La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Our sweet friend María was in the area for Easter from Madrid with her parents, Alfonso and Cristina. Alfonso grew up about an hour from here and his mother just had hip surgery so he’s been there to help. Cristina and María came down by train to join them for the weekend. Alfonso then stayed with his mother Saturday while Cristina and María took the train into town to spend an afternoon — the sweetest afternoon — with us.
María studies English in school and loves it. Her nanny speaks English and is teaching her, as well. We were stunned by her fluency. She’s an incredible girl. She’s smart, observant, sweet, stubborn, determined, confident, independent, and I adore her and am her sidekick. I surprised María with pink hair extensions and a collection of rings and bracelets. They were a huge hit. (Alfonso sent me a photo of Maria wearing the extensions this morning.)
We had a delicious lunch out and took them to see our apartment, after which San Geraldo waited for a grocery delivery while the three of us went for a walk, María found a playground, and we then went for coffee and sweets. As if María and Cristina aren’t sweet enough. While we were in the café, María spotted a lot of things she wanted. Like the entire cake display. That was a no. She then spotted the gourmet chocolates display and walked over to the counter to order chocolates. Luckily, I caught her before she received any. I took her back to the table and we then learned the chocolates she chose were filled with liquor, so we chose for her. I had a creme-filled tartlet covered in pine nuts with a chocolate disc on top. It was a special day for Mária. And for me.
I then walked them back to the train station in a drizzle. I got to enjoy sunshine and a double rainbow for my walk home. One rainbow from each of them. Had Alfonso been here, I’m sure it would have been a triple rainbow.
No rainbows Sunday, but there should have been. We FaceTimed with Matt and Lindy, our favorite nephew and niece-in-law in Pierre, South Dakota. If only every day were like these.
I wrote this post last night. I slept terribly, which is rare for me lately, and woke up in a foul mood. But I read this again and looked at the pictures and all is well. And after a siesta today, all will be even “weller.”
Nuestra dulce amiga María estuvo en la zona por Semana Santa desde Madrid con sus padres, Alfonso y Cristina. Alfonso creció a una hora de aquí y su madre acaba de ser operada de la cadera, así que ha estado allí para ayudar. Cristina y María vinieron en tren para reunirse con ellos el fin de semana. Alfonso se quedó con su madre el sábado mientras Cristina y María tomaron el tren al pueblo para pasar una tarde —la más dulce— con nosotros.
María estudia inglés en la escuela y le encanta. Su niñera habla inglés y también le está enseñando. Nos sorprendió su fluidez. Es una niña increíble. Es inteligente, observadora, dulce, testaruda, decidida, segura de sí misma, independiente, y la adoro y soy su compañera. Sorprendí a María con extensiones de pelo rosas y una colección de anillos y pulseras. Fueron todo un éxito. (Alfonso me envió una foto de María con las extensiones esta mañana).
Comimos delicioso y los llevamos a ver nuestro apartamento. Después, San Geraldo esperó la entrega de la compra mientras los tres dábamos un paseo. María encontró un parque infantil y luego fuimos a tomar un café y unos dulces. Como si María y Cristina no fueran lo suficientemente dulces. Mientras estábamos en la cafetería, María vio muchas cosas que quería. Como toda la exposición de pasteles. Eso fue un no. Luego vio la exposición de chocolates gourmet y se acercó al mostrador para pedir chocolates. Por suerte, la pillé antes de que recibiera ninguno. La acompañé de vuelta a la mesa y entonces supimos que los chocolates que había elegido estaban rellenos de licor, así que elegimos por ella. Pedí una tartaleta de piñones con un disco de chocolate encima. Fue un día especial para María. Y para mí.
Luego las acompañé de vuelta a la estación de tren bajo una llovizna. Pude disfrutar del sol y de un doble arcoíris en mi camino a casa. Un arcoíris de cada uno. Si Alfonso hubiera estado aquí, estoy segura de que habría sido un triple arcoíris.
No hubo arcoíris el domingo, pero debería haberlos. Hablamos por FaceTime con Matt y Lindy, nuestros sobrinos favoritos en Pierre, Dakota del Sur. Ojalá todos los días fueran así.
Escribí esta entrada anoche. Dormí fatal, algo raro en mí últimamente, y me desperté de un humor fatal. Pero lo leí de nuevo y miré las fotos y todo está bien. Y después de la siesta de hoy, todo estará “más bien”.
• Dudo no le quitó la vista de encima a María. Pero no corrió, ni tampoco Moose, cuya oreja se ve asomando de la cápsula a la izquierda.
• María quería detenerse a oler las rosas. Todos lo hicimos. La fragancia era exquisita.
• La intensidad del color dificultaba el enfoque.
I had one.
Yo tenía una.
