La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Today is an exciting day. I’m having my hair and beard cut by a professional barber. I still haven’t found the charger for my shaver and my hair is at the point of no return. The hair around the sides and back of my head is still very thick. My measly machine couldn’t get through it at this point. This trim will have to last through the rest of the month.
I’m taking the train down to Málaga Sunday night for my flight to NYC Monday morning. I had made my travel plans months ago based on taking a 20-minute taxi ride from Fuengirola to Málaga. Although the trip from Córdoba is only an hour, the first train of the morning doesn’t leave enough time at the airport before my flight. So, I’m staying in a hotel right in the Málaga train station. I can then hop on the commuter train in the morning for the 11-minute ride to the airport.
In walks around town, I’m always amazed by the beautiful stone mosaics in the pavement. These are still maintained the old-fashioned way, tiny stones hand-placed one at a time. Then there are the cobblestones in many of the streets, lanes, and alleys. Added to that are the various paving stones used in plazas and pavements throughout. The city is one big mosaic.
Oh, how could I forget? I returned to my private nephrologist Friday. My most recent lab work showed significant improvement. He just about jumped out of his seat when he saw the numbers. We made real progress. Here’s hoping it continues. San Geraldo went with me to the appointment and he agreed the doctor is hot. Wednesday, however, I have my first appointment with my new public health nephrologist who is also a colleague at the private medical centre. So, he’ll cover me from both sides which makes it much easier.
Seville had more than 40,000 orange trees planted throughout the city. They were harvested every year in early spring. It used to be entertaining to see tourists pluck an orange and then try to eat it. And then spit it out in shock. They’re not “eating oranges.” They’re bitter (Sevillan) oranges known for making marmalade. Into the Middle Ages, the fruits and flowers were used mainly in medicine, essential oils, and fragrances. I don’t know how many orange trees Córdoba has but they’re everywhere. They’re now heavy with their orange bounty. I assume they too will be harvested. Stay tuned.
Hoy es un día emocionante. Un barbero profesional me va a cortar el pelo y la barba. Todavía no he encontrado el cargador para mi afeitadora y mi pelo está en un punto de no retorno. El pelo de los lados y la parte posterior de mi cabeza todavía es muy grueso. Mi miserable máquina no podría cortarlo en este momento. Este corte tendrá que durar el resto del mes.
El domingo por la noche tomaré el tren a Málaga para tomar mi vuelo a Nueva York el lunes por la mañana. Había hecho mis planes de viaje en base a un viaje en taxi de 20 minutos desde Fuengirola a Málaga. Aunque el viaje desde Córdoba es de solo una hora, el primer tren de la mañana no deja suficiente tiempo en el aeropuerto antes de mi vuelo. Así que me alojaré en un hotel justo en la estación de tren de Málaga. Luego podré subirme al tren de cercanías por la mañana para el viaje de 11 minutos hasta el aeropuerto.
En los paseos por la ciudad, siempre me sorprenden los hermosos mosaicos de piedra en el pavimento. EspañolEstas zonas se mantienen como antes, con pequeñas piedras colocadas a mano una a una. Además, hay adoquines en muchas de las calles, callejones y callejones. A eso hay que sumar los diversos adoquines que se utilizan en las plazas y aceras de toda la ciudad. La ciudad es un gran mosaico.
¿Cómo podría olvidarlo? El viernes volví a ver a mi nefrólogo privado. Los últimos análisis de laboratorio mostraron una mejora significativa. Casi saltó de su asiento cuando vio los números. Hemos hecho un progreso real. Esperemos que continúe. San Geraldo me acompañó a la cita y estuvo de acuerdo en que el médico es atractivo. La semana que viene, sin embargo, tengo mi primera cita con mi nuevo nefrólogo de salud pública, que también es colega en el centro médico privado. Así que me cubrirá desde ambos lados, lo que lo hace mucho más fácil.
Sevilla tenía más de 40.000 naranjos plantados por toda la ciudad. Se cosechaban todos los años a principios de primavera. Solía ser entretenido ver a los turistas arrancar una naranja y luego intentar comérsela. Y luego escupirla en estado de shock. No son naranjas para comer. Son naranjas amargas conocidas por hacer mermelada. Hasta la Edad Media, los frutos y las flores se usaban principalmente en medicina, aceites esenciales, y fragancias. No sé cuántos naranjos tiene Córdoba, pero están por todas partes. Ahora están repletos de su generosidad de naranjas. Supongo que también se cosecharán. Estén atentos.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
So you’re headed to NY? Today or next Monday? Either way, safe travels and say hi to the KB for me!
Those oranges look so pretty, I’d want to try one too!
And hurray for excellent numbers at the hot doctor’s office!!!
Jennifer:
Next Monday, the 20th. Will give KB your best.
Safe travels ✈️
Adam:
Thanks. Less than a week to go.
Congrats on the good health numbers! Those stone mosaics are indeed marvels. So painstakingly beautiful.
Debra:
We saw artisans repairing plazas in Sevilla, stone by stone. Incredible.
Good news from the doctor! And he’s hot??? Win, win!
We have a friend who makes marmalade every year from Seville oranges; Carlos just loves it … I am not really a marmalade person unless it’s Lady Marmalade …
Bob:
SG’s not a marmalade person either. I LOVE it. And Lady.
Love those streets and mosaics. So glad to hear your numbers are improving. You seem to be having fewer slow days.
David:
Still sleeping like a rock, which is nice. But, yeah, days are quite a bit better physically.
My goodness! How beautiful are these mosaics and cobblestone streets!?
