new week - new guests

 So the weather has turned magnificent and we havbe been outside for drinks for merienda (late afternoon-early evening snack and social time.)  On Wewdnesday after Katia finished we went to Catalina for cocktails - tinto de verano for me and Aperiol Spritz for Phil. Then later we went to Manolo Mayo for dinner outside.

The following night we went back to Red Steak. Although the address has changed the same good basic steak place we have been going to for three years is still hitting on all cylinders. Salad and drinks to start and two large pieces of meat. A sizeable (bigger half) chunk came home with us for sandwiches tomorrow. Service very friendly and good.

So on my way to the bank that morning I heard lovely Spanish music and discovered this street puppeteer with his marionette band. Then I checked in with the bank and the man at the reception desk told me my banker was on a coffee break and would be back in a few minutes. I could be aggravated but it's a beautiful morning, a light breeze and sunshine heading into the high 80s today. And, I live in Spain ❣️

Banking business in process at this point. So on with daily life. The weather has been glorious so we wanted to eat outside and ended up at d'Italy.  Well, we dug into the salad immediately so the photo is about 85% of what arrived. The pizza was Phil's choice and the sandwich on focaccia was mine. Drinks were great for a day in the very high 80s and an evening that cooled off to mid to high 70s until much later. A huge amount of foot traffic in town this weekend, as it is the Copa de Rey in futbol here in Sevilla's 72,000 fan stadium! And next week Feria de Abril begins!

Friends arrived from Chicago around 2 pm Saturday afternoon after an overnight flight via Madrid. So we grabbed a quick lunch and we have an early dinner planned so they can acclimate to the time change. We went around the corner to the place we went nearly every day while in school in 2023. Señora Pan. We had a light lunch as dinner is very early for us but very late for our friends. Phil had the ribs, Ron and Mary had the tuna tataki and ceviche and I had the most mini arepitas. I was the only drinker, ordering Tinto de verano as Feria is about to begin!

Then that evening it was off to Islamorada. Our regular place for first nighters from the States. Open early for Sevilla, and good food and even better service from the team! Thanks, Javier! We had the usual. The outstanding tortilla tartufo, the Jamon iberico, and Anchovies to start. Then we had the white shrimp from Huelva and pork cheeks and tuna al ajillo. Finally, three carmelo de sal gelatos and one tocino de Cielo! By 10:30 Ron was asleep on the couch but it was the middle of their second night without sleep (Chicago time) so completely understandable. Tomorrow they will be up at dawn (routine for US visitors on morning one in the EU) and out exploring the remains of the city after the Copa de Rey finals tonight in the stadium on Cartuja between teams from Madrid and San Sebastian. The city is buzzing (per AI) to me it's just overrun. But things will quiet down in our neighborhood as the Feria will draw people south to the fairgrounds.  The weather is dry and warm all week. 

Ron & Mary will be with us through Tuesday and then we have a week to regroup before John & Stephanie arrive. so more to follow.