La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
ON OUR STROLL HOME FROM our stroll on the beach Wednesday night, we bumped into a couple we know. She’s in her 20s. He’s in his 30s. He can be quite arrogant — although not with us. She can be quite airheaded — with anyone. We hadn’t seen either of them most of this past year. We greeted each other warmly and she said, “I don’t know how you feel about the pandemic or I’d give you a hug.” We had no idea how to respond. As we walked away, San Geraldo asked in shock, “WHAT did she say?” I repeated it.
How DO you respond to that statement? Pandemic? What pandemic? Oh that! We don’t take it seriously. Give us a kiss. At least she was wearing a mask.
But on to better things. One of the free gifts I received at L’Occitane was labeled “Delicious” and had almond flakes. I tried it this morning. I didn’t taste any almonds. Everything else on this page is undeniably delicious.
San Geraldo brought home a box of chocolate tubitos last week. I had the last one yesterday. Many of the chiringuitos (beach bars) have reopened and are cooking up some beautiful fish. Easter is fast approaching. Thanks to the pandemic, there will be no processions this year, so it will be another disappointing week here in Spain. But that doesn’t stop us from enjoying torrijas (click here for the recipe), an Easter delicacy, which are not Spanish French toast no matter what anyone tells you. San Geraldo bought six at El Corté Ingles Friday evening. We had two each after dinner (and probably should have had only one). When prepared correctly, and these were, the inside of the bread has the texture of custard. We just finished them off for breakfast. We’ve had our fix.
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EN NUESTRO PASEO A CASA DESDE nuestro paseo por la playa el miércoles por la noche, nos encontramos con una pareja que conocemos. Ella tiene 20 años. Tiene 30 años. Puede ser bastante arrogante, aunque no con nosotros. Puede ser bastante insensible con cualquiera. No habíamos visto a ninguno de ellos durante la mayor parte del año pasado. Nos saludamos calurosamente y ella dijo: “No sé cómo te sientes acerca de la pandemia o te daría un abrazo”. No teníamos ni idea de cómo responder. Mientras nos alejábamos, San Geraldo preguntó en estado de shock: “¿QUÉ dijo?” Lo repetí.
¿Cómo respondes a esa afirmación? ¿Pandemia? ¿Qué pandemia? ¡Oh eso! No nos lo tomamos en serio. Danos un beso. Al menos llevaba una máscara.
Pero sigamos con cosas mejores. Uno de los obsequios que recibí en L’Occitane estaba etiquetado como “Delicioso” y tenía copos de almendras. Lo probé esta mañana. No probé ninguna almendra. Todo lo demás en esta página es innegablemente delicioso.
San Geraldo trajo a casa una caja de tubitos de chocolate la semana pasada. Ayer tuve el último. Muchos de los chiringuitos han vuelto a abrir y están cocinando unos pescados preciosos. Semana Santa se acerca rápidamente. Gracias a la pandemia, este año no habrá procesiones, por lo que será otra semana decepcionante aquí en España. Pero eso no nos impide disfrutar de las torrijas, un manjar de Semana Santa (haz clic aquí para la receta), que no son tostadas francesas españolas, no importa lo que te digan. San Geraldo compró seis en El Corté Inglés el viernes por la noche. Tomamos dos cada uno después de la cena (y probablemente debería haber tenido solo uno). Cuando se prepara correctamente, y así fueron, el interior del pan tiene textura de natilla. Acabamos de terminarlos para el desayuno. Hemos tenido nuestra dosis
• No lo encontré nada delicioso, aunque me exfolió la lengua.
The fresh fish and lobster tail look amazing, I should try the Torrija, I know someone who would like that.
David:
The fish were skewered sardines/boquerones and a whole fish that I thought was sea bream, but may not be. No lobster. Try the torrija recipe. SO good. The longer the bread soaks, the better the “custard” center.
“although it did exfoliate my tongue” — hahahahahaha!
Debra:
It looks better than it has in years.
Do they sell the freshly cooked fish daily? I’d be there all the time. Looks ‘delicious’!
A lot less people around without those parades, eh?
Jim:
The fish is always cooking. And lots of other fresh options. Some chiringuitos are excellent while others are tourist traps. I’ll tell you which ones to visit. As for Semana Santa, Sevilla’s population is under 800,000. During Semana Santa, it’s nearly 2 million. An enormous loss of revenue two years running. And an enormous loss of excitement and ritual.
