Photos

Sevilla, the devote.
Sevilla is a town where traces of the reconquista and a burning faith are everywhere. As the powerful catholic church organization needs their own eyes to monitor what could be happening at the frontline of the culture shock, Seville hosts many convents.
Some of them are open to public visits or at least they pretend so.

You'll always tend to be fascinated with what you cannot understand. The idea of spending your time living as a recluse is something that is miles away from my limited understanding.
This is why I won't miss any chance of witnessing it for real : in that respect, I have to to say the asian monks and religious people have always opened their arms wide to my curiosity. I am grateful for the fact I have often spent more time in monasteries or religious schools than I thought I would be allowed. It probably shows a proof of a genuine compassionate feel from the monks and more open mindness than I would have suspected, as a resulat it has helped me overcome my primary negative anticlerical thoughts.

The convent I shot the photo from is located in the northern Macarena part of Sevilla, it's likely to open to your request if you can find the small bell on the side on its huge entry doors. We were confirmed inside that the place was open for a visit. A tall mestiza sister beaconing in the patio ordered us to walk up the stairways, where we could meet someone and pay a small fee to see a 3 rooms museums. More interestingly, we could also catch through a wired window a glimpse of the convent's life, but I suppose it was more something of a negligence than a main attraction.

Although we showed very little interest to the morbid paintings (I don't know why christianty has a kick towards paintings of a guy, -christ, saint, bishop or whatever - tortured to blood or pierced with arrows or beheaded sometimes, painted in a gloomy light while other religions can enjoy flamboyant representations of their heroes.), we were greeted by one of the "sisters" who could really cheer up your mind only with her smile and the sound of her voice. This is the real mystery to me, how can someone be so close to what you need while her life is so reclused. I believe this what is called compassion or empathy maybe.. but aren't those similar.

While leaving the room, we asked her whether we could see other parts of the convent, the way nuns live and eventually shoot some photos. She replied it was of course possible, like myrequest sounded obvious. I started enjoying the moment.

Downstairs it was another story, the tall beacon-sister confirmed us we could photo "everything", providing it was taken from the (small) patio and we were not allowed to photo anyone. That is to say, th eonly points of interst were, if I remember well, two or three closed doors, one tall tree, a belfry with a bell, the stairs we had walked up and... that's it.

She also added with a smile that the community would be happy if we bought all sorts of jam conserves they were selling.
Smiles can be different. There are lots of smiles, they bear different values : some smiles are only in there for the photo, as fake as their owner, others like the previous nun's smile are compassionate.

I felt somehow cheated and deceived, this is not what I call opening the doors, hence I was in my mind entitled not to follow distorted rules. I broke the rules : this photo shouldn't be. I guestimated the framing slyly with my best smile, and furtively clicked while I was told not to photo people... I'm not even sorry.

Some people may smile with compassion whereas I only see in some others' selfpassion. I let you judge this smile. For me there is nothing compassionate, this smile is just social code from someone who is passionate about her own passion... the religion passion. She acted like she was organizing the agenda of an overbooked movie star : all of her body language spoke about dominance and the urge of not allowing a single bit of any freedom.

Some members may assume I am harsh against religion. Yes, particularly against certain clerks, particularly against one of the most hypocrite religion exerting in our countries.
To say it starightforwardly I miss Asian monks, I miss the genuine compassion they have often shown.