La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
We somehow forgot to take a group picture when María and her parents were here the other day. I managed, of course, to grab some shots of María. I also got one OK shot of Alfonso but not one decent shot of Cristina. After lunch we went for ice cream and I let María take some pictures. She then played around with them. The one of her mother is quite dramatic. She simply did a close-up of her father. At one point, Alfonso was concerned about María’s use of my camera and told her so. She was careful and skilled. I whispered to him that it was no problem. But he explained he didn’t like when she focused on selfies. He said her poses were much too mature and alluring and were not appropriate at her age. I then saw she was posing exactly as he described. She’s only 6! The joys of parenting. It takes patience and fortitude, and a lot of luck.
We met them the first time one morning at Mesón Salvador when María was only a month old and they were using Alfonso’s mother’s apartment in Fuengirola for a little vacation. San Geraldo and Alfonso started talking and we all immediately clicked. They have become among our dearest friends. We plan to visit them in Madrid after the summer heat is a memory. We will continue to talk to strangers.
Our summer house cleaner, Elena, is at the beach this week. But she’ll be here Saturday to make us presentable. Merchi will be back in September.
It’s supposed to be over 40C/104F again. The only thing to do is stay inside (or stand in the mist of a nearby fountain) which, by the way, I did several times the other day.
El otro día, cuando María y sus padres vinieron, se nos olvidó sacar una foto de grupo. Por supuesto, logré sacar algunas fotos de María. También saqué una buena foto de Alfonso, pero ninguna decente de Cristina. Después de comer, fuimos a tomar un helado y dejé que María sacara algunas fotos. Luego se puso a jugar con ellas. La de su madre es bastante dramática. Simplemente hizo un primer plano de su padre. En un momento dado, Alfonso se preocupó por el uso que María le daba a mi cámara y se lo dije. Le susurré que no había problema. Era muy buena con la cámara. Pero me explicó que no le gustaba que se centrara en los selfis. Dijo que sus poses eran demasiado maduras y seductoras, y que no eran apropiadas para su edad. Entonces vi que posaba exactamente como él me había descrito. ¡Solo tiene 6 años! Las alegrías de ser padres. Requiere paciencia, fortaleza y mucha suerte.
Los conocimos por primera vez una mañana en el Mesón Salvador cuando María tenía solo un mes y estaban en el apartamento de la madre de Alfonso en Fuengirola para unas pequeñas vacaciones. San Geraldo y Alfonso empezaron a hablar y conectamos enseguida. Se han convertido en unos de nuestros mejores amigos. Planeamos visitarlos en Madrid cuando el calor del verano sea solo un recuerdo. Seguiremos hablando con desconocidos.
Nuestra limpiadora de verano, Elena, está en la playa esta semana. Pero estará aquí el sábado para que estemos presentables. Merchi volverá en septiembre.
Se espera que hoy vuelva a hacer más de 40C/104F. Lo único que podemos hacer es quedarnos dentro (o bajo el vapor de una fuente cercana), lo que, por cierto, hice varias veces el otro día.
• María perdió sus dos dientes frontales (qué descuido) pero ya aparecieron los nuevos.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
That fountain looks rather special – and very alluring on a hot day!
The pic of Cristina is positively psychedelic… Jx
Jon:
I wish María had saved the work she had done on Alfonso’s close-up. Astounding. There are seven of those fountains along the Paseo de Córdoba. Beautiful AND cooling.
I’m’a just say it: Alfonso is kinda hot. And good on him for supervising his daughter’s selfie habits and poses. At 6 she should just play.
The picture of the fountain is like looking through cracked glass; very cool.
Bob:
Yeah, Alfonso is more than kind of. And one of these sweetest guys we know.
Marvelous photos, both by you AND María! I would stand in the fountain’s mist too at 40C. Hell, I’d get in the fountain and sit down and roll around in the water. The police would come, but it would be worth it.
Debra:
It was tempting to just sit on the edge of the fountain. No arrest for that. I was impressed by María’s skill in photo editing.
That fountain shot at top is lovely!…..and refreshing, I bet.
Gives me an idea to visit our local ‘splash pad’ this afternoon in the heat.
Our province is under a fire-ban notice with no hiking/camping in any wooded areas. So the splash pad is perfect!
