i dont feel like worrying or complaining after i come from the tienda de Maria, even though things are kind of hectic. Tonight was a particular night there and all i feel like doing now is drinking lime water and eating pineapple. Of course I should be sleeping as it is 1:30. Maria's shop doesn't usually stay open that late.

I went to take pictures of her alpargatas (traditional Spanish sandals which she sews there in the shop), so I could make her a Facebook page. I decided to take it on myself to do that, when she told me she was trying to sell them elsewhere because business wasn't good, and she can't get into her website to update it.

When I walked in there was a well dressed lady sitting there which isn't uncommon. but this time it was her sister. then her other sister came in and they both modelled the alpargatas while i took pictures. I'd never met her sisters, Inma (Inmaculada) and Ignacia. Maria is the bohemian one in the family. After a bit, it became apparent something special was going on. I was offered a beer or tinto but Maria told me "they are bringing mosto". Theresa arrived (a wonderful, genuine and very stylish French woman), followed by Isabel and Antonio. Maria called up Barbara. It was Isabel who came with a basket of provisions. Isabel is a beautiful lady around 60 plus or minus 5 years. It is quite amazing how lovely she is for her age. Part of it is a gentle personality. Maria told me she has been through very hard times including lately financially and that all of Sevilla knows but Isabel doesn't let anything bother her. Tonight she came bearing mosto (young wine, before it has fermented much or something, while it still may be slightly yeasty or bubbly, and like juice), jamon and another kind of embutido like lomo (meat), all homemade from her "campo" (country place in the hills of Aracena). I have tried mosto before, but this was spectacular compared to the other. The jamon and lomo were excellent too, perhaps de bellota (acorn fed... I wouldnt be able to tell, but in that area, many are).

Ignacia is apparently good friends of Concha Vargas, she says. Barbara is Swiss but has lived between Seville and Switzerland for 12 years. She works as a tour guide of a special sort, where she takes people, for example, very small groups for whom money is no object, on trips to Granada, or to Mallorca, and gets to see things most people won't and drink bottles of wine most people can't. She is also enamorada of flamenco. I found out tonight how completely hilarious Barbara is, as she told us personal stories about an old love she just ran into, in her quirky but totally uncontrived way, lamenting and musing out loud about it.

Theresa is a fascinating lady, whom I know better than the others, as she took it upon herself to protect me a bit last year, during one of my apartment hunting phases. She teaches French at the university here, has lived in Africa (if i remember right) and has a great deal of knowledge about the non-European world. Maria's sisters are very sweet and welcoming people.