Category Archives: spain

feria!

15 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in culture, dance, fiestas, sevilla, spain

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pasion flamenca
Sevilla’s massive spring fair – Feria de Abril – begins tonight at midnight when they turn on the thousands of lights on the specially built gateway (there’s a different design each year). I’ll be going tomorrow afternoon to attend the awards ceremony for the Toro Tapas competition. Won’t be wearing a flamenco dress though. Aren’t these great? Twelve designers came up with a unique design in red for a fashion event called Pasión Flamenca that I happened upon last week. Always look in open doorways…

a day off

13 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in food & drink, retail therapy, sevilla, spain, tapas, twitter, wine

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tio pepe en rama
So this is what I did on Friday! It was supposed to be a day off but my friend Fiona (aka Scribbler in Seville) asked if I was going to this very cool wine tasting event, which led to us both going there and then going for tapas afterwards, followed by a visit to a pop-up store that was taking place in a lovely boutique hotel, which included having rooftop drinks. After that I met up with Peter and as it was such a beautiful warm evening we just strolled around, eventually stopping for more tapas. I think I do less on working days! How do you like to spend days off?

For more info about this limited edition wine have a look here: Tío Pepe en Rama 2013

gourmet food tours

02 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in food & drink, sevilla, spain, tapas tours, trips, wine, work

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lujo
My latest project! I’ve been asked by a luxury tour group to plan a few new “products” for them, based around gourmet food and wine tours in various cities in Andalucía. Excited? You bet! The main problem I’m having at the moment is narrowing the focus to keep the tours intimate and very special. It’ll definitely be a new experience for me, travelling with clients for a few days and keeping them well-fed and happy. Somehow I think I’ll be very good at that. Anyhow, watch this space!

too many “sundays”

28 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by in culture, fashion, sevilla, spain

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mantillasI’m actually glad I’ve been working so much this week (even with awful ear/sinus infection) because it means that I’ve avoided that “too many Sundays” feeling that happens around Christmas and Easter here. I always find Sundays a bit sad and bleh…

To make things even blehier it’s been raining all week (well, all winter…) and so many of the processions have either been cancelled or cut short. But that hasn’t stopped the ladies dressing up in their black dresses and lace mantillas to show that they are mourning the death of Christ. I love this tradition simply because the ensembles are so striking and elegant. I also enjoy the irony of seeing a group of young women decked out in tight black mini-dresses, stiletto heels and sheer black stockings with seams up the back, clearly hoping to be photographed.

They will also be out and about on Good Friday so I hope to get a few more photos.

macarena day trip

16 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by in food & drink, friends, sevilla, spain, tapas, trips

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san luis day trip[click to biggify]

The Macarena barrio is a hodge-podge of grand old churches, seen-better-days houses and squares, and trendy new shops and restaurants. Yesterday I headed out on a “day trip” to this part of town with my intrepid travelling friends Ang & Ryan (Jets Like Taxis), who are always up for anything new. My main objective was to visit a fabulous new craft centre called Rompemoldes but, as usual, we ended up exploring further afield (in search of tapas, natch).

It was a fab afternoon filled with new sights, great food, beautiful blue skies and lots of walking and talking. Am really going to miss Ang & Ryan when they leave Sevilla next week, heading off on new adventures and challenges. It’s been great having such lovely neighbours these past couple of months.