Happy 2020 New Year!

Feliz año Nuevo, Frohes neues Jahr, Bonne Année for 2020!

Plaza Nueva

I went to Parceria with Angela and Ryan and met Sam, lastly from San Diego but has lived on the east coast of the US also. A lady in her late twenties who has the bug for travel and when she outlined her next two months in Europe we were amazed, and not with envy. She called her travel "efficient", well it is certainly that, at most two days in each city and a wide range of cities in that time. She seems quite independent and not the tour type, does research ahead and has a plan of action, good for her! It was good to go to Parceria again, Cata and Andres are always welcoming and Gil burnt his hand with steam that day, I’m hoping it won’t be too serious, (wasn't) he kept working but by the time we left he was looking pretty pale.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Mar%C3%ADa_Magdalena,_Seville

I went into another church, above link. It is Baroque style with fabulously painted columns and ceiling, showing some wear. They didn’t have a belén but had a lovely Christmas wreath on the Dias. Intention was to visit the Christmas markets at Plaza Nueva, didn’t get there, made a wrong turn somewhere, but the bonus is that even if you are a bit turned around it always presents you with something that you haven’t seen before. This time it was a socks shop, the entire small shop had socks hung from ceiling to floor, unfortunately none of the designs jumped out at me. 

We’ve had a lot of rain this last week and my doors upstairs were leaking again. The wind blows in the rain, Pepe came over and re-hung the big bamboo blinds and tied them down which did the trick. That Spanish sun in the summer really does a number on the finish of the doors and the wood itself. I had them re-done only two years ago and they need doing again.

Carrot salad for Christmas lunch, my first clue should have been when the recipe said “put it in your food processor” doh, all done by hand folks with the usual grating of my thumb at the knuckle. Peeling and grating that many carrots caused for

a warning to everyone to enjoy because they won't be getting it from me again. Oh well, the upshot is that it tasted good and I did it the day before so no panic for the day. I served baked chicken in herbed panko crumbs, mashed potatoes, stirred fried snow peas and asparagus, the carrot salad, bread and butter, Pepe’s mom’s olives, pistachios, honeyed almonds, chocolates, red wine (everyone brought a bottle) and a bottle of cava (Spanish sparkling wine). Dessert was brought by Liz, a German stollen cake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stollen and we had Turrón liqueur (like Bailey’s but we all agreed better, Ryan calls it crack) and coffee.

My guests were Angela, Ryan, Pepe, Pepe’s mom, Liz and Benny. Benny is a new acquaintance to me, he’s a lawyer from California, living here now, his dog is Ottie that Ryan and Angela take care of quite a bit while Benny is traveling. They came about 2:00 pm and left about 9:30 pm, typical timing for a celebratory Spanish lunch. It was a jolly group and I really enjoyed having them here. 

Boxing Day and I prepare to box, made soup from all the left over carrot salad, then another from the veg and chicken and froze them. This is now my third day of cooking and tomorrow I will not be in the kitchen except to make coffee, no complaints though, I enjoy cooking but missing Bruce’s advice usually "more salt", etc.

I made it to the Christmas market, second attempt successful! Realized where I’d gone wrong the first time and now I have another area to visit again. The market is not what I would expect of a “Christmas” market at all, much better in my opinion, or more to my interest. It’s called Feria de Artesanía Creativa de Sevilla, sponsored by the City and the Federatión Artesanal de Sevilla. 

The poster, same image on the brochure and the paper carry bags.

It is an artisan market and the products were beautiful, each in their own way, in 72 different stalls. Products included leatherwork, jewellery, pottery, silk painting, weaving, and a few more but those were the main items on show. This is the 20th anniversary of the craft fair and I was impressed with the quality of product, I am certainly no expert, but have been to many artisan’s studios over the years in Canada. The brochure and signage are professionally done and every purchase was carefully wrapped and put in the logo’d bag. The brochure cites where the booths are located by number and categorizes their speciality, and includes a listing of each booth participant with name and contact information. It was a sunny warm day, I left the house later than usual, after Rocio cleaned, had to kick my ass to get outside, but was well worth it and very glad I did and since it was Sevilliano lunch time there were no crowds which made it easy to enjoy each booth and actually see the product.

