Tag Archives: summer

change of plans

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in london, spain, summer, travel, trips

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suitcaseWell, maybe. Remember my Northern Spain Adventure? I’m having second thoughts now that summer vacation time is almost here. Mostly because it’s not the kind of trip I want to do alone. I think there would be too many amazing moments that I’d want to share with someone. And I think it’s the kind of trip that is best done with a car, so perhaps better another time when I can go with someone who wants to do the same thing and who can also drive. The thought of me on my own catching buses and trains and then just hanging out alone in new places I’ve always wanted to visit somehow doesn’t appeal.

Having said that, I am still determined about taking my first ever proper holiday, as in, taking more than a few days off and not working while I’m away. So I may spend a whole two weeks in Málaga (if I can get Manolo’s apartment – still waiting to hear back) which would be different from my past quick getaways, and it would allow me to do some day trips while I’m there. I don’t mind exploring on my own but I think it will feel more relaxing to do this from a place I already feel at home (and I could take Smudge with me). I’m hoping to do this during the last two weeks of July, so fingers crossed.

I’m now thinking of also taking a week or so in August and doing a quick London & Bristol visit. Because who knows what news the September PET scan will bring? So I really want to make the most of this summer, even if I don’t do the northern adventure.

What are your summer plans?

más mephistos!

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in retail therapy, shoes, shopping, summer

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mephisto-anemoneYes, I do tend to talk about my feet a lot during the “footwear change” seasons of spring and autumn, but it’s always a challenge for me to find shoes and sandals I like that fit. You may recall that I solved last year’s sandal dilemma of only ugly Mephistos being available in the shops here by ordering this pair online, which was a surprising success considering my very hard-to-fit feet. So this year I am trying my luck again with these happy red ones.

Quite looking forward to their arrival.

Hope they fit!

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?

holidays at home

15 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by in 20th anniversary, holidays, home, sevilla, spain, travel, trips

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Yesterday evening I decided to mix a little business with pleasure and go out to do some research on rooftop bars. I’ve actually had a blog post written on this since June but needed photos. So I went out with Peter and managed to get to five places before sunset (black sky with a blurry Giralda tower in the distance – not interesting!), stopping at the last one for a drink, and then returning to one of the previous ones for another, before heading home for a late snack. And although some work was involved it did feel a bit like being on holiday.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, because of Azar’s health situation I’ve postponed all my 20th anniversary travel plans other than day trips (though I’m still struggling with that one overnight biz trip to Córdoba) and have decided to spend the rest of August “on holiday” in Sevilla. This isn’t to say I won’t be working, just that I’ll be treating myself (and Peter) to going out more, and spending a bit less time in front of the computer. I haven’t had many tapas tours this month, and at first I was stressing about that, but now I’m just going to relax and enjoy the rest of the summer. You know, “this may be my last one” is always in the back of my mind and, especially after Pat’s death and with the next PET scan coming up soon, things feel more precarious than ever. So what the heck. Holidays at home.

so what do you do when it’s 51º…?

11 Saturday Aug 2012

Posted by in food & drink, sevilla, spain, summer, tapas, weather

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Well, if you are completely mad like me, and an Englishman like Peter, you go out in the midday sun!

Of course we didn’t know it was going to be 51º. The official weather forecast was much more conservative and said the high would be 42º, but you know, who lives at the airport? In the centre of Sevilla with the sun blazing down on narrow cobbled streets with very little air-flow it soon turned into a blast furnace. But I was determined to go and visit a little abacería I’ve been meaning to go to for years. Finally did go on a Saturday at the end of June only to see a sign posted outside saying they were closed for holidays – starting that day! I later found out that this was the first time in 15 years they’ve closed for holiday.

Anyhoo… when I saw an article in the local paper about the post-holiday re-opening party yesterday at La Antigua Abacería de San Lorenzo (on San Lorenzo day!) I knew I had to get over there. And I’m really glad I did. What a little curiosity shop of tasty delights! An abacería is a combination of provisions store, take-away delicatessen and tapas bar, and the best ones have been around forever and have a loyal and local clientelle. In fact, we were not only the only foreigners in there but also the only non-neighbours. Everyone was clearly on a first-name basis and the old guys hanging around the bar area made me feel like I was in a small village rather than in Spain’s fourth largest city.

After trying a couple of tapas I got to talking with the owner Ramón who was charming as heck and really keen to tell me all about the place and even about future plans, including cooking classes that will be starting up in September. I loved how he’d take an occasional trip through the bar with a tray of complementary snacks, and I also loved how they served the bottled beer in tiny ice buckets. And the tapas were very good! So all in all, a very worthwhile reason to go out in the very intense HEAT.