missed yesterday. (Yes, I know that's not how it works but it's better to got mass than none at all!)

4:30 PM Wake up from my siesta
4:32 PM Realize that mass starts at 5 in the Cathedral.... a 40 minute walk away
4:33 PM Realize that I will be extremely late
4:35 PM Found a friend in my program that wanted to go with me! We decided to meet up at the CIEE study center... in the middle of Barrio Santa Cruz... otherwise known as a GIANT MAZE.
5:00 Finally get to CIEE.... with shin splits because of speed walking in boots not helpful for walking... (I didn't bring a pair of gym shoes... stupid in the perspective of some people but A. I don't work out really and B. They would never match any of my outfits)

We walked together to the cathedral again getting a little lost because of course in Barrio Santa Cruz the streets happen to change and manipulate themselves....

FINALLY get to the Cathedral! Oops! We're late. It was 5:20 and mass started at 5! Well, we tried to get in anyway but the church had no open doors what so ever so we said to ourselves, "Well atleast we tried!"

After our mass attempt, we passed the most delicious looking heladeria (ice cream shop) so of course we had to get a scoop. Plus, it was merienda time and since I'm living in Sevilla, I want to live like a Sevillana and have a merienda!..... of ice cream.

Me and my ice cream!

While enjoying our ice cream in the outdoor cafe and admiring the view of the grand cathedral, we run into our friend... well actually our friend ran into us while she was going on her jog. She decided to sit and chat for awhile.. which turned into one hour. We then met this old man named Antonio, who was 98 years old and claimed he was the hardest working person in Spain and all of Europe. He was out for his paseo and decided to stop and chat with us while we were enjoying our helado! He was part of building the Avenida de la Constitucion (famous pedestrian walk way in Sevilla) and claimed he laid every single brick on the street! He explained that he was very strong and decided to show off how strong he is by running down the street! We didn't see much more of Antonio but he was very fun to talk to (well more like listen to.. quite the talker) and very friendly.

View of part of the cathedral from the ice cream shop



 Finally, we finished up our ice cream and decided that we should head to the public library. Our first homework assignment is to write a two page paper about the library.... not really sure how to take up two pages about a library... but we'll see. Not exactly knowing where it is located, I atleast knew the street which definitely helped. After asking two Spanish ladies and a Spanish police man where the library was, we finally found it after about twenty minutes. It's very modern and looks very much like an American library but it is full of Spanish books, Spanish people, and even personal flat screen TV's!

Outside the public libary... looks pretty American, doesn't it?

Inside the public library! Full of Spanish students studying for their finals!

Me in the children's section of the library



So after this afternoon I came to the thought that going places in Sevilla is not just one small walk or car ride away... it WAY MORE COMPLICATED. In addition, I got lost on my way home! By myself! But that story is coming later on my next post because that's a story all on its own. Anyway, I came to the conclusion that I can either

A. Go to church in Palatine then go to the Palatine Public Libary... Estimated time: 10 minutes

or

B. Try (and I really tried this time Mom, but we couldn't find an open door of the cathedral) to go to mass in the famous cathedral and visit the Sevilla public library... Estimated time: 5 hours plus painful shin splints from walking 10 hours a day

I'll go with B! Despite the time wasted, the wrong turns we took, and the calories we consumed, it was more about the journey than the destination itself. With a little bit of navigation skills, outgoingness, and a sense for adventure, you may encounter the most interesting people, see the most interesting places, and eat the most delicious ice cream! :)