• María hizo esta foto con mi cámara. María hizo MUCHAS fotos con mi cámara.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Those rainbows- the tourist council of Cordoba should be using them as another attraction not to be missed!
But of course, even their glory cannot outshine Maria’s. You and SG’s obvious delight in her will stay with her for the rest of her life. You can bet on that.
And by the way, you two gentlemen are seriously handsome.
I’ve woken up in a darker place today too but this helped. It did. Thank you.
Moon Sigh
Ms. Moonsigh:
It was the sweetest day. We didn’t get photos of Cristina or all of us together. Next time! We met them in Fuengirola when we were out for breakfast one morning. María was only a month old and we became immediate friends. So lucky. As for handsome, thank you but argh. Sure don’t feel handsome. This illness has taken a lot out of me. Not that I ever really felt handsome anyway. Sigh.
Well, you are. Objectively and truly.
What a little sweetheart!
Happy you guys had a wonderful Easter weekend.
Jim:
She makes my day!
That’s a good photo that Maria took of you! I love the pink hair extensions. So Beyoncé — or whoever is hip nowadays.
Steve:
Yeah, the photo isn’t bad. You should have seen the other 12 she took of us!
What a treat for you! I have a big smile on my face, as I type my comment.
Maria is such a delight … those eyelashes! And, that rose is really, honestly, the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.
Judy C:
Ah, I can’t get enough of María. And, yes, isn’t that rose amazing. Las Jardines de la Merced is filled with them.
I think you meant a “foul” mood. Otherwise, I hope you didn’t wake up feeling like a chicken. lol
In 9th grade I had a gay English teacher, Mr. Townsend, who was a fantastic teacher. Since I sat in the first seat in the first row (closest to the door for a quick getaway) he gave me a proof of an article he wrote for a cooking magazine. I saw right away he’d written “foul” instead of fowl and when I pointed it out he was all over himself with appreciation. He would usually give me a bad time for the type of books I chose to read, so I was prepared when he mocked me in front of the class for reading “Gidget Goes Hawaiian.” I pulled up a card on which I had written in advance one word: “fowl”. He fell laughing against the blackboard and said “Touche!”
TexasTrailerParkTrash:
Yes! Foul, not fowl. I did catch that on a reread and laughed. Although we DID have chicken that night. Anyway, in honor of Mr. Townsend.
Maria is a beautiful child. Thank you for pointing out Moose’s ear. I would never have noticed it!
Kelly:
María makes me so happy. We’re pals.
Cute little girl.
Kirk:
She’s got a spark.
This whole post just made me smile. Thanks for sharing your day.
Michael:
Thanks for coming along.
I remember seeing a girl younger than her fluent in like six languages.
Bilingual is sooo difficult. But six is mind blowing for me.
-Adam
NEKORANDOM.COM
Adam:
I know. I wish I had had that kind of start in life.
Well, Maria and I would get along like a house on fire. What with cake being the first thing we think about…
Love the pics!
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
She was a riot with that cake display case. “Oh I’m just hanging out.”
Such cute people.
David:
Yeah, we’re adorable. 😉
Maria is such a cutie! I’m glad she didn’t munch on liqueur chocolates or there might’ve been need for a “Clean up on Aisle 4”, LOL. And I really like the picture she snapped of you & SG — very natural and at ease — perhaps your Xmas card for 2025?
Tundra Bunny:
The server immediately told us they were liquor filled and to choose something else. Phew! There were a dozen more photos of the two of us. Glad this one was OK!
Great picture of You and Gerry. Yes pastry and chocolates so nice at this time of year.
Laurent:
And any time of year, don’t you think?
Maria looks delightful and what a lovely photo of you and Geraldo.
Sorry, that was me…Frances! I always forget that I am ” anonymous” on your blog! No idea why, my name comes up on others. Anyone know how to change it?
Frances:
I wish I could help with that. That happens to me, too, at times on specific blogs even though I’m logged in. I’ve stopped commenting from Safari, because commenting gets screwy for me. Not as bad on Chrome, most of the time. Who knows?
Frances:
I don’t mind the photo. María is a delight.
Oh, I don’t know how I missed this post with all its delightful photos! Maria looks like a wonderful little girl. That photo of her smelling the rose is superb!
Debra:
María is a little power house. I adore her.
Debra:
As you can tell, I adore María. I love that rose photo. She liked it, too, and then started to pose with other flowers which wasn’t quite the same.
This post just showed up. Or maybe I was MIA. Anyway it’s lovely. She’ll always remember how you loved to see her! Boud sez.
Boud:
She’s known us all her life, which is heartwarming.
Rainbow chocolate sweetness was my nickname in highschool. *smirk*
Sassybear:
What do you mean “was”???