Holiday lights

As mentioned. The city's holiday lights came on - Saturday November 30th. So we had a lot of people in the city to see them. a few photos, more will follow as there are different choices on each street and in neighborhoods across the old city.

this photo shows the tram stop on Avenida de Constitución  - this is the only tram line in the city and it runs from Plaza Nueva (City Hall Square) past the Cathedral to Plaza España near the University of Sevilla. It also hooks up near the Plaza España area with the one subway line we have.  the line connects two sides of the city but outside the UNESCO protected old city. I just thought it was something I had never shown until this point so included it. Oh and BTW our across the hall neighbors are the advertisers on the tram stop.  They have the franchise for the Mcdonald's in the city center and are about to open their fifth store. Needles to say the locations are not within the UNESCO protected area LOL.

Below is the street where our language school is located - Calle Harinas. A place we became very familiar with during our six weeks of language immersion in February/March of 2023.

Maybe more photos will be added as there is much of the city we will be covering over the next two weeks. We have guests until the 16th- first friend Mike, and then friend Lee, then we go to Madrid for a weekend. So the end of our first year living in Spain is coming up fast and we are the process of renewing our visas (for the following 24 months!)

December arrives

As I mentioned in the prior post:  The weekend came and we went out for lunch on a beautiful blue sky day in the 70s - everyone else had the exact same idea! LOL - that day was the day scheduled for the holiday lights to be turned on. Many families were in the city center for the event. All of a sudden we got busy... Must have been the Thanksgiving slow down. 

Holidays are now in full swing here. The crowds were overwhelming as we fought our way to lunch, through hundreds on the sidewalks, all out on a blue sky day in the mid 70s. We headed to Sal Gordo on the recommendation of Frank Patterson.  We had the cola de Toro donut - have to say I'd prefer it as an empanada (had a sweet note I wasn't crazy about.) I enjoyed the Gazpacho Amarillo and the Ceviche. Phil had the tuna tatar and risotto.  We split the donut. It was very meaty but I would not order again. The rest of the meal was very good. We had an upscale dinner planned so I didn't want to overdo the lunch. 

On the way home from lunch I took some photos of some of the tilework we see in various locations around the city. These are sometimes like our ghost signs advertising for long gone businesses. And sometimes they are like our street signs (just more attractive than ours.) We stopped for coffee at a new place. I changed it up and ordered mocha. Pretty good but I won't rush back.The holiday lights came on later in the day (part of the reason it was so crowded in the Casco Antiguo Sevilla.)

As mentioned. The city's holiday lights came on. So we had a lot of people in the city to see them. More will follow as there are different choices on each street and in neighborhoods across the old city. But  first - about dinner at El Traga. A terrific meal with first rate service and fabulous food. And dare I say it? The best arroz dish I've had in Spain. 

We walked home through street lit with holiday lights - but the lights get their own post... 

The following night we tried a Mexican place - which was also great! Called Sede Mexican. A fun meal that satisfied the yearning for some Mexican food. Started with Margaritas for Phil and Aperol spritz for me.  The guacamole was excellent but the chips were on the thick side. Then we went to tacos. We had two al pastor and one cochinito. Both good with a slight preference for the cochinito. Then on to a chicken mole dish not exactly enchiladas but leaning there. And Phil had a tasty dish of pork in black bean sauce. For dessert it was a first rate tres leches cake,  and of course the chocolate dessert for Phil. We walked home under the holiday lights. The night was coolish, so we ate indoors, but the place has a fabulous patio in a. plaza with a fountain, a beautiful atmosphere for al fresco dining during daytime or warmer evenings. We will be back.

Our walk home was beautiful in the quiet of the Santa Cruz streets until we got to the area of the Cathedral and Avenida de Constitution where the holiday lights were on display (and attendant crowds were still hanging on for the pleasant Sunday evening) - lights in a post of their own but the walk - here...

And finally, a photo of the street we live on where they have just completed the street plaza paving and landscaping with planters and trees... we are thrilled with the improved look -

 Sadly it turns out there will still be vehicle traffic on Zaragoza but not all the way through like it was before they repaved- so we seem to have a permanent plaza here at our end where Zaragoza nd Madrid meet up.  Holiday lights coming - I promise!