Making Improvements

As I continue to make repairs to my mental and physical well-being, I've noticed the city of Sevilla is making improvements as well. Given the state of the European Union and Spain's economy, it will be interesting to see if these improvements slow over the course of the next year but, for now at least, Sevilla (and I) keep working at it.

PLAZA REPAIRS OUTSIDE CAFÉ SANTA MARTA.

We went to Café Santa Marta Friday for lunch. We don't go there as often as before — perhaps once a week now. Given that the food is always good and also cheap, we ignore the fact that the staff is usually cold and unfriendly. So, we were pleasantly surprised yesterday to receive warm smiles from two of the staffers. Maybe they're working on their attitudes, too.

LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED.

Saturday afternoon, I met a couple of friends at a new (to me) café/tapas bar in the neighborhood of El Arenal. The bar (Flor de Toranzo) was just one block off Plaza Nueva, but I had never been in this little enclave, nor have I explored much of El Arenal. This cluster of streets was charming and I look forward to doing some wandering. The orange trees that line most of the city's streets and plazas are in fruitful abundance. Last year at this time (while here for three weeks) we saw harvesters here and there around the city filling crates. I like watching the faces of the tourists who pick them off the trees thinking they're about to enjoy a sweet orange only to discover a bitter fruit (intended for marmalade). Miguel told me the other day that in late March the entire city is filled with the fragrance of orange blossoms. I'll have to post a scratch-n-sniff video.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF EL ARENAL.

IMPROVEMENTS IN PROGRESS IN EL ARENAL, NEXT DOOR TO THE CAFÉ.

On the way home, as I started back up the little street (called Barcelona) toward Plaza Nueva, I snapped a picture, not noticing until I downloaded it that there was a café on the right named Porta Gayola. I found that funny. But it seems that Porta Gayola is simply a bullfighting term referring to when the matador kneels at the door of the bullpen awaiting the entrance of the bull. I still like the name.

LOOKING TOWARD PLAZA NUEVA. PORTA GAYOLA ON THE RIGHT.

ALMOST HOME. FLOWERS ENCHANCING PLAZA DE LA CONCORDIA.
OUR PLAZA IS IN THE CENTER BACKGROUND.