One other really cool thing I forgot to mention...

So, as I understand it, this is sort of the 'logo' of Sevilla. It's not just 'NoDo' ; the word for that picture in the middle is 'madeja', which translates into skein or hank. Now, I had no idea what that word was in English, so I looked it up - according to Wikipedia it's yarn or twine in a coiled form. Okay, so why does that matter?

Well, No-Madeja-Do sounds a lot like No Me Ha Dejado - It (Sevilla) has not left me. THIS IS WHERE IT GETS REALLY COOL AND INTERESTING. Nito told the story but I can't really remember the details, so I checked on Wikipedia (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/NO8DO). 

Apparently there are different legends to how this became the emblem of Sevilla, but the one that Nito told us was that, there was some war in the 13th century between the current king of Spain (Alfonso the Wise) and his son, Sancho (who wanted to overthrow him and become king). Okay, this is where the pronouns in the Wikipedia article (in spanish) are confusing me... When Alfonso was overthrown, only Sevilla gave him (I was thinking Alfonso, but could it have been Sancho?) shelter. For whatever reason, Sancho allowed Sevilla to still be faithful to Alfonso, and to show his (again, I dont know whose) gratitude, Alfonso (or Sancho?) let the City Council put this new motto on his (??) shield, representing Sevilla's faithfulness to Alfonso.

ALL OF THAT IS REALLY COOL. And I really like the meaning - It has not left me. WHAT IM GETTING TO IS that before I came on this trip, I was totally playing with the idea of getting a tattoo related to Sevilla so I could always remember my experience - Sevilla will not have left me (ALL THE MEANINGFULNESS OF THIS IS MAKING ME GIDDY). I didn't really want to get a flag, so I just sorta hoped something would stand out to me once I got there. AND I THINK THIS IS IT. Ideally, I'd get the tattoo somewhere here, in Sevilla... but I'm not going to think about that right now because it sounds poquito loco. A TATTOO IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY? 

Whatever, but that would be so cool. NO ME HA DEJADO NO8DO!


Edit: I found the Wiki article in English, so.. long story short - Sancho tried to steal his dad Alfonso's throne. Sevilla wouldn't let him, and remained loyal to Alfonso. In return, Alfonso rewarded the Sevillanos' loyalty with this logo on his shield, and now it's the emblem of Sevilla. YAY