From Glasgow with love

La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.

No, sadly, we are not in Glasgow. But Glasgow was here for the day represented by two members of our chosen family, Maureen and Connor. They both have the summer off and are spending some time in Spain, as they always do. So they took the train up from Málaga yesterday to spend time with us in Córdoba in the 38˚C/100˚F heat. Glasgow is a “warm” 21C/69.8F today, and the heat hits them hard, especially Maureen. So it was especially kind of them to spend the day with us.

They rode the double-decker bus around the city and passed right by our street (Maureen sent a photo). Then we met them for a long, happy lunch, after which they came back home with us and we sat and talked for hours. They caught a late evening train back to Málaga. The train from here to Málaga can take as little as an hour with no stops. Then you have to walk through the central station to catch the commuter train to Fuengirola, which takes just about the same amount of time with all the stops along the way.

They entertained us with stories from their trip. Rather than paraphrase, I’ll just share what Connor texted when they were on their way here:

Mum told me we were in 24E/23E so we sat down in the first 24E/23E we came to! It was so lovely—too lovely for only costing €15. I couldn’t believe how amazing the train was. I knew I should have checked the ticket! Within 3 minutes of leaving the station, the train guard was over at us and telling us we were in the wrong seat😂. Turns out that was coach 1’s 23E/24E and we’re actually in coach 6’s 23E/24E…. Oh well, I enjoyed my 3 minutes of first class! She actually followed us all the way down the train and was being super wary. Defo thought we were at it! I started speaking to her in Spanish so she has backed off (for now!)

Connor is fluent in Spanish. San Geraldo and I travel first class on the train, which is why we never have enough money. If San Geraldo’s clothes in the photos below look “roomy,” they are. He is probably an XL or, at most, 2XL. But he finds his 3XL especially comfortable. The photo above is the fruit bowl San Geraldo made for each of us for our after-lunch treat. In my book, that’s a lot of cooking.

I video chatted with The Kid Brother Tuesday night. The NY Yankees were playing the Seattle Mariners (baseball). The Mariners are our friend (and KB’s friend, too) Judy’s team. KB told me to tell Judy “May the best team win.” [pause for comic effect] “The Yanks!” He’s a riot.

No, lamentablemente no estamos en Glasgow. Pero Glasgow estuvo aquí este día, representada por dos miembros de nuestra familia elegida, Maureen y Connor. Ambos tienen el verano libre y están pasando un tiempo en España, como siempre. Así que ayer tomaron el tren desde Málaga para pasar un rato con nosotros en Córdoba, con un calor de 38°C/100°F. Hoy Glasgow está “caliente”, con 21°C/69,8°F, y el calor les pega fuerte, sobre todo a Maureen. Así que fue un detalle muy especial de su parte pasar el día con nosotros.

Hicieron el tour en autobús de dos pisos por la ciudad y pasaron justo por nuestra calle (Maureen envió una foto). Luego nos reunimos con ellos para un almuerzo largo y agradable, después del cual volvieron a casa con nosotros y charlamos durante horas. Tomaron un tren nocturno de vuelta a Málaga. El tren de aquí a Málaga puede tardar tan solo una hora sin paradas. Luego hay que atravesar la estación central para coger el tren de cercanías a Fuengirola, que tarda prácticamente lo mismo con todas las paradas del trayecto.

Nos entretuvieron con anécdotas de su viaje. En lugar de parafrasear, simplemente compartiré lo que Connor le escribió cuando venían para acá:

Mamá me dijo que íbamos en el 24E/23E, ¡así que nos sentamos en el primer 24E/23E que encontramos! Era tan bonito, demasiado bonito para costar solo 15 €. No podía creer lo increíble que era el tren. ¡Sabía que debería haber mirado el billete! A los 3 minutos de salir de la estación, la guarda del tren nos abordó y nos dijo que estábamos en el asiento equivocado😂. Resulta que ese era el 23E/24E del coche 1 y en realidad estábamos en el 23E/24E del coche 6… En fin, ¡disfruté mis 3 minutos en primera clase! De hecho, nos siguió todo el tren y se mostró súper cautelosa. ¡Claro que sí! Empecé a hablarle en español, así que se ha echado atrás (¡por ahora!)

