Day 1

I’d set my alarm for 04:45 but a mixture of excitement and fear meant that I woke up at 04:20

Excitement for the holiday - fear for the fact that this was the least prepared I’d ever been on a holiday

Do people really travel abroad without a spreadsheet detailing an itinerary!!!

Paul very kindly agreed to get up at 6 to take us to Bournemouth airport. I’m not sure what he’s done, or is going to do to warrant the need for such brownie points, but I appreciated it

We’d never flown from Bournemouth before and it was strange to see something so small work so well. 

Check in and security were very smooth and we got through quickly and found the pub 

Joss was visibly disappointed when I asked for a tea to go with my bacon sarnie so I made it up to her by having a beer afterwards 

That’s the kind of husband I am, selfless

The gate opened and we were ushered into the “oiks” queue (non priority) as we had already checked our baggage in and weren’t trying to fit a handbag the size of a Range Rover into the plane

Once on, I’d booked our seats to be across the aisle  from each other so that if  Joss kicked off I had plausible deniability 

The guy I sat next to was dressed to golf and insisted on spreading himself into my space so as soon as I had the chance (he turned to his wife)  I set my boundaries so that he had to stay where his seat defined

I do enjoy these passive aggressive games 😄

The flight to Malaga apart from that (and a child that was clearly not having a good time), was uneventful but we did arrive about 20 minutes late which put the whole connection to the train station in jeopardy 

Passport control was a breeze (possibly for the last time in Europe) and we went off to get our bags

Joss had to hold me back as I was convinced that some bloke had nicked one of our cases - she was right of course 

Only problem was that it took so long for the bags to arrive we just didn’t have time to familiarise ourselves with the airport and find where the shuttle train was - so we got a taxi to the main Malaga train station

While driving, the taxi driver saw our tickets to Seville and commented that we were going there ( in Spanish he had no English but why should he)

I therefore had a fairly nervous 5 minutes as the signposts we were following all pointed to Seville and I had to desperately hope that he hadn’t decided that what we actually needed was a taxi to Seville 

Luckily that wasn’t the case and all was well

Malaga train station has security like an airport checking both person and baggage with wands/x-ray machine 

We waited by platform 1 and another English couple asked us if this was the right train for them - yes we really do look that English as they picked us out from quite a crowd

Once on the train was lovely and we passed through miles and miles of olive trees - Joss will be in heaven on this holiday 

Helpfully all the announcements were in Spanish and English so there was no chance of missing our stop 

We arrived in Seville a few minutes late and I decided I’d like to walk it - Joss patiently agreed

It was only a 15 minute walk but the heat was blistering. 

When we got there, no one was there to meet us 

So I rang the organiser, who said it was his sister’s responsibility 

Called her

No response

Called him back

No response 

Phoned the number of the booking

No response

Then a Spanish family arrived who lived in one of the other apartments and they knew the guy so said they’d help

Between us we got María down to let us in and show us the place

Not “quite” how it looked in the booking pictures - but it will do

Compact and bijou I believe they say 

Once Joss had worked out how to switch the air conditioner on it changed into a much nicer prospect (although it is quite loud)

We then took a trip to the local supermarket to get the necessities: crisps, cookies and fizzy white wine

After the wine, the apartment looked excellent 

We then went out to find some food 

The first plaza we came to looked promising but I have to admit, I was livid that Joss had a post to lean on

The outside eating was a brilliant place to be and we decided on Iberian Ham to share for starters

Yeah I know it doesn’t look much now, but just imagine it when it was the whole plate and we hadn’t hoovered the rest

Then came the main course

Joss ordered the swordfish 

It was bloody massive but to my annoyance she didint finish ...the most expensive dish on the menu ....

I went for what was called “delicious grilled cheese” about which I’ve been told since is a “local delicacy “

What’s that , I hear you call

Cheese croquets going around the plate

“But what’s that in the middle” I’m guessing is your next question

Raspberry jam 

Yes, I ate, much to Joss’ disgust, melted cheese croquettes with raspberry jam

Is that NORMAL

NO

But I ate it because I WOULD NOT BE BEATEN

Seriously though, don’t eat this, it’s weird

We then went for a walk and I spotted this bar

It was AMAZING 

Why?

Reason 1: it is the oldest bar in Seville 

Reason 2: we met a Dutch family of parents with 3 grown up girls that completely embraced us by devoting their evening to us and spoke English the whole night

They were clever, articulate and funny - all in their second language and all because we were stood around a beer barrel table together and they knew we couldn’t speak Dutch 

It’s been a bloody great start to this holiday - but I might feel a “tad” tired and emotional tomorrow.....