They are early putting up the street awnings this year.
going up!
24 Tuesday May 2022
Category Archives: sevilla
30 years in spain
23 Monday May 2022
Posted in anniversary, casa azahar, cats, sevilla, spain
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Thirty years ago this week I arrived in Spain. I can’t remember the exact date but somehow the 23rd sticks in my mind. This is me (age 35) with my first Spanish cat Lua in my first apartment in Salamanca. I still had no idea how I was going to manage to stay here or if I could make a living, but of course I adopted a cat! So many memories, many mistakes made, some achievements realised. And although there were plenty of tough times I never once doubted my choice to move here, to the first place that ever felt like home. So I’m glad I stuck it out. Thirty whole years. Wow.
barcelona buddies
20 Friday May 2022
I’ll have a lot more to say about Barcelona later, because it was quite an amazing experience in so many ways and I am still processing everything. BUT… it would not have been anywhere near as happy for me if not for these two. I met Charlotte & Brian on one of my tapas tours last October and we really hit it off. So when I found out they have a second home in Barcelona and that they would be there early January, I planned to go there for my 65th birthday. But then… fucking Omicron happened, so I decided to stay put until hopefully things settled down. Then the Decanter commission came up and as luck would have it, Charlotte and Brian were going to be in Barcelona the same week I was planning to be there doing research – perfect timing!
Not only were they great company when we went out to the vineyards and out for dinner, Charlotte also kept me “company” on whatsapp during the week, and that really meant a lot. To be honest I had doubts about this trip, and not just Covid concerns. I hadn’t travelled anywhere (other than day trips) on my own since I went to Madrid in October 2019 and I was worried I might be hit by my old nemesis PANIC. Those of you who also suffer from panic attacks will know that even thinking about having an attack can bring one on, so just knowing Charlotte and Brian were there really eased my mind. Anyhow, more about Barcelona coming up next week. I’m so glad I went.
casa plaga
19 Thursday May 2022
Posted in coronavirus, covid, home, sevilla
So dammit. Last Sunday evening flatmate Peter was feeling under the weather, thought he might have a cold. But on Monday morning this was the result. Peter ever so slightly positive on the left, me on the right. He immediately went into quarantine in his room, with the balcony doors open for ventilation, mask on for occasional bathroom breaks. And I had to decide if I would still go to Barcelona. In the end I did go, which my friend Michael said was maybe the best thing I could do – get out of the house (casa plaga!) for a few days. So I may ride out the worst of the infectious part while I’m away. I really appreciate Peter being so considerate and responsible, keeping away from the rest of the (actually quite small) apartment and doing his best to help out. Let’s hope it’s a short Covid ride.
just… no
18 Wednesday May 2022
Posted in sevilla, tapas bars
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Estimados camareros
Por favor, no lleve vasos de agua o cerveza a las mesas de esta manera. A nadie le gusta.
Atentamente
Todo el mundo 🍻Dear waiters
Please do not carry glasses of water or beer to tables this way. Nobody likes it.
Yours truly
Everybody🍻
It really should be a no-brainer because I mean WTAF? For the record the above photo is a “re-enactment” by Peter after our waiter brought our water glasses to the table like this. Even though his other hand was free. And like… gaaaahhh. I mean, these guys go on to pick up dirty plates and glasses, give tables a wipe with the icky yellow cloth and then keep serving food without washing their hands. The LEAST they can do is not smear the rim of your drinking glass with whatever gack is stuck to their hands. Sadly still a not infrequent occurrence here in Sevilla.
casa azahar 