Category Archives: sevilla

sunday walk in triana

12 Sunday Nov 2006

Posted by in life stuff, photos, sevilla

≈ 11 Comments

sun.JPG It was fantastic!

And we almost didn’t go! But then after having coffee in bed we decided to go out for brekky at our favourite breakfast bar and our plan was to go for a walk along the river. But we ran into our friend José Miguel there and he mentioned the Rastro (Sunday market) and so we decided to go there instead.

I’d never been to that particular Rastro before but was not surprised to see that it was just as pathetic and junky as all the other ones I’ve been to here. We weren’t exactly sure of its location so ended up going the long way round, crossing fields and passing under bridges … but we got there eventually. Came across a gypsy camp under one of the bridges and I really wanted to take some photos but we decided that a) it would be intrusive and b) we didn’t want to ‘lose’ our camera.

What a shame because it was just like a scene out of a film with the tents and the campfire going, women in long skirts, kids everywhere. But later on we came across a group of gypsy women just outside the Rastro and I got a photo of them. Also took a couple of the Rastro just to show how totally cheesy it was. On the way back we decided to stop at the ‘abba hotel’ (yes, that’s its name) because we wanted to check out its rooftop terrace and have a cold beer there. But although the terrace and sundeck was open the bar wasn’t, so we made our way through Triana until we found a nice place on the riverbank that served the frostiest ice-cold beer ever – well worth the wait.

By then (about 1.30pm) we were getting peckish so we stopped for a couple of tapas at one of my favourite places in Triana, called La Primera del Puente. Nog had never been there before (though I believe Teuchter and Mr T found their way there one day during their visit last spring) and he loved it.

And now we are home again, feeling very ‘happy tired’ after having been out for about four hours, most of that time walking. It was a splendid morning with clear blue sunny skies and a perfect temperature for walking (and sitting outside drinking cold beer).

You can see for yourself 🙂

Sunday walk

raining cats & dogs

17 Tuesday Oct 2006

Posted by in sevilla

≈ 26 Comments

catsndogslogo.JPGIt doesn’t rain here for months on end and then suddenly…

And we are being told that this is going to be one of our very occasional very rainy winters here in Sevilla. And although everyone here really appreciates the rain – we really don’t get enough on a regular basis – having to be rain-soaked for the next four months is not a very happy prospect.

Clearly umbrellas don’t help all that much – other than keeping your head and shoulders somewhat dry. Luckily I bought my first ever raincoat last spring, so I hope it works. And I’ll be waterproofing my shoes as well. But how does one keep dry, or dryish, when it ends up constantly raining for about four months?

Also, it tends to be the sort of rain whereby it doesn’t rain at all for an hour or so and then totally buckets down without any warning. I got caught out in one of these massive downpours this morning coming home from an early class and after about five minutes it just didn’t matter any more as it was impossible to get any wetter.

So, any advice from those who live in very rainy climates? As I say, it almost never rains here but we do end up getting occasional very rainy winters (last one, as I recall, was about eight years ago). And as I also recall, it was total hell getting our clothes to dry . . .

f_eureka.gif Though maybe all I really need is a pair of cute red rainboots! oilily-rain-boot-red.jpg

food shopping

29 Friday Sep 2006

Posted by in food & drink, life stuff, sevilla

≈ 36 Comments

shoppingcart.jpg Nog and I love food shopping!

And for a household that just has the two of us in it, we seem to do a lot of it.

Usually every two weeks or so we do a ‘big shop’ at a supermarket that delivers to the house. Very handy as we live on the third floor (fourth floor US & Cdn) without a lift. So we prefer big burly guys lugging up all the heavy stuff for us.

In between the big shopping expeditions we visit the fabulous markets here or small local fruit & veg shops for fresh produce and especially fish, which is much fresher and cheaper than at the supermarket.

But there is something very pleasant and satisfying about shopping for food. And at times like now (just after a ‘big supermarket’ thang) our fridge and cupboards are stuffed full of amazing things to eat. So when it comes time to decide what to have for lunch we often feel a bit overwhelmed by choice options.

So, is it just us or do other people enjoy this too?

a perfect day

22 Friday Sep 2006

Posted by in food & drink, life stuff, musings, sevilla

≈ 8 Comments

perfect.JPG Isn’t it great when they just happen?

And it wasn’t any big thing in particular that made today feel so perfect. Just how it all ended up fitting together.

Got up at the usual time, Nog made coffee and fed the cats and then I made brekky before he went off to teach his one class of the day (I’d have normally had a class too but my student is out of town). On Fridays we usually only have morning classes.

While Nog was away I pottered around here and made more progress on organizing the bookshelves! Also managed to put away the dreaded mountain of laundry (eep!).

When Nog got back we decided to go out to the viveros to get some new plants for our balconies and also for the bathroom, but when we got there (hefty 45 minute walk) it turned out there was nothing there we wanted. But then I remembered this little tapa bar my friend Agustín has been telling me about for ages that isn’t far away from the viveros, so we decided to check it out (as it was about 2pm and we were HUNGRY).

And wow! Fabulous food. Crap ‘ambientation’ but who cares? The staff were very friendly and the food was totally f_drool.gif. We’ll definitely be going back.

Since we had our little shopping cart with us (to carry plants and soil home) we decided it would be a good time to get our shopping done for the anniversary – mostly having to do with stocking up on f_bubbly1.gif and a few other treats. So we did that and then came home, feeling quite good for all the walking we’d done.

Then I decided to dye my hair (deep chestnut) and we did a few chores.

I had a doctor’s appointment at 7.30pm so around 6 we went out again to run some errands, pick up my passport photos 🙄 and then spent some time at a bookshop.

After the doc’s we came home and made a nice meal and … oh, I dunno. It was like everything we did today just happily slid into the next thing and all of it was quite pleasant. Just a day totally working out. And also totally enjoying each other’s company, having lots of laughs and chats. We had so much fun just doing ordinary stuff and it was lovely.

Oh, and the weater was also perfect.Not too hot, bright and sunny and very comfortable for walking.

Off to shower now … 😉

música

17 Thursday Aug 2006

Posted by in music, sevilla

≈ 12 Comments

notesjpeg.JPG Thinking about live music in Sevilla.

Dunno what it’s like where you live but almost nobody ever comes here! f_wah.gif

Okay, ever two years they have the Bienal de Flamenco. But that’s kind of my point … that’s pretty much all you ever get to see here. Flamenco and more flamenco.

So I was very excited to see that Silvio Rodriguez is coming here in September. Nog and I are going to check out getting tickets this evening.

What’s the live music scene like where you are?