La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
The 1st of May, May Day, is Labor Day here. The city hosted a celebration in the park nearby that began the evening before and started up again yesterday evening. Live music, tons of people, a huge bar, and a mass of porta-potties.
I stopped by last night and took in one song. It was energizing. But the crowd was dense. I didn’t even try to work my way through or into it. I just stayed on the perimeter and took a few photos. When I arrived, a guy was standing and peeing against the wall of an under-renovation park building, despite all the porta-potties. When I was about to leave, four more guys did the same and high-fived each other when they finished. So proud of themselves. Such big boys!
As I left, two more guys strode up to the wall and were joined mid-pee by two motorcycle cops. They were required to give them their IDs and were probably fined. That made me smile, almost as much as the music had.
San Geraldo cooked chicken soup last night on our new stovetop. Tremendously exciting (and delicious, too).
We had a thunder and lightning storm and heavy rain during the night and this morning. There’s a wet spot on the new ceiling tile in the bathroom.
El 1 de mayo, el Primero de Mayo, es el Día del Trabajo aquí. La ciudad organizó una celebración en el parque cercano que empezó la noche anterior y se reanudó ayer por la noche. Música en vivo, muchísima gente, un bar enorme y un montón de baños portátiles.
Pasé por aquí anoche y escuché una canción. Fue muy energizante. Pero el multitud era denso. Ni siquiera intenté seguir adelante ni entrar en la canción. Simplemente me quedé en el perímetro y tomé algunas fotos. Cuando llegué, un chico estaba orinando contra la pared de un edificio en remodelación en un parque, a pesar de todos los baños portátiles. Cuando estaba a punto de irme, cuatro chicos más hicieron lo mismo y chocaron las manos al terminar. ¡Qué orgullosos! ¡Qué grandes chicos!
Al irme, dos hombres más se acercaron a la pared y, mientras orinaban, se les unieron dos policías en motocicleta. Les pidieron que les mostraran sus identificaciones y probablemente los multaron. Eso me hizo sonreír, casi tanto como la música.
Anoche, San Geraldo cocinó sopa de pollo en nuestra nueva placa de cocina. ¡Qué emocionante (y delicioso también!).
Tuvimos una tormenta con truenos y relámpagos y llovió mucho durante la noche y esta mañana. Hay una mancha de humedad en el nuevo techo del baño.
• Entre Amigos. La separación de la Iglesia y el Estado y todo eso, no sé muy bien por qué la cruz. Pero las viejas costumbres son difíciles de erradicar. Quizás tenga que ver con la fiesta de las Cruces de Mayo en Córdoba.
Peeing in inappropriate places at a festival – ’twas ever thus, even (as I recall) back when Gay Pride used to have after-parties in the park. Boys will be boys… Jx
PS bit of a bugger that they still haven’t fixed that leak.
Jon:
They were too quick to decide on the cause. One of (the many plumbers) who was here wondered if it was coming from somewhere else. Here we go again.
I imagine Labor Day means a lot more in Spain than it does in America
I remember some Republican one year saying it was about “job creators.”
-Adam
NEKORANDOM.COM
Adam:
Labor Day here does in fact focus on the laborers, but I think many just think of it as a day off work. The big difference is it’s an opportunity for retail sales and instead most retailers are closed giving workers the day off.
Arghgh, that ceiling leak! It’s a nightmare. I hope it gets fixed this time.
I think that peeing outdoors is a little kid thing — writing your name, even.. Boud.
Boud:
I remember writing my name in the snow!
I know a woman who raised three sons who told me that men are just big little boys. Always and forever. I have heard this before and since and I believe it to be true. I have many theories about this but will not be expanding upon them here.
The Spanish surely have that hip thing mastered. Men and women. It’s hypnotic.
I dreamed this morning that I was in a huge crowd of people. I had to leave. Cooking on a new stove is about as much excitement as I could possibly handle at this stage of my life.
Ah, Camelot. One of my most favorites ever.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
The hips and the clapping. I wish that were a part of me!
Nice thematic tie-in about wet spots!
Debra:
Thanks for noticing.
May 1 here is International Workers Day. Rallies and marches.
Jssw:
Seattle is more like Spain when it comes to these things.