I am a little confused about the delicious soap from yesterday. Cute truck though, Lucas will enjoy it.
The Cats are so adorable all I want to do is play with them both.
cheers
Parsnip:
Our cats are adorable and always in our faces — and usually standoffish with visitors. They really aggravate me (but I love them).
I remember last summer, while we were locked down, running into a friend at the grocers. And she kind of asked the same question, though it was more of a ‘How do YOU greet people in the pandemic?’
And I said, ‘I hug,’ and threw my arms out wide.
She looked at me and spread her arms and walked closer, and at about six feet I said, ‘That’s close enough’
And hugged the air.
I may keep doing it even when this is said and done.
Bob:
You always make me smile. I really miss hugging. Didn’t get much of that once I was beyond a cerrtain age in childhood. Became a big hugger as an adult. Jerry has been said (by many) that he gives the best hugs in the world. And Andalucía is therefor the perfect place for us both. That lack of touch has been especially hard in this environment. We even hugged all the restaurant staff on arrival and departure. So, we now do air hugs… like yours.
You can tell when you’ve been in lockdown too long–you begin soap-tasting. 🙂
Dudo and Moose–ever attentive–obviously letting you know it is time for treats.
Mary:
I got confused. I thought it said SOUP. Dudo and Moose… Gotta love ’em.
don’t eat the soap OR the cats, but devour those chocolate cookies! every time I see the cats, I hear you call: “oh boys!”
anne marie:
Dudo and Moose DO let me kiss them. SG and are now working through the latest three loaves of chocolate chip banana bread. We don’t suffer… much.
Off topic: New glitch? For some reason on both Safari and Firefox there is no Comment Section (one can neither make nor view comments). I am logged onto Google Chrome and I’m able to see/make comments. Maybe because I ran a “Maintenance Program” on my Mac? Technology….like Heraclitus once said, it’s never the same twice.
Frank:
Argh! I hit those things every so often. I now read other blogs and comment on them on Chrome, which works almost all the time for me. I write my own blog and reply to comments on Safari. And that seems to work all the time for me. I give up on trying to figure out what goes on. But, you ran a maintenance program?!? What were you THINKING?
Are the cats falling into the photo category of ‘things delicious’?
Urspo:
The cats headline the category.
I haven’t had breakfast yet, so the the grilled fish and tubitos look especially tasty! Even the soap has an appeal – I probably look like Dudo and Moose, waiting for a treat, except not as cute.
Wilma:
These guys are not so cute after Moose has been whining for 45 minutes. I’d love to go out for some grilled fish, but we’re now at the point where we don’t feel comfortable anywhere. We now go once a week to our friend Tynan’s cafe, because they have a huge open-air terrace and they follow all regulations to the letter (and beyond). They seriously police the customers as well. If you don’t follow the law, you leave. So we never feel uncomfortable there. Still, SG can’t wait to get home.
You may not have tasted almonds, but I love the little truck-shaped box! The torrijas look amazing. I’ve never heard of those.
Steve:
I had never heard of torrijas either until we moved to Spain. If you feel like a new kitchen experience, try the recipe. Six was not enough!
I love that truck! I still have a metal mail truck from when I was 10 🙂
Judy C:
All my toys were passed on to Chuck before being passed on to cousins. We still had two of SG’s trucks from his early childhood — one from Morrell Meats in Sioux Falls. We gave them away before we moved to Spain. I don’t know about him, but I sometimes miss them. Although I’m glad we reduced the amount of “stuff” around the house (we still have plenty).
Poor Dudo and Moose — their little faces have such looks of expectation as if to say, “where’s our Tubitos?”, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
I was dishing up their treats. I missed shots of Dudo on his hind legs trying to help me (a daily occurrence); too blurry. Because Dudo was curious, I gave him a sniff of the open box of tubitos. He sniffed, backed up abruptly, and then ran from the room.
Cats: Can I have some? Can I have some? Can I have some? Can I have some?
Mitchell: Ok, here.
Cats: Munch, munch. Can I have some more? Can I have some more? Can I have some more?
Walt the Fourth:
That’s it! And ours always want love after their treats. So, Moose, especially, continues to roam the house whining. It never ends.
Now I’m hungry for some of that good ole Spanish French Toast. tee-hee
Love,
Janie
Janie:
No torrijas for you! Next!