Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Tag: Seville

  • Seville – La Escaloná

    Seville – La Escaloná

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

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    Sarah suggested to me that we go to La Escaloná for our evening meal, and I had a quick look at the menu and their web-site and I felt happy vibes about the place. So, although we had some other potential options, I thought this was a good choice and on we marched.

    The welcome seemed genuinely friendly and authentic, with the staff member being willing to make space for us. The service was always pro-active and helpful, and the main server tried his real best to make sure that we had an enjoyable experience. Indeed, he certainly added positively to our experience.

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    The interior of the restaurant, very comfortable and at a nice and pleasant temperature. I took this photo on the way out, it was much busier earlier on in the evening.

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    Look at Gordon’s large amount of food and compare to what Andrew has ordered…

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    Sarah, at the head of the table, and enjoying the experience.

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    Andrew, busy eating.

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    Bev wanted to photograph and inspect Gordon’s food, whereas he just wanted to start eating.

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    The cod was well presented and served as a generous portion size. The cod was just a little over-cooked, but the fish tasted of a good quality and it had a pleasant taste. The sauce could have been hotter in terms of the temperature, but it had a rich and enjoyable taste.

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    My patatas bravas, and these were really good. There was some spiciness to the sauce and the potatoes were well cooked and had the appropriate slightly firm texture. What was I think was an aioli added extra flavour, and they were very moreish.

    Another dish that had a real depth of flavour were the chicken strips with curry sauce that Sarah chose. I looked at them longingly until she offered me one, and she didn’t disappoint. The curry sauce was actually cooked into the coating of the chicken, rather than just being a sauce to dip them in, with the chicken being tender.

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    My ham croquettes, again they had a light texture with the ham adding a depth of taste. The exterior was crispy and the interior was fluffy with plenty of flavour.

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    The shots at the end of the meal which the restaurant provided. Whilst I was taking a photo Andrew tried to grab one of the shots, which caused much anger amongst everyone. I made him stop, and he was given his shot last as a punishment.

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    Gordon after his shot.

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    Andrew, savouring his shot.

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    We didn’t have any desserts, but they looked appetising and well presented.

    Overall, this was a really positive experience and the staff really did their best to offer a fun feel to the service. The food and drink was of a good quality and there was a depth of taste to most of the food items. The house wine I had was pleasant, and I liked how the staff member offered a sample of it before pouring.

    The bill came to under £20 each and I felt that represented perfectly good value for money. The restaurant environment was clean, although I apologise for the loud noise of our group. I’d certainly recommend the restaurant, whether just for a drink on their terrace or for a more substantial meal inside the restaurant. I would add also that the restaurant was beautifully air conditioned inside, which made me very happy….

  • Seville – Andrew’s Accommodation

    Seville – Andrew’s Accommodation

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

    A quick interlude here with this photo of Andrew looking for towels and bedding…

    Sarah has booked some lovely accommodation, and actually so have most of us. Admittedly Bev and Clive are disappointed by the lack of swimming pools, but they’re over that now.

    Andrew has, as a travel newbie, booked a load of rubbish. He’s got accommodation which has no towels, no bedding, no comfort and he’s also forgotten to bring his adapter so he has little power left. His air conditioning is also weak.

    I’m hoping he provides some photos through the week….

  • Seville – Summary of Day One

    Seville – Summary of Day One

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity…. Apologies that the image referenced isn’t currently recoverable]

    Before I start on the various fascinating blog posts of the day, first it’s time for a quick summary.

    Clive had the most exciting day, catching the flight with only an hour to spare, after having given himself four hours at the airport with his original planning. He was the cause of much excitement, and indeed hilarity from Gordon it transpired, with his photo of his coach stuck in traffic. But, he made it, and that was the most important thing.

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    Here they are at the airport, with Bev shouting help…. As it happened, it was the other passengers who needed help, with someone complaining to Bev and Sarah about the noise they were making. Secretly I agree with that passenger, but I told Bev and Sarah that it’s only right that they were having fun and making noise.

    Gordon and Brian joined us at the bar early this evening, and they were lots of fun. They were argumentative, which is just how friends should be. Gordon is clearly in control though, or at least that’s what he told me.

    We went to a church, a bar, then the Metropol Parasol and then to a restaurant for our evening meal, more of which in later posts. It was a rather pleasant evening, and we’re all grateful for Sarah organising this trip.

