Ah, Seville!

There are things that you pay for, material things, tangible things, things that cost money, stuff that you save for, plan for, buy, own or add to your collection. And so it is that I find myself on a holiday in the beautiful Andalusian town of Seville, on a perfect October morning, looking at the cathedral that is a few steps from the hotel room. A small wedding party is busy with its activities, watched curiously by a large number of tourists, milling around aimlessly, dozens of immaculately maintained horse-drawn carriages standing patiently, observing the orderly queue that waits to enter the Real Alcazar palace.

We booked our flights to Madrid in advance but paid dearly for the hotel room that is located in such a prime neighborhood in Seville. The only seats available were first class ones on the train from Madrid. For a tourist it all adds up - the train fare, the taxi, the transaction costs on the currency. But what we got for free, was the gorgeous weather, a perfect 18 °C temperature, clear skies and a light breeze.

There is something about the colors that are favored in the architecture of this region. A brick red that is not as dull, a shade of turmeric yellow that borders on mustard, the green of the Seville orange trees and the sheer blue of the skies, as cloudless and clear as that of the guileless eyes of a young child. The Real Alcazar palace amazed me with its innumerable courtyards that led into intriguing gardens, each with its unique identity, some with fountains, others with manicured lawns and precisely cut topiary. The girth of ancient tree trunks shamed me into humility with their sheer size, age and wisdom.

There are benches everywhere, lined with the famous Triana tiles. Couples hold hands and lie in each others laps, lured into loving somnolence by the soothing bird calls in the trees, oblivious to tourists who pass by. The pink blossoms of the magnolia framed the arches held by columns that overlooked courtyards with little nooks that invited me to sit awhile, perhaps with a book or an ipod, or even better, a companion who shared the same sentiment.

I look up and see those characteristic yellow and red colors on the walls that support the Spanish jasmine creeper that sways gently and rises up the white façade of the building towards an inviting blue sky, bringing me a whiff of a heavenly floral fragrance as the sun gently warms me in this beautiful place that I find myself in. Can money buy me holiday? Yes. But can I afford to pay for this truly priceless experience? Absolutely not.