EUROPE 2025 : SEVILLE

Thursday 2 and Friday 3rd October

Thursday

We have a lot to choose from in this city and our group are not all on the same page. And it's rather hot. Setas de Sevilla. Palacio de las Duenas. Alameda Hercules.

Almost everything is closed from 4 to 8pm. Going local on tourist time? It all worked out in the end; after a few rounds of drinks and some very tasty sharing tapas. We even won the sullen waiter over eventually. 

Friday

Coffee and cake for brunch between the touristy tours of the Alkazaba and the Catherdral.

Both amazing. Both very, very crowded. 

Neil and I strolled the alleys through Alfalfa, stopping for drinks and tapas at Seville's oldest bar,  El Rinconello.

And then we wisely took our siesta back at the hotel. We were ready for dinner at 8pm at non - touristy  Restaurante 2 de Mayo as it opened. Wonderful last evening in Spain.

EUROPE 2025 : CORDOBA

Tuesday 30 September and Wednesday 1 October

One word : Olives! We have never seen such abundance of olive groves in our lives. From Granada to Cordoba.

There are also a lot of Moorish hilltop castles along the route. 

In a rush to the head, I chose one town to stop at for lunch. Up we drove on winding, ever narrower lanes until we couldn't go further. Neil and Stephen's driving skills were put to the test and we needed directions from surprised locals to get back down. The upside of this was that we got to choose a local roadside restaurant instead.  At lunchtime it filled up with farm labourers and construction workers. A choice of options for a two course lunch, a drink and bread for 9 euros. Daily menu in Spanish only and oops, lost in Google translation, some of us, not me, got beef kidneys in gravy on a bed of chips..Chalk it up, fellas! 

We loved our apartments La Alberca in Old town Cordoba.

We wandered down through the old lanes for drinks and views and ate dinner on Plaza de la Corredera.

Mesquita Cordoba is still our favourite Church in all of Europe. Something about the mix of cultural influences, the calm interior and the symmetry that is just a bit off in places.

And then what a great day...

Brunch and coffee at street cafe. 

Popping into an old synagogue. Sitting on the steps listening to a Flamenco busker in a shady courtyard.

Glasses of vino rosado in a touristy square. Empanadas.

Trying Salmonjera, the cold and refreshing Andulsian tomato and garlic soup.

More flamenco guitar wafting from a restaurant doorway, so in we go.

Heading home for a siesta. Hanging out with the locals for evening drinks.  Dinner outside on square amongst all the students at wonderful Taberna la Montillana.

Strolling home with a happy heart, a satisfied palate and a slightly fuzzy head on a balmy evening; no jacket required.

EUROPE 2025 : GRANADA

Sunday 28 and Monday 29th September

It's only a few hours drive up to Granada. We stopped for brunch in Playa Burriana.

Since we are not in Homer this year,  we're choosing hotels right downtown. In Granada, it was the Marcia 5 Senses.The downside of this is that the underground carparks are expensive and ridiculously cramped and driving in the city centre is difficult. Neil has done a excellent job getting us in and out of a lot of tight situations. In Granada things got close to impossible due to closed roads for a festival of sorts.

After a short rest in the hotel, we went out to see the religious Procession of the Virgin de las Angustias. Neil found us a great vantage point in a bar with comfy seats and wine.

Dinner in busy Calle Navas.

We ubered up to the Alhambra on Monday.  It's a truly amazing complex and the Nasrid Palaces are stunning but we are astounded at how so much more busy and touristy everything is since we were last here.

Coffee and cake for brunch.

An Uber to Albaicin.

Get dropped off at the top and make your way back down to town - it's steep.

Tapas for dinner followed by a serious but suitably short Flamenco Show.(Important for my cultural exposure but not my taste in music or dance.)

EUROPE 2025 : MALAGA

Friday 26th and Saturday 27th September

After a coastal drive along the busiest stretches of the Costa del Sol, we cruised into Malaga mid-afternoon. It's a short Uber ride into downtown from our hotel. We are so pleasantly surprised  by the vibe and buzz in Malaga.

There are a lot of tourists but walking just a few hundred metres from the central action, we find way more local bars and restsurants.

On Saturday morning we decide to visit the Pompidou Museum. Nah! 

After a stroll on the waterfront and down to the city beach...

 We decide to try something a bit more local for lunch...

This is why we travel...we were last here in Pedregalejo in 2001...

We nabbed the last table at a beachside fish restaurant...

Delicious fish...

Washed down with a bottle of Albarino..Paco and Lola was the first Albarini we ever tasted..in the Rios Biaxos in 2008...

Then coffee and custard flan..topped with a Marie Biscuit! Outside SA the only time we've ever seen Marie biscuits was in the Latino stores in NJ.

We head back to tourist central to watch the Springboks trounce Argentina at The English Pub followed by tapas and wine in the balmy Med autumn weather.

  Next time this will be a longer visit!