100 Semana Santa Photos…

…that you should see. That’s what the poster says.

And I’ve been walking by it almost daily, telling myself that I really ought to go in and have a look, because I love both old photos and Semana Santa. As usual I left it until almost too late (the exhibit closes on April 8th, Easter Sunday) and so popped in this morning after doing a few errands.

[note: exhibit has been extended to 29th April]

And the poster is right – you really should see these photos.

The oldest, taken on calle Feria, was c.1885 and they go up to almost present day. For me it’s entrancing to look at the people and familiar streets – some places haven’t changed that much – and imagine myself walking there now.

I also liked the “photo boxes” lit from within that were placed around the room on the floor. You can see them in the collage here along with a list of the photographers. The reflection of the blue lights played havoc with my photos, but they are really just to entice you over and see them for yourself.

The exhibit is being held inside the Antequarium, beneath the Metropol Parasols (aka The Mushrooms) in Plaza Encarnación, so it was also a good opportunity to visit the Antequarium again, which I hadn’t seen since it first opened a year ago. At that time it was still unfinished and now it’s looking much more impressive.

Semana Santa en Sevilla
100 Fotografías Que Deberías Conocer
23rd February – 8th April 29th April 2012
10.00 – 19.30 Tuesday – Saturday /10.00 – 13.30 Sundays and holidays

[click on images to enlarge]

Día Mundial del Agua

Today is World Water Day and Emasesa’s Autobus del Agua will be parked in front of Metropol Parasol in Plaza Encarnación until 8 pm this evening. Normally the bus visits schools and educates children about the importance of saving water and simple day-to-day ways this can be done.  Other activities this week include special public openings on Friday and Saturday of the Estación de Ecología Acuática in the Cartuja, where you can visit the aquarium and see the water life native to the Guadalquivir River. And Saturday and Sunday the Jardín Botánico El Arboreto de El Carambolo, which was created by Emasesa in 1986, will also be open to the public. I didn’t know before today that either of these places existed and the aquarium is usually only accessible if you take part in a guided group tour, so this is a good opportunity to stop by and see it, and would make for a great outing with kids.

Estación de Ecología Acuática
Leonardo Da Vinci, 10 (Cartuja)
Friday 17.00 – 20.00
Saturday 11.00 – 14.00

Jardín Botánico El Arboreto de El Carambolo
Ctra A-472, frente a Coco de la Piñera (Camas)
Saturday and Sunday 10.00 – 14.30

www.aguasdesevilla.com

Dextremadura

[click on image to enlarge]

Dextremadura is a new gourmet food shop featuring artesanal products from Extremadura.  The La Chinata brand figures prominently on the shelves, including their line of beauty products made from extra virgin olive oil, as well as beautifully packaged food products, all at very reasonable prices. There’s also decent selection of wines and owner Felipe Romero will soon be organising free wine tasting events, so drop by and get put on the mailing list.

Dextremadura
Zaragoza, 7
Tel 955 516 942
10.30 – 14.30 / 17.30 – 21.00 Monday – Saturday

Wabi Sabi Vintage Market


This afternoon I stopped into Wabi Sabi Shop & Gallery to check out their Sunday Vintage Market, an exclusive one-day-only event that they were hosting with Mary Jo Torres from Mulita Couture. I was told that this is just the start of regular “every-other-Sunday” events, which will include poetry readings and wine tastings, along with fashion, furniture and art workshops.

Owner María Lopez Vergera opened her bright new space just off the Plaza Encarnación in part to help make people feel less intimidated about walking into an “Art Gallery”, which I think she mostly does by just being herself.  I love the mix of art and fashion, retro furniture and cool chachkas on display, but it’s the friendly and open welcome you get from María and Manolo that really makes you feel at home.  Seriously my kind of place.

Wabi Sabi Shop & Gallery

Viriato 9
Tel. 954 214 065

Bazar Victoria

A true Sevillano classic and landmark that has been going strong for almost 100 years, Bazar Victoria is my absolute favourite… what? Well, here is where I run into trouble. It is at once a traditional hardware store with everything from basic nuts and bolts to gardening implements, as well as being the best place to find curious kitchen gadgets. Its shop windows display an endlessly fascinating variety of objects and it’s almost impossible to walk by without stopping and being drawn inside. Once there you are advised to take a number and you can happily browse through the crazy clutter while you await your turn at the (also cluttered) magnificent wooden counter.

Excellent personal service is another thing that sets Bazar Victoria apart. Not only do Rafael, Paula and Amalio know where everything is (no small feat in itself) they attend to every customer with genuine warmth and enthusiasm. You can tell they are proud to be a part of this piece of living history.

Among the many articles on sale you can find such diverse things as wooden darning eggs, spinning tops, lamps, cooking bags, marble mortars and pestles, and prawn peelers, made of every material from silicone to brass, sheet metal, wood and enamel. But it’s also the power of nostalgia that keeps people coming back again and again, to enjoy the bustle of customers coming and going, the ringing of the cash register, and all the sounds and smells that bring back old familiar memories of home. Something almost so subtle that it could be trapped inside a cricket cage (also for sale – seriously).

[click on images to enlarge]

Bazar Victoria
Entrecarceles 1
Mon – Fri: 10.00 – 13.15 / 17.00 – 20.30
Sat: 10.00 – 14.00
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