a new week

 we came home from Madrid on Sunday night and now we have a few weeks of just the regular scheduled events...LOL

On Monday we went to Manolo Mayo - a lot of our favorites are closed on Monday so we were happy to have such a good option so near us...

 Wednesday night, dinner at our current favorite! Had all the things we like. Tuna triptico, tacos pez mantequilla, foie gras, steak tartare bombitas, and the pan de Cristal with solomillo de cerdo for Phil. I tried the ravioli (a newer menu item) but didn't care for it so next time, something else.

Then Thursday we met Helena for dinner at Islamorada.  We started with the fabulous tortilla tartufada and the boquerones. Then Phil had presa and tacos and Helena had salmorejo and I had carpaccio. We all had gelato for postres. Phil and I had the caramel and Helena the chocolate. It was a rainy night but we stayed mostly dry in both directions. #expatfriends

Then on Friday we met up with Lauren Tucker - whom we hadn't seen since last spring- at KANASAWA sushi on Calle Baños. It is very near our first home-base in Sevilla in February 2023...time flies!  We shared apps and she and I had the udon. Phil had sashimi and some rolls. They have redecorated and now the place has a lot of Japanese art wallpapering the walls. Had some lively conversation all over the map. Politics, family, travel tastes. Always a fast moving evening.

And the final evening for the week - we had plans to meet up with Janet & Mike at the La Cayetana nearer the Setas. But late afternoon they canceled. So seeing it was rainy and chilly we decided to go around the corner for Japanese at Buga Ramen.  

So that brings us to Sunday and bagels for brunch and the beginning of a new week! Stay tuned

November is here

 On Sunday (November 2) we had a fun night out with Janet & Mike at Hiyoki. We had the okonomiyaki, unagi and spicy red tuna rolls, uni gunkun, toro & salmon sashimi, tempura shrimp, duck gyozas, with a bottle of cold filtered sake and Juvé y Camps cava. Great food and great company and we found out we have an Irish friend in common.  Small world! We all live here now.  #expatlife

meanwhile the weather has been stunning - here is a shot I took to show Leslie why she could see the sunlight streaming in for our training session today- Sevillana blue skies:

And yet, they are working on the holiday lights already- here is copy of some recent news- 

"A total of 304 streets, as well as squares and bridges, will be illuminated in all districts of Seville in December and early January for Christmas 2025." This view is literally steps away from our building. It's a wonderful way of showing off our beautiful city. And while we do have "winter" it's a mild climate so being outdoors in the evenings to walk the streets and see the lights is completely doable even for hot house flowers like myself. 

We went to MING2 one night when it was an overcast and cool day- so we could have soup!

another night we went to Brunilda for our favorites 

Then we were off to Madrid-

We went to visit with Megan & Christian and Oscar & Candela on Thursday via train... 

 

we walked from Atocha station to our hotel - the Hard Rock Hotel (which we got on points so well located and a real deal!)

 

On Thursday night dinner with Oscar, Candela and Megan. Fab seafood centric meal at a place known for Gallegan food. I think we all agreed that the best course was the Erizo gratinado (urchin) and I thought the "first runner up" was the Xoubas. (sardines) tied with the mushrooms which were "off the menu." A special tonight. I only got a photo of one of the dozen white shrimp from Huelva because the dish never landed on the table before the server was plying everyone with shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp. #cousins #familymeals #madridtrip

 

off to a great start... that got even better when we went to lunch the next day with the same group- 

Terrific lunch in a small neighborhood place - menu items marked except the berberechos (cockles) which were the special. Shared three desserts - chocolate tart/lemon tart/pear on fabulous pastry that was sooo buttery! And somehow despite being full from last night I was still able to eat some of every dish. #cousinsinMadrid

Then that night we had Filipino food with Megan & Christian. My favorite was the SISIG. And of course the lumpiang - which we know as lumpia in Chicago.

So not so many photos of our lunch on Saturday. It was because they brought it all pretty much at once and we dug in. Hence a photo of the ravaged dishes on the table and a few of the menu and restaurant.  I did do better at dinner.

Then a lovely Saturday night dinner with Megan & Oscar at a Basque restaurant. Excellent desserts and interesting and flavorful mains. Our choices included sweetbreads, pigeon, a mushroom and foie gras "stew", and hake on a shrimp sauce. My favorite treats were the dessert liqueur, and cookie and the Pan Cristal based pan con tomate. A very nice wine and attentive service rounded out the meal. Heading home to Sevilla tomorrow. It was a fun visit with family in Madrid.

 

The first week of November ended with all of us being very well sated. We came home on a 2 PM train and had dinner around the corner at our burger joint of choice- GOIKO and went to see Helena at MITO - tomorrow starts a new week....

Atocha Station in Madrid

more to follow- we have social engagements and trainer and classes as usual this week but who knows what else will show up- 

oh and here are a few photos of Megan & Christian's new neighborhood. 

They have been rehabbing their new place for ten months or so - but it is nearly done and we will get to see it the next time we are in town to visit them...