Category Archives: summer

electric shock

12 Wednesday Aug 2020

Posted by in casa azahar, home, sevilla, summer, weather

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shock
It was expected, but this month’s electricity bill (which actually covers a two month period) still came as a bit of a shock. Much more than any other year. About 100€ more. Not surprising as I have been mostly at home, well, since March 12th. But it made me realise how much I take advantage of other people’s AC! I mean, I am trying to be prudent, and don’t put the AC on until it hits 30º inside the apartment, then set it so that it ends up a comfy 27º (with fans on). And I never sleep with it on. But you know, before I would be out and about during the day, and often working in the evenings. Which also meant I had an income to pay the damn bill, but I digress. Continue reading →

open in august

31 Friday Jul 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, sevilla, spain, summer, tapas, tapas bars

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Every year I write up a list of bars and restaurants in Sevilla that will be open in August. Used to be that almost every place closed, shops too, and Sevilla was quite a ghost town. In some ways I kind of liked that. Broke things up a bit, with a change of rhythm. Everything slowed down appropriately, in terms of The Heat. But the past few years there have been throngs of hapless HOT tourists wandering all over town, tour guides risking heat stroke taking out group after group, all defying the weather. It was getting crazy. It WAS crazy.

And now it’s crazy in a different way.

Anyhow CLICK HERE to see the August 2020 list. These are all independently run places and they can all use our support. So if you’re hungry in Sevilla these are some great bars and restaurants to go to that are also doing well with Covid health and safety protocols. Also some good take-away and home delivery options.  🙂

staycation 2019

24 Saturday Aug 2019

Posted by in casa azahar, cats, friends, home, sevilla, sevilla staycation, summer

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As I mentioned the other day, I’ve been on a staycation this month, since I don’t have any money coming in and can’t really afford a holiday. But I’ve been keeping busy and it’s actually been quite nice having some time off, taking walks, seeing friends, reading, netflixing with the cats (watch One Strange Rock!), cooking (still trying to perfect tortilla con “socarrat”). It’s also nice because the crazy neighbour is away all summer, so I can enjoy time at home without having to deal with her nonsense. Plus it hasn’t been super hot. And hey, I did have trips to London and Galicia earlier this year, so I’m not complaining.

Meanwhile, I’ve also been looking at what direction my business will take as the rapid growth of tourism over the past few years has totally changed what began (for me) as a “hobby that turned into a job” thing. Which has been fabulous. And since 2009 it’s also provided a decent living. Then I started We Love Tapas in 2015, but it was around that same time that Sevilla was suddenly inundated by new tour companies. And so, while I know I offer a superior experience, I realise I have to “up my game” if I am going to actually STAY in the game. So that is also what has been on my mind during this short hiatus, and I’m happy to say that some fresh possiblilites have presented themselves (both in my mind and in person). More on that as things progress.

How’s your summer been going?

summer house temps

21 Wednesday Aug 2019

Posted by in sevilla, spain, summer

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Translation to celcius for this tweet linking to a New Report on recommended temps for energy efficiency. It caused a huge Twitter fuss with everyone saying how high these temps were, that babies would die, etc, etc.

· 25.5C when you’re home
· 29.5C when you’re not home
· 27.5C when you’re sleeping

But this looks totally reasonable to me, especially because these are the actual temperatures I live with in summer (when it’s 40ºC outside). I set my A/C to 25C when I am home, if the indoor temp goes above 28C, and it usually settles at about 26C. I turn it off when I’m not home, and then it can hit 28-30C, especially during the afternoon. If I’ve been out in the evening I cool the place down for about an hour before bed and when I get up in the morning it’s usually 26-27C.

And even this costs me a small fortune. My gawd, if I left the thing on all day and night I’d be broke. At night a fan is enough, and I also have a fan going in the living room when the A/C is on to move the cool air around. How about you?