Marissa Sariol-Clough is a student at James Madison University and an ISA Summer 2015 Featured Student Blogger. She studied abroad with ISA in Sevilla, Spain.
When in Spain, you may never have to drive! At first this may sound a little odd; everybody loves driving and it makes getting around so easy. But let’s pause and take a moment to think about it. Buying the car, insurance, car repairs, a place to park, learning the roads, etc. These all take time and money and without a car you could save hundreds!
In Seville, there is a surplus of ways to get around without a car. When I first arrived, I saw it as bothersome and even quite time consuming to walk everywhere. At my home university I walk everywhere, maybe five or more miles a day, but little did I know that this would be nothing compared to the walking in Spain! I advise you to buy some comfortable sandals or fashionable shoes for the ten plus miles you will be walking everyday.
Although I love some good ‘ole fashioned walking, sometimes I may be short on time and require a faster method to reach my destination. This is when buses, taxis, and the metro come into play; my saviors! There are many taxis in Seville and if you cannot find one easily there are taxi stops where I guarantee you will find a taxi ‘libre’ or free. I personally prefer not to take taxis because it does cost more and there are other options.
This brings me to the metro and bus system. The buses and metro are very easy to use and even easier to find. The metro is an affordable 1,40 euros for one-way, runs through major locations in town and even has WIFI! The buses have more stops, are just as easy to use, and cost the same as a one-way metro ticket. Seville is all about staying green and helping the environment so do your part and take the bus instead of driving!
Besides the bus system, Seville has an amazing bike system that runs throughout the city. I would have been more than happy to put down for it if I were staying longer. There are a few options you could invest in, if interested. There is a one year plan which is pretty affordable but the membership pass may take a couple of weeks to arrive in the mail so ISA recommended we chose the weekly one instead. A few students on my trip chose to buy the weekly one and said it was definitely worth it! What is most amazing about the bikes are how many parking stations you can find around town; it’s accessible, cheap, and convenient.
In addition to the bicycles, many people have mopeds and motorcycles to get around. Although it is not really an option for studying abroad, it is a great purchase for those planning on living in Europe for an extended period of time. I personally chose to walk just about everywhere; its free and good exercise! So take your pick– you can’t go wrong!
Want to read more about Spain? check out “‘The Moment’ that Changed Everything in Granada, Spain”