Sometimes, translating phrases from English to Spanish is difficult and sometimes the exercise is pointless. The phrase has no meaning once translated. I tried to look up how to say “jet lag” in Spanish and I wasn’t successful.
I asked one of our neighbors how it was said. “Jet lag,” she responded.
I said, “Si. ¿Cómo se dice? (Yes. How do you say it?)
“Jet lag,” she repeated with a smile.
I was about to ask again but, despite my jet lag, I caught on. Jet lag in Spanish is “jet lag.” And that’s what I’ve got. But it’s getting better. I slept fitfully through the night and was up at 10. (OK, I took a nap after breakfast, but still it’s getting better.) I even met Albert for coffee Monday morning at 9. I walked there in my sleep, but it was still very pleasant conversation… I think. And, although Lola had a lot to do that morning, she walked over just to give me a “welcome home” kiss before running off. Nice.
 |
| THE PERFECT CURE FOR JET LAG? GECKO CARAMEL VODKA. |
We had lunch Sunday in Triana with Teré, Miguel, and Teré’s charming mother who was passing through town. After lunch, the manager of the restaurant brought us free drinks. San Geraldo never does these after-dinner shots. He always finds them too medicinal. But he took a whiff and realized it was caramel (the print on the shot glasses might have given it away). He took a sip and loved it. The manager brought another round, but one was San Geraldo’s limit. It wasn’t mine, however. Sorry I didn’t get a picture of our shots of caramel vodka before they were drained (or the second shots either). I was busy.
 |
| THE AFTER-SHOTS DESSERT SAMPLER. |
Oddly, although we had no interest in dessert before the shots, we were all for dessert after the shots. Miguel ordered the sampler. We made fast work of it.
 |
| MY STYLE. BASIC BLACK. |
Before I left for New York, I needed new traveling shoes. I bought a pair of Izod trainers for our first trip here in 2010, but they had to be retired. So, I went to El Corte Inglés and found an even better replacement. Pumas. My favorites. In black with a velcro strap for easy off and on at the airport. While in the shoe department, I saw they were having a sale on even easier off and on shoes. But one look told me it wasn’t a difficult choice. Yellow, purple, red, orange, and green suede “moccasins” are not my style. I suppose I’ll never look completely Sevillano.
 |
| A BIT TOO COLORFUL FOR ME (ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE JET LAG). |
So, San Geraldo and I are back to our normal routine of breakfast downstairs at El Sanedrín. What a wonderful way to start the day. Once my jet lag passes, we might even again finish breakfast before noon.
 |
| THIS MORNING’S BREAKFAST TOSTADA WITH AROMATIC OLIVE OIL. |
Monday night was a nice quiet dinner at home in front of the TV. San Geraldo made his slightly Sevillano version of hamburgers. I always have mine without a bun and San Geraldo has his with bun, open-faced, and drowning in ketchup. The contrast in styles is shocking. San Geraldo said I could post this photo as I long as I made it clear he wouldn’t do this in a restaurant. (On a blog seen by thousands? Yes. In a restaurant? No.)
 |
| THAT’S MY DISH ON THE LEFT AND SAN GERALDO’S ON THE RIGHT. WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT OUR PERSONALITIES? |
It is funny how a shot after dinner always creates room for dessert.
And I need some colorful moccasins! I'll take orange, green and purple. I sure the residents of Smallville won't be the least bit shocked to see me in them.
Bob:
I do kind of like those green ones with the orange lining and would love to see them on YOU in Smallville.
I have always used "resaca del viaje" for jet lag and everyone understands. After all, who hasn't had a shit-faced resaca after a night of drinking. lol
saludos,
raulito
Raulito:
I haven't heard "resaca del viaje" here, but I assume they'd know what it means. Everyone I've spoken with really does say "jet lag."
love those colorful shoes…just my style 🙂
Monkey Man:
You'd fit right in here. Those and Espadrilles in all colors.
Darn! Now you made me hungry for a nice juicy burger drowning in ketchup! So, I'm wondering what kind of TV shows you're able to watch there in Sevilla. Is it local TV or satellite?
Ms. Sparrow:
We get most everything on TV. We've got satellite and bought the premium package. I think we watch 5 channels!
Loving the caramel vodka, and the dessert platter…….Samantha is the burger and ketchup lover in our family!
Sorry we were'nt able to get together this trip. Will e-mail you soon.
Love to Jerry.
Carole:
I'm not a big fan of ketchup. Dale (and Jerry) put it on everything. Blech!
Love those colored shoes, alas my 'clogs' are all black.
Peter:
Now a black pair of traditional wooden shoes would be very cool… and oh the noise they'd make on our narrow (echoing) cobbled streets.
Love those black Pumas! Nice!
We only drove to and from our neighbouring province with a week in between, and we have been exhausted too! Do you think it's age? lol
I would like San Geraldo's burger, Ron yours. Both make me hungry right now!!
Jim:
I actually was in bed for an entire day feeling awful. I'm going to chalk it up to exhaustion, which is said to affect only the very rich, as opposed to jet lag and being an old fart.
San Geraldo's plate looks much more appealing than yours, I'm sorry to say. But I bet yours is healthier.
Stephen:
Oh yes, my plate is usually healthier. But San Geraldo has so much more fun with his food.
You always have such marvelous food; I only eat 'fuel' and dreck 🙁
Spo:
I kind of like fuel, and Jerry's looked like dreck to me!
One says, "I still fit in my jeans from high school," and the other says, "I need a new pair of pants." That reminds me… I need to go shopping.
haaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaa :)))))
Walt the Fourth:
So true. Of course, if I actually still fit in my jeans from high school, I would still be displaying an under-nourished 28-inch waist. San Geraldo hasn't seen 32 in the time I've known him… and that's a long time!
Judeet:
You said it!
The universal "foreign" is simply to increase volume – I have communicated my orders successfully in dozens of parts of Abroad & Overseas with this technique. If the locals are especially dull you might add an "-o" to every word, this also seems to help them learn to understand.
Simply draw yourself up to full height, tuck your swagger stick under your arm, make sure that your pith helmet is on square and shout 'JET-O LAG-O, COMPRENEZ-VOUS, MR OR MRS JOHNNIE FOREIGNER?'. It's in all of the Rough Guide books.
If they still don't understand then try firing a few shots in the air and then pointing really hard at whatever you need them to understand.
Owl Wood:
Except for the shots in the air, the communication attempts we witness among visitors to Sevilla are exactly as you describe.
I do, however, find it more polite to keep my swagger stick hidden. Very uncomfortable (and it draws too much attention) when I haul it out and tuck it under my arm).
Everytime I visit your blog, I get hungry!
Love that rack of wild shoes!
Knatolee:
The shores aren't my style, but I think they make great art.
Glad to know you're back in Spain! 🙂 Sounds like your trip home was awesome. Good luck with the jet lag!
Brittany:
A week later and I THINK I'm getting over the jet lag. But it was worth it.
oh I miss sitges looking at your photos!
John:
And your photos of Sitges made me want to be there. I need a beach vacation.
It's amusing when European languages adopt English terms. I remember the French speaking of Le Parking an Le Dancing.
Will:
And when English-speaking countries adopt European languages… I've actually at times tried to translate commonly used (in the USA) Spanish words into Spanish. So confusing.
Thanks for teaching me some Spanish!
Jenners:
My pleasure. Hope you figured out the pronunciation on your own.