Category Archives: friends

a surprise visit!

19 Saturday May 2018

Posted by in food & drink, friends, sevilla, sherry, tapas, tapas bars

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A delightful surprise visit from my friend José Pizarro @jose_pizarro yesterday. He is on a research trip around Andalucía and had one day (not enough!) in Sevilla. He asked me to take him and his team to a few traditional tapas bars “con solera” and I was more than happy to oblige. It was a fun and slightly crazy afternoon, and sadly I had to opt out of going to the Cathedral with them (after which they were heading to Jerez) because I had a tapas tour in the evening and needed to rest up a bit. Still, it’s always lovely to see my lovely friend.

plugged in and protected

05 Saturday May 2018

Posted by in friends, iphone, retail therapy, shopping, twitter

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The other day I read an article on my friend Ana’s (aka @MrsOAroundWorld) blog about essential iPhone accessories. When I first got my fabulous new iPhone X for my birthday I put off getting a screen protector because I am always so careful with my phones and couldn’t see how it would protect against anything but scratches. It was actually when Ana & Simon were here in March, and Ana told me she had already dropped her iPhone X twice, shattering two screen protectors (rather than the screen itself), that I was convinced it would be a good idea to get one. But which one?

Ana to the rescue once again with this article. I got the protector she recommended and also this other very handy accessory so I can still use normal headphones on the phone (and keep it charged). Since I only use headphones while travelling it didn’t make sense to splash out on wireless AirPods (180€!!!). I may also get the phone case mentioned in the post, but at least for now I am plugged in and protected. Thanks Ana!

tbt zoomer

26 Thursday Apr 2018

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TBT – today I found out that my dear friend Craig (aka zoomer) is going through a difficult time. And I found this photo taken of us here in Sevilla ten years ago, when he last visited. Wishing you the best amigo mio – let me know if I can help. I can still feel those wonderful bear hugs. #throwbackthursday

chance encounters

24 Tuesday Apr 2018

Posted by in friends, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars, tapas tours, twitter, wine

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Pepe, Cinta & José María

Love when stuff like this happens. After a lovely “tapas research” lunch with my friend and We Love Tapas colleague Cinta @LaCocheraAbuelo (in this case the company was much better than the food) we stopped by Bodeguita Romero because I wanted to talk to Alejandro about a couple of special bookings coming up. And we walked straight into a group of guys from Montilla-Moriles (fortified wine region in Córdoba), as well as my pal Pepe, owner of La Fresquita.

I was introduced to José María from Bodegas Toro Albalá @toroalbala and told him that I was supposed to go to the big Montilla-Moriles tasting event in Córdoba last week, and meet up with my friends Erik & Laura @MMWinesUK but the only day I could go was the same day they were going to visit Toro Albalá! So in the end I didn’t go, and as soon as I mentioned knowing Erik & Laura he insisted that Cinta and I try their lovely Dos Claveles (Two Carnations).

Meanwhile, Pepe and I were “talking shop” a bit about food tour guides, and also about his brother Manolo who owns the most fabulous Taberna Manolo Cateca – a fact that Cinta hadn’t known before, although she knows both bars well.

So it was like a coming together of various parts of my life here, all in one chance encounter at one of my favourite bars (the Romeros are my family). And I ended up with an invitation to visit Bodegas Toro Albalá anytime. When I explained to José María that I don’t have a car so would have to go to Córdoba by train (the bodega is about 50 kms away, in Agullar de la Frontera) he said just let him know when and he’d come and pick me up. Bonus!  🙂