Connor habla español con fluidez. San Geraldo y yo viajamos en primera clase en tren, por eso nunca tenemos suficiente dinero. Si la ropa de San Geraldo en las fotos de abajo parece “holgada”, lo es. Probablemente usa una XL o, como mucho, una 2XL. Pero su 3XL le resulta especialmente cómoda. La foto de arriba es del frutero que San Geraldo nos preparó a cada uno para nuestro capricho después de comer. Para mí, eso es cocinar mucho.

El martes por la noche, hablé por videollamada con El Hermanito. Los Yankees de Nueva York jugaban contra los Marineros de Seattle (béisbol). Los Marineros son el equipo de nuestra amiga (y amiga de KB) Judy. KB me dijo que le dijera a Judy: “Que gane el mejor equipo”. [pausa para efecto cómico] “¡Los Yankees!” Él es muy gracioso.

• Connor enjoying his upscale ride, momentarily.
• Connor disfruta momentáneamente de su lujoso viaje.
• Maureen where she belongs, in first class.
• Maureen donde pertenece, en primera clase.
• Connor headed for the cheap seats.
• Connor se dirigió a los asientos baratos.

• May the best team win.
The Yanks!

¡Que gane el mejor equipo!

¡Los Yankees!

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Author: Moving with Mitchell

From Brooklyn, New York; to North Massapequa; back to Brooklyn; Brockport, New York; back to Brooklyn... To Boston, Massachusetts, where I met Jerry... To Marina del Rey, California; Washington, DC; New Haven and Guilford, Connecticut; San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Irvine, California; Sevilla and then Fuengirola, Spain. And now Córdoba.

27 thoughts on “From Glasgow with love”

  1. Ah, the mention of Glasgow (know how much you enjoy your Glaswegian friends). Love that city (grandfather born there—in 1867😁). I’ll be spending five weeks near Glasgow from late Sept. on. All by myself in a lovely apartment overlooking a loch. A 40 minute easy train ride away in Southern Highlands, so I’ll be popping down to Glasgow periodically, as well as heading farther up into the highlands when the mood strikes. I do love the majestic scenery, too.

    1. Mary:
      Your trip sounds wonderful. You sure know how to travel. Do you have any family still in Glasgow?

    1. Sixpence:
      Ah, Connor! Maureen’s fan got quite a workout that day. They make us so happy.

  2. I love how your friends adore you and SG so much they they come and visit you, even if it’s a hundred degrees. This says a great deal about the two of you and the family you have chosen.
    M. Luna

    1. Maria Luna:
      We are truly honored. They make us so happy. Maureen is incredible and she did a great job (and was lucky) raising Connor. Gifted, gorgeous, kind, principled, outspoken. She set a brilliant example.

  3. More reasons to LOVE Glasgow! I booked first class on several of our recent train trips, it was not that much more, and the seats fit me better.

    1. David:
      The difference in price, in our view, is worth it. With our heights and sizes it makes a big difference, too.

  4. This is partly why I’m thinking I’ll wait until later in the year to visit Cordoba — 100º heat does not sound fun to me. It was 85º here today and that was plenty! Glad you got to see Maureen and handsome Connor again.

    1. Steve:
      Oh, you would not like it in summer. It can still be hot into October, but the hottest months are July and August. We’ve already adjusted and think 85 here is a cool spring day. Our Glaswegians make us so happy. Two exceptional human beings.

    1. Jssw:
      Isn’t it always the story with them? You’d think with all the tech money in the area, the Mariners would be able to snag a billionaire or two. But, hey, Chuck‘s happy!

  5. I am catching up on all of your most recent posts. Wow…it is HOT where you are in Spain. I am guessing it is a bit arid, and not so humid.

    1. Michael:
      Typical humidity this time of year, on the hottest days, is between 20 and 30 percent. Sometimes less, sometimes more.

  6. Oh, Connor – how camp are those poses?! 😜😜🌈

    London’s been 32C/89.6 and humid today, which is no fun when you’re travelling on the Tube and working in an office with no aircon! Jx

  7. Five minutes in first class. Sounds like a short story title. Very short, come to think of it. Boud

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