We enjoy the warming weather

So the weather has been warming up and we have been spending time outdoors- eating outside for the first time this season. Also exploring new parts of the city little by little - we are not in a hurry because - we live here now. We are also getting ready to leave for a month in Valencia. New adventures around another city.

we have a new place to get coffee - having a couple of not so great experiences at our old coffee place- this one is newer and a tad less "atmospheric" but the outside is nicely situated under orange trees. While it is on a busy street, it is not nearly as busy as Alfonso 12. 

It is called Santagloria.

We ate in Plaza Alfalfa at La Escalona - dining outside on a beautiful evening- 

this night we were able to eat outside -

and another night we ate at La Cayetana- 

And on one day we went exploring. I knew I'd find my way here eventually.  The Cabildo is only accessed via "passages". I had been walking around it on and off for a week or so, I said to Phil at coffee: "there's a building I want to go see and we are close so I am going to find a way into the plaza in front of it." I had been coming from the north which is blocked by a section of the ancient city wall.  But today I found the three passages in and out (one by La Isla, one by Mito, and the third across from the Cathedral). 

So we are leaning into a routine of sorts just as we are about to leave town for a month- LOL Always an adventure ahead!

a couple more new places

We have been exploring the area south of (last spring's) school for new dining places. We have found two winners so far!  

At Petit Comite we liked the food very much. I had the salmorejo and albondigas and Phil had pato y foie gras and magret de pato (the server teased him about pato y pato but commented that is was "muy facile" to remember.) The place is in an old building that is still divided into many small rooms making dining there an intimate evening. A definite place to return. Two rounds of drinks and three courses each for under 90€.

First photos from the walk home. New streets.

and this place was outstanding- La Isla- A supremely great seafood restaurant tonight. Amazing place that I had noted last year when looking for a gelato place near lunch one day. We walked by and everyone's food looked so good that I made sure to put a star on my Google map so we would find it again. Terrific - and I mean first class - service and outstanding fresh seafood selections! We will definitely return. A tad more expensive than others but it showed in the level of service and the quality of the seafood. Also the waiter complimented me on my Spanish. LOL

I also got around to sending Jean some photos of the new place- since she was here so close to when we were about to move and asked for them- still very much in the early stages-  sparse but you can see the layout and space!

a lot to do to make the new place home but we will get there!