01 Thursday Mar 2012
That photo was taken in March 2005 when I took Peter to Cádiz for his birthday – I can’t believe it was that long ago! Then in November 2008 we went again when our friend Craig came to visit. But we haven’t been back since. And so as tomorrow is Peter’s birthday we thought it would be a good idea to go back to Cádiz. The only question is whether to splash out and spend Friday night there too, or just go for a day trip on Saturday. Still deciding…
27 Monday Feb 2012
Posted in weather
It was one of those glorious late winter days that felt like spring, so when one of Peter’s classes was cancelled this morning I thought it might be a good time to check out the new park I’d heard about near the old Expo site. Well, it’s new-ish. Called the Jardines del Guadalquivir. I actually don’t know what was there before, but they either transplanted a whole whack of trees or else just turned some of the land along the riverbank into a park. Probably late winter isn’t the best time to visit a park, but it had that strange “unfinished” feeling that new parks have, like the neighbouring Alamillo Park. And the Jardín del Agua (water garden) and see-through maze (see photos) were a bit of a disappointment…
So we didn’t linger. And once home it became clear that it was much warmer outside than inside, so I opened up all the balcony doors to let the air in and the cats out. Oh man, did they love it. Of course, now that Luna has become a ninja kitten escape artist I became worried that she might scale the plastic mesh on the sides of the balconies that go right to the top of the railings and so I cut them down. In fact, I may take off all the plastic mesh now as there is little risk of her falling or jumping off the balconies now, but there was a real risk of her climbing up to the top of the railings just because that’s what she does.
Later I added more mesh to the upstairs door so that Luna can’t climb up and over anymore, and it was just so lovely being up there in the warm breeze. Got me thinking of all the improvements I’d like to make to the terraza this year, and also about making the upstairs room more “liveable”. It’s still mostly a semi-storage area and study, where Peter teaches his classes at home. But neither of us hang out up there much. So that’s another project in mind.
Have you started making plans for spring?
07 Tuesday Feb 2012
Posted in food & drink, restaurants, sevilla, tapas, twitter, wine, work
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One of the perks of having run the Sevilla Tapas blog for almost five years now is that I occasionally get invitations to interesting (usually food-related) events. What’s also interesting is that – as a blogger – I am getting acknowledged as “press” and even – gasp! – as a writer.
Yesterday I was invited to Restaurante Alcuza by gastronomy photographer Manolo Manosalbas, to preview their “Iberian Pork Days” menu, which will be available to the public starting today until March 3rd. Everything from starters to dessert featured cerdo Ibérico de bellota, the best of the best, made from acorn-fed blackfoot free-range pigs.
I have to admit that I wasn’t crazy about the ice-cream, but everything else was sensational and was perfectly accompanied by wines from Bodegas Torres. After six tapas I was quite happily stuffed! I was also glad to have a chance to revisit Alcuza as I had first gone there almost two years ago but hadn’t been back. Question of too many tapas bars, too little time and money. But I will definitely be back to Alcuza again soon.
Looks good, doesn’t it?
20 Friday Jan 2012
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Last night I went to my second Internations monthly meet up. They started having them here in October. And I think it’s going to be a nice evening out once a month (as long as I don’t have a tapas tour, which will be another sort of nice evening out).
Basically it’s a way for expats (really dislike that term) to meet and share their experiences of living in a foreign land, though there are also a few Spaniards in the group.
Last night’s meet up started off early (7pm) at the Horno San Buenaventura, the idea being that people could have a coffee and snack before heading out later for a tapa. Around 9 o’clock we headed over to the Plaza Alfalfa for tapitas and more chatting at La Bodega. I actually preferred the second location because it was easier to mingle. And even Peter was being all chatty – quite possibly due to the beer. He sure wasn’t too chipper this morning and by a total stroke of luck his two morning classes rescheduled so he could stay in bed a bit longer.
I’m not usually much of a group person, though I was a member of the AWC for awhile. This group seems a bit more lively than the AWC. First of all, it’s not just women. And the Internations meets are in the evening, which I like better. So we shall see. Seems like a great way to meet new people. It’s kind of like twitter, but with everyone in the same room. 🙂
08 Sunday Jan 2012
Yesterday morning I went through my Málaga pics and had a lovely time reliving those memories. Peter and I left very early on Monday morning and arrived in Málaga with the whole day ahead of us. After setting up the apartment (we bring our own sheets, towels, kitchen stuff, etc) we went out to explore the city. First thing on the agenda was something I had never done during previous trips to Málaga – a trip up to the Parador Gibralfaro to enjoy a drink on their “balcony of Málaga” terrace, which turned out to be a perfect start to our mini-break. Afterwards we walked down the mountain (we’d taken a taxi up) and after a stroll around town had a fab lunch outdoors at La Cosmopolita. Later we checked out the new port area that was finally open to the public and went back to the apartment to rest up … we had dinner plans with food blogger Sarah and her husband at La Moraga, which ended up being a lovely evening.
Next morning we went to the Picasso Museum and saw both the permanent exhibition and the Alberto Giocometti retrospective and then headed off to the Atarazanas Market. After that – another first. We stopped in at the oldest bar in Málaga, Antigua Casa de Guardia, for a glass of sherry. It’s a rather bizarre place, full of both locals and tourists sampling sherries from the various stacked casks along with steamed mussels and grilled prawns. We just had a quick drink and headed out to find a place for lunch. After trying a fish joint and getting burnt rosada (sent back – cheque please!) we went to one of our favourites, Dos Gatos, and got some perfectly grilled rosada along with some terrific presa. Then another walk before heading home. Later that evening, after watching a spectacular sunset from the balcony (last photo in the slide show) we went to check out the Christmas lights, which is something Málaga does big time. Then home again for a light snack and a dvd before hitting the hay.
Third and last day in town we took a walk along the port before checking out the Eugenio Chicano exhibit at the Municipal Museum. Then there was just time for a stroll around the centre and a final lunch at La Reserva del Pastor before collecting our stuff from the apartment and catching the train home.
One of the best birthday presents ever. Thanks Peter!
(if you refresh the page you’ll see the pics more or less in chronological order)
casa azahar 