La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
IT’S SEMANA BLANCA (WHITE WEEK) in Andalusia. Schools are closed, which means lots of businesses are closed, which means lots of people are here from out of town. So, I won’t be making a return visit to Málaga until next week. The holiday is designed to compensate schools for holidays missed during the summer months.
Last week in Málaga, I came upon a corner shop with windows displaying elegant Spanish fans, mantillas and traditional jewelry, as well as men’s hats. As I passed alongside I saw an impressive display of men’s and women’s leather bags.
And now for my submission to the Longest Run-on Sentence contest:
After my ridiculously expensive purchase of a brown leather Tumi bag that I even had monogrammed for San Geraldo, which wasn’t big enough for him and I inherited since I was also in need of a new bag (although it’s not at all my style), and after I shopped with him in another upscale leather shop where he chose a black leather bag that was big enough, although he decided he hated it after one use, and I inherited that one, too (I hate it — poorly designed, impossible to organize, poor access, and the workmanship doesn’t live up to the price, which was 2/3 what I paid for the Tumi bag), and after he found a small brown leather briefcase-style bag and bought that at a low-end leather shop in Mijas Pueblo the first time we went up the mountain during the pandemic to find a very depressed town and felt sorry for the few business owners that remained so we spent a lot of money that day (it’s when we bought the seven ceramic plates for the walls, click here) and the briefcase was 1/3 the price of the Tumi bag (and still not cheap), the leather is poor quality and stiff, and it’s unstylish (yes, he hates it)… [INHALE]… after all that, I told him he was on his own. [End of run-on sentence.]
However, since SG so rarely shops, I couldn’t help but be on the lookout. Celyan, the shop in Málaga, had two bags in the window that were possibilities. I went inside and told the owner about San Geraldo. All about San Geraldo. She brought a bag from the back that was even better than the ones in the window. I told her I was confident it would be perfect. Supple brown leather in a shade SG loves. Lots of convenient space, and zipper pockets for organizing. Made in Spain, as is everything in the shop (the bag is from Sevilla). And 1/3 the price of the Tumi bag. San Geraldo is ecstatic, as ecstatic as I was that day.
Now, what to do with the three previous bags once I go back to Celyan next week and buy myself a bag I actually like. I might make the charity shop very happy.
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ES SEMANA BLANCA EN ANDALUCÍA. Las escuelas están cerradas, lo que significa que muchas empresas están cerradas, lo que significa que mucha gente está aquí de fuera de la ciudad. Así que no volveré a visitar Málaga hasta la próxima semana. Las vacaciones están diseñadas para compensar a las escuelas por las vacaciones perdidas durante los meses de verano.
La semana pasada en Málaga, me topé con una tienda de esquina con escaparates que exhibían elegantes abanicos españoles, mantillas y joyería tradicional, así como sombreros de hombre. Cuando pasé al costado, vi una exhibición impresionante de bolsos de cuero para hombres y mujeres.
Y ahora para mi presentación al concurso Oración Seguida Más Larga:
Después de mi compra ridículamente cara de un bolso Tumi de cuero marrón que incluso le hice monograma a San Geraldo, que no era lo suficientemente grande para él y lo heredé ya que también necesitaba un bolso nuevo (aunque no es para nada mi estilo), y después de comprar con él en otra tienda de cuero de lujo, eligió un bolso de cuero negro que era lo suficientemente grande, aunque decidió que lo odiaba después de un uso, y también lo heredé (lo odio, mal diseñado, imposible para organizar, mal acceso y la mano de obra no está a la altura del precio, que era 2/3 de lo que pagué por el bolso Tumi), y después encontró un pequeño bolso de cuero marrón estilo maletín y lo compró en una tienda de pieles en Mijas Pueblo la primera vez que subimos a la montaña durante la pandemia para encontrarnos con un pueblo muy deprimido y nos dio pena los pocos empresarios que quedaban así que gastamos mucho dinero ese día (es cuando compramos los siete placas de cerámica para las paredes, haz clic aquí) y el maletín costaba 1/3 del precio del bolso Tumi (y todavía no era barato), el cuero es de mala calidad y rígido, y no tiene estilo (sí, lo odia)… [INHALA]… después de todo eso, le dije que él estaba en su propio. [Fin de oración seguida.]
Sin embargo, dado que SG rara vez compra, no pude evitar estar alerta. Celyan, la tienda de Málaga, tenía dos bolsos que eran excelentes opciones. Entré y le conté a la dueña sobre San Geraldo. Todo sobre San Geraldo. Ella trajo una bolsa de la parte de atrás que era incluso mejor que las que estaban en la ventana. Le dije que estaba seguro de que sería perfecto. Cuero marrón flexible en un tono que le encanta a SG. Un montón de espacio conveniente y bolsillos con cremallera para organizar. Fabricado en España, como todo lo que hay en la tienda (el bolso es de Sevilla). Y 1/3 del precio del bolso Tumi. San Geraldo está extasiado, tan extasiado como yo ese día.
