Category Archives: sevilla

aaaarrgh 2023

18 Thursday May 2023

Posted by in home, seasons, sevilla

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arrrgh 23

First cockroach sighting since May 2022, which is a bit of a record. During my 30 years in Sevilla I’ve usually found one or two of these vile creatures in my house during the summer months. They are often first discovered by the cats, who can sniff them out, and then proceed to kill them to smithereens. But sometimes they just pop out of nowhere like GAAAAAAAAAAAH. Like today. Luckily Peter was on hand with his trusty shoe to kill the fucker and then dispose of it down the toilet. I just can’t with these things. I mean, I know they are just a bug and, even though they are actually enormous cockroaches, they are still small compared to me. But I just can’t. Anyhow, going by past summers there should only be one more this year? Please? Or none? Even better.

amy & bill

16 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by in friends, sevilla, social media, tapas, tapas bars, tapas tours

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amy bill

Today I did two of my favourite things… met up in person (first time) with someone I’ve known on social media for years and went out on a Tasting Triana Tour. Amy has been a Facebook pal forever and so when she and her husband Bill made a return trip to Sevilla they decided to look me up. And omg what a fun and delicious time we had. In fact we were having so much fun that we went into overtime with a post-tour penúltima (or two) so that I ended up rolling home around 7 pm (we’d started at noon). Being younger than me (who isn’t??) they carried on. What can I say? Sometimes you just click with someone and – the most important thing of all – sense of humour in sync.

Anyhow, Amy and Bill, thank you for being amazing and for brightening my day. It was so great getting to know you both. Hope you’ll be back! xx

lola rubia

11 Thursday May 2023

Posted by in books, books & writing, friends, sevilla

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lola

I’ve known Lola Rubia for many years and so I was happy to be invited to the book launch of her first novel, Ni Ruido Ni Silencio, which took place at La Carbonería. Look at that face! Lola was so happy and later said it was the best day of her life. I mean, what an accomplishment. On the way home with my signed copy I stopped off at a bar for a snack and the waitress asked about the book sitting on the table, read the back cover blurb and immediately wrote down the name saying she wanted to look it up. I think this bodes well. Best of luck, Lola!

pérez galdós revisited

10 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in sevilla, spain

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perez galdos

Calle Pérez Galdós could be – should be – such a pretty residential street. Instead it’s a war zone with late night (all night) bars, their patrons (mostly students, local and foreign, many underage) spilling out into the street, shouting and “singing” and screaming, at times also fighting.

I lived at the end of this street for five years and during that whole time I barely slept. At first I joined my neighbours in calling the police and at times I even stopped police in the street on my way home at night and pointed out all the illegal activity going on. Nothing. They did nothing even though they could see 15-year-olds falling down drunk, huge crowds shouting, never mind that it’s not permitted to DRINK IN THE STREET. They did nothing.

In the end I gave up and moved. Today I passed by and see that nothing has changed. Why is this street being “protected”, whose palms are being greased, so that this illegal activity goes on every night of the week? It is not normal that a barrio as lovely and vibrant as La Alfalfa should have been thrown under the bus like this. What’s going on?

rick & me

09 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by in sevilla, tapas, tapas bars, tapas tours, tourism, travel

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rick shawn

I had a very special guest on Monday evening… Rick Steves was in town and, as I’ve had the honour of being mentioned in two of his Spain travel guides the past few years (recommended by his local guide writer), it was high time we met up in person. Can I tell you? Rick is a lovely guy and a total force of nature. I had no idea what to expect, whether he wanted a tapas tour or just to talk about me and what I am doing and the Sevilla tapas scene, maybe get some recommendations on other places he could add to his guide… turned out that, yep, he wanted it all! And honestly, it was so much fun. Looking back, we stopped in at 16 (!!!) tapas bars and restaurants over five hours. Not eating at all of them obviously (we only did that at two stops) but checking out the places, ambiance, menus, etc. with Rick scribbling notes as we went. It was definitely a night of heavy researching.

Our first stop to actually stop at was Casa Morales. Reyes Morales was just coming back from walking her dog and said we had to come in and have a cold beer and a tapa. And well, who were we to argue with tapas bar royalty? At the last stop of the night, Salmedina, we also stopped in to eat. Rick had tried to get in the night of the Copa del Rey match and, well, no way. But luckily not only was there a table available for us, both owner/chefs were there (usually they trade off). Jaime and Pedro welcomed us and suggested we just try whatever they wanted us to try, thus a small but exquisite tasting menu ensued. My god. Every bite was heaven. And I even got to give Rick a little sherry education.

What can I say? It was a Tapeo Extremo to beat all others, all totally spontaneous and fun. Have already warned him that next time we’re going to Triana… and now that I know what he likes, well, it’s going to be epic.

Rick, thanks again for everything. Being in your guide has been amazing and I hope to continue being a trusted source for you and your travellers.

rick me (2)