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Welcome to my new neighbourhood!

Took a few snaps yesterday as I hobbled around on my crutches. This barrio is known as “La Alfalfa” because it has the Plaza Alfalfa at its centre, which used to be where they sold animal feed. Many of the streets in the area are named after old jobs that no longer exist, presumably where the workshops were located. I love that my street is named after the people who used to separate the wheat from the chaff … seems like a wonderful metaphor for my new life here.

You can see that the whole style here is different from the Barrio Santa Cruz. More homey, no tourists or souvenir shops. In fact, it’s full of wonderful – and useful! – shops, like bakeries, supermarkets (3 just off the plaza, one with a fab fish section), a gourmet butcher, florist, “euro shop”, convenience store, pharmacy, fruit & veg shop, a place that makes churros & crisps, and lots of little boutiques. There are also scores of tapas bars, and my gym is just up the street. The Plaza itself – about a two-minute walk from home – is always bustling and was recently pedestrianised, making it a pleasant place to sit out in the sun and enjoy a beer and a tapa.

I’m very pleased with the new barrio. It feels very comfortable and more “authentic” to where I was before. And I can still see the top of the Giralda tower when I look out my bedroom balcony…