It’s gotten to the point here in the U.S. that people think of Labor Day as, despite the name, as less a holiday celebrating labor and more as the last party of the summer. I wonder how May Day is seen. Obviously, it’s not the end of summer but to what extent does it celebrate workers (other than everybody getting the day off.)
Kirk:
I grew up only thinking of it as the end of summer and Memorial Day the start.
A good thing there was rain that night to wash away the ‘such big boys’ ‘ pee!
Some tweaking is needed to finally stop that leak on ceiling…..good luck.
Very nice new stovetop! Who needs an oven anyway?
Jim:
You’re right about the rain. Word got out, too, about the police! Our oven is in the wall to the right of the stovetop!
The older I get, the less I like crowds.
David:
I have never been a fan. And the ones that make it impossible to move in any direction make me very uncomfortable.
A new tradition added to May Day/Labor Day …… Outdoor Pissing Day.
Shirley:
There should be an official holiday. Wouldn’t that be a pisser?
I guess it’s more manly to pee against a wall rather than use a Porta-potty!
Bob:
Clearly.
Peeing outside is only acceptable when there’s not a bathroom available anywhere and never in a public place.
That’s a real bummer about the leak. I’m glad you’ve photographed it for proof in case it dries out before you can get them to come look. We’ve had issues in the past with the flashing around the chimney.
Kelly:
And peeing against a brick wall will leave the stink forever.
The repair guys, except for one, all immediately “knew” the cause. One wondered. So did we.
I think I have pee envy. After experiencing more than my fair share of Porrta-Potties I would much rather pee against a wall. or tree or treasured friend. Alas I lack the proper equipment for the job.
My lusty month of May begins with a short camping trip followed by my first ever colonoscopy! Whoo hoo! The prep will probably killl me. Anyway, have a good weekend you two.
Deedles:
I can’t imagine being a woman and having to use a Porta-Potty. But when you pee outside, it’s better to pee in the dirt. A wall will reek forever. Also, find a spot that’s not so visible (and smellable) to everyone else. Your first colonoscopy? So exciting. I’ve had one every 5 years since I was 34. I’m down to every 3 years now… and I’m due. Yeah, the prep sucks, but they’ve gotten better at it. And Spain knows how to prep much less unpleasantly. Hope camping is wonderful. Pee in the woods!
Oh, I wish that you could see all of our faces as we read through one of your posts, and enjoy each of your pictures 🙂 If you had been watching me, you would have seen my eyes sparkle and open wide and a smile come across my face, as I thought of Jerry getting to use your nice new stove top! And, then, you would have seen my jaw drop and my face squish up and my forehead wrinkle, as I threw back my head and smacked my forehead and said, “Oh, no!” , when I read, “There’s a wet spot on the new ceiling tile in the bathroom.” Sheesh.
I love the Córdoba life for you, though… it’s nice to see people enjoying themselves, living in a country where they are feeling carefree and happy and not sick to their stomachs wondering what mess is being thrown at us/taken from us today.
Judy C:
I’m so glad you follow along and check in. We have some days that we really have to fight to keep on going, and we are thousands of miles away from ground zero of the shit storm.
They sure know how to party in Spain.
larrymuffin:
Yes, and any excuse!
I know from leaks (and leeks). Here’s hoping this one gets taken care of soon!
Walt the Fourth:
Like your leak, they think they know where it’s coming from and then they don’t. We were concerned that they KNEW so quickly. It takes real sleuthing to determine where it starts.
That is a huge crowd…but I did spot a few hotties!!!!
And just because we men can easily whip it out and make water doesn’t mean we have too! Use discretion I say.
Mistress Borghese:
SO MANY hotties. Word got out that the police were fining guys for outdoor peeing. Yay!
Oh no! More leakage!
Looks like a fun event but I’m not sure I would wade into that dense crowd either. I’m impressed that you got a photo of the urinating miscreants at the moment they were apprehended!
Steve:
I was pleased with my pee timing. Since I had no one to meet in that crowd, it seemed weird to try and worm my way into it.
Is Lusty month a reference to the song in Camelot, of the song by Jonathan ?
Urspo:
Exactly.
Tra la, it’s here, that shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear