Category Archives: getaways

sea birds… and sea cats

26 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by in andalucia, cadiz, cats, getaways

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cadiz-cats-birds-1So you really can’t go to Cádiz without taking this iconic postcard shot of the Cathedral with the pastel painted houses on the left, the sea in front of you, and preferably with a cooperative seagull passing by. Could’ve done without the ugly building crane on the left, but oh well.

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And just below this viewing spot dwell a crazy number of “sea cats”, who always look to be thriving. In fact, there are little cat houses put out for them, with food and water dishes outside them. Given the number of orange cats roaming around (even more out of camera shot) there must have been at least one big ginger tom out there having a good time recently.

cadiz-cats-birds-3Just above “cat city” I spotted several seagulls vying for ownership over a whack of small fish that were laying across one of the boulders. Clearly tossed there by someone. And then one of them posed nicely for me…

cádiz sights – the highs and lows

25 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by in andalucia, getaways, spain, travel, trips, welcome

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cadiz-heights-1Looking up at the Cathedral from the square. From being either high above the city to being on the beach at low tide, I went from giddy to almost giddier, but it was all very enjoyable, and I got LOTS of extra FitBit steps in  😉cadiz-heights-3Looking out from the clock tower – very windy (eek!)

cadiz-heights-2Looking down from Tavira Tower
cadiz-lows-1Looking out at the sparkly sea from La Caleta beachcadiz-lows-2Looking at the sea from the San Sebastián Castle.

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You can’t see them but there were some (crazy) people out there, walking along the bits of land still above water at low tide, on a very blustery day.cadiz-lows-4

View from La Caleta beach at low tide

lee

21 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by in friends, getaways, madrid, markets, spain, tapas bars, twitter, twitter friends

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leeThis was absolutely the highlight of my Madrid Getaway… FINALLY getting to meet Lee @sheleebeelee! We’ve known each other for years, meeting first (I think) on Twitter, via our mutual pal @raincoaster. Since then we have stayed in touch via Facebook though, for some duh reason, I forgot to get in touch during my summer 2014 Madrid visit. So when I went back last July I was looking forward to getting together. Unfortunately Lee was having some serious health problems, and I wasn’t able to see her.

This time, although still undergoing treatment and recovery, she was well enough to meet up on my final afternoon in Madrid. I popped over to her apartment after checking out of mine, left my bag there and visited for awhile with Lee and the charming Toni (her lovely golden cat). Then I went for a stroll through nearby Antón Martín market before meeting Lee again and going out to Tandem (another spot I didn’t manage to get to last summer).

tandemLunch, as you can see, was amazing. But the company was even better and the time flew by far too quickly. By 5 pm I was back on the AVE heading home to Sevilla (and an evening tapas tour!), and feeling ever so thankful that the internets had brought Lee and I together. Hope to see you again soon, sister! xx

out with da boyz

20 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by in food & drink, friends, gastronomy, getaways

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da-boyzGraeme, Peter & Andrew

Where would I be without Twitter? After finally meeting Andrew @undertheflor on our first night in Madrid, we also got to see Graeme @graeme_SoW, who I first met during a social web conference here in Sevilla back in 2010. Andrew had arranged a special lunch at one of his favourite spots, Territorio ERA, in the newly renovated Barceló Market. And then one of my favourite things happened… chef and co-owner David just brought us food – delicious dishes, all paired with fabulous sherries. Didn’t have to think about or decide anything. It was wonderful. Great company too.

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streetxo revisited

19 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by in food & drink, gastronomy, getaways, madrid, spain, travel, trips

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Every since I first experienced David Muñoz’s Street XO in Madrid in the summer of 2014 I’ve been wanting to go back. In fact, I did try going back with Jo when I was in Madrid this past summer, but we got there too late and they had already closed off the queue. We ended up next door at the fabulous Cascabel instead, which wasn’t a bad “consolation prize” at all, but it still wasn’t StreetXO. So during this Madrid Getaway Peter and I made sure that we got there early, just before they opened for lunch service, and before long we were happily ensconced at the bar, ready for the show to begin.

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Since my 2014 visit, StreetXO has moved to bigger digs, upstairs at the Corte Inglés Gourmet Experience in calle Serrano, a space it shares with two other Michelin-star chef ventures: Cascabel by Roberto Ruiz and Rocambolesc by Jordi Roca. The set up is more or less the same as at the original Callo location, but the horseshoe bar is about three times as large, and there are also a few tables along the side. The menu is similar with a few of the old favourites still available (pig ear dumplings, steamed “club sandwich”, pork belly and smoked mussel in lettuce leaves). The dumplings were a must, and after that we tried two new dishes: presa Ibérca a la robata and Korean wonton lasagna.
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Service was impeccable, but I did miss the presence of chef Jhonny, who is now manning the flames at the new StreetXO location in London. Can’t wait to go back again.