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Tim Lynette Wilkins
Tim Lynette Wilkins

Tim Lynette Wilkins

gereisd in 12 landen Meer informatie
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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger
    Solera in the bodegaThe range of sherries we tastedTheir private art gallery

    A different sherry tasting

    4 maart 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    Yesterday we went on a visit and sherry tasting to a bodega we have not visited before, the reason being it is very expensive. However , the bodega specialises in sherries with the classification of VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) which we have not had much chance to taste. So we went along and had the usual tour explaining how sherry is made but with some extra info on how the sherry regulators control the classifications. The VORS sherry has to spend at least 30 years in barrel - as part of the solera - before being bottled. The tasting of 6 different types of sherry was good and interesting but confirmed our suspicion that we could not detect a sufficient increase in quality to justify the massive increase in prices - the sherry is sold for between 30 to 100 euros per bottle!

    The bodega also has it's own art gallery of paintings by Spanish old masters such as Goya, Velasquez, Zubaran which were very nice but not the best of their work.    Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger
    Phoenician head
    Phoenicians incense burnerRoman sculpture of a childRoman ring- don't know what the stone is!Roman glass sea shell

    Daytrip to Cadiz

    2 maart 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    We took the train from Jerez to Cadiz this morning and spent a lovely day in the sun walking through the city that we liked so much when we were here before. A few hours in the museum, which seemed to be reorganised and all the information cards seem to have been lost! Then a walk to the market square where I bought some packets of Spanish chilli seeds last time, but although the stall was still there, it was closed and chained up, so I guess I will try to find some when we get home. Then lunch in a restaurant we also remember from before, and least that was still good! And a walk along the seafront in the sun can't go wrong!Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger

    Spring has sprung!

    1 maart 2022, Spanje ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    At least it has here! Today is 22c, clear blue skies and just a breath of a breeze. The orange trees still have a few lone oranges on, but now they are completely covered with flowers that will be next years crop, and the streets are full of the scent of orange blossom.

    Looking at the weather forecast at home, next week is going to be a bit of a shock!    Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger

    Andalucia day

    28 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    This morning we took the car back to Hertz at the airport and got a taxi back into Jerez. Its Andalucia day today, a public holiday so everywhere is closed - eating in tonight. I so remember andulcia day four years ago. We were in Chipiona with Natalie, Andy, Finlay and Emily who was just 8 or 9 months old, when the great storm blew in, and we all got drenched in howling winds and rain like a monsoon, but finlay still wanted to play on the beach in the rain!Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger
    The main gate into town originally Roman then Moorish
    Moorish Alcazar behind the gateOrange garden of the church, like in SevilleMecieval builing on the Plaza MajorPlaza MajorStreet with the door to our Posada (lovely B&B) on right

    Carmona

    27 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We stayed overnight in a really pleasant town to the east of seville, Carmona. Turns out this is quite a well-off town, and has been from before roman times, a local civilisation known as Turdetani, with an economy based on olive oil, wine, wheat, and cattle. It was an important roman city, then visigoths, then Muslim , before the present day one. As a result there are roman remains everywhere, and the present town centre is built on top of the roman city. Just outside the old city walls is a huge roman necropolis with some outstanding tombs, and tomb offering goods.

    Overall we really liked Carmona, it was a good place to wander around, a good discovery!    Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger
    The labyrinth
    Ariadne and bacchus

    Bacchus and Ariadne

    26 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    As I'm currently reading the myth of Bacchus and Ariande, I was pleased to find a huge mosaic telling the story.

    Ariadne was the eldest daughter of King Minos of Crete. Every year Athens had to send a tribute of 6 young boys and 6 young girls, that Minos would send into the vast underground labyrinth which held the bull-headed monster of the minotaur. Theseus, Prince of Athens, came with one years tribute and, with ariadne's help entered the labyrinth and killed the minotaur. She fell in love with Theseus and when he left she sailed away with him,but he abandoned her alone on the island of Naxos.

    The god Dionysius (Bacchus) took pity on her and, enchanted by her beauty, married her.    Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger
    Sun mosaic from a set, with the moon and planets
    Amphitheatre, it could seat 25,000 peopleTigerOne of a set of colourful birdsBread ovens - they look ready for pizza!

    Italica

    26 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Having taken Natalie and the kids to seville airport and seen them off, we drove northwest of seville to visit the remains of the roman city of Italica. We were here over 20 years ago and remember the spectacular mosaics of a very rich roman city. Then it was completely open and we were free to wander around at leisure, but today we were disappointed to find large sections roped off entirely and other parts subject to restrictions and timed entries. The mosaics however are still wonderful.Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger

    Kids leaving tomorrow. Boohoo!

    25 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Lunch in the main square in the sun for the last time as we have to drive to seville airport first thing tomorrow. Finlay tried mussels and said he liked them but there were lots left at the end, so I think he prefers clams. He also got stuck into the padron peppers, mild green chillies roast and spread with sea salt.Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger

    Clams

    24 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    A few days ago I had clams for lunch and finlay tried them and loved them so yesterday he and I went to the fish market and bought some. We cooked them and had them as a starter for dinner. I had a few and Lynette had some but finlay cleared most of the bowl. He already loves prawns so I guess it's mussels next.Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger

    Kids on stage!

