Sevilla: Kayaking down the Guadalquivir River!

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF OUR KAYAKING EXCURSION!

Now that a couple of days have passed and we've been able to rest our sore muscles... it's time to share about our adventure kayaking down the Guadalquivir River! The CIEE Sevilla Language & Culture students embarked on a fun excursion down the river that flows between Sevilla and Triana. We paddled along under three bridges, waving to the Sevillanos who go on their daily walks on the riverside paths and enjoying the sounds of the street performers' music reaching us from both sides of the river. While some students chose to race each other, paddling with all their might and splashing their friends, others chose a more tranquil approach to the excursion as they let the river's current float them along-- sometimes straight into the plants on the river's bank!

This excursion was a fun combination of sport and culture. Several iconic sites line the Guadalquivir River: the Torre del Oro, the Barrio de Triana, the Triana Bridge, the Sevilla Tower (which is the tallest building in Andalusia), and the riverside walking paths that are full of graffiti art by local and international artists. Our journey up the river culminated at the Nao Victoria 500 ship, a replica of the legendary vessel that completed the first circumnavigation of the planet, one of the greatest maritime feats in history. Led by Captains Magellan and El Cano, the original ship set sail from the Guadalquivir River in 1519. Although our maritime adventure was about three years shorter than Captain Magellan and El Cano's, many students arrived at their host family homes as tired as if they had been on that original voyage!

Check out some of our photos and click the link to see a video compilation of our kayaking excursion!