Monthly Archives: August 2020

prepped

27 Thursday Aug 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, sevilla

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Woke up yesterday morning with what distinctly felt like a mosquito bite on my right hand. And I just thought what an idiot I was! Yes, okay I had gone out and bought the spray to protect me outside when I do my river walks, but I hadn’t taken into consideration the most relevant issue… which is that I don’t ever remember being bitten by a mosquito in Sevilla when I’ve been outside.

What I DO remember are those long hot summer nights when I wake up in the wee hours to THAT SOUND and then later on end up with nasty itchy bite mounds all over my hands, specifically on the knuckles. Well, I hope it’s not too late but, as well as the spray-on DEET, I now have those plug-in mosquito things that are supposed to be “safe for children and pets”.

adiós pasos largos

26 Wednesday Aug 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, friends, sevilla, spain, tapas, tapas bars

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Last Sunday I was out for a walk and, well, FUCK IT WAS HOT, so I thought I’d take a detour on my way home to see if one of my fave places Taberna de Pasos Largos was open for a cold beer (as it used to always be open on Sundays). Well, not only was it closed… IT WAS GONE. I mean, totally gone. Empty. And my heart broke a little, once again.

The toll of this fucking virus can be seen everywhere, but in my own world I am (so far) mostly affected by the restrictions it puts on me, including having lost my job and only source of income, as well as the loss of so many wonderful bars and restaurants. And this time I lost something very special. I don’t even know what to say, other than I will miss Paco, Pepe and Isi very much. Yes the food was great, the wine too, but I will mostly miss just being there with them. So sad.

Paco & Pepe

Isi

Isi

rosario revisited

25 Tuesday Aug 2020

Posted by in friends, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

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I first met Rosario in the spring of 2018 when I stopped in at Bodega San José, which she has been running, first with her husband and then her children, for over 60 years. I’d been there before, but as I wanted to add it to Sevilla Tapas I did my usual photos and chat thing. And well, what a woman! I immediately got a girl crush on her and since then would stop in to say hola and listen to her stories while she held my hands in hers.

So of course I was concerned about her and the fate of the bar in the wake of Covid, and finally managed to visit there this past weekend. I wasn’t even sure if they had reopened but wanted to stop by on the off chance and ask about Rosario. And not only was the bar open but there was Rosario!

Turns out she’s been working there every day since lockdown was lifted at the end of June, making her amazing boquerones al vinagre and THAT tortilla de patatas. What a woman. She told me she turned 90 on July 14th. I said “What?? You’re 90??” And she said “Well l was born in 1930, you do the math!” 😂 And well that totally made my day, my week… just knowing that she’s okay. Icing on the cake was later when my friend remarked on how Rosario’s face totally lit up when she saw me. I mean, I saw it too but it was nice to know I hadn’t just imagined it.  ❤

meningoencephalitis

24 Monday Aug 2020

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Nile fever? Seriously? WTF 2020?? Yep, that’s the latest here in Sevilla and – I have read – possibly soon to spread across Spain. Fucking Nile fever caused by mosquitoes from Doñana National Park that have over-reproduced this summer due to high humidity (why are they infected? no idea). And no, these are not normal mosquitoes that tend to only come out at dusk and dawn, apparently these fuckers are out all day long. Though to be honest, haven’t seen any in the city. Yet.

At last count there were 40 cases reported with 23 people hospitalised, 8 in ICU and 2 deaths (both very elderly people). All but one of these cases originated in Coría del Río, a village about 15 kms outside of Sevilla that is located, as the name suggests, on the banks of the river Guadalquivir, which connects to Doñana on its way to the sea.

At first I thought I would have to stop my recently resumed daily river walks, mostly because, well, RIVER. Yes, the same Guadalquivir (arabic for big water – it’s a very big river, second longest in Spain) but further up. Instead I opted to buy some mosquito repellent and spritz that shit all over my arms and legs before heading out.

I mean… it’s easily between 30-35º when I’m out there early afternoon. And I’m not outside any other time. Might end up also buying one of those plug in things for the bedroom. Because I can honestly say that the only times I remember being bitten by a mosquito in Sevilla, in 27 years, has been in my bedroom.

But I mean honestly… Nile fever mosquitoes in the south, murder hornets now in the north. What’s next, a plague of locust? I probably shouldn’t even joke about that…