Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Feliz Dia Andalucia!

Happy Andalusia Day! From Wikipedia... "The Día de Andalucia ("Day of Andalusia" or "Andalusia Day") is celebrated February 28 and commemorates the February 28, 1980 referendum on the Statute of Autonomy of Andalusia, in which the Andalusian electorate voted for the statute that made Andalusia an autonomous community of Spain.[1]


The above link shows the area of community.

On the domestic front, Bruce received the tooth he’s been missing for almost a year, having a dentist here is good but instead of waiting three months, it was much longer (the three month wait is to ensure the post settles in). He says it feels weird and now he has no place to store olive pits…

On the way back we asked Pepe stop at Ikea to get Bruce a sheepskin to sleep on, weary bones at night, this should help. 
Lexi likes it!
Pepe buys much of his home furnishings from Ikea for the apartments he rents out so is very familiar with the store. He has a “family discount”, knows how to search for whatever on their computer kiosks that are information centres. Goes to the 50% off section to see if anything is useful. Pepe had in mind smallish things he wanted to get so we did, and a print of the ocean caught his eye so he bought that too. The store is certainly customer friendly, with self checkouts and a person to help when needed, although I’m sure they also check that everything brought through is accounted for, cynic I am.

I used to be familiar with the one in Richmond, BC, but this one is probably double the size. A little hint, is that upon entering the store you are directed to the show room, with kilometres of show space, but if you go with something specific in mind you can avoid all that and go directly to the warehouse to actually buy what you want. At Richmond the door was almost secretive, tucked away, here, it just means entering the exit. My Polish friend Danuta and I would often go to Ikea for lunch at their cafeteria, she ate the pickled fish and lingonberries she couldn't get elsewhere. Great memories!
  
People are doing a major renovation in and outside a building next door. I missed an opportunity to photograph to show you the plank over the pile of dirt, with another coming down the slope. Workmen are manoeuvring wheelbarrows up and down this steep narrow slope. Thought I’d get a chance returning but there were three workmen inside at that point and it didn’t feel right to take a photo.

Dawna and Erwin are here for a visit and darn it the weather has turned to cloud and rain today. They came here and we went over to the art market. I am able to ask the partner of Olivia with enough Spanish where is she, she's been MIA for a few weeks, she's gone to Thailand, and that’s about all I could understand. Talked to Liz again, the market wasn’t even half full due to closing of the streets for the annual Zurich marathon. 

Procession down our street to return the statue of Jesus to his resting place in the church, they had likely been restoring it before Semana Santa. The men carrying it do not walk underneath like they do in processions, they are at the four corners. 
Blurry but much less so than the next...
The white is caused by the swinging of lanterns, added "just because..."
There are many bands around our area now also, while D & E were visiting we could hear them. They must have been practicing so not sounding coordinated at all, just producing noise.

I took the next two pictures on our return from Triana, read on.

Fountain built to commemorate Spanish explorer Juan Sebastian del Cano at the end of Los Remedios bridge

Queen Maria's sewing box or basket, local legend that she spent time sewing in the building, it was actually built after her death. In Spanish, Costurero de la Reina
Bruce’s ears were plugged with wax so Pepe took us to a Doctor, recommended by Ryan, in Triana, the other side of Seville, across the river, where the residents call themselves Trianans first, Sevillanos second. Honestly I think it is quite an ugly neighbourhood but it does have some nice parks. It’s full of low rise apartment blocks covered in brick for the most part, but people who live there say there is a real sense of neighbourhood. Anyway got into Pepe’s car and it’s covered inside with confetti! 


He’d taken people on a bodega tour and coming back ran into a large parade from the carnival in Cadiz. They were stopped and people threw confetti into the car from the parade. Cheerful but messy!

All for now, Cheers, Bev, Bruce and Lexi Cat



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