11 Wednesday Apr 2018
Posted in azahar, casa azahar, seasons, sevilla
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I passed this house the other day and felt pangs of longing, remembering how wonderful it was when I also had orange trees blossoming in front of my balcony windows. Ah well… azahar season is almost over now, with the returning RAIN blasting most of the blossoms off the trees. But as always, it was amazing while it lasted.
02 Tuesday Jan 2018
10 Thursday Aug 2017
Posted in azahar, casa azahar, cats, home
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So this is basically what all the fuss was about. A simple cupboard 60 x 60 x 140 to serve as a pantry because the kitchen (to the right) doesn’t have enough storage space. It’s handy, just the right size, fits into a space I wouldn’t use for anything else, blah blah blah…
WHY it took over a week to organize the delivery and assembly is beyond me. The guy who showed up today to put the cupboard together said “August with IKEA is always like this” (leading to the obvious question… then WHY NOT HIRE MORE PEOPLE IN AUGUST???). But it wasn’t his fault. I’m sure places other than IKEA contract his company’s services, and in fact he was very friendly and helpful. I couldn’t have been happier with him.
One glitch (of course!). See that cardboard package alongside the cupboard? Well, that’s the cover I paid extra for. Turns out the covers need to be CUT TO SIZE depending on the order, and my guy wasn’t told this and didn’t have the right tools, so there it remains until IKEA sends someone out to do this. But at least it doesn’t affect how it functions. Which means that already three boxes are gone from the hallway and by tomorrow THERE WILL BE NO MORE BOXES. I almost can’t believe it.
Now that it’s (almost) over, I am so relieved that I (almost) can’t believe how upsetting all this was. I think that because moving is so stressful anyhow that when things get fucked up they feel even more stressful. Also, had everything been delivered and assembled last Friday – LAST FRIDAY!!! – as promised, the new apartment would have been pretty much set up over the weekend. Instead it’s been another week of BOXES and feeling disorganized. Yeah, I know, first world problem and all, but it still sucked. Especially as I’m supposed to be on holiday this week, and it sure hasn’t felt like a holiday. BUT… big deep breath… it’s all looking better now. How’s your week been?
10 Friday Mar 2017
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As always, I smelled it before I saw it. And then I had to search around until I found the source. The FIRST AZAHAR OF THE YEAR was spotted in Plaza Nueva at dusk (which explains out of focus, dimly lit shot) and marks my happiest time of year in Sevilla. Wish you could all smell it too.
12 Saturday Mar 2016
I picked these beauties on my way home. Love carrying azahar around in my pocket and, when I was doing this in Jerez, I’d leave them on the ledge behind my hotel bed (which happened twice as we changed rooms for the second night). Jo said it was like leaving my “trademark” behind – az wuz here. 🙂
10 Monday Mar 2014
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Yesterday I went out on an “azahar hunt” because I’d been seeing so many buds on the orange trees and reckoned they must be blossoming somewhere by now. Nothing! Then today during a hectic afternoon of various appointments, I took a turn down a street I’d never been on before and there it was! I smelled it before I saw it… happy happy happy.
27 Wednesday Mar 2013
Posted in azahar, health & happiness
I think the worst part of this now more-than-week-long crappy ear/sinus infection thing is that I CAN’T SMELL ANYTHING. Which also means I can’t taste anything. But to not have a sense of smell during the very brief orange blossom season here feels cruel beyond belief. I LIVE for this time of year ever since my first springtime in Sevilla. And now I walk around looking at all these pretty delicate blossoms and listening to people comment on how amazing their fragrance is, and I want to weep.
I did get a bit of a preview when I was in Málaga a few weeks ago as the azahar was already well in blossom then, and thought of it as a bonus. But maybe it’s all I’m going to get this year? That is too sad to even consider.
I’d say the azahar here is good for at least another week or so, as long as heavy rains and wind don’t remove them prematurely. What rotten luck! 😦
08 Wednesday Jun 2011
Posted in azahar, internet, social media
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Last December I made my first About.me pages – one for azahar and one for Sevilla Tapas. Since starting to revamp the azahar-sevilla.com site the other day I thought it would be a good idea to make a new online business card for my new venture. What do you think?
23 Wednesday Mar 2011
Took these pics the weekend before last when I spotted the first azahar blossoms … this is my favourite time of year. Click on the pic to get a closer look at how full of blossoms these trees were. Since then the air in Sevilla has smelled heavenly and I wish I could share it with you. Such a gorgeous and soothing fragrance.
Happy spring, everyone!
