Category Archives: andalucia

off the charts

01 Tuesday Sep 2020

Posted by in andalucia, coronavirus, sevilla

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So why isn’t this front page news? Instead we’re hearing about kids going back to school, but now you can’t smoke on restaurant terrazas and weddings can only have 100 people. Oh, and beaches will be closed after 9.30 pm in some areas. Because… why?

Honestly, our governments are just making shit up as they go along. Even these numbers can’t be trusted, other than to be pretty sure that there are far more confirmed cases and deaths than are “officially” reported. And there is still NO PLAN. Probably because nobody wants to admit they have no idea what they are dealing with or how to proceed. So we are given random guidelines and then they watch to see how many of us get sick and die.

Happy September everyone!

los reales alcázares

26 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by in andalucia, culture, sevilla, welcome

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alcazar 2020 (1)
Last week I went to the Alcázar with my friend Corinna, the first time either of us had been there for ages. Thing is, it’s free for Sevilla residents but it’s always so bloody crowded that we usually just can’t be bothered. But as they had just reopened the palace and gardens, and it was before foreign tourists were allowed to arrive, we took advantage. And it was lovely. There were a few people, mostly Spanish, but no tour groups, and we often found ourselves with nobody around us in the gardens. Heaven.

Here are some pics…

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death takes a holiday

15 Monday Jun 2020

Posted by in andalucia, coronavirus, sevilla, sevilla shutdown, spain, tourism, travel

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plague holiday
So remember when I was mostly concerned about tourists from the EU Schengen countries (and frankly, also from Spanish virus hotspots like Madrid and Barcelona) suddenly being allowed to travel freely throughout Spain from July 1st? Well it turns out those were the days!

In a blink of an eye the Spanish government caved once again and now we are opening our borders to Schengen countries NEXT MONDAY. That’s right, the very day that we are released from lockdown after 100 days. Without giving us any time at all to adapt and see how we do here with implementing the “new now” regulations as well as dealing with our own homegrown Covidiots. Like, we now have to deal with untested asymptomatic carriers coming here ON FUCKING HOLIDAY from day one. But okay, at least this new deal excluded tourists from the UK (aka Plague Island) so I thought that was at least one less worry. Except now it looks like it actually may become a worry, and a big one.

Ah who am I trying to kid? Of course our government is going to cave again and allow UK tourists in. Bear in mind there will be no testing or quarantining involved with anybody coming here. Just a quick temperature check (useless for infectious asymptomatic carriers, approx 40% of people who test positive for Covid), fill out a form, and welcome to Spain. The only question now is when? Also next Monday? Or will they stick with the original (still way too soon) date of July 1st?

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lockdown: day 6

19 Thursday Mar 2020

Posted by in andalucia, casa azahar, coronavirus, sevilla

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Shit, I don’t actually want to do “lockdown” posts every day, but there’s not really a helluva lot else going on atm. Though I do have some news! The other day I posted this photo of my street guy Nico on Instagram and Twitter, asking people who had to be out (to shop, walk a dog, etc) to keep a look out for him in my street and maybe give him some spare change. Thing is, I wasn’t even sure if Nico knew what was going on, and it was so sad to watch him sitting out there with hardly anybody walking by. And then the next day he vanished and I didn’t see him for three days. I wondered if the city councel had done a “clean up” and moved the street people somewhere else, and I was worried.

And then this morning, there he was again! So I called out for him to come over and as he stood below my balcony I tried to suss out how he was doing. I asked if he had food, or if he needed food… and it was so hard to understand him. Even my neighbour Antonio (who was out on his balcony across the street) couldn’t make out what he was saying. So I told Nico I’d be right down.

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axarquía getaway day 2 – part one: bodegas bentomiz

12 Thursday Mar 2020

Posted by in andalucia, getaways, Malaga, malaga getaway, wine

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Nothing quite prepares you for your first look at the modern and minimalist slate structure that is Bodegas Bentomiz. It looks like it has risen up from the very ground surrounding it and inside it is both functional and attractive, with massive windows everywhere letting in lots of natural light. Spectacular views of the mountains and the sparkling Mediterranean are everywhere you look.

After the wonderful day spent out in the vineyards and at the bodega at Dimobe in Moclinejo Victor brought me back to Málaga where I had arranged to meet up with winemaker Clara, co-owner of Bodegas Bentomiz, which she runs with her husband André, who is not only the resident chef, but also the architect who designed the building (and several others nearby). Clara had been in Madrid and was arriving in Málaga by train in the evening, and had very generously offered to take me out to their installation just outside Sayalonga, as well as inviting me to stay the night.

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