Tag Archives: spain

it’s raining!

26 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by in sevilla, spain, weather

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For the first time since May it is raining in Sevilla! Also, overnight temperatures plummeted by almost 10 degrees (I didn’t need to use the electric fan last night and seriously needed my topsheet). And so, it is suddenly not summer anymore.

Of course this could all change next week.

The good thing is that we really do need the rain. And it’s actually been a bit of a cosy feeling, spending the day indoors at home, working in my pj’s.

The other good thing is that, according to this prediction, the rain should stop by Sunday, in time for my 20th anniversary party (we’ll need the terraza!).

How’s the weather where you are?

party!!!

24 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by in 20th anniversary

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Next Sunday I am having a party to celebrate my 20th anniversary of moving to Spain. The actual anniversary date was May 25th and my idea was to spend the rest of the year taking trips here and there, but it also seemed that a party was in order. I chose the last Sunday in September a bit randomly (though I wanted it to be on a Sunday so friends who own restaurants could come), then Sledpress told me it was also the night of the Harvest Moon, which I think adds a nice serendipitous touch. If any of you will be around and would like to be invited just drop me an email. And if you’d like to join the “virtual” party then be sure to follow me on my Sevilla Tapas twitter account that evening.

At first I was going to have the party on my rooftop terrace but then thought it would be more appropriate (and way less hassle!) to have it at a tapas bar. Happily Manuel and Ana at Chinkoa said they would open up that evening (they’re normally closed on Sunday) so I could celebrate there with my friends. I think it’s going to be quite fun!

back to málaga…

17 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by in 20th anniversary, cats, Malaga, travel, trips

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Tomorrow Peter and I are heading off to Málaga for a few days. Well, Peter will come back on Thursday to do a tapas tour and I’ll stay on until Friday because I want to meet up with some Twitter friends who won’t be in town until Thursday. As usual we’ll be staying at Manolo’s fabulous apartment. You may remember that I postponed my Málaga trip in August because I couldn’t leave Azar, even with Peter staying at home with him. Now we can go together (next door neighbour Colm will be checking in on the young’uns) and it will be the first time in 17 years that I’ve ever gone anywhere without fretting about Azar. Even when he was young and in good health he was always so hard to leave, even just overnight, because I knew how much it upset him. It’s going to feel strange and sad, not fretting.

Anyhow, since everything is still so painful here, and this week is the only time until mid-October that I’ve got three free days in a row, I thought I should take the opportunity to get away. There are a couple of museums in Málaga I still haven’t visited as well as lots of places to revisit. The renovated wharf area should now be fully opened up and of course I will be dipping my toes in the Mediterranean.

But the first thing (a new “tradition” we started last visit), after unpacking and settling in, will be to go up to the Gibralfaro Parador Hotel and have a drink on their terraza while taking in the fabulous view (see pic). And then just enjoy a couple of days in my second favourite Spanish city. Well, as long as there isn’t another train strike, like today’s…

more córdoba!

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in 20th anniversary, spain, travel, trips

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I realised today that I haven’t posted anything here about my trip to Córdoba a couple of weeks ago – the one that caused me so much worry over Azar and leaving him overnight. Well, as you all know he was fine and, as luck would have it, the damn tumour didn’t explode until two days after we got back. I still shudder to think what would have happened if it had burst while we were away…

But it didn’t and Peter and I had a wonderful time. I have to say that Córdoba is becoming one of my favourite places and already I want to go back. I used to say to friends and tapas tour clients that it was a good day trip spot, or at the most overnight, but I each time I go I discover something new and find out there is even more to discover.

And then I run out of time.

This last visit was extra special because I was invited by Hospes Hotels to spend a night in their fabulous five-star Palacio del Bailío and enjoy a flamenco-themed dinner there. So… wow. It was my first ever five-star experience and I sure hope it’s not my last. Everything at the hotel was perfect and the hotel itself has such an interesting history that you feel like you’re staying in a historical monument – which is exactly what it is. Various treasures were discovered during renovations, such as old paintings hidden under wallpaper and Roman ruins in the basement (!!). I could’ve happily not left the hotel during the entire visit, but there were things to check out in town.

Peter came with me as he was doing research for his Córdoba day trips as Seville Concierge. We went to the Mesquita again, as we hadn’t been for a few years, and also to the the Alcázar for the first time. And of course we were keen to try out a couple of restaurants that came highly recommended, only to find that they were both closed for holidays. Instead we happened upon a real find – the world’s first “salmorejería”! Anyhow, I have written and posted photos about the highlights of this fabulous trip in various places, so you can have a look at them if you like. And meanwhile I’ll keep dreaming about returning to Córdoba soon…

My blog post on azahar’s Sevilla: Dreaming in Córdoba

You can see all the hotel photos here: Córdoba | Palacio del Bailío

And other Córdoba pics: Córdoba | August 2012

And if you’re wondering what a salmorejería is… Salmorejería Umami

new neighbours!

30 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by in friends, tapas, twitter

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Today I got to meet more Twitter friends in person – Mark (@inkjockey) and his wife Jo (@missbishopsgate). They were in town celebrating their wedding anniversary and we decided to get together for a drink and a tapita this afternoon before they went home to Estepa. Well, that’s one of their homes, the other is London. And as Estepa is just an hour’s drive from here they are pretty much neighbours. Another cool thing I found out today is that Mark has co-authored a murder mystery called Final de Partido en Córdoba… yes, set in Córdoba! You know, that place I just visited. Anyhow, we had a lovely time and hope to get together next time they come down to their Spanish home. I love Twitter. 🙂