John Maher

Happy in Valencia surrounded by too many books and not enough wine

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

Oh oh, someone's phone has gone off, almost English silent disapproval.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@ThatTimWalker Oy.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

Haven't been on a non Hugh-pared long distance train journey for ages. Enjoying Barcelona to Valencia, even though it's an old friend. Very much looking forward yo Inverness to Thurso in September.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

So impressed by the silent carriage on my Barcelona to Valencia train. No one has said a word and we're two hours in.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

Missing the stretch of the train journey south from Barcelona that ran right by the sea, by Cambrils, Salou y Miami Platja. Will take a slow local train one of these days just to relive it.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@eloynumber1 Sinceramente, me temía que tenía que haber sido algo bastante grave, con heridos o peor. Fue un alivio saber que no era el caso, aunque desde luego sí fue un eco de violencia bélica. Me hizo pensar en los que hoy se han visto obligados a acostumbrarse a ese tipo de sonidos.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

I was at Malvarrosa beach in Valencia this afternoon when there was an almighty bang and great plume of smoke from the port. I cycled over later but couldn't find any sign of what had happened. Turns out it was a controlled explosion of a 50+kg bomb from the Spanish Civil War.

[El Periódico de Aquí @elperiodicoaqui]

💣 #SUCESOS | Hallan un artefacto de la Guerra Civil en Valencia y lo hacen estallar junto al puerto

https://t.co/3g1QAHmVwo

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@wizzair an online payment to add a check-in bag was interrupted, now the status is "This booking is pending and needs your actions". There is no way to either pay or check in for tomorrow's flight from Budapest to Valencia. Can you help. Estimated phone wait is over 50 minutes

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@BDSixsmith @jacques_davey A couple of copy-editing lapses there: "the move, although bold, is not unsurprising" should surely read "not surprising" and "the alternative to a Partido Popular unable to function with Vox" must be intended as "without Vox".

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@wblakegray Just bought a bottle of Belasco at El Corte Inglés, inspired by your post. I wouldn't say pacharán is déclassée in Spain, just hard to find a bar that has anything beyond Zoco.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@wblakegray We were in Navarre in August 2024 & sloe berries were everywhere. Wife made excellent pacharán at home, following the recommended strength of the anís, i.e. proportion of added water. Our hotel also made their own, but among the commercial ones they recommended was Belasco.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@BBCr4today @amolrajan Looking forward to a programme not featuring Tom Holland one of these days.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@Ryder56004614 @andythegymrat Paella police adamant no onion in paella, nor are turmeric, parsley, chili, marjoram orthodox... https://t.co/72uDwV3O5o

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

Odd that Dr Sian Barber, expert on film controversy at Queen's, interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Today about auction of Citizen Kane's Rosebud sled for $14.75m, didn't mention association with Marion Davies' clitoris, insisting sled not significant to story. Surely big factor in price.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@Nicklezard Noooo, I was finally clean and hadn't listened for years, since I decided I couldn't bear another round of Helen and Rob Titchener. Now this tweet sucked me back in.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@EricAsimov Not sure Cava is a "catchall term" for Spanish sparkling wine. Why would Raventós i Blanc have left the Cava DO over 10 years ago? The various bodegas that went on to form Corpinnat left subsequently. I'd say those who've left want very much to disassociate themselves from "Cava"

[Valencia Plaza @valenciaplaza]

📸 Fotogalería | Día de la Empresa en la Comunitat Valenciana
🔗 https://t.co/LvQ6AGJDyF

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

Very sad to hear that "Cholo" Sotil has die d. I don't think I've ever been ss purely passionate about anything as I was about the Peru football team of the '70s. And Alianza Lima too back then, of course

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

@vinosity You're there? And coming? I had no idea. That adds to the excitement. We are so glad that you led us to Bolivia.

[John Maher @johnmaher12]

The overnight sleeper bus from Potosí to Tarija is an hour or so from its destination. Our visit on Friday to https://t.co/HOwUTQbJ7S inspired by @vinosity finally seems real. Looking forward to Tarija, too.