Authentic Spanish Taberna and Furniture Arrival

Ivan took us out of town to an industrial area to a ceramic house. We’d seen a large pot at the arts market in the Museo plaza and since the vendor wasn’t there last Sunday we went to his shop. 

The pot is a reproduction of Iberian design, painted with soil, yes, soil before they had paints, and kiln fired. We got his last one because he said people didn’t appreciate the work that went into it. We are going to turn it into a coffee table so it’s not a useless piece, put a glass top on it and voila. 

Bruce's research tells us this shape is for storage of olives or olive oil. The pot is called an amphora and has been made on a pottery wheel. They were a major Roman export from this region, made from the mud of the Guadalquivir River valley which flows from the mountains past Sevilla to Cadiz. He's still reading and we're learning more but I won't bore you any further.

Horses in the middle of an industrial zone - surprise!

Thanks to Ivan for the following pictures. Then we went for lunch to a bodega in another small town called Villanueva del Ariscal, at Taberna El Mellizo (Mellizo means twin). www.tabernaelmellizo.es Their food is typical Andalusian and made from scratch in house. They offered shots of some liquor after on the house so we took one to split just to taste. Almost medicinal in flavour with a lemon back note. Not really my cup of shot but nice to try something different. We were there for opening and then it filled up with families, quite a large place you wouldn’t think, if you didn't go past the first room, two more rooms and an outdoor patio for the summer across the street. 

Menu to tick off your choices, olives and shelled peanuts

We were served peanuts in the shell, shells go on the floor, and yummy olives to start. This is a place for local families to enjoy a well cooked lunch or dinner in comfort, dirt floors, rustic furniture, interesting pictures on the walls, fireplace, very cosy and got quite loud when it filled up. 

I haven’t mentioned before but people here talk loud and over one another. That seems to happen with large groups no matter what nationality but it is prevalent here and of course they drop the ends of words, and talk so very fast there is little hope of me understanding what they say, no eavesdropping for me...

They make their own wine, young called Musto, like in Vienna

Saturday and we wandered up to the Seta’s or mushrooms in English what the Metropol Parasol is called by people from here. There is a lovely fresh food market under them now and new restaurants around mostly ethnic. We hadn’t walked around this area since last year when none of it was there so all new to us. It is nice to know our way around a city and still find new things to see, which happens a lot because we are only in a city a few months at a time. 

Started this Sunday with a coffee and tostada, read on why I was grateful for having done so… Great lunch with Angela and Ryan again, before lunch we started at the art show at the Museo as Bruce and I always take a look at on Sundays, with still a few walls to decorate. We went down our street to a restaurant I won’t name because it was super, super busy and I waited, not sure how long but minimum an hour, likely closer to two hours to get my meal. Bruce got his order first, rather fast and then we all waited, and waited, and waited… A waiter brought me a tapa in the meantime which was kind of him. Ryan and Angela go there frequently and are friendly with the staff so while knowing they were super busy and obviously over stressed in the kitchen I kept my mouth shut, in more ways than one! Actually I cadged bites off Bruce's meal to tide me over. Ryan had a good point, one has to be very patient in Spain. An afternoon sitting in the sunshine with friends, made it pleasant anyway.

Waiting, waiting, chairs are due today, table is due, final light fixtures in customs. Pepe came over and installed the three light fixtures we have an they look wonderful! Really pleased although the installation wasn’t without it’s difficulties but patient Pepe worked through it all, the man is a gem and we are lucky to have him as a resource.

Chairs arrived Friday, two tub like ones with blue cushions. They are comfortable but I need an extra cushion because they are a bit low for me. Oops, they are in the house for about three hours, we have lasagne for dinner and Bruce tips his plate over onto the chair. What a mess! So into the wash the cover goes, trial by lasagne.

Table arrived Wednesday after 8 pm. It’s big and heavy and they only sent one fellow to deliver it. Couldn’t believe it! Pepe was leaving after installing more lights and helped him out. Too big for the elevator so they had to take the stairs. This fellow on his own would never have been able to do it. Thank goodness Pepe was there to help! The fellow drove from Toledo to here, probably after working a full day, it’s a four and a half hour trip. He had a place to stay in one of the smaller towns outside of Sevilla before going back in the morning. I cannot say Spanish people are lazy that’s for sure.

Wednesday Pepe installed along with the dining room light a bathroom light. For the bathroom he didn’t have his drill with him and I agreed we’d stick it to the wall with double sided tape. It fell, so he got more tape and smeared the back of it top to bottom. Next morning it fell spectacularly and shattered a bulb and the outer coating. Hmm, well that didn’t work so he returned with his drill to re-install. It’s hard to do anything in a bathroom with no light.

We're getting there furniture wise. Still need a few things but it's comfortable and we like the look, lucky really, ordering much of it over the net. 

Cheers, Bx2 and Lexi Cat