Semana Santa in Sevilla

Holy Week, better known as Semana Santa in Spain, is a big deal. Preparations for this week long celebration and festival starts months in advanced. Throughout the week there are processions through the street, with spectators filling in the surrounding street space to look at them.

As it was evident in my previous post, I was not in Sevilla for most of the week. I got back early Friday morning and was able to see two processions Friday, one which I had planned to see and another one that I was a surprise. I was walking back from the bus station to my place when a procession was going down a street that I needed to cross. Being as tired as I was, all I wanted to do was get back to my place and sleep. After an effortless attempt at figuring out a way to get around it, I found a spot in the crowd, dropped my bags, and watched the procession. Kind of funny how things worked out because I ended up really enjoying it and was glad that I saw it. Especially since the weather didn't look like it was going to be too great and the processions don't happen when it rains, every chance that I had to see one I was grateful for, even if it was after a sleepless night on a bus.

So many people!

Procession on my way home

I am fortunate to live on a popular street in my neighborhood for several reasons. One, when I first got here and got lost almost everyone knew how to get to my street. Another reason is that a procession comes down my street, which meant that I didn't need to go and stand in a crowd for a long time to see one. I was able to relax in my room until my host mom came and got me when the procession came near our building.

For the second half of the procession we went down to the street to get a better look at it, but that did not involve much at all which my tired body was extremely grateful for. It was really cool to see the procession and I am glad that I made it back in time to see it. There was supposed to be another procession that following morning but due to the rain it never happened. I was upset that I wasn't able to see it but that meant that I got to sleep in which made this fact a little bit better.

Semana Santa breakfast!

Procession through the street I live on.

After Semana Santa I had one week of classes and then headed to Cordoba and Granada for the weekend, which I will post about soon. ¡Hasta luego!