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