La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Near the museum of archaeology, on a small plaza, is a 19th-century house known as the Mansion of the Burgos, named for the family who lived there. The mansion is, to me, beautiful and unusual, and eye-catching. It’s been awaiting redevelopment for decades as a hotel or apartments. Meanwhile, it’s an official protected feline colony. The mansion is listed in the Catalog of Protected Properties of the Historic Complex of Córdoba. Plans for redevelopment have been slow, so for now it remains a cathouse. Excuse me, a cat mansion.
Speaking of cathouses: While out for dinner one night last week, the wonderful waiter taught me a new Spanish word. Chomino. It’s a part of a woman’s anatomy, he motioned with his hands, “Down here in front.”
It turns out chomino is not truly Spanish. It was adopted years ago as part of the local slang of the city of Cádiz where there were many English sailors and many prostitutes. The sailors didn’t speak Spanish so when they arrived at the port and were met by the prostitutes, they simply said, “Show me now.” The prostitutes did, and a new name for a body part was born. Chomino!
Cerca del museo de arqueología, en una pequeña plaza, se encuentra una casa del siglo XIX conocida como el Palacete de los Burgos, llamada así por la familia que la vivió. El palacete me parece hermoso, inusual y llamativa. Lleva décadas esperando su remodelación como hotel o apartamentos. Mientras tanto, es una colonia felina protegida. El palacete está inscrita en el Catálogo de Bienes Protegidos del Conjunto Histórico de Córdoba. Los planes de remodelación han sido lentos, así que por ahora sigue siendo el hogar de los gatos. En inglés, un burdel se conoce coloquialmente como “cathouse” (casa de gatas).
Hablando de burdeles: una noche de la semana pasada, mientras cenaba, el maravilloso camarero me enseñó una palabra nueva en español: chomino. Forma parte de la anatomía femenina. Me indicó con las manos: «Aquí abajo, delante».
Resulta que «chomino» no es propiamente español. Se adoptó hace años como parte del argot local de la ciudad de Cádiz, donde había muchos marineros ingleses y prostitutas. Los marineros no hablaban español, así que, al llegar al puerto y ser recibidos por las prostitutas, simplemente les dijeron: «Show me now.» [Muéstramelo ahora]. Las prostitutas lo hicieron, y así nació un nuevo nombre para una parte del cuerpo: ¡Chomino!
• Parecía que le gustaba mi voz, o tal vez era mi acento.
• Casa en la plaza frente a el palacete de los gatos. Hay una piscina en la azotea.
• En la calle Julio Romero de Torres (el pintor). Por eso nos pareció apropiado incluir una de sus pinturas sobre el tema.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Well, now I have a new slang word to try and fit into everyday conversation.
Once again the Spanish architecture makes me swoon.
And that cat has catitude for days!
Bob:
Just be careful where you stick that “chomino.” The cat definitely had attitude. I was being judged.
Something new everyday, I have never seen a cat sanctuary. The local coffee shop/cafe on the square in Sebring Florida in the 70’s and 80’s was the Cathouse. It was damaged in a hurricane and never reopened. Cousin Nell and her husband Win, moved there in the late 80’s.
David:
So Cousin Nell and her husband Win moved to the cathouse? I hope they made a success of it.
My colloquial Spanish keeps being enriched! Not that I know how to order lunch or anything, but the latest is pretty niche.. Boud.
Boud:
Who needs to order lunch when you can skip right to dessert and say it perfectly?
It’s interesting to me that the sign is also in English. I love the cat sanctuary, and the building across the way… what a great way to start my morning. Thanks, Mitchell.
Judy C:
Being so close to the archaeology museum and more, the neighborhood is popular with tourists. So, the translated sign is clearly for their benefit.
To work at this place would put me in paradise – AND I’d do it for free!
Raybeard:
Our niece would be there every waking minute.
Then we’d have to arrange compatible, sharing ‘shift-times’. 🙂
Nice brickwork on that house, er, mansion. Interesting that the sign also has a version in English. Are there that many non-Spanish speaking residents?
ellen abbott:
It’s not all that common for signs around the city to be in English, as well, but this neighborhood is heavily touristed thanks to the archaeology museum and a number of other things. Good PR.
