Shopping and eating — Sevilla style

14 May 2009

It is very pleasant to be out on the street in Sevilla. Why is that so true?

Three major factors come to mind.
(1) The streets in the urban core are human scaled. Here, in the center of the city, streets are either so small that a car can barely pass or they are explicitly set aside for pedestrians only. The city is also compact, so it is practical to travel almost anywhere within the core on foot.
(2) Sevillanos seem to like spending time in public very much. All ages. At all hours. Socializing happens in public. The result is a warm buzz that makes it feel cozy to be outside as part of the crowd.
(3) Businesses, especially eating and drinking establishments, open outwards. The density of bars, restaurants, cafés, ice creameries, and bakeries in Sevilla is very large. Most have outdoor seating, often beneath umbrellas, and often in greater quantity than their indoor seating.

Maybe there are other important factors, too. The weather. The generally slower pace of life here.

Don't misunderstand, though. Things here aren't perfect on the street. Too many Sevillanos smoke too many cigarettes so the environmental tobacco smoke is a nuisance at least, if not a health threat. And ubiquitous motor scooters (and some cars) often travel too fast on skinny cobblestone streets, disturbing the otherwise peaceful conditions for walking.

Still, on balance, it's quite nice to be out in Sevilla!