Category Archives: friends

a dangerous woman

08 Tuesday Jun 2021

Posted by in friends, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

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dangerous woman

You wouldn’t know it to look at this innocent smiling face but make no mistake, this woman is pure danger. Or else it’s me who’s dangerous? WHATEVER… it turns out that whenever Reyes Morales and I get together we have, well, a lot of fun. Which usually means we not only end up having a lot of wine, but also lots of laughs, while sharing food and stories and just enjoying our “girl time”. This time we were trying out a new seafood tapas bar next to the Plaza Alfalfa, and I honestly couldn’t ask for a better Tapas Research partner, especially because she owns her own tapas bar and knows what’s what. But mostly it’s just so much fun being with her and I always leave Reyes’ company feeling happy and energised. And it occurs to me – and not for the first time – that this is how one should always feel after spending time with a friend.

the amazing alexandra del bene

17 Monday May 2021

Posted by in art, friends, sevilla, spain

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alex mural project

I was so excited when Alex pinged me with a link to this video about her latest project. I had no idea that she was doing this and it’s absolutely amazing. She will be creating 15 gigantic murals themed around the 500th anniversary of the first round the world voyage, the Magellan-El Cano circumnavigation (1519 – 1522). See those buildings up there? Those will be her canvases. Located in Calle Tarfia, facing the river it is expected to set a Guinness world record.

Below you can see virtual depictions of how they will look when finished. Impressive, right?

I first met Alexandra by chance ten years ago when she was starting out here working as a “graffiti artist for hire” painting shop and bar shutters so that they wouldn’t get vandalised by taggers. One day I saw her painting a bar shutter while out for a walk on a Sunday afternoon and stopped to chat and we’ve been friends ever since. She once even joined one of my tapas tours in progress while “on the job” painting the shutters at Bodeguita Romero.

And while Alexandra still does the occasional shutter art, she is now also an award-winning artist recognised both here and abroad. An amazing accomplishment for someone who arrived here from Rome in 2010 with a young daughter to start a new life. I am quite in awe of not only her talent but also her energy and spirit. You can check out her website here…

Alexandra del Bene

alex murals

alex virtual murals Also posted on Azahar Sevilla

vacunación masiva

05 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by in covid, friends

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vacuna masiva (1)

Yesterday it was Peter’s (@SevillaEnglish) turn to get his first jab. But unlike me (my first one was on April 12th) he had to go out to the Olympic Stadium for his. Mine was at my local health centre and I was in and out in five minutes. Well, with the fifteen minute waiting period afterwards in case of an allergic reaction. But Peter’s was one of the Vacunación Masiva programs they have going on, and it doesn’t get much more massive than at this stadium. I’d actually never been there before because why would I have? It’s at the hellish far end of the Cartuja island, the saddest and most desolate part of town since EXPO ’92 finished. So the plan was to taxi over there and then walk back to civilisation. Ironically Peter lives about two minutes away from our health centre (we go to the same one).

Quite unexpectedly, despite the huge number of people filing into the stadium when we arrived, Peter also got his jab within five minutes, then we waited the required 15 extra ones, then we were out again. Very efficient. Gotta say I’m a bit envious though. Peter got Pfizer, which means his second jab will be in 3 weeks. Since I got AstraZeneca the waiting time between jabs is longer (10-12 weeks) so I won’t get my second one until July 1st. Oh well.

The walk back into town wasn’t that long, maybe 40 minutes or so, but it was so fucking bleak walking through the old EXPO site, as it always is. It was also fucking hot! About 33º by that time of day, so by the time we were back over the river we headed to the Alameda for a much needed and much deserved COLD BEER at El Disparate. Today Peter reported no side effects other than a sore arm. More news as it happens.

vacuna masiva (2)