La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Today’s photos are variations on a theme. Come to think of it, today’s photos are simply variations. No theme. The Christmas tree on the Plaza de España visible from our apartment seems to be dropping needles. You wouldn’t notice during daylight hours.
San Geraldo got all dressed up to greet me the other evening. Then Dudo tried to trip me.
I peered through a window of a cute little house and saw charming tile stairs (that I would not want to have to use). Big Foot (San Geraldo) would have to climb on his toes.
I’m thinking of doing a photo collection of the ceramic tile I see on building exteriors. Not far from the window I peeped through and the tile I photographed was a mural dedicated to “La Niña.” I don’t know who la niña is but the mural adorns the home of the tavern Peña Flamenca Merengue, a multi-generational family (the Merengues) who dance and teach flamenco and offer traditional Cordoban meals.
I followed that with a peek inside the door of a house with a beautiful, and typical, central courtyard. I was told when we lived in Sevilla that if the privacy doors are open, it’s OK to look inside. I may have stretched the rule when I peeked in the window of the house with the tile stairs.
Yesterday was our first day of total sunshine for a long time. I washed bed linens and was even able to hang them on the roof to dry. And now I have to clean up my act for Maureen and Connor, our dearest Glaswegian friends, who arrive shortly from Málaga for the day. It will be sublime.
Las fotos de hoy son variaciones sobre un tema. Pensándolo bien, las fotos de hoy son simplemente variaciones. Sin tema. El árbol de Navidad en la Plaza de España, visible desde nuestro apartamento, parece estar dejando caer agujas. De día, no se notaría.
San Geraldo se vistió de gala para recibirme la otra noche. Entonces Dudo intentó hacerme tropezar.
Me asomé por la ventana de una casita encantadora y vi unas escaleras de azulejos encantadoras (que no querría tener que usar). Pie Grande (San Geraldo) tendría que subir de puntillas.
Estoy pensando en hacer una colección de fotos de los azulejos de cerámica que veo en los exteriores de los edificios. No muy lejos de la ventana por la que me asomé, y el azulejo que fotografié era un mural dedicado a “La Niña”. No sé quién es la niña, pero el mural adorna la taberna Peña Flamenca Merengue, una familia multigeneracional (los Merengue) que baila y enseña flamenco y ofrece comidas tradicionales cordobesas.
Después, eché un vistazo al interior de la puerta de una casa con un hermoso y típico patio central. Cuando vivíamos en Sevilla, me dijeron que si las puertas que dan a la privacidad están abiertas, se puede mirar dentro. Puede que haya exagerado al echar un vistazo por la ventana de la casa con las escaleras de azulejo.
Ayer fue nuestro primer día de sol total en mucho tiempo. Lavé la ropa de cama e incluso pude tenderla en el tejado para que se secara. Y ahora tengo que arreglarme para Maureen y Connor, nuestros queridos amigos de Glasgow, que llegan pronto desde Málaga para pasar el día. Será sublime.
• SG luciendo su tartán de Ralph Lauren y sus zapatillas baratas con cristales.
• No sé por qué tienen la nariz azul. Quizás el artista no haya terminado. O tal vez, como SG, son fríos.
• Compramos una vajilla blanca cuando llegamos a España hace más de 14 años. Unos años después, quisimos renovarla y compramos varios platos más para pan, ensalada y pastel de la misma línea, solo para descubrir al llegar a casa que el color era diferente. La diferencia es mínima y realmente no nos importó. El único problema es cuando vacío el lavavajillas. Apenas puedo controlar mi necesidad de escalonarlos: blanco, blanquecino, blanco, blanquecino. A veces varío con múltiplos de uno u otro. Entonces se rompió un plato. Lo recogí al cambiarlo y era más pequeño que todos los demás. Colocarlo al final de la pila. Sé que algunos de vosotros tendríais el mismo problema.
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Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
You could do a book on the wonderful tiles you see around town.
David:
So many themes to be explored here. Painted murals. Tile murals. Tiles. Paving. Fountains. Doors. Knockers. It never ends and I have the photos to prove it.
Oh, the tiles! I remember when some parts of the sidewalk in Cozumel were made of tile. And we used to stay at a little hotel which had a small pool, entirely tiled in teeny blue and aqua and green tiles. I marveled at it. So yes- give us as many tiles as you’d like, the fancy and the plain.
As to S.G.’s slippers- I remember when it was windowpane acid. Now…windowpane slippers.
How things change.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
The tile work is incredible. Windowpane acid? I have no memory of that. Odd.