    But, I’ve been asked about Andrew. Did he irritate everyone? Well, no, he was actually well behaved. Yes, he presented himself as a very British figure with his hat, but what’s wrong with that? It’s good to be different. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bev starts falling for Andrew at this rate. Wedding bells might well chime.

    Back to the disappointment of Bev and Clive though. They thought that there was a swimming pool at the hotel we’re staying at. I had no interest in this at all, I book a hotel for the room, not for the leisure facilities. Unless it has a bar, but that’s not really a leisure facility in the same sense.

    So we trek off and look for it. Bev and Clive find a hot tub, and then they went off together to a naked area. I didn’t follow them because I’m British and am very refined. Bev and Clive went around a corner and Bev screeched with laughter. What happened between those two will remain a secret between them. But you can read between the lines…. Bev, who has brought a range of sexy swimwear for Clive to look at her in, was disappointed and Clive wasn’t best pleased. Their hopes of late night swimming were dashed. I wasn’t bothered, I was just pleased that my room had running water again.

    I haven’t yet mentioned the quotes of the day, but there were some. The winning three were:

    “I can mix and match” – Gordon

    “Even the cash machines bow to Gordon” – Brian

    “Sarah will go the shop and buy you some cigarettes” – Bev

    The restaurant meal, which I’ll describe elsewhere, went well. There was lots of food and the prices worked out to be very reasonable. There was disappointment that Gordon and Andrew snubbed the restaurant by refusing to down their free shots, but the rest of us joined in with the excitement.

    There was also talk of Brexit, although I limited myself here, as I’m away and don’t want to think about the whole thing. There was also talk of the exciting new range of challenges that Liam and I are undertaking, including running an entire dinner party at Bev’s house. There was agreement that it was best Liam turned the gas on, and did the cooking, whilst I supervised. That will make for quite a few blog posts I feel…

    So, a very lovely time was had. The meal was lovely, the touristy bits we did were lovely and the temperature was, well, too bloody hot. Luckily I’ve had Bev to fan me, and she did this relatively well, although she got distracted easily.

  • Seville – They’re Off!

    Seville – They’re Off!

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity…. Unfortunately, the images for this post I haven’t yet been able to recover so I’ve put another image from the trip as the cover image instead]

    After all the excitement of this morning, they’re all now safely at the boarding gate and ready to fly! Happy flighting  🙂

    Here’s a quick photo of Andrew on the aircraft, smiling away!

  • Seville – Andrew Refuses to Buy Sarah a Drink

    Seville – Andrew Refuses to Buy Sarah a Drink

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity…. I’m afraid in this case I can’t recover the two messages at the moment]

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    I thought the Stansted members of this trip, who are Clive, Bev, Sarah and Andrew, had agreed to go to a bar and Andrew was going to treat them to a drink and snack.

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    Anyway, that hasn’t happened. Andrew has brought sandwiches and there’s no drink for the ladies. They’ve been sent to the female toilets to get some water from the tap.

    But, I’m still confident that Andrew will change his mind, because Sarah will persuade him. This is a big holiday and it deserves a little bit of splashing out at the start!

    NEWSFLASH!!!

    Andrew has purchased a round of drinks, so I’m delighted to make that known to everyone.

  • Seville – Bev Speeding Along

    Seville – Bev Speeding Along

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

    Whilst Clive is faffing about on his National Express bus, Bev is looking calm and relaxed as her National Express bus soars along towards Stansted. Clive has until 11:55 to get to the boarding gate, he’ll be fine no doubt, but it’s not ideal….

    [There was a link to National Express here, but it’s long gone, so there’s a photo of Bev on the trip instead]

  • Seville – Clive’s Still Stuck

    Seville – Clive’s Still Stuck

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

    Well, it’s all happening now! Well, not happening for Clive’s National Express bus. Here’s the current state of affairs on Clive’s bus two hours before check-in closes ….

    [There was a link to the National Express bus here, but that’s long gone and so here’s a photo of Clive buying a hat during the trip]

  • Seville – Hike Norfolk Update

    Seville – Hike Norfolk Update

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

    Well, the drama is mounting up for everyone in the UK.

    Andrew has arrived at Stansted. Sarah is nearby.

    Bev, who took a later bus to Clive, as she likes living life on the edge, has arrived in Cambridge. Because of the accident, it appears that the bus is going a different way, so she should get to Stansted in good time.