    23 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    At the end of the show they invited all the kids in the audience up onto the stage for the finale. Much to my surprise ours happily went up, but then would only stand at the back. Still ,they were on stage in a Flamenco show and joined in the clapping!Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger

    Chorros and fish market

    22 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    So first thing breakfast of chorros and chocolate followed by a wander through the fish market. I thought the kids would be a bit put off by the pong but they were fascinated, especially by the prawns and the crabs waving their claws at them. ... and the sharks!Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger
    Mmm!
    You can see how close it was to the sea. Now farmland!Beach at el puertoTapas bar in el puertoWhy do we like it so much? It's owned by our favourite bodega!

    Getting ready for the kids

    18 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Last night it was warm enough after dinner to sit outside on the terrace with a glass of sherry. Bliss!

    This morning we got the train out of jerez to the airport to pick up a hire car ready to get Natalie and the kids from Seville when they arrive tomorrow. (If the storms havent cancelled the flights!) Afterwards we drove to El Puerto de santa Maria and stopped at an archaeological site on the way. It was a settlement dating from 3000BC up to medieval Islamic times and was situated on a ridge looking over the ocean. Now it looks out over the huge agricultural plain south of seville where the river mouth has silted up and the whole bay has disappeared. We also checked the beach in el Puerto to see if would be a good place to take the kids , but we think that we have better choices. We couldn't resist having lunch in a favourite tapes bar at the side of the river in el Puerto,Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger

    Moon set over Jerez

    16 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    This morning when woke up there was a wonderful sunrise in the East of reds and purples, and in the west the overnight full moon was just setting over the palm trees in the next Plaza.

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger
    Alcazar walls and tower
    Setting up the stands

    Alcazar

    15 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    I spent some time walking through the alcazar (castle). It's a place I enjoy, and I wanted to check it before the kids arrive next weekend. Mostly it's only the walls that remain but they can walk along some of them and there are big open spaces to run around in.

    Council workmen are busy this week putting up stands for people to use at Easter. Its a while off yet, but Easter here is a really REALLY big thing. There are processions every day in Easter week as every church in the city (and there are a lot!) brings out its huge floats, first of Jesus then of Mary. They are huge, and heavy enough that can take up to 100 men to carry them through the narrows streets. The local papers give maps every day and times of which procession is going where and the streets are completely packed with crowds watching them well in the early hours of the morning    Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger
    Themain stadium in Jerez
    Jerez Industrial

    A football day

    14 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    First I went to the lunchtime match at Jerez Industrial , the third team in Jerez, came back for lunch and to get the bus across the city to the stadium which is shared by the other two teams, Xerex DFC and Xerex CD. When we first moved here years ago Xerex CD were bankrupt and DFC were their replacement so DFC (deportivo football club) became my club to support in Jerez and its nice to be able to see them again.

    Industrial lost 0-1 and DFC drew 1-1 having played with 10 men most of the match. Still a good days fun and a pleasant walk home into the setting sun.

    (The less said about Barnet the better!)    Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger

    The cloisters next door

    12 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    There used be a monastery attached to the church in the next square and a few years ago the cloisters were in bad state of repair. They were taken over by the city council, refurbished and are now a really beautiful event venue for concerts weddings etc. And it is just next door - we can even see the roof of the refectory from our terrace. And until yesterday we didn't know it was there. After a visit there we walked across town to stock up sherry from our favourite bodega in Jerez. I think we've got enough now to keep us going till christmas!Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger

    Covid and technology

    12 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    When we arrived it was a legal requirement in Spain to wear a face mask not only indoors public places but outdoors as well - and virtually 100% complied. People on the streets all wore masks all the time, only taking them off once sat down in a bar or restaurant. On Thursday this was relaxed to only being required in indoor spaces but over half are continuing to wear them in the street.
    Yesterday was the first time we were required to show our covid pass to enter a restaurant, previously we have sat indoors and no-one checked. We carry them everywhere and it was a relief to find that the Spanish phone app that scans our UK issued QR code recognised it and gave us a big green tick. In Greece in September it didn't work and we were turned away.
    A much less welcome use of technology is that many restaurants have dispensed with printed menus and expect you to scan a QR code on the table to view the menu on your phone. We had never done this before so at first pretended we didn't have our phones with us so the waiter lent us his phone to see the menu. We have since worked out how to do it but really hate it. It is difficult to read on small phone screens and difficult to discuss what to have and share when looking at separate screens across a table. I fear when covid is no longer an excuse, they will continue this malign technology to save printing costs.    Meer informatie

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  • Tim Lynette WilkinsJEREZ 2022Reiziger
    Picking oranges
    Poor man - what happened to his head?

    Jerez cathedral

    11 februari 2022, Spanje ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    It's still sunny every day although today there is high hazy cloud all over, and tomorrow we could get some showers. This morning before it got too hot I walked across town to the alcazar (castle) and then to the cathedral. Its one of my favourite places to visit, its horrendously over decorated (the Spanish seem incapable of leaving a square inch of wall without carving something on it), but it's wonderfully light and airy and peaceful. I discovered some bits I hadn't seen before, and outside workmen were harvesting the last seville oranges from the park outside the castle so the air was full of the smell of oranges. They have to pick them before they all fall off otherwise the roads and pavements are covered with squashed slippery oranges.Meer informatie

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