Not to mention the orange trees.
Jim:
Glorious!
Oh, what beautiful scenery! So, those two photos of little, skinny roads… would those correctly be referred to as callejas?
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT! Awwww, damn! That’s great 🙂
I’m glad that you were able to book a hotel right in the Málaga train station… darn the extra expense, but three cheers for a stress-free ride to the airport.
Judy C:
Those narrow streets are actually calles. Just some standard city streets. Callejas tend to be more private and less driven, like the street that started at the gate of the old palace, lanes. It surprised me that the hotel in the station is a 5-star. Fortunately, it was not very expensive and so worth the convenience. The station has a nice shopping mall with plenty of places to grab a bite. It will be a pleasant evening.
Boud here, first, so glad your numbers are improved, particularly before a big trip. I hope you tell your brother he has a fan club here on your blog. And I fervently hope you can get a few things settled at his agency while you’re personally there.
New York underfoot doesn’t quite match up to the artworks you walk on daily in Cordoba.
I can’t get Seville oranges for marmalade, so I used to send to the UK for Mamade concentrate,till they lost their minds and packing skills and started sending in soft bags. Cans arrived too flattened even to open!
Boud:
I do tell Chuck about the bloggers and how popular he is. He loves it (I can tell because he blushes). I don’t expect to change anything with my stopping by his office. It can’t hurt, but there will probably be another manager by the time I get home. It never ends.
It’s a week until you go to New York, correct? I know you said conflagration day. That’s good news about your numbers. I love seeing your new city through your photos. Who doesn’t love a hot doctor? Rebekah and I see the same PCP. We call him our boyfriend. He’s young and cute as can be. Purrrrrrrrrr.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
Yes, I’ll be there Monday the 20th. Jerry has waiters in one of our nearby cafes he calls his boyfriend. He has 4.
I have seen walls in Cozumel built in the same mosaic way as the area around what looks like a statue. There are a few mausoleums in the cemetery built of them. The Spanish definitely left their mark there. And in Florida, of course, they brought citrus. When there were vast acres of citrus groves in Florida the grove owners would sometimes plant the original sour oranges (as we call them) on the outside edge of the grove closest to the road to deter tourists from stopping their cars, getting out, and figuring on picking a bag or so of those beautiful oranges. There were so many! Who would know? Who would care?
You probably already knew this.
I am quite excited to go to NYC with you to visit with Kid Brother. But mostly, MOSTLY, I am so happy to hear about your lab report.
Moonsigh
Ms. Moonsigh:
I had no idea about the Florida groves planting bitter oranges around the edges. How cool. After Anita Bryant, I avoided Florida oranges and juice. I was shocked when we moved to California to find primarily Florida oranges and juice in the supermarkets. Yeah, the lab work was a huge and welcome surprise.
And these days, it seems like the vast majority of citrus in our stores comes from California.
Ms. Moon:
How strange. Maybe Florida’s go to California and California’s go to Florida.
Oooohhh…I love Tanqueray Sevilla: “Inspired by Charles Tanqueray’s original recipe book and the ripening oranges growing on the trees in sun-drenched Seville Spain, Tanqueray Sevilla Orange is a uniquely distilled orange-flavored gin made with orange essences and other fine botanicals.”
Sassybear:
I had never heard of this. Oh, how I wish I could drink!!!
Congratulations on the improved numbers from your labs! You can now head off on your trip feeling positive about that. I love seeing all the mosaics, tiles AND oranges!
Kelly:
So much more relaxed about the trip now.
I absolutely adore marmalade made with what we commonly call “Seville oranges” – but peculiarly, it’s not a common sight in Spain, and Dundee in Scotland is the epicentre of its production!
The “mosaic cobble-laying” industry must be one of Spain’s biggest employers! They’re everywhere… Jx
Jon:
Yes, apparently the oranges are grown for other markets and the majority ship to the UK for marmalade.
It’s not easy to find Seville oranges here in New Zealand, but I am always glad when I can get hold of some. They do make terrific marmalade. Judith in NZ
Judith:
I’ve never made marmalade but I do love it.
Congrats on your new numbers. It looks like everything’s coming up…orange trees!
Kirk:
AND roses! Thanks!
My mom absolutely LOVED marmalade made from Seville oranges — she would have enjoyed seeing your photo of the fruit-laden orange tree!
Good news about your lab results too — now you can relax and enjoy your NYC trip to visit your brother!
Tundra Bunny:
Yes, the hugely imporved lab results have made me a lot less stressed about the trip. I’m with your mother. I LOVE orange marmalade.
Great medical news! You’ll be arriving in New York as I am leaving. I am heading up this weekend to see my kids.
Michael:
Have a great time. Sorry our paths won’t cross!
Oh, yes!
Las calles empedradas! It’s all that Moorish influence, right? Also, it’s a very old city, so there’s that.
I have friends in Málaga. Many of the Spanish TAs in college were from there and they always sang its praises. It would be awesome to visit.
And you’re coming to NY? Let Mads know!
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
I try every year to connect with Maddie. We’ve had no luck. This year, I won’t be able to. Short visit and most will be spent with my brother. One of these days. I would so love that!
We had the same in Rome, orange trees along residential streets. Lovely but not eatable.
larrymuffin:
I had forgotten about them in Rome. Did they harvest them?
Wishing you safe travels and a very pleasant stay, Mitch!
good for you! I would love to have a fellow shave my beard etc. do it proper for once
Hey, you inspired me! Maybe I will next month in Palm Springs!
Urspo:
I found a great, cool barber. I think it will become my routine.