we return home

 So Monday night we returned to Sevilla after our two week sojourn to Barcelona & A Coruña. 

I feel like Dorothy but "there's no place like home." Our flight was on time, and our checked bags; it was Ryan Air ;-(  were the third and fifth off the baggage claim belt. The cab stand had no line and there was no traffic into the city center. It was so nice to see the crowds had gone. Our friend and tonight's server, Javier, said the crowds were here through lunch and drank his bar out of Aperol #WOW  We came home to the final segment of pavement on Calle Zaragoza (our access street) having been finished - one year after the project was started. It looks fabulous! It used to be an old, uneven blacktop that had been patched in many places. Look at how gorgeous it is now. New sidewalks, new curb delineation, and underneath new water and sewer lines. It was a lovely walk home. We didn't go out for dinner until 9 pm. So - it being Monday night and after the Holy Week celebrations things were very quiet.  

We dined at Islamorada and had some favorites.  A later dinner on our return travel day from A Coruña in Galicia. We had a selection of our favorites (tortilla trufada, carpaccio de ternera, gambas blancas de Huelva, tacos Ibericos, tosta anchoa, and the carrillera de cerdo en salsa). We said our farewell for the summer to Javier after a meal that hit the spot with every dish. #loveSevilla

Tuesday we had Leslie and then Phil had class and I had to work on paperwork for our visa "renovation" so we dined at home. Wednesday we had a light meal at La Brunilda as Phil had not been feeling well. 

 

I had the queso costeño, and a tuna tartare (not shown) and Phil had the bulk of the risotto... we stopped at MITO on the way home to see Helena and to have gelato after two weeks without our standard evening treat, LOL

Tomorrow night is supposed to be warm, so we booked a dinner outside at Tradevo

Friday came around and we got all our paperwork lined up for our appointment on Monday. Then we went to coffee at Gavidia with Rocio and Natalia (Phil's teachers) and two of their students Janet and Mike who live here in Sevilla (and are dual Italian and American citizens.  We fell into easy conversation for about two hours and we went off to meet Helena for dinner at Casapuerta. 

 

After the meal we went to MITO for gelato- 

Tomorrow we need to begin the organization for returning to the States. There is a huge soccer match here on Saturday so big there are no hotel rooms in town apparently - so we are opting to eat dinner at home and skip the crowds as well as start with cleaning out the fridge. Oscar arrives Sunday afternoon.  And our last brunch with bagels from Costco - will be Sunday midday. The count turned out perfectly.

things along the way

 various things we saw.... that were just things along the way...

I would return here in better weather- Phil might disagree but I found the town to be very charming and if we could have gotten out more we not doubt would have found it even more so. Back home to Sevilla tomorrow. Even I have to say three trips in three weeks was a bit too far but it just worked out that way...