    Clive, who took an earlier bus because he’s more risk averse, has been a little less fortunate. He’s still in the delayed traffic, so his journey will be just that little more stressful. He has plenty of time to spare, but this is eating into his valuable Wetherspoon breakfast time that he had planned.

    Some quotes from this morning:

    “This is so exciting” – Bev.

    “Just my f****** luck” – Clive.

    Such exciting drama! Bev has been very reassuring to Clive, but I note that he isn’t being reassured from his latest post on the WhatsApp group for this trip:

    “There’s not plenty of time….when there’s no signs of movement Bev!” – Clive.

    I’m not sure if Clive wants me to post these quotes, but my readership demands up-to-date information. It’s more exciting than all the Brexit resignations.

  • Seville – Getting a Hotel at 01:30

    Seville – Getting a Hotel at 01:30

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

    Well, anyway, enough of the Hike Norfolk crowd, and back to me.

    So, my flight arrived into Seville at around 00:30 this morning, and I hadn’t made any arrangements for a hotel. That was because I was conscious that the last bus was at 00:51 and I didn’t think I’d make it, and a taxi from the airport is relatively expensive. So I had a plan that I could wait around at the airport for a few hours and get the first bus into Seville.

    That plan made sense to me, as I thought it’d be nice and cool, and then I could take some early morning photos of the city centre. I don’t normally get up early enough to take those, but photos at 05:00 are of course usually devoid of people and the lighting is much better.

    Anyway, when I get into Seville airport I remember that it’s all in Schengen, which means that it takes around sixty seconds to get through the entire customs process. I then discover that I can catch the bus into Seville with just a couple of minutes to spare. So, I decide on impulse that this is a good idea, and get the bus.

    Whilst on the bus, I thought about booking accommodation with hotels.com, which you can still do at that time in the morning. Interestingly, you can’t with some hotel sites, including Accor, as they just assume that the date has now passed. So, I ignore the Ibis which is between the airport and Seville city centre and just keep on until the final stop.

    I decided against booking anywhere on hotels.com, as there was nothing which seemed to be quite a large hotel. I didn’t want to book a room and then find that I couldn’t get in the hotel, as it would present a nightmare to get the room cancelled and my money refunded. So, I thought I’d get a list of hotels with cheap rooms and then just walk to them and ask in person.

    So, the first hotel that I try is closed and locked up. So, good job that I hadn’t tried to pay for that. There was a hotel nearby but the man spoke Spanish at me and I didn’t have a clue what he was saying, and more importantly, it looked too posh. By this stage it’s 01:30, and I’m conscious that there are a couple of large hotel chains in the city centre, and in extremis, I can just go to those, so I still feel nice and safe. But, there was a challenge to be had in finding a room.

    Incidentally, Seville at 01:30 feels safe, there are some families still around having completed their evening meal (the Spanish really do have late meals…) and so I thought I’d give myself until 02:00. I try the next hotel, which is actually one I’m staying at for a couple of days later in the week.

    The hotel is locked, but there’s a doorbell, so I excitedly press it. I’m buzzed in immediately, so this looks like it’s great. I stand at the dark reception desk thrilled at this fortunate development, although as nothing happened for around a minute, I did wonder whether the night porter had realised I needed assistance. I was hoping not to go and have to go back outside and press the doorbell again. That would be awkward….

    Anyway, all proved well. The night porter was friendly, helpful and we stood in the dark whilst we went through the check-in process. The prices looked a bit expensive, so after some showing the night porter the prices on on-line booking sites (which I could have technically used to book the room, he’d have found it difficult to stop me) we agreed a price. It worked out to be around £17 and this pleased me enormously.

    So, a late night adventure, and the Seville trip begins for me. Before you know it, I’ll be travelling like Jonathan does, finding this an incredibly exciting challenge. Or then again, maybe not quite…

  • Seville – The Hike Norfolk Crowd Are Sort of Getting Here

    Seville – The Hike Norfolk Crowd Are Sort of Getting Here

    [This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

    Well, it’s all happening with Hike Norfolk and getting to Seville.

    Gordon and Brian are already in Spain. I’m in Seville sitting in a park with my laptop, quite pleased that it’s cool under the trees.

    Andrew is being dropped off at the airport, he’s fine. Sarah is on the train, she’s fine.

    However, Clive and Bev are on National Express buses, both delayed due to an incident with the traffic. Will they make it into Stansted on time? Actually, they have loads of time to spare, but I must admit, it’d be more exciting if they both have to make a mad dash for it…..

    The excitement that is travel!