Good wishes for the year 2020! Cheers, Bev and Lexi Cat

P.S. I want to know why we don’t have flying cars and laser guns (maybe a good thing) and all the things they portrayed in the Sci-Fi movies yet. Those creators were visionaries but slightly off the mark to real creations for today.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas or Feliz Navidad or Frohe Weihnachten or Joyeux Noël! 

Not my tree! Found it in a doorway, a doorway that is not usually open, they are displaying their creation. Note the butterfly on top.

These are some of my minimal decorations.

The cruet containers hold salt, parsley and chilis, my version of snow, a tree, and just something red. I know, I know, I do crazy Christmas decorations.

I am having Christmas lunch again this year for, well, I don't really know how many people yet. Two have yet to confirm and plus one, invited by another friend, no matter, the more the merrier!

Cheers, Bev and Lexi Cat

Museum of Fine Arts and Pottery Studio

Inside the courtyard, trees are huge!

As you have read before, I have the Museo de Belles Artes, or Museum of Fine Arts about a half a block from my flat. This year their guest installation is work from sculptor Juan Martinez Monañés and since I actually prefer sculpture to paintings I went. His patrons were the churches and he worked in Sevilla for several years. Surprise! I was expecting what I saw in Dijon, marble creations but not so here, also showing my ignorance or lack of research before going. Monañés works are Baroque polychromed wood life sized figures from the beginning of the 17th Century. The colours were wonderful with very delicate detail in the clothing. I wish I'd watched the video on the process before visiting but there is nothing to prevent me from returning, being both close and free. Website here

http://www.museosdeandalucia.es/web/museodebellasartesdesevilla

No photos allowed in the exhibit as usual but here are some of the building and the brochure.

Smaller courtyard inside.

Example of tile work which covers the interior.

I saw this figure in the exhibition, no halo but magnificently larger than the average human.

It's a bit difficult to see in the photo but the detailing on the robe is splendid.

It is not noted on the brochure who this lovely lady is. 

Here is a U-Tube video about the creative process, it is 12 minutes long, I had the time to watch and found it fascinating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wb-T1F033Q

I really enjoyed the visit and have to wonder why "I don't get out more".

Liz told me about a pottery studio that holds classes and since I enjoyed doing pottery many moons ago I thought I’d take a look. Plotted on Google Maps, I found it, not easy really, it’s tucked in a corner with no signage outside. I could hear people talking inside so pressed the buzzer. Yoko, the owner, opened the door to welcome me into a couple of rooms with workbench tables, kiln (oven), pots of glazes and a few people. Here is her website www.ceramicasevilla.com El Taller de Yoko. There was a young man working on a piece who spoke English and translated for me. Here the method is hand formed. I saw a potting wheel but it was sitting in a corner, I’ve never seen such a pristine wheel before, so I doubt it is ever used. Why? To start potting on a wheel you throw the wet lump of clay in the middle of the spinning circle and it’s a messy process. The classes are chosen by how many hours a week (2-7) you want to spend and buy a pass for a month which includes the clay, glazes and two firings in the kiln (first the raw molded clay, second with the glaze on). This studio is relatively small but it seems to be set up efficiently and the people were welcoming.

To realize my plan to "get out more", I have reorganized my timing of chores and shopping to free up at least a couple of days a week to see new things. I will also re-visit some of the sights I've been to before in the first couple of years we were in Sevilla.

Cheers, Bev and Lexi Cat

Hello Sevilla!

It’s coldish in Freiburg and Frankfurt, 8 - 10 degrees so it’s time to go to Sevilla which is about double that. 

Lufthansa's cabin crew strike on November 7 and 8 took me for a loop that I narrowly avoided, I flew Nov 12, damn that’s close! Barman at the hotel recognizes me after 2 years! The next morning Lexi is a pill and hides under the bed just out of reach until she showed a paw, I grabbed it and hauled her out, very hissing, angry cat! I take the 6:45 shuttle and go to check in, business class, no lines. Go to security, no lines, flying business class is very much worth it this trip, the day is improving. I went really early to have time in the reputed long security lines for people rebooking flights from the strike. 

Arrived at the apartment and I have hot water, the fridge is on and the place is clean all thanks to Pepe and Rocio. No internet though which is a bummer and caused, we found out, by an outside problem. Wednesday I do a large shop for home delivery and have Ryan, Angela, Pepe and Rocio over for some wine and nibbles. 

