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... 

November days

 It has been rainy and chilly for parts of most days last week - a hurricane off the coast of Portugal that comes over in waves. But we soldier on- LOL... Sunday night we went to Casapuerta for dinner after a quiet weekend... I was "hopping" with customers - a number of tables filled with tourists (it must be French vacation week...) and one large group of twenty English speaking but across the room from us - so who knows where they hailed from...  We shared courses: asparagus croquetas, brioche de tenera, solomillo con patatas fritas, and tarta de queso.  Phil also had the tuna tartare. Always great to see Blanca & Manuel. And we made it there and back without rain!

A new place for dinner on Monday. I would say "way out east" but it was really only a half hour walk. Lovely restaurant, lovely service, and tasty food. We agreed it was the best carpaccio we'd had. The arroz was big - more than enough. The canelón was creamy, in a truffle sauce. The Priorat wine was an excellent blend with a light touch perfect for a variety of things we ordered. Worth returning to - but a hike. One of the things about living in a pedestrian city center is that a cab would take roughly the same amount of time given the various one way streets. So we went at my pace (slightly faster than snail) and took a different more scenic route home so we could stop at MITO (big surprise right? )

So we went out to "the lipstick" for lunch Tuesday. Phil wanted ribs and there's a Tony Roma's near there on Google maps.  To our surprise - since we live in the Casco Antiguo (UNESCO designated old city of Sevilla) - there is a mall there.  Who knew? Anyway it's adjacent to the Torre Sevilla also known as the lipstick building. The meal was less than mediocre. BBQ sauce was way too sweet and the onion rings greasy.  IMO. So I'm not gonna go back there. But the day was glorious and we both walked home via different routes. Mine more direct for my snail pace and Phil's lengthier for his speed walking. 

From inside the mall - restaurants are on the top floor of the mall and I think there is one near or at the top of the lipstick 

A view from the bridge (sorry Arthur Miller, not intended as a reference)

The bridge is covered for shade which would be essential to life in the summer sun and heat here.

As I turned the corner on the way home in the late afternoon, the sun shone on the street lamps making them glow as if lit for the evening.  #serendipity

The oranges are starting to turn. By late February they will have dropped or been harvested. Then in mid March we get the orange blossoms for the next rotation. That is when the city is scented with orange blossoms. It is also my favorite time to be in Sevilla. 

So you might remember yesterday we went to lunch behind the lipstick building (Torre Sevilla). This is a photo from last year that clearly shows why it's called "the lipstick." Taken from the "Triana Bridge". Which is actually named for Isabel II - but no one here ever calls it that. #locallingo

La Cayetana Wednesday night. All shared courses. Everything marked on the menu except the special "baby scallop". A great place in the "hood."

Desacato tonight. Daniel said it's been packed since Michelin recognized it in their red guide. A new menu but many old favorites are here. We had the shrimp tartaleta and a new eel skewer to start. Followed with the cecina and caramelized foie. Then we had an excellent prep of turbot (center cut with virtually no bones) and A VEGETABLE! truly wonderful green beans. Our desserts were two Basque style offerings. Pachineta and basque tarta de queso. Both fabulous. Happy to see the success for our buddies. We have been loving this place for two+ years and now they are getting deserved recognition.

our meals left for this week are at Tradevo and Acento.  so we still have plenty of good choices...  

Getting closer to the big reveal on next Friday night when all these lights will be lit up in the celebration of the start of the Christmas holidays which will run through Epiphany on January 6.

the poles that hold the shades in the hot weather and scorching sun hold the holidays lights too!

 It's a busy time in Sevilla. Before we took these few photos on our way home, we had dinner at Tradevo.   Photos below. Tacos gambones, boquerones, aligote (cheesy mashed potatoes), cazuela de patatas y espinacas, rib eye steak, and ceviche.

Saturday night we dined at Acento - their menu rarely changes so we have the same things pretty much all the time but tonight we changed it up a bit - I had the burrata salad and then hummus and falafel plate and we shared the anchovies - then Phil had the tuna tartare and the secreto with fries. 

so that rounds out our week. next week we are scheduled to try a few new places - just to be sure we are still getting to our best choices in the long run. And of course some favorites as well.  Stay tuned...