Category Archives: spain

blood moon eclipse

28 Saturday Jul 2018

Posted by in sevilla, spain

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Is it me or does it seem like there have been countless opportunities over the past few years to see THE this-or-that moon/sun event of our lifetime? Anyhow, there was another one last night, so Peter and I popped over to what I thought would be a great viewing point – the rooftop terrace on the Hotel Inglaterra. As you can see, it’s a great view from up there. But by the time we got to see the moon it had become small and pale, barely visible to the eye.

Turns out you have to catch these babies on the rise, and the closer to the horizon the better. Didn’t hang around for the eclipse as it probably wouldn’t have looked much different. Well, better luck next time…

Very pale blood moon with Mars shining bright on the right.

more suspense!

05 Thursday Jul 2018

Posted by in hope, hospitals, sevilla, spain

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Aaaargh. So after wasting a morning of my life at the hospital two weeks ago (but getting a cool ride in a Jaguar!)  today’s oncology appointment was also postponed because the results weren’t signed in time. So now I have an appointment on July 12th… BUT… it turns out my oncologist is going to be away on holiday (!!) so I will end up seeing someone I don’t know and who doesn’t know me. I could put it off until August – and maybe I should? – but I would really like to know what’s going on. Meanwhile I have recklessly booked my summer trips thinking that if anything horrible had shown up on the last CT they would have called me in sooner. Anyhow, that’s me at the moment. Not too thrilled about things, and still quite nervous, but hoping for the best.

a weekend in seville

04 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by in food & drink, friends, gastronomy, getaways, sevilla, shopping, spain, tapas, tapas bars, tapas tours

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Remember when Mr & Mrs O (Ana & Simon) were here in March? Well Ana has just written this lovely blog post about our time together in Sevilla along with her other adventures in Jerez and Jabugo. Have a look…

A Weekend In Seville with days out
to Jerez for Sherry and Jabugo for Jamón Ibérico

casa montalván

29 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by in hotels, restaurants, sevilla, sevilla staycation, spain, tapas, tapas bars

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A Friday afternoon stroll to Triana to look for a new food dish for Morcilla (don’t ask) turned into a delightful surprise visit to brand new tapas bar and restaurant Alfarería 21. This is part of a larger project by Paco Arcas, who owns the nearby Las Golondrinas bars, which will include a boutique hotel. The entire project comprises 3-4 buildings and I was first shown around the site a few years ago, before construction had begun. Then in March Paco took me on another tour of the site and the transformation was stunning.

Anyhow, it turned out that the Alfarería 21, housed in the old Casa Montalván ceramics factory, had just opened the previous day and so of course I couldn’t resist stopping for a couple of tapas and a chat with Paco. The menu is still provisional and so changes will be made, most likely to include separate menus for the bar area downstairs and the first floor restaurant. And the hotel is due to open soon. The rooms I saw in March were gorgeous – can’t wait to go on an overnight “staycation”. More photos below…
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