I suppose I just ran with the wrong crowd. Or was it the right crowd?
I do like tiles. I tried my hand at making them way back when I was learning slab pottery. My success was limited enough to appreciate the skills of real tile making.
I don’t think I’d like navigating slippery tile stairs, pretty as they are. Boud.
Boud:
I would love to try it.
When I went to Portugal I was fascinated with all the tiled houses, not just in the cities but in the countryside as well. In fact as I recall, more so in the countryside. Took so many pictures. As for the plates, I would put the smaller on the top of the stack.
ellen abbott:
I had the same reaction in Portugal. Entire facades all over town covered completely in tile was incredible to see. I put the smaller one at the base of the stack because we use two at a time for cat treats and I don’t like that it doesn’t match.
Indeed the tile decorations of various colours and designs is beautiful. Lots of imagination at play here. If you add the plants and wrought iron it brings an elegant and exotic decor. Perfect for hot weather.
larrymuffin:
So much artful beauty to be found.
The tiles are sublime.
Dudo making sure you know where he is…
Blue noses……did you know that Nova Scotians are called ‘Bluenosers’.
Here’s why: ‘A Bluenoser is a popular, often affectionate, nickname for a native or resident of Nova Scotia, Canada, and sometimes New Brunswick, stemming from early settlers, cold Atlantic winds turning noses blue, a famed blue-nosed potato, or the iconic Bluenose fishing schooner that represents the region. While it started as an insult in the late 1700s, the term was redeemed and became a source of pride, officially recognized in the Oxford Dictionary. ‘ …from the internet.
Jim:
SG warned me that Dudo had his leg out and he nearly stepped on it. Fortunately I had noticed when I was coming from the other direction. I’m sure he was trying to trip us. I had never heard of Nova Scotian Bluenosers. Maybe the subjects of the mural are Nova Scotian. Nova Scotian flamenco dancers are fairly common, aren’t they?
LOL! Indeed they are! On every block I’d say!
I once went to a concert featuring flamenco musicians and dancers from . . . wait for it . . . NEWFOUNDLAND! They were all fabulous.
That staircase photo is outstanding! Well worth the risk of arrest for being a Peeping Tom.
Debra:
Thanks. I’ll continue to take legal risks for you.
See that you do.
Just seeing those courtyard plants in their lushness makes me long for the return of the warm weather! Not so much the slippers or the blue noses. Jx
Jon:
I’ll be happy to see warmer weather. It’s been colder than usual here
I too wonder what “La Niña” is — surely some specific legend or story? Weren’t Maureen and Connor just there?! Maybe blog time is all running together for me. (Not that I begrudge them another visit! I’m just jealous!)
Steve:
They were last here in August. They plan to be here again in April. A minimum of once a week would be better.
Do the kitties get underfoot often? I tripped over a lounging Basset Hound at our family holiday, but thankfully my son-in-law broke my fall. It wouldn’t have been pretty.
Kelly:
Oh, yes, Moose especially. He walks alongside us and then suddenly cuts us off or turns and comes to a dead stop. We’ve had some close calls.
What a lovely mural!!!!!
Mistress Borghese:
Isn’t that charming. I might have to visit the place one evening and found out who they are.
I would not have noticed differences in the plates if you had not described them 🙂 Maybe in person, I would have 🙂
You know, whenever I take a screenshot of a piece of art that I’m going to post on FaceBook, if I mistakenly cut it with even the tiniest, thinnest strip of black on one of the sides, I re-do it… not because it bothers me so much, but because I think of you, and think to myself, “If Mitchell sees this, it will bother him soooo much… I better re-do the screenshot.” Ha! True, though 🙂
Judy C:
Oh, you are so kind. I would control myself, but you’re right, I’d definitely notice it.
Well, there’s the weather condition known as El Nina. Maybe it’s affecting temperatures where you are to the extent people’s noses are turning blue!
Kirk:
El Niño and La Niña did their damage when we lived in California, but I don’t think we have those here. ALTHOUGH, it has been cold (for us) lately. We’ve been waking up in the morning to 39F. Brrr! Thankfully it gets up to mid 60s though. Much better than lately.
I do love the Spanish, Mexican and Moroccan tiles; the color and the patterns are gorgeous.
It took me a moment to notice the slight variation in the whites and now that I can see it, I, too, am annoyed!
Happy New Year, Mitchell, to you and SG and The Boys!
Bob:
Thank you for being annoyed with me! SG immediately noticed it when we got home, but he doesn’t seem bothered. Wishing you and Carlos a happy new year. I am so glad to be connected with you!