Is it hot or is it just me?

Now I know I may have mentioned this a few times before, but is this summer hotter than any other summer in the past ten years? Well it certainly feels like it to me! I work in the offices of a removals company, and the poor guys who have to lug the furniture around are literally praying for rain. I have seen a good few summers on the Costa del Sol, and I have to keep confirming with friends that it really is this hot, and I´m not just entering some premature menopausal stage, but they all agree - this summer is a killer. When my friends and family from England call and ask me what I have planned for the weekend, they are amazed and disgusted to learn I am doing ´nothing much - it´s too hot to go out.´ ´Bloody hell´ they retort ´you ought to be here in the pouring rain´. ´Yes´ I think ´I really ought to be´. And the good news is, super high temperatures of 40 degrees are forecast for the weekend so take care out there. But you know how it is - the Brits always moan about the weather. It´s either too hot, too cold, too rainy or too cloudy. But ooo what I wouldn´t give for a bit of snow right now!

Steamy Seville in Summertime

It´s true that the temperatures soar to over 40 degrees in Seville during Summertime, but it´s one of the best times to visit in my opinion. Call me crazy or maybe I´ve gone a bit mad with the heat on the Costa, but we usually spend a weekend in June and August in this fabulous city, and we always have a great time. Although only a couple of hours by road from most of the coastal resorts, we take the train from Malaga so don´t have to worry about driving round the city. One of the best, and most reasonable hotels we have found is the Sevilla Center Hotel, situated just ten minutes walk from the Cathedral and the popular Santa Cruz district of the city. It is modern, clean, cool and convenient and we enjoyed an amazing 70% discount from normal price for a long weekend after booking online. After checking in at midday, we enjoyed a dip in the rooftop pool, then headed into the city for drinks and sightseeing. As many times as I have been inside the breathtaking Cathedral, and although I´m not religious, I can never get enough of this monument. It is amazing to think that this, the world´s fourth biggest Christian church was built without the aid of modern machinery. Moving on from here, we normally walk or take a horse and carriage (touristy but fun) down to the river, which splits the city from North to South. During the hot summer evenings many bars and restaurants open up alongside the river, and there is no better place to watch the world go by. No visit to Seville is complete without a tour of the tapas and flamenco bars, dotted liberally around the city. All in all, there is something sensual and passionate about Seville - so if you like it hot - try a visit during the summer when the streets come to life with music, dance and fabulous food.

Probably the best salad dressing in the world

Lipsmackingly good

Summer time in Spain is the best time to discover new salad dressings and I have a great one to share. Pesto and Lemon
1.Add one pot of fresh pesto to dressing shaker or bowl (fresh can be bought from supermarket but dont use pesto in jars).
2.Add 3 or 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
3.Add juice of half a lemon.
4.Add one tablespoon of honey.
5.Add finely chopped fresh mint.

Hey presto - or should I say hey pesto- probably the best dressing you will find anywhere - also great with goats cheese.