Category Archives: spain

21 years!

16 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by in cats, home, sevilla, spain

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21 yearsLua in my first Sevilla home

At about 8pm on September 21st 1993 I drove into Sevilla with my two cats Lua and Sunny and all my worldly possessions. A friend had brought us down from Salamanca in a borrowed car and we timed our arrival to meet with the landlord at my new home to pick up the keys. Well, we were there on time, but my landlord wasn’t, so we spent the next three hours parked out front (those poor cats) ordering food & drinks from the bar across the street, which ended up becoming my “living room” over the next year (my new place was very nice but also very small). Wow, 21 years ago.

So much has happened since then, lots of it I’ve shared with you guys here over the past 8 years. Today I’m celebrating my anniversary by … working! I have a tapas tour in a few minutes. But really, it’s a fitting way to celebrate. I arrived in Sevilla with no money, no job and not knowing a soul. It was pretty tough going at times but I never gave up, because I knew I’d found my true home in the world. And I still feel that way. So I shall have a cheeky glass of cava tonight and be thankful that I’m working at something I love in a city I adore, and look forward to a bed full of cats when I get home. Life is good.

winter is coming…

15 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by in andalucia, sevilla, spain, weather

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winter is coming
I took this pic on my way home from an afternoon Sherry & Flamenco event yesterday (I know, sucks being me) and was suddenly struck by the different blue in the sky, and those white things. And while winter is still a ways away it also occurred to me that what we call winter in Sevilla many people call autumn, or in some places, summer. But there’s a definite change in the weather. Aside from the storms predicted for this week (and we can sure use the water) I still look forward to wearing my sandals for at least another month and a half. Maybe two. When I have to put on socks and shoes that’s what I call winter.

jaén getaway

18 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by in spain, travel, trips, work

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jaen getaway
As I knew I had to get up at stupid o’clock today to catch an early train, I prepared this post before going to bed. So by the time you read this I will (most likely) be sitting on a train heading to Jaén. All part of summer research for my trip planning biz, but also part holiday. I’ve never been to Jaén – the olive oil capital of Spain! – and so booked a few days away. After this the only Andalusian province I won’t have visited (yet) will be Almería, but I reckon I’ve got enough knowledge and info to at least get started. As you can see on the map (click on it to find out more about Jaén on Andalucía.com) the province of Jaén is just north of Granada, about a three-hour train ride from Sevilla. After arriving in Jaén city I’ll catch a bus up to Baeza and stay there one night, then I’ll be in Úbeda for two nights, and after that one night in Jaén city before coming home on Friday afternoon.

At first I’d booked two nights in Jaén city thinking that, being the capital city and all, it would have more going on. But various Twitter pals convinced me to change my travel plans and spend two nights in the smaller, and apparently more charming, Úbeda. It was all very last minute and at first my hotel in Úbeda told me they had nothing available for Wednesday, but then miraculously they did, so that all worked out. I also got way more tapas bar recommendations for both Baeza and Úbeda – and next to nothing for Jaén – from Twitter pals, which also swayed my choice. Also I just like saying OO-bay-da.

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