A Fishy Weekend

Having exhausted ourselves in Seville we move down to the Spanish coast once again at Sanlucar da Barrameda

We instantly hook up with ex Army guys Jean & Barry from Southampton who regale us over the next few days with stories from the Forces and the time they spent serving our Country

A BBQ is suggested for the following day as they know where to find the local fish market in Sanlucar

A short bus ride away and we are in the thick of it, surrounded by all things fishy and what can only be described as 'shopper bedlam'

To be honest Nina and I have always shied away from the slippery creatures, preferring to eat fish only after its been extensively manicured for the table or the pot

Our fish prepping expertise amounts to zippo

So many different types of fish here we really didn't have a clue but Barry & Jean (past masters) showed us the way and we made a few brave choices for our debut fish BBQ

Tiger prawns we guess...

A stroll round a few shops and a few 'looseners' in a couple of seaside bars and we run to catch the bus home

Back at base camp Head Numpty is making out he's got it sussed and begins to roast some prawns as a starter

Success! How easy is this?

Dorada, which to be honest I thought would never cook and leave us all in the local Hospidada with food poisoning

How wrong I was, it cooked beautifully and I even managed to present said fish without spines for our new chums to devour

(I have to point out here Barry watched me like a hawk as I really had no idea)

Sea Bass apparently but we were not too sure afterwards 

Python-style its all topped off with a fried egg and some of Jean's home made chips cooked in beef dripping

Absolutely spot on!

The evening descended in to an alcohol fuelled soiree which left the menfolk with very sore heads the next day

After sobering up we broke out the bikes and did a nice 44km ride down to Rota where we sat drinking coke in the very warm sunshine at the Marina and had, guess what, a little Tapas….

Purple carpet laid out for us bikers

Just 100m away from the site we watch the sun go down, tired teddies..

Seville Take Two

Knowing that the weather will take a few days to return to normal and we would like to go visit Seville again, we head for the hills to while away a few days at some favourite haunts

We discover Ameixial seemingly miles from nowhere and a very pleasant Aire where we stay for a few days

The bonus here was as ever its free, nicely out of the little village, and there is even free electricity for you to use too

Out on a solo walk I come a little too close for comfort to these guys but escape unscathed

Thankfully not going to market….

Beat this for tranquility

These tiny Iris's are in abundance at the moment

A couple of nights back up at Mina de Sao Domingos and Pomarao sees us set for a week of great weather and a welcome return to Seville

I take the opportunity to go get the brakes pads replaced all round on the van at the main Fiat dealership  in Seville. Within 24 hrs of first contacting the garage we are done and dusted and heading for the less than glamourous, but very handy, Aire

Those oranges again..

Come in No 618, your time is up!

West Ham supporters look away...

These guys don't take no for an answer when they attend your table selling 'genuine' Rolex watches and shades. Encouraged no doubt by these wealthy Spanish businessmen

Inevitably we drift from one Tapas bar to another which suits our leisurely pace quite well today

Apparently Seville has one of the highest unemployment rates in Spain so hats off to these guys who make a few Euros busking around the local bars  

Bully for you...

A local speciality, strawberry gin..

Come on punters, throw in your cash, mobile phone bills don't pay themselves...

Modern architecture Seville style

Surely one of the narrowest shops we've seen

As the sun sets we drag our blistered feet back to base having done 17km in the wrong shoes!

Next morning I help Jacques from next door get his brand new mini moto going. Having only bought it a few weeks earlier today is his first day and I get to put the first km on the clock. This meant lots of bump starting around the car park but we got a result and I had enormous fun….