Christmas Time is Here

Last weekend I went to London, a place that embraces Christmas like nowhere else I have ever seen. I guess there is a reason Love Actually is set there. Coming home to Seville was a disappointment because they were being pretty Grinchy in terms of Christmas decorations. However, this all changed this past Thursday. The christmas lights were turned on, and suddenly, Seville became a magical Christmas wonderland.

On Friday, my friends and I had an incredible meal at Oveja Negra (HIGHLY recommended), and then wandered through the city center, admiring the lights. El centro has been packed lately, no matter what time of day. All the stores have been closed all weekend, so I'm not entirely sure what everyone is doing. Anyways, after several failed attempts to take pictures in front of the giant light-up tree, we headed to the Christmas fair. This consists of various booths selling gifts, a skating rink, and a ferris wheel. Everything is sponsored by Kinder (a European candy company). It is incredible. 

Tacky or wonderful? You decide.

You can't see the Kinder logo on the Ferris Wheel, but trust me, it is there.

Yesterday, Rocio took us to the convention of "conventos de dulces" in the Alcazar. Here in Andalucia, most of the convents make special sweets for Christmas. Many of the nuns are cloistered, so you have to buy them through a special turnstile. However, this weekend, all of the different convents sent their sweets to one place. It was overwhelming. I'm not quite sure what I bought because I could only understand about half of what the vendors were telling me, but I guess we will find out when I get home. Rocio met up with two of her BFFs and we all stopped to hear some Spanish Christmas carols. Last night, some of my friends and I went to a bar and then had a very strange interaction with a group of "tunos." A "tuna" is  group of university students who dress up in special costumes and serenade people. They are especially active at Christmas. The ones we met last night had definitely been out of college for a long time. There were lots of requests to kiss us (all of which were denied) and somehow we all wound up singing "Wonderwall" together. 

You might be thinking that I have had such a thrilling weekend, but mostly I have been studying for finals. It is a "puente" (long weekend) this weekend, so I have four full days of studying. At least I can listen to Christmas music. It is getting colder in Seville, and I am on a despearte search for gloves. Christmas in Seville is nice, but I am so ready to go home. One more week!