Sunday, for my welcome back lunch party, Liz, Ivan, Pepe, Ivan, Ryan and Angela arrive. I serve minced beef and pork spiced stuffed peppers with three cheeses on top, of fresh grated raclette, parmesan and old cheddar; mashed potatoes; a dip of yoghurt and mayonnaise with dill and a bit of powdered garlic; tomatoes and cucumbers; bread and butter. Red wine flowed with sparkling water and Pepe and Ivan enjoyed a bit of Whit’s scotch.

Photo from Pepe. Around the table: Pepe, Ivan Liz, Angela, Ryan and me.

Ivan drove me to the warehouse where we bought our kitchen supplies from when moving into the flat. It's a restaurant supply place, I went with the purpose of buying more dishes and cutlery so I can host more than six people without using plastic dishes. 

Photo from Ivan

This means more washing up for me, by hand, but better for the environment. The warehouse is large but skilled owner, Ivan’s friend, knows it well and we pick up what's needed. Nothing matches over well, change in patterns for the cutlery, change in size and patterns for the dishes but now I can host about 12 people. 

It rained here for a few days and Sevilla people do not do well with rain, not used to it. Friday afternoon my power went off for 10 minutes, thankfully only that long. Traffic was very heavy going to and from the warehouse mentioned above and Ivan said that was usual. I would have trouble driving here, 3 or 4 lanes and they seem to merge in weird ways to me. They have even installed a u-turn lane, far right to left, onto another street with traffic lights, most bizarre thing I’ve seen in any city but it works. 

Went with Ryan and Angela to Parceria for breakfast on Sunday. Sundays are really busy in the small cafe but we got fed the usual lovely food, mine included avocado.

Meet Ottie, Ryan and Angela dog sit her once in a while.

I ordered an area rug from the U.S. on Etsy and it got delivered at 7:00 pm on a Monday. I had to pay taxes on it and did not have the correct change and the driver didn’t either so it was a trek to the post office and half hour wait to get my hands on it. With Christmas coming up the post office was busy but they do have a numbering system so that helps a bit.

Real flower shop adjacent to the next pictured church

Another church I walk by frequently, this time I went in, service being held, the alter was almost completely gold!

One day I go looking at an area behind the Setas, Metropol Parasol, you’ve read about before, that large wooden wafer structure in the middle of the city. My mission was a fake flower shop that sells particularly good silk flowers in quantity. Found a lovely red one but it was part of a bouquet and the place was busy so moved on. Got a haircut from a shop I’d admired last year, bought a cute pair of slippers, went to the fresh food market, bought fresh cut ham, not Jamon Iberico but tasty. Found a silk dying shop that will have classes in January, proprietor was very friendly and that might be fun. I cannot count how many scarves I have had over the years, seems to be a bit of my thing. Back to the flower shop to ask about that red flower and they have singles for sale, buy one. Went to a small shop that has floor to ceiling wood cabinets holding many leather treasures and bought a colourful glasses case to replace the boring black one beside my bed. On to the Oriental market that specializes in oriental foods for rice noodles because I’d watched a video about how to make soup. It was a day that felt accomplished and different than the usual shopping experience. 

Went past the Museo to the local shops where they recognize me, the Pharmacy, the fruit and veggie market, lotto and cigarette shop and the meat shop. Stopped in at the antique and framing shop to visit Natasha and husband Juan Carlos. We bought three of Natasha’s paintings, the large one commissioned from her and framed all the art we bought from the Museo Sunday market. Went to the coffee roaster owned by Alberto as he was roasting.  

It was good to see everyone again and they all welcomed me warmly.

I use an extra pillow on the large dining room chairs, it’s naked and looks quite ugly so decided to have Rocio sew a cover for it. Her favourite store is in the pedestrian shopping district so I went there. Wow, I’ve never seen so many polka dots in my life! They have a large selection of flamenco dress fabric and, of course, that includes polka dots. Didn’t find anything for me though. Rocio brought fabric she had sewn and we fixed up the pillows. 

Sunday art market and it’s a chilly day, went to visit with Liz. She introduced me to an English lady named Jill, her and her husband live here in the winter and in France in the summer. She brought mulled wine in a teapot and cake for the small group of painters that exhibit together. It was yummy and warmed us up. 

As you can probably tell, I am working on the decor in the apartment. Have decorated for Christmas now and bought new pillows for the couch Lexi seems to appreciate.

Thanks Mom! Purrfect fit.

All for now, Cheers, Bev and Lexi Cat