Sense of Direction?

Becky, Tanner, and I wandered around last Sunday, and over some fabulous desserts, I quoted my mother. 

The best way to find yourself is to get lost.

again-

The best way to find yourself is to get lost.

I have been bragging to everyone on the trip that I am having a difficult time actually getting lost in the city. Most people, for instance my dear friend Becky, wander the streets without a sense of direction whatsoever. Immediately upon arriving in Sevilla, it seemed as though I just knew my way around. I never once pulled out a map, I could come in and out of stores and restaurants and like a hunting dog in a very stoic sense, I was able to point my way home.

Somehow, though, just a few nights ago, I got lost. Tanner and I were wandering around El Centro, pointing out Tapas bars and shops we wanted to go in. We stumbled upon a narrow alleyway that lead to a beautiful curved apartment building centered around a fantastic fountain and several antique shops. We walked slowly past the display windows that showcased old coin and stamp collections. Somehow in the midst of awe I had for the vintage stores and the curvature of the building, when we emerged back onto the main streets, I had gotten completely and absolutely turned around. Tanner knew which direciton we needed to go in, but at that moment, he realized this was the first time I didn't know the way home. The sun had set, so I couldn't use that as a reference point and the Cathedral (which, as I just learned is, by law, the tallest building in El Centro) was hidden behind others. Tanner watched me literally spin around looking for some sense of familiarity in the buildings or streets, and he laughed when he realized I had finally gotten lost. 

I squealed with excitement and I felt another one of those bouts of pure happiness. I was happy to finally be lost. 

It happened again today. Tanner and I actually had a mission to find the ISA study abroad office, which is deep in El Centro down some narrow street. I had only been there the first day in Sevilla, but I still knew the general area. Tanner and I must have been just near it, but we never did find where the office was. We did actually pull out a full sized map and looked like true Americans. We had no idea where the office was. Then we continued on, no longer in search of the office, but instead just to get out of El Centro and near the University and to familiar territory. This only got us even more twisted around, until we finally decided we were officially lost. 

We somehow ended up near a beautiful garden on the top of a hill. From there we searched around for the Cathedral Steeples. I was sure the Cathedral was THAT WAY, while Tanner pointed in the complete opposite direction. When we finally saw the Gothic tips of the Cathedral, we discovered we were both wrong. 

After reevaluation of our wandering, we realized that somehow we ended up walking in a complete U-Shape. We wound up right back at the university which was exactly where we had started. 

It's funny, because the entire time, neither of us were stressed or concerned much. We laughed the entire time, talked about everything. It was so fabulous. 

I guess my mom was right, I am starting to find myself with every time I get lost in Sevilla.