ALTHOUGH the Mercado Central is my favourite on Saturday mornings, the market in Russafa has, in their fish market, a low-key place to order a glass of cava and oysters right where you pick up your mussels and shrimp for the weekend. We've tried it once already, and it felt rather decadent and the perfect way to begin the weekend. Of course, if you're looking for something a little less casual, you can also wait for a seat or a place at the counter at Ricard Camarena's Central Bar at the Mercado Central. We've been to the latter many times and the atmosphere is always lively and the service great. We are, actually, in the middle of compiling a city guide of some of our favourite places, along with working on a few other major projects at the moment. We can't wait to share with you everything that's been happening over the past few months.
THE MARCH FESTIVAL is over and the city has descended into a quiet, pleasant lull, the kind that happens in the changing of seasons. Things are slowly beginning to get back to normal again, if only for a little while, for this week is another long weekend, and not long after that, there is the cava & wine festival, which we’re certainly looking forward to.
THE DAYS HAVE FINALLY begun to warm up and getting longer a little each day. It feels as if spring is on its way and some of the trees have already begun to blossom, and it is the most wonderful sight after these rather rainy and overcast past few days.
THERE HAS BEEN much soul-searching these past few weeks, and a taking stock of sorts, as is the kind of thing that always seems to happen at this time of year. There is something about the month of February that always brings about a desire for spring cleaning, whether things no longer needed, or even those in our lives who we’ve grown apart from; to begin again and keep only those things filled with good intent and a spirit of generosity and overwhelming positivity. There is a quote by Marcus Aurelius that have been falling back on quite a bit lately as we embrace this new year and all of the promise it brings: “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
This week’s links include a mansion in the Marais and white dresses for spring, an interesting recipe for Activated Charcoal Pancakes With Lemon Coulis and much, much more.