December in Sevilla

 Went to the "theater" tonight for a magic show. The audience skewed much younger (many under ten in the front rows so they could see the show without tall people in front of them.) The magician was funny and his sleight of hand was very good. We got a lot of good laughs and some impressively executed tricks from a standard repertoire. Rings, cards, scarves, ropes etc.Turned out to be a fun ninety+  minutes. The photos are things seen along the way - starting with the carrousel in the Plaza Magdalena just four minutes from our house. 

One of our closest plazas now in holiday market mode. It is somewhat disconcerting to see oranges ripening on the trees when the chestnuts are roasting in the plazas. 

And we thought off-Loop theaters in Chicago ran on shoe strings. I think this one rents from the pigeons in the attic #uprootedtheaterSevilla

The magician was funny. His sleight of hand was well done and he worked well with the younger audience (it was billed as a family performance.) 

 above - poor Bethany... the person volunteered by her friends and children to be the one to perform with the magician LOL.

After the magic show we stopped for dinner at a place that had always looked too touristy to us. However we once had an excellent meal at its "sister" restaurant CUNA2 while here for language immersion, so we took a chance. The food was really great. So great we plan to return. Phil had the pork cheeks and langoustinos in garlic oil and foie to start. I had a salad and then calamari. No dessert as we were full. Then we walked home through the city - which is fully in holiday lights mode!

The lights are everywhere in the city center- these were just some from the walk home...

The next night - Monday - we went to La Brunilda and ordered way too much food- guess we were missing Spanish food after a week in Paris LOL (not!)  Oops missed the arroz con pato - the last course... Oh well. I'm sure there are other photos from a prior visit to La Brunilda. Standard ordering of queso costeño and tacos then went off pattern to get the ensaladilla and the chiparon and buñelos de bacalao. Phil finished with the arroz which is in his rotation.

Tuesdays are eat at home nights - I cook while Phil is in his 8-9:30 class and we eat afterward... tonight a new recipe for baked parmesan chicken - we'll see....LOL - later in the week we have Augurio and then to a new place to try YO. a little leery of this one as it is a replacement for a place we went in our first month during language immersion and found very disappointing. But Michelin just recognized it so we will give it a chance.... so  more to follow. 

holiday greetings 2025

 I think I can put our holiday letter in here- I finished yesterday and sent out today- and now it is here for any who wish to follow our year in a summary version LOL

I am fairly sure if you click on these images they can be enlarged to the point where you could actually read them LOL if not - oh well... 

The final two days in Paris

 So off we went to the Musee d'Orsay - saying our farewells to Lee and soldiering on through the crowds!

Thursday at the d'Orsay. Lost count of how many times I've been here but let's say more than two thirds of my dozen plus trips to Paris. Aside from its spectacular collection I am fascinated by the design of the museum (a repurposed train station.) This time I focused on seeing things I had not "seen" before, or in a way I hadn't seen them. Some of those things are in this short recap of our time there.

A high five - of course I've seen these before but had never noticed them from this angle - it made me smile.

The design is still fascinating to me

A rare opportunity to see a "famous" painting without people in front of it.

This guy really waited for his shot and then ignored anyone behind him

Couldn't leave without the money shot of the original station clock.

We went first to the Sargent exhibition. Many of his works I was familiar with but there is always something new or seen in a new way. Here - of course, it was Spain that caught my attention.

A perspective and style I have never seen before from Sargent

Madame X was a centerpiece

Lunch in the museum. I had the quiche and the Friedmans all had salads, Caesar for Phil and Veggie & Salami for Larry and Quinoa for Angela. The place is atmospheric and has better food than one expects from museum cafes. #win

Phil and Angela at the d'Orsay. Not sure if they were posing for the lady in front of them or if she was trying to pretend they weren't there.  Museums these days are obstacle courses of humans seeking their photos for "insta"...

 above photo credit: Lawrence B. Friedman

Then back to the apartment in the late afternoon. More family time and Angela chose to rest instead of go to dinner so it was Larry, Phil and I for dinner at La Democratie.  Dinner that night at a new place, gotta mix in old favorites with new "to us" choices. All the food was excellent and the service was too. "Boyes" had steaks. I had scallops. The starters were scallop carpaccio (Phil) salmon tartare (TOR) and escargots (Larry.) For dessert I had cheese, and the "boyes" both had apple tart. A winner despite some negative reviews about the service. We found the staff welcoming and attentive. 

So we are heading to our last full day in Paris and meanwhile I have a few "along the way" photos - things that just caught my eye...

So on Friday the Friedman's spent the day at the overcrowded Louvre and I had a restful day at home.

Here is the one photo they sent of their day LOL

We all went to Recamier for dinner of souffles and other good food. Dinner was made up of starters of mushroom and spinach salad, and pate en croute. Mains of sea bream, omelette, souffle of morels and watercress, and scallops. Desserts three souffles - chocolate, Grand Marnier, and chocolate praline with ice cream. And one creme brulee with raspberries. Everything was really good.  The restaurant is decorated in a warm and welcoming book/library theme.

desserts:

Then on Saturday we disbursed to points elsewhere - Larry to CDG for his flight to Miami. Angela to the Chunnel train from Gare du Nord and the two of us from Orly back home to Sevilla. Having a bit of time on our hands due to an 11 AM latest check out form the apartment. Angela and Phil and I went around the corner for a bite to eat before parting ways. 

We were home by 8:30 on Saturday night and had chicken soup and grilled cheese for dinner LOL- quite the come down form Paris cuisine... but am easy way to escape going back out in the crowds of holiday lights viewers and revelers... whom we encountered in full force on Sunday night... more to follow but here is our best photo group from the trip 

#funwithfamily, #parismemories #gonow