Sevilla | España

Our time in Seville was fabulous, however, getting there was not. We boarded the ferry from Tangier, Morocco for the short journey to Tarifa, Spain. After our ferry docked in Tarifa and we cleared customs our driver was no where to be found. We booked with what seemed a reputable transfer company and the bizarre part is we had been texting with the driver prior to arriving. He ghosted us! A mildly stressful situation - there was a lot of back and fourth, then dinner in Tarifa, finding an ATM and eventually a taxi to get us 2 hours to Seville. I had our amenable taxi driver stop for cervesas and we made the best of our much-later-than-planned road-trip! 

We were so ready to enjoy a night out (remember, we couldn't really drink in Chefchaouen) and it was midnight by the time we checked into our hotel. Fortunately, it was a stones throw from some swanky cocktail bars. 

At The Second Room the girls sipped fruity sangria and I a classic manhattan. Delicious drinks and winding down from all the transfer stress just in time for some extremely drunk old men to hit on us. Off to Torero - a beautiful Brandy cocktail bar. Perfect nightcap! I was enamored with the the presentation of my aged brandy. I was also ready for a comfy bed. 

Palacio Pinello delivered a comfy bed and then some. This 4 star boutique hotel in the Santa Cruz district is housed in a late 15th century palace. The rooms are situated around the stunning central courtyard where we had our breakfast each morning. Our triple room was very spacious, the bathroom and waterfall shower were too! It had soaring ceilings and really pretty furnishings .

In the heart of the historic center we arrived briskly to Real Alcazar where we spent the better part of the morning. I was glad we booked advance tickets to skip the lines. We lunched in Plaza de San Francisco, shopped for the kids, and went for rooftop cava spritzes at La Terraza del EME.  

La Terraraza boasts up close views of the Catedral and La Giralda which we would head to next! The Cathedral de Sevilla is majestic, we breezed through with audio guides. The climb to the top of the bell tower was worth it! Finally, we went for a late afternoon wine tasting at Lama La Uva which allowed a meandering walk to take in more of the sprawling city. 

Sevilla - rallying not dallying. purposefully meandering.

c h e e r s | best bars

hipster haunt: The Automatic | 15 Hampshire St | Kendall Square | get the MUDSLIDE.

Best in Brighton: Brighton Bodega | 328 Washington St | REDRUM (Tiki) ($14)- Hibiscus Rum/triple sec/oleo/orgeat/lime

when the weather turns warm: The Barking Crab | 88 Sleeper St | Seaport District | Sangria was great!

when in DTX: The Marliave | 11 Bosworth | The Great Experiment ($12)

Hendricks Gin/mint/lemon/orange/cucumber

Prosperity Social Club | CLE

On a residential tree lined street in the traditionally Polish neighborhood of Tremont, Prosperity Social Club occupies an original 1938 barroom. Warm chestnut walls are covered in vintage beer memorabilia, and a kitschy game room features a retro bowling machine and old school board games. Everything from the mustard yellow and burnt orange chairs to the floral curtains evoke the time of a bygone era. Kelli Graibus (manager/host) offers us delicious libations in the form of Sangria and Rust Belt Shandys (Miller High Life, ginger simple, orange juice) before showcasing favorites from their tavern menu. This food is some of Cleveland's best. 

We start out with Loaded Potato Pierogi ($10.95) which are pan fried, topped with cheddar cheese and bacon, then baked and served with frizzled onions and a ridiculous bacon aioli. Featuring the city's hashtag and a smokey, grilled Kielbaski the #ThisIsCLE Kishka Sausage Sandwich ($8.95) is done up with bacon-sauerkraut, Stadium Mustard hollandaise, frizzled onions and served on an Orlando Baking Company baguette. Prosperity's Shrimp and Grits ($13.95) are simply divine with toothsome sautéed shrimp, smoked Andouille sausage, peppers and onions over cheesy house made grits. Their Outta The Park Pork Loin ($14.95) is encrusted with brown sugar and more of that classic Polish Stadium Mustard hollandaise, then wrapped in bacon and cooked to a perfect juicy tenderness. The pork loin is served over sautéed spinach and caramelized onion mashed potatoes. 

After our private lunch (doors open at 4 pm) we retreat to the back patio. A retro-oasis perfect for soaking up the late afternoon sunshine and nursing our pork induced food comas beckons us to linger. This quintessential Cleveland haunt is a true blue collar watering hole steeped in nostalgia, and one of my very favorite places we visited.

Prosperity Social Club
Tremont

1109 Starkweather Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44113