Sevilla

I just got back from the Feria de Abril of Seville. I had a good time, but with some weird experiences. I went with a girl from NY who has a Puerto Rican and African heritage and she got a lot of weird looks and awkward treatment from the Sevillians. I felt powerless in the face of so much racism. But, later we met up with one of her friends from Seville who treated us like royalty and bought us drinks all night, and by that I mean until 6am! He and his family were really good to us and let us hang out in the caseta (tent) all night. Then, I went to a bull fight and was taking a video of it when the crowd stood up to cheer. I stood up too and this French man behind me had a hissy fit and pulled me down to my seat by my arms. I shouted "No me toques, no me toques otra vez" in Spanish (I should have said 'Ne me touchez pas' in French to rattle him a bit). He grumbled something about me taking a video, but the Spanish man in front of me was taking one too. He was just being really machista and psycho. I stood up immediately and kept on blocking his view because I could. The Spanish man sitting next to me didn't like how he treated me either, and I felt like if he tried anything else that the people around me would have intervened. I think many people got frustrated there this weekend by all of the crowds--It was tiring fighting them all the way across town to get to the Feria grounds. I'm just glad the French guy didn't attack my friend. Anyway, I'm safe in my house and about to make some food. I'm posting this not to make you worry about me, but to share the experience. I think being here has made me a stronger, if not better, person and I hope that you can appreciate it too.