La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
We woke up this morning to the coldest temperature we’ve experienced living in Spain, -2C/28.4F. And although it had climbed to +2C/35.6F by the time we went out for coffee and second breakfast, and four hours later it’s reached today’s high of 9C/48F, it’s still downright arctic (at least to us). In addition to his long johns, San Geraldo wore his nearly 30-year-old Eddie Bauer, down coat purchased for a family Christmas in Durango, Colorado, and rated for –34C/–29.2F. He doesn’t even wear his usual hooded sweatshirt underneath. Of course, I had to share photos from the sleigh ride SG’s sister Leann arranged for us all when we spent that Christmas with them. I still have my coat, too. I haven’t yet found the need for it in Spain, but I took it to Norway one Christmas.
I saw The Kid Brother on video chat last night. When I asked him how he was, he snapped, “Cold!” It was 4C/39F there and 1C/34F here!
At least this morning brought more sunshine, but it will be gone later this afternoon. I took advantage of Tuesday’s sun to take a long walk on the paseo. As you can imagine, it put a rose in my cheeks. Today’s walk chapped them. Did you know the expression “a rose in every cheek” originated with a Vegemite commercial in 1954 (click here)? And check out our Christmas cactus today!
Nos despertamos esta mañana con la temperatura más fría que hemos experimentado viviendo en España: -2 °C/28,4 °F. Y aunque había subido a +2 °C/35,6 °F cuando salimos a tomar un café y un segundo desayuno, y four horas más tarde había alcanzado el máximo de hoy de 9 °C/48 °F, sigue siendo francamente ártico (al menos para nosotros). Además de sus calzoncillos largos, San Geraldo llevaba su abrigo de plumas Eddie Bauer, de casi 30 años, comprado para una Navidad familiar en Durango, Colorado, y con una temperatura de -34 °C/–29,2 °F. Ni siquiera lleva su sudadera con capucha habitual debajo. Por supuesto, tenía que compartir fotos del paseo en trineo que nos organizó la hermana de San Geraldo Leanne cuando pasamos esa Navidad con ellos. Yo también sigo teniendo mi abrigo. Todavía no lo he necesitado en España.
Anoche vi a El Hermanito por videollamada. Cuando le pregunté cómo estaba, me espetó: “¡Qué frío!” ¡Allá hacía 4°C/39F y aquí 1°C/34F!
Al menos esta mañana trajo más sol, pero se acabará esta tarde. Aproveché el sol del martes para dar un largo paseo. Como pueden imaginar, me puso las mejillas coloradas. El paseo de hoy los dejó con la piel agrietada. ¿Sabías que la expresión “una rosa en cada mejilla” surgió de un anuncio de Vegemite en 1954 (haz clic aquí)? ¡Y no te pierdas nuestro cactus navideño de hoy!
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Heavens! Although our temperatures went down to -8C/18F overnight Monday-Tuesday here this week, it only went down to 1C/33F last night (it rained) and we’re up to a “balmy” 6C/42F in the sunshine this afternoon. You really have had a “cold snap”! Looking at the Met Office weather, even the Costa’s not that warm at the mo…
Still, at least you have some gorgeous flowers still hanging on to enjoy. The majority of ours were blasted by the frost, with the exception of some salvias and fuchsias that are closest to the (single-glazed) windows of the house, where they benefit from the heat leaking out. Jx
Jon:
And our friends in Fuengirola have been writing and sending pictures of the heavy rains and winds. It’s been better here. I wonder how those roses did after yesterday’s freeze. We’re grateful to have double-glazed windows. And nothing gets through the new windows on the terrace.
Now that cactus is just showing off! Mine refuses to comment. After your summer, I can see how arctic these days must seem. Boud
Boud:
Below freezing is unusual, and I hope we don’t see that again this winter.
The best thing about sleigh rides is the jingle bells on the horses! And wow, that Christmas cactus is making a STATEMENT.
Debra:
And that was a gorgeous horse. That sleigh ride was magical. An the entire family was there. I continue to do daily photos of the Christmas cactus flowers. What a gift.
I love the vintage Vegemite ad. Funny how for boys and men, it’s all about the muscles and strength while for the girls and women, it’s complexion and digestion. God forbid a woman have a visible muscle in her body. But a rose in EVERY cheek!
Pretty roses, by the way.
Try not to freeze, you guys!
Ms. AnonymousMoon:
For me, it would be muscles, strength, AND complexion. Temps are at least above freezing today, but still raw (for us).
Brrrr. So far winter has not really happened here besides a few nights hovering around freezing. I’m not minding a bit, haven’t had to bring any plants in so far. Doesn’t bode well for the fruit trees though since they need a certain amount of chill hours to produce fruit. Cactus is looking very pretty.
ellen abbott:
Our neighbors’ terrace was filled with Christmas cacti and it’s not enclosed. I looked up yesterday to see all the plants have been taken inside.
As I told people in Florida at this time of the year, it is the middle of Winter. You have four seasons.
David:
I’ve always heard that Florida has two seasons. Hot and cold.
We have a balmy 3C here today. Two days ago it was -20 with wind chill…..so layers are important and SG was smart to have taken along his down coat to Spain…..one never knows.
Jim:
I remember the conversation about our down coats. We decided to keep them for our visits to Norway. We actually used them in New York one raw winter during one of my mother’s hospitalizations.
Your Christmas cactus is bloomin’ beautiful, Scoot! We’re having a warm spell this week too with daily highs of -1C, which sure beats -40C!
Tundra Bunny:
Ugh! Your warm spell. You say potato. I say potahto.
39F. 34F. They’re both cold to me. 🥶
Kelly:
To me, too. But I thought it was funny that the temp was higher in Brooklyn than in Córdoba at that moment.
Woo hoo! Look at your Christmas cactus!
That is really freaking cold for Spain. You were colder there than we were here by about five degrees.
Steve:
So Brooklyn and London were warmer than Córdoba. Who’da thunk it?!?
It’s 6:30 PM here and I am wearing a t-0shirt, some shorts and no shoes!
It does get a wee bit chilly at night but after a cold snap between Thanksgiving and Christmas we are going to be warm, and warmer, the next few days!!
Bundle up!!!!
Bob:
Still cold today but not like yesterday. In the house I’m usually sockless and in a tank top.
It’s 41 right now where I am, but this time of year that’s practically a heat wave!
Kirk:
I remember when we thought 41 was a nice day in winter. Now we complain if it’s 55.
Christmas cactus looks beautiful!
St. Louis was a crazy 64 F yesterday, and similar today. We have had winters where we couldn’t go back to school after winter break for over a week, because we had so much thick ice on the roads. We’ve had a January blizzard in 1982 that left between 14 and 20 inches of snow and paralyzed the city. I remember another year when we got snow on Thanksgiving, and never saw the grass again until February some time… but, this week… 60s. And, they’ve had accumulating snow on several different days in Paris this week, which is almost unheard of.
Glad you got your walks in 🙂
Judy C:
I understand that that kind of extreme low in winter is rare for you. I’d take 64!