Category Archives: sevilla

Pam & Gibert

29 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in food & drink, friends, sevilla, sherry, tapas bars, tapas tours

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Vaughn, Nora Frances, Pam & Gibert

It’s always so lovely when clients become friends. Pam & Gibert were first here in April 2024 and came out with me on both a Flamenco Tour and for a Sherry & Tapas Tasting. We’ve stayed in touch since then and so when I heard they would be stopping in Sevilla briefly at the end of August with another couple we had to do something. But what? I could have offered them a Triana Tour for something different but of course I CAN’T WALK. In fact, the only work available to me since last August has been the tastings because they take place in one bar and I can hobble there and back again at my own snails pace. So then I had a think and put together the “Off The Beaten Path ON CRUTCHES Tour”. And it was actually fabulous.

All the bars were about a five minute walk (ten minute hobble) apart and – most importantly – not far from my house. We started off early at Sevilla’s sherry temple Manolo Cateca in order to get The Table (there’s only one) and while Manolo doesn’t take bookings he agreed to hold the table for me if we got there right at 12.00 noon. Deal! After that a few posh seafood snacks at La Barra de Cañabota followed by the “main course” of traditional tapas at Taberna Zurbarán (who also don’t take bookings but did me a favour). And well, it turned out so well I am tempted to offer it as one of my regular tours, except other than Cañabota I would have to call in a favour each time at the other two places and I don’t want to take advantage. It would work with just two people as we could always squeeze in without having to book everywhere. Hmmm… maybe something to think about.

Anyhow, Pam & Gibert will be back AGAIN next March (“I’m like a bad penny, Shawn”) and I really can’t wait to see them again. Even if just to hear Pam’s wonderful southern accent again… I could listen to her all day.

cooling down

26 Tuesday Aug 2025

Posted by in casa azahar, sevilla, summer, weather

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What a difference a week makes. We’ve gone from 45ºC to temps between 32-35ºC and with a lovely breeze too. I know I said I didn’t care what I spent on AC this summer – I was going to be comfortable in my home! – but I have to admit when the July bill came in it was a shocker. August will probably be similar, if not more, but from now on… just sitting here at my desk with the balcony doors open and my fan on and it’s perfect. Pic taken while hobbling home (that’s my street!). Every day I am so happy to still living in my favourite barrio. 💙

a good day

21 Thursday Aug 2025

Posted by in bitesize sevilla, flamenco, life stuff, sevilla, tapas, tapas tours

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I almost didn’t go out today but, as I did stay-at-home yesterday, I gave myself a push and ended up so happy that I did. It wasn’t so blisteringly hot, down almost 10 degrees from last week, but I still hopped on the 32 bus for one stop to cut down on painful walking. On my way to the Flamenco Museum (researching an upcoming Bitesize Sevilla article) I was surprised to see Ultramarinos Lucas open. My friend Roger had told me about this place ages ago but every time I passed by it was closed. So of course I had to go in. An ultramarinos is a small grocery store / wine shop where you can often have a glass of something and a snack. So I went in and met Pablo, whose grandfather had started the shop more than 100 years ago. We had a nice long chat and I promised to come back to do a write up. 

In spite of the quick bus ride it was still a bit of a hike to the Museo so we decided to stop off for a quick Beer O’clock at Salmedina along the way. 

At the Museo I met with Carlos to get some help with how to structure my article and while I was there I was hit with such a feeling of… almost like homesickness? I’ve been taking people there on my flamenco & tapas tours for almost 15 years, but of course not since last summer when I started needing crutches to walk. I guess it was a combination of missing both the place and my old life. Anyhow, Carlos was super helpful and I came away with tons of notes, plus he sent me extra info by email.

By then it was lunchtime and, as I hadn’t updated Catalina La Barra in over a year, we headed over there. Even managed to find stuff on the menu I hadn’t tried! And then it was time to hobble home. Got back around 4 pm, took a shower and just felt… so happy. I don’t know, it doesn’t sound like anything special but it really was. Meeting and chatting with different people, feeling purposeful, a nice meal. A good day. 

schrapnel

20 Wednesday Aug 2025

Posted by in casa azahar, home, sevilla

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Today Peter and I put our spare change together and there was a LOT of it. Time to make some schrapnel bags for Nico. I started doing this from time to time a few years ago but (obviously) haven’t made any up for a while. At first Nico didn’t like them until I explained that they were counted out and were exactly 2 euros per bag, so he could just tell them that in any shop, etc, no problem. And I pointed out that they are better than the 1 euro coin I usually give him. Ever since then when I give him a coin he asks “y las chicas??”, so I’ll definitely be stocked up after this.