Wednesday 30 December 2015

Seville

After a relaxing stay at Sanlúcar the time has passed quickly and we relocate to Seville
Third time round in a year but we can't resist this fine city



We 'Fozz' it in and promptly get lost on the one way system but the mapping app bails us out and we get parked up ready to stroll the busy streets


The 'Nativity' Seville style




Huge queues await anyone searching for the magic winning tickets


Nina gets distracted by the soap shop guy who loves washing hands….



Underneath that architectural oddity...




Very busy here in the old quarter with Tapas bars crammed with Spanish shoppers 




So the story here is I see a guy (tourist) taking a photo of this grand archway and thought it would be a good shot if I took his photo from behind when he was taking the shot himself
The guy objected and was quite confused when I pointed out no-one would recognise the back of his head but I respected his artistic copyrights, smiled inanely, and substituted said paranoid tourist with Nina (who knows the value of a good rear photo)



Tapas bars in full flow….



Segway renters having a pre tourist dodging briefing






Poinsettias festively displayed


I'll spare you the shot of the Tapas we ate..



In to this stunning park we go….again


Two trees with roots intertwined, Us I recall as read by the glamourous Julie on our wedding day




Brits out wandering...




€1.00 a go to dress publicly in women's clothes….bargain!




My growing waistline prevented attendance at this stall





14km later and its time to jump on Fozz and rest our tired feet at the van…

Next morning we witnessed something bizarre…
The van newly arrived next door spent a full 10 minutes trying to level on ramps, odd in itself as it was a gentle slope.
What had us in stitches was the guy's 3 attempts at using a spirit level across his bonnet and side panels, something I'd heard about but never actually witnessed until now….hilarious








Sunday 27 December 2015

Sanlúcar de Barrameda

Having walked our socks off in Cadiz we move up the coast a short way to Sanlúcar de Barrameda and a small campsite/aire just out of the town but next to the beach
Ran by the very nice Alphonso this is our Christmas stop for the next four nights


Within the hour we are off down the road with Alphonso to visit his chum at his private house/sherry emporium


Can you imagine this lot in your garage...




Sherry tasting at its best with the guy explaining its all in the family and would we like some large measures of his 45yr old sherry….well yes!


Manola in younger days..


Part of the tourist take away arrangement


Wow!







We cheekily brought some previously used Rioja 'bottles' and made off in total with:
4 x litres 45yr old sherry
1 x bottle of brandy
Total = €31.00
My God what were we thinking! The sherry will surely put us in hospital, portion control springs to mind….


Much waving of arms and mangled Spanish later, we discover Manola was an extra at age 18 in a Burt Lancaster film called 'Two Guns' so the pose was obligatory

A later Google search revealed no such film, or so we think, but the afternoon (and the sherry) left us smiling….


Bikes are a must today, and feeling guilty and the thought of Xmas dinner tomorrow we bang off 50km on a favourite cycle path of ours that leads from the village to Rota 


Lighthouse at Chipiona



'Elevenses'


An alcoholic roundabout


Cotton in the wild...



Some of the Spanish Naval fleet


In case we stray off course




This fella stared me out until I made him a little fatter with a tasty morsel of our lunch


Our local beach


And so to Christmas Day and veg prepping with Cava in the sun


Our first Christmas outside the UK which was a novelty


Christmas dinner camper style, a fine effort Nina...


Put the camera down and lets eat….


Boxing day was spent 'Fozzing' back to Cadiz and yet more walking around




Lawrence of Arabia won this one...


1st tapas bar of the day...



Gates to the city






A quiet back street but don't be fooled, it was all kicking off at the numerous tapas bars
Boxing day is like any other day here with all the shops open and business as usual



A pussy, planted



One of several noisy backstreets with the Spanish just having a great time outdoors