David & Kelly visit

 Late Saturday night our long time PT and hsi family arrived in Sevilla. They came by car form Sarasota to Miami and plane from Miami to Casblanca and plane from Casablance to Madrid and then by taxi to the train station in Madrid. The final leg was made up of train from Madrid to Sevilla and a taxi to our place. We had a few minutes to breathe before heading to dinner at La Cayetana. 

Turns out our current guests, David & Kelly and their young adult daughters Emma and Caroline love seafood and fish. So last night after they arrived around 9:15, we went to La Cayetana for dinner. We started with the ensaladilla (not as good as Brunilda) and then went for two plates of excellent tuna tartare followed by two plates of excellent tuna tataki, followed by two plates of gambas al ajillo. We also split a canelon of pork cheeks, two arroz Ibericos and an order of bunelos de bacalao. Then we rushed off to MITO for gelato. We got home after a bit of drama around the girls hostal accomodations. They all had been traveling for more than 48 hours but still looked reasonably fresh before crashing around 1AM on day three of travel (planes, trains, and automobiles) 

the next day, they saw pretty much everything in Sevilla! Had tickets to the Cathedral and the Alcazar (which they loved!) and did the Giralda and walked around by the River, went to the Toro d'Oro and its museum. We had dinner at Caspuerta. 

The next day they went to Triana Market and then walked down to the Plaza España (which they loved!) Along the way they had a couple of breakfasts and a couple of lunches each day. David fell in love with the jamon bocadillos. 

Our farewell dinner with David & Kelly and Emma & Caroline. We headed to Baco after a couple of last stops (orange blossoms have been in bloom all week and the city is scented with the most wonderful fragrance.) They purchased a couple of bottles of the lovely perfume of Sevilla (you guessed it, orange blossom!) We were only a minute late for dinner. 

We had two appetizers they hadn't yet tasted: Jamon iberico de Bellota and espinacas con garbanzos. Both were heartily endorsed. Then the three Griffith women shared a large salad with Jamon and goat cheese and then a Jamon and queso variada platter. David has the carriada  and Phil had the presa. I had the smoked salmon. We went to MITO for a last treat before leaving. We parted ways with the younger crew who went to their hostal and the older folks went home to Calle Bilbao.

A lovely visit. They were off this morning on a train to Barcelona. Now on to laundry. We are headed to France in ten days but have frequent guests in April and May. The weather has been just perfect so a great time for visitors.

meanwhile "back at the ranch" - Next term at Northwestern I chose something different. After years of media studies I thought it might be a new focus and really like the idea of learning about our most populous neighbor. I had nothing in school about Mexico other than "the Alamo." So we'll see how this class unfolds. Nine weeks to round out my "school year."

Now, a bit of a repsite for us before heading to the Dordogne for eight nights during Seman Santa. And just so you don't think we miss all the fun by being away here are two processions that have passsed by our balconies- one day time and one night time.... and we have been running into practice groups for the last two weeks late at night on our wlaks home from dinners.... 

so on we go...