Jim:
The fear of wildfires is awful in many places right now. I hope your area gets through the season unscathed. I should walk over to our “splash pads.” 10 minutes away in the heat.
Oh, my goodness, I sat here mesmerized by the Fuente. Thanks for that 🙂
Judy C:
I found standing and recording it mesmerizing.
The water picture is great, perfect in sizzling heat. That’s a beautiful child, and I can see why her father is protective, not wanting her to do poses not right for a little six year old. He’s looking ahead, as parents constantly have to. Er, he’s pretty cute himself. Or so they tell me. Boud here, fanning herself, it’s the sun, yes, that’s what it is.
Boud:
Yeah, Alfonso is definitely pretty cute and quite the hunk. And what a wonderful friend. He’s a former rugby player, which I thought was obvious the first time I saw him. They are both so aware with María. She, like her father, has a stubborn streak. And they’re good at knowing when to rein it in and when to let her be. Life is a compromise. They started paying her nanny (who is fluent in English) to speak English with María. SG and I speak mostly English with her now and she’s amazing. If you haven’t noticed, I adore her… and them.
Children are always losing their teeth! What’s up with that?
Gosh but Maria is a beautiful child. And oh, I can tell she has a lot going on behind those sparkling eyes.
The snaps of the Fuenta fountain are water art. Beautiful.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
Yes, María has a lot going on. She’s unbelievably outgoing, has a quick sense of humor, and a stubborn streak. She’s sometimes too much for SG who thinks kids should always immediately do what they’re told (the kind of kid he was). We do adore her. You do know that fuente means fountain, correct? There are 7 of those fountains. I wish we had one outside our door! I have to walk 4 minutes to reach the nearest one.
No. I did not know that fuente means fountain. I am ignorant in several languages. Well, most of them.
Four minutes! Really? How do you manage the slog?
Ms. Moon:
Even that 4 minutes can be tough in 108˚. But it IS wonderful how much is so close to us. Tell people you’re unilinguistic! Most won’t have a clue.
Please keep talking to strangers,
David:
A great way to make friends.
I’ve been seeing your comments on Steve’s and Mary’s blogs and today Mary posted a link so I thought I would visit. Wonderful photos of the fountain.
Anonymous:
Nice to meet you (sort of meet you)! Thanks so much for visiting. I found Mary through Steve and Steve through a dear friend. Even got to meet Steve in person when we were in London. Two wonderful and talented people. I hope you’ll be back (and that you’ll introduce yourself… an alias is fine, better than calling you Anonymous).
And strangers will continue to talk to you! Olivia
Olivia:
Oh, I hope so (usually)!
Love the fountain pic!
And Zaddy is swole.
That’s all.
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
And Alfonso can make his pecs dance spectacularly.
Okay I’ll be honest I went all stupid and forgot what I was going to comment all because I was looking at Alfonso and his impressive guns.
They immediately caught my eye, too! 😂
Mistress Borghese:
Ah, Alfonso. Now that’s what I call a hunk!
I love that snaggletooth phase. My youngest grandson is six and one of his top teeth is loose.
That fountain is wonderful!
Kelly:
I love that gap-toothed smile. There are 7 of those fountains on the Paseo.
Great photos, Scoot! Maria will be stunning when she’s older — Alfonso will have to beat her admirers off with a stick.
With +40 C temps, I’d be tripping Debra SWS to get into that fountain first, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
We’ve been seeing María change for more than 6 years. Every stage is stunning. And she’s got a major stubborn streak (so does her father). Her parents are in for a ride! Let’s all three jump in the fountain together!
OMG the cops are gonna have to bring the paddy wagon for all three of us!
When the water in freeze frame like that it kind of resembles plastic bag netting…if there is such a thing as plastic bag netting.
Kirk:
Whether there is or not, I know exactly what you mean.
That fountain video is very relaxing! (And cooling!)
I am glad I’m not a parent. Kids have to deal with so many questionable cultural influences these days.
Steve:
I love kids but I wouldn’t enjoy parenting with the issues that seem to get more complex all the time.
I too vote Mr. Alfonso as the best looking dessert.
Urspo:
Alfonso is delicious, isn’t he? And one of the most wonderful people.