Category Archives: sevilla

black christmas

13 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by in christmas, coronavirus, covid, sevilla, spain, travel

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Those of you who know me also know that there are probably not many other people you know who LOVE the Christmas season as much as I do. This isn’t because of all the happy memories of Christmases past… in fact it’s the opposite. It’s because I never had any nice Christmas memories growing up, so when I left home at the ripe old age of 15 I decided to start making my own traditions. And Christmas became MY THING. And OMG I love it, not as a religious holiday but kind of based on the concept of the birth of Jesus being a metaphor for the birth of compassion in the world. Not a GOD, but just a person like us. So I always made sure to make a big fuss over everything about celebrating the birth of compassion, and yeah, also love the lights, the songs, the movies, the everything. Don’t care too much about gifts, but again, that is another expression of appreciating the people we love, and letting them know, so that’s cool too.

Thing is, this year is different. Really different. We have constantly seen catastrophes happening around us because people will JUST NOT LET GO  of the idea that they can’t do things like they have always done. First it was that they NEEDED their summer holidays (who the fuck travels abroad ON HOLIDAY during a global pandemic??) and as a result of people not staying put we are experiencing a killer second wave of this fucking virus. And don’t even get me started on non-maskers and “herd immunity” assholes and people who have still had big weddings, birthdays, etc. Anyhow, now it’s coming up to Christmas and my Twitter feed is full of people talking about getting home for the holidays and I am like WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK??

Have people learned NOTHING?? Here we are in Spain not allowed to travel outside our own municipalities, with a curfew from 10pm to 7am, and yet they are still allowing tourists in and out?? This also goes for people who live here and have family elsewhere (or vice versa), somehow thinking that their family gathering is worth more than the safety and lives of others, that THEIR situation is the exception. This is the exact opposite of what Christmas should be about because this isn’t about giving or sharing or caring, it’s about selfish personal desire, and then just doing what you want at the possibly horrific expense of others. Honestly, I despair.

famous again!

11 Wednesday Nov 2020

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

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So yay! The latest National Geographic Traveller is out and I’M IN IT. It came as a bit of a surprise because I was happy to take the journo out in February while she was here, and also give her tips on where else to go in Sevilla. The idea was that she’d give my tapas tours a mention, not that I’d end up being talked about for almost a whole page. So that was nice. Still trying to get a copy. It never feels real for me until I hold the printed version in my hot little hands.

shut in

30 Friday Oct 2020

Posted by in casa azahar, change, coronavirus, covid, home, lockdown, lockdown sevilla, sevilla, spain

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somosdebarras“Sorry for the inconvenience,
we are doing the impossible to open as soon as possible”

Since Sunday we have been put back into a State of Emergency, which apparently will last through to next May, though it’s not a total lockdown like in March and the situation will be reviewed every two weeks. This time there is a curfew between 11 pm and 6 am, which means bars and restaurants had to start shutting at 10 pm from last Sunday evening. We were told that regional governments (we have 17 of them) would have the option to move the curfew start time one hour either way.

And so while we were waiting for the first two weeks to pass and everyone was busy complaining about not being able to go out LIKE WE USED TO (I soooo want to just slap these people) we found out on Wednesday that beginning today (Friday) various municipalities throughout Spain would be shut in, meaning there would be no travel allowed in or out save for the following exceptions: to work, study, receive medical care, or care for a family member.

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alfredo

27 Tuesday Oct 2020

Posted by in art, sevilla, tapas bars

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Yay! I was so happy to pick up my framed print by local artist Alfredo Rodríguez @alfredorfz today. During lockdown Alfredo started creating colourful paintings of Sevilla bar façades and l fell in love with this one of my beloved Bar Casa Eme, which closed for good in March. I first saw the print on his Instagram page and left a comment saying I WANT ONE!. Then Alfredo got in touch and said he was selling limited prints and I placed my order.

We talked about where I would pick it up and it turned out that Alfredo lives in the same street as me! In fact I could wave at him right now if he was out on his balcony. How random is that??

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But despite our close proximity, because of my weird availability times for going out and his work schedule (he is front of house at Barra Baja) it worked out easier to pick up the print at the restaurant while I was out running other errands. Then I asked where I could get it framed and he recommended a place he likes, so that’s where I took it.

And today I hung it up in living room / office where I can see it all the time.

It’s a happy reminder of happier times. Go check out Alfredo’s work and get in touch with him if you’d like one of the limited prints. They’re all gorgeous. He’s done nine so far and I hear he’s making even more!

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hola monday!

26 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by in casa azahar, coronavirus, covid, home, hope, sevilla, spain

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hola monday

I remember when I used to like Mondays because l loved my job, enjoyed my life. I always loved that “fresh new week” feeling, so full of possibilities. But now Monday is just a reminder that another week has passed without work or friends or plans. I mean I need a plan at least, in order to have some hope again.

And okay,  l do have some plans, but not any l can move forward with at the moment (so l need new plans). And l have friends, but l can’t see them, or when l do, l can’t hug them. And the financial stress situation doesn’t allow me the luxury of boredom. Anyhow, I’ve never been good at being bored. So I am in a constant state of WHAT TO DO NEXT?? without being able to do much. Other than try to come up with a plan.

Thing about making plans is that, w​hen you’re out and about in the world meeting people and doing things, other stuff often happens as a result, and inspiration or luck can be around the next corner. ​Trust me, I now know every corner of this apartment better than I ever wanted to and… nada. There’s nothing waiting around any of them.

Anyhow, I’m sure if it was Tuesday l wouldn’t be feeling like this.  😉

I just miss my old Mondays, which then reminds me how much I’m missing everything else. And learning yesterday that we’ll be in lockdown now until May… ufff.

Today was also a turning point when I learned that a friend of mine in Sevilla has Covid. Symptoms and all. It’s the first time someone I actually know has come down with the virus. Until now it’s been someone’s friend, family member or co-worker. But this is my friend. Someone I love very much. And so now it’s personal, Covid. Fuck you. And also fuck every anti-masker and idiotic herd immunity whack job, because you are why things have gone this far, and for so long. I despise you all.

How’s your Monday going?