Cruz (la hermana de Lourdes), took me out for a typical Saturday night, Sevillano style! First stop was an open-air tapas bar at La Plaza Nueva in el centro, where we met two clever photo bombers!
Then we were off to another local bar where it was promised there would be Flamenco. And surely there was! It was an understated, dive bar, very crowded, with a professional Flamenco troupe performing! The Flamenco dancer, in full regalia, was exquisite, and the singers were so passionate it gave me goose-bumps! Incidentally, Cruz and I had fun trying to translate "goose-bumps," and ultimately surrendered to gestures and lots of giggling.
I'm glad I hadn't already given-in to my excitement about Flamenco before this, as I am all the wiser now. Unlike a "formal" show, which I had almost done a few times, these spots provided a local and super authentic flare, with very few tourists in attendance (because we tourists don't know about them!). It was fabulous being in a house packed with the local Sevillanos who joined-in, singing every song. It's truly a beloved tradition here, and they are as passionate about their Flamenco as I am about my local música in the Bay Area!! ¡Olé!