The shadows were beginning to grow steadily. (I realize now how many of my posts begin with the sun haha). It was nearing 8:30, and by now mass had ended, and our glass of cerveza was now empty. My lovely señora and I headed back home.
The flowers in the garden are blooming now. Roses, lilies, poppies, and the like. The birds swooped down and around into the courtyard catching bugs for their dinner.
But the weather was too nice for me to go inside. Sevilla was calling my name.
So I went for a run.
What? you may be asking, Derek, you never run. Which is true 99.9% of the time. But tonight was different. Tonight was the .01%.
After getting my headphones and changing into running attire, I began.
And little did I know it would become my favorite thing ever. Here's an account:
Pat pat pat went the sound of my feet through the neighborhood. Music played in one ear, the soundtrack of the outside world in the other. Tiny streets corner after corner.
Then, I find the main street. There's room here. People are free to walk, to run, to bike. And on I go. Destination? Unsure yet. But I'm loving the sights of the city. A man sitting at a local cafe nods as I pass by, taking a sip of his beer.
And on I go. The Plaza de España is along this street, so, I think, Eh, why not? Sure it's far but I have nowhere else to be. I pass by buildings and under low hanging orange trees. The orange blossoms are blooming now too, and the city smells of a sweet, citrus-y smell.
Breathe it in.
Birds are singing everywhere. In the trees they announce the closing of the day. Tee-tow, tee-tow goes their song. Perhaps they cheer me on. Perhaps they're advising me of the coming night.
Pat pat pat.
Crossing over busy streets, passing street vendors packing up their ware, then stopping to take pictures of fountains and monuments and buildings that I've never taken time to appreciate before.
Pressing on. The plaza is near. I pass by a tiny park with a huge tree in the center. It's at least 12 feet wide. A man reads under its eaves. It's on an iPad though; I try not to judge.
And on I go. My feet hit the tile of the plaza. Here is were the slow but steady heartbeat of a Sevillian Sunday night lies. There is a group of four or five horse paseos giving rides in the center of the plaza. Kids run up to their parents to give them a "present" that they found on the ground. Couples are rowing boats in the canal. Numerous people are taking "selfies" of themselves. Two girls sit by the canal and eat some sugary red dessert that I don't recognize. Through passageways, over tile, under arches, by enormous towers, stopping to take another picture of the fountain. Lots of pictures of my surroundings really. It's too picturesque not to.
I make it around the half circle of the plaza. To go around again?
But what typically would be an affirmative has become a negative tonight. Because there is an enormous park -- Parque Maria Louisa -- that is open before me.
I jog up to a trail. I look within and see a jungle. The birds, perhaps the same ones as before, beckon me to enter the green world. My feet leave tile and encounter dirt.
Crunch crunch crunch.
There's a pool on my left. Two women sit talking.
Crunch crunch crunch.
There's a playground on my right. Surprisingly empty tonight.
Crunch crunch crunch.
I pass by a bush with white-clustered flowers. The smell. Oh, if only smells could be recorded and replayed later. I would record that smell for sure.
Crunch crunch crunch.
Weaving in an out of the columns ahead. Up and down the steps. Under the arching stone walls.
Crunch crunch crunch.
There's a waterfall ahead. A waterfall? How have I never seen this before? The tumbling water falls off a tiny hill with rocks and flowers. I stare. I go to take a picture but notice the awkward couple alarmed that I would invade their privacy at their special place. So no picture. On I go.
Crunch cr--
What? There's a tunnel that goes through the hill? Again, how have I never seen this? I turn on my heels and pass through, of course.
Crunch crunch crunch.
There's a pond on my left with fountains. There are ducks on the fountains. Of course I stop to take a picture. There are palm trees in the background.
Crunch crunch crunch.
I encounter what appear to be abandoned buildings. White with yellow trim, just like all buildings in this city.
Crunch crunch crunch.
The street lights are turning on now. My feet strike asphalt.
Pat pat pat.
I take one last picture of the plaza and head home.
Now I know that there was a reason that Sevilla was calling me tonight. She had something to show me. The funniest thing is, that was the furthest I've run in a long time. And in the end I wasn't even tired. I guess I hate running, but love experiencing.
And experience I did.
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