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Monthly Archives: June 2017

love you, london

05 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by azahar in london, love

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friends, london, love

After hearing such heart-breaking news over the weekend I was reminded of this day last August. I had spent a lovely afternoon at Borough Market with my lovely friend John @CityJohn. I’d been having a hard time with panic attacks during that visit and that day I had to take an Uber to the market (I’ve always found crossing bridges on foot difficult). But on the way back I promised John I would bravely walk over London Bridge all by myself and send him a photo to prove it. Which I did.

On my last visit to London in April my friend (and flatmate) Peter @SVQconcierge came with me and one day we walked over Westminster bridge together. Not sure I could’ve managed it otherwise. The long line of wreaths along the west side of the bridge were poignant beyond words.

I also took Peter to Arabica, a wonderful restaurant just outside Borough Market. When I’d last been there, having lunch on my own at the bar, I ended up chatting with the most cheerful barman ever, a charming guy called Emanuele. So imagine my surprise when I walked in 9 months later with Peter and he recognized me! He remembered me taking his photo and posting it on my Instagram (Arabica later re-posted it on theirs). And it was Emanuele’s face that came to mind when I read about the amazing staff at Arabica locking its doors and keeping everyone safe inside.

I don’t really know where I’m going with this. Just a bunch of feelings and memories all getting mixed up. So I just want to say that I love you London, and I hope to see you again before too long, and walk over ALL your bridges. xx

sunday song – you’re my best friend

04 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by azahar in music, sunday song, video

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sunday song, you're my best friend

I remember having to revise the whole Friend Thing while going through the whole Cancer Thing a few years ago. This was a hard time, of course, and in the end I had fewer friends. But those were the Real Friends, and I didn’t mourn the “loss” of the others that fell by the wayside because I knew I was better off.

Then I slowly rebuilt my life, eventually starting a new business for myself, while maintaining other projects I love doing. I was also able to start travelling, which has been wonderful, and incorporates my work and interests. So while it seems like I am always working, I prefer to think of it as always living, because my work is what I love doing. We are one and the same.

But once I started becoming relatively successful and enjoying my life again, I started to realize that the Friend Thing had once again begun to rear its ugly head. I guess because I was meeting so many new people on both a personal and professional level. Anyhow, some of these new “friends” decided that I was not actually the person they thought I was and, not only did they no longer wish to be friends, they felt somehow duty bound to express this intention along with a laundry list of complaints about me and my perceived shortcomings. Because, you know, relationships aren’t two-way streets and the fault had to be all mine (??). Frankly, if they’d just disappeared from my life I wouldn’t have noticed, but happily these people are now gone too.

ANYHOW… while I was walking in the park today on a beautiful bright blue summer morning this song suddenly came into my head, reminding me of all the wonderful people I know and love and appreciate. And so this song is for you, my best friends. You know who you are. xx

Oh, and… still miss you Freddy!

william

03 Saturday Jun 2017

Posted by azahar in food & drink, friends, sevilla, spain, tapas

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friends, rick steves, sherry, taller andaluz de cocina, tapas, vineria san telmo

Juan, me & William

It’s been quite a week for meeting up with people, either for the first time or after a long time. William @madguide1 fits into the second category. We first knew each other via social media as he is a Spain expert for the very famous Rick Steves global tours. Then one fine day we had time to meet up while he was in Sevilla… that was a few years ago. Then I saw on Instagram that William was back in town this week with a tour group, he promised me that FOR SURE when he was back in September that he’d make time to meet up.

Later that same day I was having lunch with my dear friend Juan Tarquini @jmtalexeew, at his fabulous Vineria San Telmo, when a guy sits down at the table next to us. Suddenly I hear… SHAWN??? Heh, it was William. He was there to meet two other mutual friends, María and José who, along with their partner Victor, run the excellent Taller Andaluz de Cocina cooking school. I mean, what are the odds? I love when stuff like this happens.  🙂

William, José & María

jose toro walkers

02 Friday Jun 2017

Posted by azahar in instagram, photos, sevilla

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instagram, josetorowalkers, photos, sevilla

One of my favourite Instagram feeds is by Sevilla-based JoseToro.0, which features, well, people walking. Wonderful slice of life photos (go have a look and come back). Then last December José started a second account called JoseToroWalkers (also the hashtag he uses on his personal account) as people from around the world have been capturing #josetorowalker images and sharing the hashtag.

So here is my first one, captured while walking from one bar to the next (yeah, I know…). And it turns out that this fellow is quite well-known in the barrio. You can also see it on my Instagram here… https://www.instagram.com/p/BUzaDnvjR9p/

clinchpics

01 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by azahar in friends, gastronomy, instagram, photos, sevilla, tapas, twitter, twitter friends, wine

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friends, instagram, la sal, sevilla

Yet another online friend I’ve “virtually” known for years. Although Tim @clinchpics has passed through Sevilla many times en route to his photography workshops at Finca Buenvino in the beautiful Aracena mountains, this time he decided to stop off for a couple of days and take in the sights. And so, after meeting up for a quick manzanilla at Las Teresas, we headed over to La Sal for lunch. And WHAT a lunch it was…

[click on image to enlarge]

La Sal specializes in all things tuna (the original family-run restaurant is in Zahara de los Atunes) and as we are in the almadraba season – the annual sustainable tuna catch off the coast of Cádiz – it seemed like the perfect time to revisit the Sevilla location. Seriously, it was one of the most spectacular meals I’ve had in quite awhile, starting off with marinated sardines on toast, followed by tuna loin cured in pork fat (wow) and a delicious bite of “something tuna” which ingredients now escape me. After that some tuna in tempura with bonito flakes (delish) and a “bento box” of six delightful tuna bites. Finally we opted for the tuna morillo (collar) baked in salt and served with Japanese style noodles. You can watch Antonio serving it here…

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A post shared by Shawn Hennessey (@sevillatapas)

The wine and conversation flowed and it felt like I’d known Tim forever. And as so often happens we stopped for a post-lunch Penúltima (or three) at La Azotea (aka The Office). Then it was time for me to get home, and so I left Tim with a tapas bar Plan of Action for the evening, feeling happy to have met a new friend and kindred spirit.

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