La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, while enjoying our breakfast at Mesón Salvador, we met Cristina, Alfonso, and their one-month-old daughter, Maria, who were here on holiday from Madrid. They were seated at the table next to ours, we started talking, and immediately became friends. We spent a lot of time together during their next visit and then the pandemic put a wrench in their plans for an Easter visit. But, they were just back again and shared much of their time with us.
They arrived just in time, too, to help me with an attitude adjustment. Although this August is nowhere near as busy as a usual August, it’s still much busier here than we’d like it to be in the middle of a pandemic. I’ve been complaining — a lot — that I don’t like people. Alfonso and Cristina reminded me again of how much I do like some people.
And then there’s Maria. She is definitely not a problem. Adorable doesn’t begin to describe her. Curious, playful, observant, flirty, energetic, funny… San Geraldo and I are in love.
When they’re in town, they always have breakfast at Mesón Salvador, but they had never had lunch or dinner there. So we suggested it Thursday night. They are now hooked and they asked us to join them again Saturday night. Of course, both the meals and the service were perfection.
PEDRO AND KATHLEEN STOPPED by during the week to return the plastic container that held that big wedge of chocolate cake from San Geraldo (click here). Kathleen now believes (as did SG’s incomparable mother) that a container should never be returned empty. So, she and Luke put some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies inside. Six cookies were gone after lunch that day. And, man, were they ever delicious.
I WAS OUT OF the house at 7 this morning for a walk on the beach. I caught a beautiful sunrise and I had an invigorating hour-long walk before the heat and crowds of the day.
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HACE UN AÑO Y MEDIO, mientras desayunábamos en Mesón Salvador, conocimos a Cristina, Alfonso y su hija de un mes, María, que estaban aquí de vacaciones desde Madrid. Estaban sentados en la mesa contigua a la nuestra, comenzamos a hablar e inmediatamente nos hicimos amigos. Pasamos mucho tiempo juntos durante su próxima visita y luego la pandemia puso un freno a sus planes para una visita de Pascua. Pero han vuelto y han compartido gran parte de su tiempo con nosotros.
También llegaron justo a tiempo para ayudarme con un ajuste de actitud. Aunque este agosto no está tan ocupado como un agosto habitual, todavía está mucho más ocupado aquí de lo que nos gustaría que estuviera en medio de una pandemia. Me he estado quejando, mucho, de que no me gusta la gente. Alfonso y Cristina me recordaron de nuevo lo mucho que me gustan algunas personas.
Y luego está María. Definitivamente no es un problema. Adorable no empieza a describirla. Curiosa, juguetona, observadora, coqueta, enérgica, divertida … San Geraldo y yo estamos enamorados.
Cuando están en la ciudad, siempre desayunan en el Mesón Salvador, pero nunca almorzaron ni cenaron allí. Así que lo sugerimos el jueves por la noche. Ahora están enganchados y nos pidieron que nos uniéramos a ellos nuevamente el sábado por la noche. Por supuesto, tanto las comidas como el servicio fueron perfectos. Salí de casa a las 7 esta mañana para dar un paseo por la playa.
PEDRO Y KATHLEEN PASARON por allí durante la semana para devolver el recipiente de plástico que contenía ese gran trozo de pastel de chocolate de San Geraldo (haz clic aquí). Kathleen ahora cree (al igual que la incomparable madre de SG) que un contenedor nunca debe devolverse vacío. Entonces, ella y Luke pusieron dentro unas galletas con chispas de chocolate recién horneadas. Ese día se acabaron seis galletas después del almuerzo. Y, hombre, fueron deliciosos.
SALÍ DE CASA A las 7 esta mañana para dar un paseo por la playa. Ví un hermoso amanecer y tuve una vigorizante caminata de una hora antes del calor y las multitudes del día.
Alfonso después de una carrera de 12k el sábado por la mañana. Note la herida en su nariz. Él también entra en las cosas. Es como si fuéramos gemelos. ¿No estás de acuerdo?
María acababa de patear accidentalmente a su padre en la cabeza.
María no quiso cooperar para una foto familiar.
Adrián detrás de la barra.
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What’s better than spending some time with a young child and wonderful friends……..not much.
Jim:
I agree. What an uplift. The mood should last!
Glad things are looking up. Maria is adorable! Glad your friends were able to visit.
Carole:
It was a great time. Now back to normal (the “new” normal).
Those curls! That smile! Easy to see why you and SG fell in love with Maria. A darling.
Glad you have had some good moments this past week. Not easy to come by these days so good to savor them.
Mary:
This was just what the doctor ordered.
A renewing change of pace. I love the gif of SG fanning Maria.
Wilma:
I took the fan photos BEFORE reinstalling my OS. SO glad I had edited the series and popped them up on Google photos. I lost everything else from that day.
Alfonso looks a lot like Dustin Hoffman, only handsome. That is all, I’m tired.
Deedles:
I can see what you mean. Maybe it’s the mouth because there is nothing else Dustin Hoffman-esque about Alfonso.
Mainly in the picture where he’s wearing the pink shirt. An older Dustin Hoffman, not the young one. Alfonso is a very good looking man.
nice family; daddy is HAWT! caramel vodka – I’mma there, dude! lovely sunrise/cookie photos. and HAWT meson salavor dudes (as always) (rawr).
anne marie:
Yeah Alfonso is alright. He used to play rugby. And OH caramel vodka.
What a beautiful little girl! Love her impish smile.
Jennifer:
We were trying to come up with the English words and then the Spanish equivalents to describe her personality. An impish smile is perfect.
Those cookies look amazing! And Maria is adorable. Glad you could meet up with your friends again. You’re much more outgoing than I am. I would never speak to anybody in a restaurant! LOL
Steve:
This is not something we’d ever done in the States. But we’ve met some great people this way here in Fuengirola. And Mesón Salvador tends to be that kind of neighborhood, friendly place.
I loved this post! The pictures of Maria and her family are simply adorable, and the end when you had the Sound of Music “Maria” song was just perfect. One of my favorite movies!
mcpersonalspace54:
Every time we see Maria we start singing one of those “Maria” songs (and she loves it). This one struck me as appropriate as I wrote the post because she’s got such an incredible spark. Alfonso and I have a similar kind of laugh. And whenever we would laugh about something (which was often) Maria would imitate us — which only made us laugh more. I’m smiling just thinking about them. (And Sound of Music is one of my favourites, too.)
I normally don’t watch movies over and over, but that one I certainly could.
mcpersonalspace54:
I’m the same… in both cases.
caramel vodka shots?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? YUCK!!!!!
They sound horrid. But I don’t like vodka or caramel. Way to sweet for me.
Mistress Maddie:
Yeah, given your dislike of both caramel and vodka, your reaction is no surprise. I love both and I ADORE these.
Hot masked waiters. Yes.
Bob:
Lolo was camera shy that night. But that’s OK. With the addition of him, my camera probably would have melted.
Does Mr. Adrian hire out for private parties?
Urspo:
To tend bar, I’m sure he does… (but I know that’s not what you meant)
Everyone in this post is adorable. And there’s no mix-matched plaid, no hiked-up shorts!
Walt the Fourth:
I’m sure Alfonso would have accommodated us with the shorts request had I asked. But, don’t worry I have a feeling I’ll find more to share soon.