The neighbourhood bar in Triana that finally shows up on Google Maps

My father opened this bar in 1987. It's called Bar Las Flores, same as our family name, and it's on Calle Betis looking out over the river. Always the same: tapas, local wines, the same bar stools, though I've replaced them twice.

I'm 55 years old and never thought I'd have to worry about Google. The neighbourhood regulars already know we're here. The problem is tourists. Seville has loads of them, especially since those TV shows came out. And tourists don't ask people in the street, they look at their phones. And on their phones, I didn't appear.

I had 18 reviews. The bar on the most touristy corner of the street had 480. His food isn't better than mine, I swear. But he shows up first.

I tried it my way first. When customers paid, I'd say: "If you enjoyed it, you can leave a Google review." They'd look at me strangely. Spanish people aren't used to being asked that directly. It feels awkward for everyone. Two months of that and I got three reviews. Three.

My nephew who works in tech explained it to me: there's a way to ask via WhatsApp, first asking how it went, and if they respond positively, then suggesting the review. Less forced that way. Managed automatically so I don't have to be on top of it.

We started in January. The first month surprised me with how many people responded to the WhatsApp. People don't respond when you ask for a review directly, but they do respond when you ask how things went. There's something different about it.

Two months later: from 18 to 52 reviews, 4.6 stars.

But the most curious thing was what started happening on Google. I started appearing when people searched "authentic tapas Triana" or "local bar Seville without tourists." The irony is that the "without tourists" phrase brought me tourists. Tourists who specifically wanted somewhere without tourists.

A French family told me they'd chosen my bar because a review said it was "the neighbourhood bar where real Sevillians go." My bar. That I've had my whole life in Triana.

What strikes me most about all this: my neighbours have been coming here for years. Now, without realising it, they're helping others find us too. Antonio the plumber, who comes every Friday, left a review saying "the wine here is good and they don't look at you strangely if you're from the neighbourhood." That review has brought more customers than anything I could have written myself.

I'm not into social media or those things. But this I understand. It's like word of mouth, just written down and it doesn't disappear.