Wandering

Bit of an off day today. I felt something not quite right around bedtime and had trouble going to sleep. For the first time in weeks I actually sleep past 650am (not that I was getting up but I would wake and check the time). Needless to say Cadiz didn't seem like a great idea so I alternated between the patio and bed for a while until I finally righted myself. That's the trouble with bits and bobs to eat and drink - you never really know what's going on in the kitchen!

Anyway going the civilized route tonight and having a glass of wine at the Hotel Alphonso XIII. Ifs the nicest hotel in town and a huge Moorish courtyard off the lobby that serves food and drink.

One of the things I've noticed here and there are the use of ceramic vases as finials atop the balustrades that surround the upper terrace. And the continued tile work in general and the columns and reliefs make it hard not to constantly be looking up!

A few notes on Sevilla.

Have been working on the metro for years but are constantly discovering ruins. They actually gave up one length near the cathedral and went with an above ground tram.

That said because most of the streets are so barrow there are no garbage trucks and you put the garbage into plaza side chutes that apparently move it underground to a collection point.

Streets are organized for shopping by product. The main street outside the apartment is shoes. Around the corner is wedding dresses. (And as Monika noted slutty wedding undergarments) Down the street is flamenco dresses.

Siesta does still exist is some form. The shops mostly close from 2-5. But restaurants and business in general seems to stay open all day.

Sevillianos love potato chips

The olives are delicious!

Spaniards love salt cod

So after a wander to the Plaza de Espana which was built for the Iberian Expo but seems to serve no current purpose I am back quite close to home (Seville is small) for a more upscale tapas a meal at Enrique Becerra. It's small and I'm at the bar for cold cream tomato soup, a lamb and date kabob with cous cous, some foie on toast and scrambled eggs with ham and peppers. Washed down with some wine a bit of new sherry knowledge and a coffee and I am back in good shape for this night.