Seville

Flamenco dancers' passion, bullfighting matadors' commitment, and the laid-back indulgence of an afternoon siesta are not only idealized recollections of a bygone Spain. These cultural practices are prevalent in Seville and the rest of the country's southernmost Andalusia area. Seville, a city with Jewish, Islamic, and Christian influences, demonstrates each religion's presence in its church façade, minarets, and historical ghettos. Travelers who want a fair dose of history in between leisurely strolls through small alleys and languid, drawn-out lunches will fall in love with Seville's centuries-old neighborhoods and cultural activities.

Spend your time in Seville eating tapas at a street corner café or listening to an impromptu musician perform in an open-air square. Though the warmth and laid-back atmosphere may tempt you to spend your days relaxing, find time to tour the parks, gardens, and palaces that exhibit the city's complicated history and architectural magnificence. NO8DO is an abbreviation for the Spanish phrase "no me ha dejado", which translates to "It (Seville) has not abandoned me". Make a mental note of that motto since you're likely to adopt it yourself; once you've experienced the beauties of Seville, your experience will stay with you for a long time.