It ain’t much… for others, but it’s home for us.
One husband, two children and three animals – two dogs and a donkey.
OK, I’d better come clean: I don’t actually live in Seville itself – the city (in case you hadn’t already realised from the photos).
I live about 10 minutes outside, in a village up the hill to the west. But I’ve learned, in my eight years living here, that it’s quite acceptable to be vague/casual/cavalier about any detail or information, and that includes saying exactly where you live – 10km or so is near enough. Anyway, I live in Seville province, so that counts too.
I’m lucky enough to be just a couple of minutes from the motorway, which sweeps me down into Sevilla capital super-fast, yet in the countryside.
This is what happens when we don’t mow the lawn for a couple of weeks.
The house is next to an olive grove, is set in a good-sized plot of land down a quiet road, and has a couple of lemon and almond trees, but no spectacular garden (unless you count overgrown wild flowers like these) or veg plot – though we’re working on that, along with about 10 other half-finished projects.
Misty autumn morning – our lemon trees…
and a springtime view of olivos and margaritas.
One well-to-do visitor took one look at my house asked me, astonished, if I lived there permanently, ie not just at weekends or in the summer. No, if I’m honest, it’s not quite the sort of place where I expected to be living, in my 40s with two kids, but there we go.
So… great garden, great location, crap house. Well, you can’t have everything, can you?
As we’re in the countryside, we get plenty of visiting animals.
Here are some of the beasties – welcome and less so – which have appeared in our house and garden over the years.
A stray cat someone, er, lent us as few months ago. He’s still here.
Lizard – lagarto, also called tiñosa or salamanquesa in our local towns.
A snake we found, dried up, wrapped around the water pump, which had stopped working.
Snakeskin, one of many we’ve found in the garden.
and finally, a live snake!
This bunny took up residence in a paddling pool. He was probably taking refuge from hunting dogs, which often pass by our garden.
These ducklings landed in our pool, then their mum went off to get their dad, and together their parents took them to safety. Don’t you just love a happy ending?
Not sure the dog would like this for his dinner. There’s a whole colony of them in our (unused) swimming pool, and they give us a concert every night during the summer. So much nicer than it sounds.
It’s a bug’s life.
Very blurry image of a stoat – couldn’t get a decent picture, cos the little bugger was too fast.
This cat was also “loaned”, by a friend who already had 18 in his house. He chose to leave us and adopt a neighbour, but the other one stayed. We found the dog in the olive grove next door when he was a tiny puppy – but that’s another story. They fight like – yes, exactly.
Wonderful pictures, one gets a glimpse of the hot air and the sunny ambiente in siesta hours. Sevilla is one of the most tantalizing spanish cities, it has history, a thriving present and hopefully a better future than Cadiz!…Keep it going, very interesting webblog! Excelentes fotos, muy informativas! Ramon (was there 1995 and would love to work and live there, but it’s hard to get a librarian position in Spain’s castillos de investigacion).
Thanks, Ramon. I don’t know Cadiz well, but it’s always seemed like a very vibrant city too. Good luck with your job hunt in Sevilla!
I love Sevilla!! It’s where I first fell in love with Spain. 🙂
I currently live in Granada (but like you, 10km outside of the city). We have the best of both worlds – the city at your feet and the peaceful countryside at your side. I’m looking forward to reading more on your blog (I just stumbled upon it today!)
Thanks Michi, I will be checking yours out too! I love Granada, it is a very beautiful and atmospheric city.
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A recent ode of mine to ‘Sevilla, Sevila’ (as opposed to the pueblos):
https://spainwatch.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/photos-of-the-week-2-sevillania/
Sorry – just realised that last comment of mine might appear as a shameless plug for my blog, but I just thought you might like to read that post…
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Aside from the snakes and “crap house,” where you live sounds like a perfect place to be! Spain is on my “Must See” list while we’re stationed in England, and this kind of almost-in-the-city experience is what I dream of when I imagine the trip we’ll take. I’m feeling warmer just thinking about it!
Yes, Lynn, it’s very handy in lots of ways (though the lack of central heating and cold stone floors are a killer in winter). Ryanair flies to Seville from Stansted, and I can recommend lots of places to stay just outside the city. Let me know if you decide to come!
Hi, I’ve noticed how quickly atheists want people to know that about them and have often wondered why. Can you shed some light?
Just so that the readers are clear that I’m viewing the exhibit from an aesthetic point of view, rather than a spiritual/religious one. I wouldn’t want to deceive them into thinking they’re getting something they’re not.
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I’m retired and thinking of a month trying to learn some Spanish in Seville, recommend any schools there? Thanks
Hi Ben. CLIC is a good language school here in Seville, located right in the centre – it’s part of the International House group, which is very well-respected.