Do the octogenarians like me? Oh yes they do…

It’s kind of embarrassing to admit this, but our Spanish excursion got off to a rather ignominious start when we arrived at the airport a day early. How did this happen? We’re still not sure – but all you can really do is laugh and chalk it up to one of those travel experiences that give you good mileage at dinner parties. As it turned out, this was just the precursor to a series of cock-ups until we arrived in Seville (via Lisbon). But we’re here now and that’s what’s important!

I initially had no desire to come to Spain but now I wonder what I was thinking because I love it here. It’s a bit of a culinary adventure for me and ordering tapas is like Russian roulette with a distinct lack of English on the menus, but I’m just giving it a red hot go. Chris will eat anything I don’t anyway so I know it won’t go to waste. But the best part is how cheap everything is. Dinner is a fraction of what it would be in Geneva and we’re staying in a lovely apartment in the heart of Seville which is only 80 Euros a night. To top it all off it’s been lovely and sunny. However one of these days I’m actually going to go to Europe in spring or summer instead of the middle of winter.

The highlight of the trip would have to be a visit to El Rinconcillo a tapas bar made (in)famous by Rick Stein. We had only just started drinking when an old man came up and handed me a table napkin with a poem written on it. Google translate doesn’t quite do it justice I’m sure, but the general gist of it is that I have hair like the sun and I’m beautiful, lovely and elegant. What a charmer. Once I’d had it translated for me I went over to thank him. I’d only intended to shake his hand, but he swiftly moved in for the kiss and hug. He’s certainly got some moves on him – not bad considering he must be pushing 80, but I’ll take my compliments where I can get them these days. But it didn’t end there – he made a return trip with a handful of flowers and finally bought me a seat (stolen from the restaurant). I suspect he wanted me to buy him a beer for his efforts, but basking in my beauty should be enough reward 🙂 Eventually his wife came to drag him home, but Valentin has obviously got a good thing going on.

Go here:

Eslava – tapas bar a bit off the beaten track, but well worth the effort to find.