Ahora, qué hacer con las tres bolsas anteriores una vez que regrese a Celyan la próxima semana y me compre una bolsa que realmente me guste. Podría hacer muy feliz a la tienda benéfica.
• Celyan, en Calle Nueva, Málaga. Cuando regrese, tomaré algunas fotos de los abanicos artesanales.
• Espacio más que suficiente para su iPad; no hay suficiente espacio para una máquina de escribir Smith-Corona.
Tricky business buying a ‘bag’, especially for somebody else. But looks like you hit the right one at last. Looks like one Ron a while back. Our ‘man purses’ are now much smaller and lighter. Looks like an interesting shop.
Jim:
I like living in a place where no one thinks of them as man purses. It’s simply called a ”bolso,” whoever is carrying one. Ours are this big to fit the iPads. It’s common here to see young men carrying what we would have called a “clutch.”
Generally we call them ‘bags’.
Jim:
That’s the case here. Just one generic term no matter what. My mother clearly didn’t like the fact that we carried bags.
Beautiful bag – that looks like an very interesting shop …… love the hats.
Willym:
I love the hats, too. Although I have some hats, I rarely wear them. SG would love it.
Ooooh, it looks lovely!
Judy C:
Looking forward to my return trip next week to treat myself to something.
Judy C:
I see things were moving too slowly for you.
Oooh, I love it! I hope it’s a keeper for Jerry!
Ha! My first comment didn’t show (did it on my iPad), so I switched to laptop for the second try… now there are 2! (Make that 3.)
Judy C:
Ha! JUDY JUDY JUDY. Hope that sounded like Cary Grant.
OMG, that run-on sentence! I bow to the Master! Could you sell those other bags on eBay perhaps?
Debra:
I SHOULD sell the other bags on eBay. Even easier from here, we’ve got a local online “Marketplace.” Friends do that regularly. For some reason, I don’t want to have to deal with strangers. I waste a lot of money.
Bags are such individual things. I don’t carry one, unless it’s a plastic grocery bag for some specific item that I’m ferrying from one place to another. Or my camera bag, which has been known to double as a carrier for other things (a cardinal sin in the world of photography).
Steve:
Stylish bags here are the norm. I don’t like carrying my camera separately, so it goes in my bag with my iPad, phone, glasses, keys, wallet, change, hand sanitizer… you name it.
I hope the new bag lasts as long as your sentence.
Wilma:
That would be miraculous!
Victory at last!
Can you stuff the old bags into the older bags or something like that? Never mind, charities are worthy and ever grateful.
Robyn:
Well, the new bag is the largest of the bunch, so maybe we could stuff the old ones in that. I’m sure SG would be thrilled. Yes, the charity shop is going to make some good money.
Change Mitchell to Bob, and SG to Carlos and I’ve heard this story before!!!
Your version made me laugh, if only because it didn’t happen to me … this time!!
PS I LOVE the bag!
Bob:
It’s almost as if we live in alternate universes. Well, maybe not alternate. Mirror universes.
Handsome bag…looks similar to one I have. The store is cute, I like that looks of it and it would draw me in easily. Although I was getting very distracted by the guy in the thigh black jeans!!!!!
Mistress G Borghese:
Oh, the guy in the black jeans. Those two kept stopping to cuddle and smooch. I waited and waited for them to pass and finally said, oh the hell with it. I’m glad it was worthwhile for you.
I didn’t know I might need a bag.
Frank:
This is the shop for it. (Finally.)
Success, really success! At last. I carry an oversized Timbuk2, I am on my second one the first one lasted a decade.
David:
I love the look of Timbuk2 messenger bags.
It’s in the bag!
Walt the Fourth:
And I’ve been looking for “it” all over the place. (Actually, SG couldn’t find his phone yesterday. I called it from mine. It WAS in the bag.)
Well, it IS hard to find a Smith-Corona typewriter bag these days. Dang computers, just ruining our accessories style…
wickedhamster:
Do you remember Bette Midler having something to say about Smith-Corona typewriters years ago? She had the perfect place to stash one.
I went to Andalucia School in Phoenix AZ rom Kindergarten to 3rd grade. That has absolutely nothing to do with your post, except I read “…Andalusia. Schools …” and that made me think of it.
I have a bunch of fabric bags and satchels of varying sizes I use at different times for different functions, but I’m always spotting new ones I like and have to stop myself from buying them.
Sassybear:
I know kids who go to one of the English schools here and learn to speak British English; others go to the American schools and learn to speak American English. You must speak perfect Andalusian English.
I get the impression just about everything you like soon becomes a collection. I would love that.
Sassybear:
I think I meant to say Andalusian SPANISH, but I’m not quite sure.