We had some really good rain here and I was lucky enough to be out walking in it. Albert and I met for a quick drink Thursday afternoon. The conversation and company was enough to make Thursday a very good day. We then headed in different directions. I stepped into El Corte Inglés near the Church of La Magdalena to pick up some candles. The rain had started to come down heavily, but I had my trench coat, my ankle boots, and my umbrella. Not a problem. When I left the store 10 minutes later, almost every pedestrian had taken shelter either beneath the broad overhang outside El Corte Inglés or in the nearest doorway.
 |
| JUST BEFORE THE WINDS PICKED UP AND IT BEGAN TO RAIN SIDEWAYS. |
That didn’t stop me. I’ve been dying to take a walk in the rain. If I hadn’t had my camera, phone, and wallet with me, I would have kept the umbrella folded and simply immersed myself completely. I headed gleefully into the storm with a smile so broad my face hurt. The rain increased and the wind started to blow. It seemed to be raining sideways. Within two minutes, my jeans were completely soaked to above my knees. My shoes had developed puddles in their soles. Even my water-resistant trench coat was showing signs of failure. I reached the next store overhang and waited with others more rational than I. It eased up a bit and I headed (happily) back out. I reached home and, although I wanted to keep walking, there was a pavement-shaking crack of thunder and then the entire plaza glowed in the flash of lightning. San Geraldo’s great-grandmother was struck and killed by lightning. I knew he’d be worried. Time to get myself safely inside.
 |
| WHILE I WAITED WITH THE MUCH WISER PEDESTRIANS. (SOME MAJOR PHOTOSHOPPING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE I PICKED UP MY COLOR PENCILS.) |
It had already been raining much of Tuesday and Wednesday, and it continued to come down Thursday night. Although I was in heaven, San Geraldo (no fan of storms and especially not of lightning) was not a happy camper. Rather than incur the wrath of San Geraldo, the goddess decided to bring back the sunshine today. I went out for lunch with a new expat friend I just met via my blog. So, I had two beautiful walks and two great afternoons. Rain and shine.
 |
| LUNCH TODAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF EL ARENAL. WARMTH, SUNSHINE, AND GOOD COMPANY. |
 |
| OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT AFTER LUNCH. THESE KIDS WERE ADORABLE, UNTIL THE ONE IN THE BLINDFOLD THOUGHT SHE “FOUND” HER FRIEND AND SLAPPED A PASSER-BY IN THE CROTCH. |
I love walking in the rain. It really is so peaceful, made more so by those gorgeous surroundings of yours!
Bob:
It really is glorious. Too bad rain is rare in summer. Walking in a warm summer rain is my favorite. But Thursday wasn't bad at all either.
I, too, love walking in the rain… really love a thunderstorm, but like San Geraldo, prefer watching the from inside. You did a great job "shopping" that photo… kind of inspires me to get creative about some of my own pictures.
Odd Essay:
I used to love to sit under the boardwalk during thunder and lightning storms (when I was a kid). Fortunately, I learned to listen to reason.
I have a ball with Photoshop creating what looks like hand-drawn art from photos. But it's made me lazy when it comes to creating the real thing!
A summer or spring rain yes, I would go out for those too. But with todays 32 degrees F I stayed much of the time indoors, and it wasn't even raining.
I thought photo #2 was some painting of a rainy/snowy day in Paris, the tricks Photoshop can do.
Peter:
It was around 80F here Thursday. A very nice day to get soaked.
I've always heard about the rain in Spain falling mainly on the plain, but I guess it falls on Spanish cities as well. Take care.
Stephen:
But it doesn't fall very often in Sevilla. Anyway, Sevilla IS on the plain!
I love walking in the rain, as long as it's not a) cold, and b) raining sideways!
Judith:
Raining sideways is OK with me when I'm prepared for it. And I definitely don't enjoy walking in a cold rain.
I love to walk in the rain, too, but probably not as much as you do!
Loved your photo shopping art!
Kristi:
Thanks regarding the art! I have great memories of being caught in rain storms. Jerry's mother and I even got soaked to the bone in a flash downpour on the Washington Mall. We could have competed in a wet T-shirt contest. We tried out-running it and then gave up and simply laughed out loud.