Well, I for one would like to know what you ordered for dinner that steered the waiter to the word “Chimono” and motioning “Down here in front”, hmmmm?
Shirley:
We were talking about language quirks in English and Spanish and somehow got to that.
Those cats are living large! I hope they’re well fed at the sanctuary. The only outdoor cat sanctuary I’ve ever seen was on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The cats lived in little wooden hutches, nowhere near as nice as in Spain!
And thanks for the etymology lesson about “chomino.” I take it that the women in the painting would know exactly what it meant.
Debra:
Yes, I was very impressed that the cats had their own mansion. I wonder if one of those prostitutes said chomino thinking that’s what it was actually called in English.
If they redevelop, they’ll need to move the cats out. Yeah, good luck with that…
wickedhamster:
Yeah, I’ve been stewing about that.
A feline colony — I’ve never seen such a thing. I wonder how many people dump unwanted cats there. Even though it’s illegal I bet it happens.
Steve:
I wonder, too. But the cats are not contained. The cat I talked to could have stepped right out that glass-free window. I think they just feed and care for any feral cats, take the new ones for spaying/neutering, and provide a safe space for them.
I love that “chomino” story! I’m sure there are many, many, equivalents across the world – urban myths or otherwise. Less rude, perhaps, but the French derogatory word for the British is “rosbief” (from “roast beef”, which the Brits like to eat on Sundays), and “kangaroo” was allegedly said to be from when Captain Cook’s explorers asked a local what the animal was called, and their response was “kangaroo”, meaning “I don’t know” in the local lingo (complete rubbish, of course). Jx
PS Spanish cats are fierce, if they can “endanger your life”..!
Jon:
There are worse things to be called than rosbief. I like that.
“threaten your life” is a lost in translation situation. I think it is meant to be threaten the life of the cat (threaten its life).
I was excited to read this post when I saw the title. Everyone loves a cathouse, regardless how the term is used! 😹 The building is beautiful, as is the “resident” you photographed.
Kelly:
There is a feeding station inside that window. I’ve seen a different solitary cat there each time. This one didn’t run off the minute I approached.
Now…..isn’t that Mansion a ‘little’ project! How nice!
The cat heard about your ‘boys’ and wants an invite!! What a character!
Brings to mind Ernest Hemmingway’s mansion/museum in Key West……approx 60 cats living there and all are 6-toed/polydactyl.
Chomino sounds like Chorizo to me!
Love the feline sanctuary!
Jennifer:
Yes! I had the same thought. Food!
Jim:
My fixer-upper fantasies went into overdrive.
What a fancy schmancy home for feral cats! That feline landlord looks like he’s thinking about which one of your eyeballs to eat first though, Scoot…
Tundra Bunny:
Yeah, that cat was definitely sizing me up.
That kitty looks like a philosopher cat.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
He sure was thinking about something as he sized me up.
When I was younger and a virgin, I heard of the “cathouses” out in Nevada. I had bad near crippling self esteem back then so the idea of it was tempting, especially as they took health and safety seriously. I lived far away and wasn’t wealthy, so it never happened. Even if I was single and with a large wallet, I wouldn’t step inside it now.
Adam
NEKORANDOM.COM
Adam:
I’ve always been curious about those cathouses in Nevada. Would love to see inside, not that I’d want a more in-depth look. Heidi Fleiss was supposedly opening one with men in attendance. I don’t know what ever came of that.
The women in that painting look rather crazed.
Kirk:
They do. But I think a part of the problem was reflections on the varnish.
Cats for the win!
Rade:
It was wonderful to see.
A culture that protects and shelters homeless cats is a culture that I admire. But homeless no more! An entire mansion to live in! And a lovely one at that.
Why do you suppose a cat house is called a cat house? Oh, wait- Google knows all: “This slang use of “cat” for a prostitute has been documented since at least 1401.”
Meow.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon,
It’s where you go for pussy? (You asked!)