just say no! (to sangría)

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When people on my Sevilla Tapas Tours ask for sangría I tell them it is NOT ALLOWED 😉 and then go on to explain why. First of all, Spanish people seldom if ever order sangría in a bar. It’s a party drink, a fruit and wine punch usually made at home or at the beach in summer. And because of this, most sangría you will find in bars is, well, crap. Often it is made up well ahead of time and can sit there in jugs for days, and sometimes bars just use store-bought sangría. Because they know that it’s “just for tourists”. Of course there are a few (very few) exceptions, with some bars making up sangría to order, either as a fresh jug to be shared or as an individual cocktail. Happily there is another “sangría-like” drink option…

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my accents

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Every now and then someone on one of my tapas tours, upon hearing that I have lived in Spain for more than 27 years, says to me “wow, and yet you still have your Canadian accent!”. And I am always puzzled by this. I mean, what am I supposed to sound like? If I were living in England or Australia/New Zealand then, yes, it is possible that I would pick up something of those ENGLISH accents… but in Spain? Is it expected that I speak with a Spanish accent now when talking in my native language?

Meanwhile, Spanish people are always, um, appalled when they find out I’ve lived here for 27 years and still speak like I do in Spanish. Apparently with a very strong Canadian accent. In fact, I’ve been told many times that my accent in Spanish is atrocious (!!!). Which of course makes me never even want to speak to anyone again. And I know, there’s really no excuse after all this time, etc etc. But there are a few reasons…

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sylvie!

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My lovely friend Sylvie @sylviebigar is back in town this weekend for a family wedding and happily found a bit of time to meet up for lunch today. She is not normally camera shy, but said she preferred not to be shown with her just-off-the-plane hair. For the record, she looked gorgeous, but I shall respect her wishes. And so, a nice chatty lunch, catching up – and we had a lot to catch up on! Missing her already.