YES! Drench me in rain! I'm with you on this, Mitch! Something about a good loud storm to cleanse the spirit.
That photo-shopped photo is really beautiful….it has a NY flare about it back in the 50's. Love it!
Jim:
When I worked on that photo, it reminded me of a painting my mother did in the very early '60s. Glad it evoked that for you!
I miss rain; when it happens here it is like manna from heaven.
Spo:
I was way off! Average annual rainfall here is over 23 inches!!!
Did I hear laughter in the rain? Or was that Neil Sedaka?
Walt the Fourth:
Well, now you're hearing both. Another song in my head for the rest of the day thanks to you!
I love walking in rain too, you'd think that most folk were made of sugar the way they try ineffectually to avoid it. Like Saint San Miguel though, I'm wary of lighting since it's already had a go at me twice (and missed, just). Once striking ten feet away from my car while I was driving and once when it hit my house and did a little of all the usual damage plus frying all of the electrics. [I'm not counting the time when it struck the power shed on the farm in Norfolk and set it alight, that was just malicious and not particularly aimed exclusively at me.] Lightning I love – from a distance. Saint San G is Sensible!
Owl Wood:
I can't believe your two near-misses with lightning. Wow. And, you're right, San Geraldo IS sensible … when he's not being neurotic!
I laughed out loud with the last comment about getting slapped…too funny. I bet after the rain the air smelled fresh….I love that feeling/ sensation….the right kind of rain washes away the cobwebs. Your PS work is really incredible. I have PS and get so overwhelmed with it…I don't know why…probably because I don't use it enough…this sounds familiar with your recent posts about getting back into creating. This all said your creation is mesmerizing and I know Jim really likes it!
Ron
Ron:
I have a ball with Photoshop but it does make me less inclined to take out paper and pen. So many galleries here have paintings that began in Photoshop (some even ended there… being blown up digitally onto canvas and texturized to look like paint). It's too tempting… It sure is great for the blog, though. How else could I have put that robe onto San Geraldo to go with his real crown?!?
I have never been attracted to walking in the rain, but I can bet that it would be refreshing if it were really hot out 🙂 That's a great photo-shopped photo!
Judeet:
Cold rain, definitely not for me either. But I love walking in a warm rain. Thanks re: the "artified" photo.
Oh, that bouncing ball song brought back memories, however I learned the song a little differently. It was "It ain't gonna rain no more, etc, So how in the heck can I wash my neck if it ain't gonna rain no more." The rhyming makes me kinda think that the adult version of your song was "How in the hell can the old folks tell…". It was changed for the kiddie version since back in those days, even "heck" was frowned upon!
Ms. Sparrow:
I also knew the version that went "How in hell can the old folks tell…" But not during Saturday morning cartoons. I also found the original version on Youtube. I think it was from 1923. But I was delighted when I found the bouncing ball version.
It feels like the rain will never go away! We are being hammered by hurricane sandy
kisatrtle:
Hope you're all drying out now and that you didn't suffer serious damage!
It is ironic how you titled this one — are your mom and brother evacuated, Mitchell? It sounds like you were describing them living in the area that is really being hit hard. My sister has already lost power in northern New Jersey ( a tree fell across their road this afternoon, pulling power lines down with it), before much of anything yet was happening. Yikes.
Judeet:
Yes, that might have been a poor choice of titles/subjects! I just posted about the storm and just spoke with my brother — who is fine; his neighborhood did not flood. I haven't yet been able to reach my mother. She IS in the mandatory Evacuation Zone, but she didn't go. And her neighborhood was under about 3 to 4 feet of water last night. She's 17 floors up, so she's dry. I'm sure she's fine, but it will be nice to hear her voice or receive an email!
I´m looking forward to getting catched up on your blog. Oh my goodness! The rain last Wednesday and Thursday was rediculous!Antonio and I were out and about without an umbrella and got absolutely drenched! I´m glad to hear your mom is safe after Sandy!
A walk in a gentle rain can be so relaxing and refreshing. It is why I loved living in Oregon so much.