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Category Archives: sevilla

ct scan results

12 Tuesday Nov 2019

Posted by azahar in cancer, hope, hospitals, sevilla

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cancer, ct scan, health, hospitals, sevilla

Picked up my CT scan results today. I’m so glad my GP will print out a copy for me once the report has been uploaded onto the hospital database. Then I type it out in Spanish and put it through google translate (with medical terminology it’s pretty accurate). And then I read it. Because I know it will be weeks before I get another appointment with my oncologist and it’s good not to feel in the dark all that time.

Anyhow, remember last year after my November 2018 CT scan when my oncologist told me I was fine now, cancer free for ten years, so I didn’t need any more scans, but you know, I should come back if I’m ever in pain? And I thought, fuck that shit, by the time you are in pain with cancer you are practically dead (as I found out back in 2008).

So I convinced her to at least let me have an ultrasound, which happened late last summer. And guess what? They saw something on my liver that they felt warranted an MRI. Meanwhile, my mystery pain came back (again!), so then my oncologist agreed to another CT scan, instead of an MRI, which she said was a more “complete” test.

All I can say is… damn good thing I am still getting tested! The report from last week’s scan is a mixed bag of inconclusiveness, but there is concern about “this and that”, so it looks like more testing is on the horizon. Not going to go into details now since nothing has been confirmed, but they could not entirely rule out more cancer, along with a few other new “issues” which have kind of left me reeling. On the other hand, it may all be nothing but inflammation from previous operations and illnesses. Me? I’ve gone numb. And am keeping on with my daily walks. There’s nothing else I can do for the moment.

chasing virgins

11 Monday Nov 2019

Posted by azahar in culture, religion, sevilla

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sevilla, virgen del amparo

Spent the weekend and Monday being a “fixer” for a photographer coming to shoot virgin processions, as well as different virgins in various churches, for a travel magazine. In the end we saw three processions, but for me this was the highlight, especially because it happened by chance. I had stopped in at the Iglesia Magdalena near my house to ask if I could arrange a photo shoot and the lovely archivist Aurora invited us to come “backstage”, as it were, and see them preparing inside the church just before the evening procession on Sunday. Apparently this was the first time they have ever allowed this for people outside the brotherhood. Wow.

This is the Virgen del Amparo and below are a few pics I took backstage, focusing on the costaleros, who are a bit of an obsession with me during Semana Santa. I mean, I just don’t get WHY they do this, especially as many of them end up with lifelong injuries from carrying all that weight on the backs of their necks. This time I even got a short video of them lifting up the platform with Aurora’s husband holding up the skirting so I could get a better look. I am still going through other photos I took over those three days – might share more later.

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sherry pairing dinner at palo cortao

08 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by azahar in gastronomy, sevilla, sherry, wine

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international sherry week, palo cortao, sevilla, sherry

My life does not suck. This is International Sherry Week and one of my favourite spots in Sevilla, Palo Cortao, had organised a special 6-course sherry pairing dinner to be hosted by Sherry Ambassador Pepe Ferrer. And they invited me to join them! Yay!

As expected the food and wine pairings were spectacular. You can see what we had below. Of course every week is Sherry Week at Palo Cortao. Then have a wonderful wine list with lots of them available by the glass. If you’re in Sevilla you really should stop in.

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el espray

06 Wednesday Nov 2019

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

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insider tips, sevilla, tapas tour

At some point while eating out in Sevilla you will inevitably spill olive oil down your shirt or on your trousers. Don’t panic. Simply ask the barman for “el espray”, apply it to the stained area from an arm’s length distance, let it dry completely (it will turn white) and then ask for the “cepillo” to brush off the dried powder. And… stain gone! Every bar has this but visitors don’t know about it.

Here is Mallory & Emmerson showing us how it’s done on one of my tapas tours. In this case we sprayed in one bar and brushed in the next. Works every time.

gina & will

29 Tuesday Oct 2019

Posted by azahar in friends, internet, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars, twitter

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friends, sevilla, tapas, twitter

I have known Gina on Twitter since forever and so I was thrilled when she said she and her husband Will would be coming to Sevilla. EXCEPT they were coming this week, while I would be away in Madrid. DAMMIT.

The good thing is that they arrived today and we were at least able to meet up for a short(ish) evening tapeo before I leave, ending with vermouth nightcaps with Esteban. And of course I have left them with lots of tips of other great places to eat while they are here.

Had a great time and am hoping they’ll be back soon!

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