La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
A couple of weeks ago while I was wandering around the city I stumbled upon a wonderful shop. Unfortunately, it was already closed for the day. I had been hoping for more than a year to find a shop like it in Córdoba. Not only did it stock what I had been looking for, it was of high quality with an enormous selection. Usually, I take photos of these discoveries along with their street names, but for some reason I didn’t bother that time.
The problem now is I have no idea where I was when I came upon the shop, although I do remember I was delighted it was only 10 minutes from home. I can’t remember what day it was and can’t retrace my explorations since I do so much wandering (a good thing).
A bigger problem, however, is I can’t for the life of me remember what it is the shop carried that I’ve been so desperately in need of.
This week, I stumbled upon the empanada shop Elena had pointed out and recommended some months ago. I took a picture of it and the street name.
We’re enjoying a brief respite from rain and gray skies, although the skies will be gray again within a couple of hours and the rain will return in force tomorrow. There’s the slightest bit of momentary sun forecast for 1 February. After that, it’s cloudy until further notice (the 7th of February is as far as that forecast goes). And that is not helping our moods.
Hace unas semanas mientras paseaba por la ciudad, me topé con una tienda maravillosa. Lamentablemente, ya estaba cerrada. Llevaba más de un año esperando encontrar una tienda como esa en Córdoba. No solo tenía lo que buscaba, sino que era de alta calidad y con una selección enorme. Normalmente fotografío estos descubrimientos junto con los nombres de las calles, pero por alguna razón no me molesté en hacerlo esta vez.
El problema ahora es que no tengo ni idea de dónde estaba cuando la encontré, aunque sí recuerdo que me encantó que estuviera a solo 10 minutos de casa. No recuerdo qué día era y no puedo repasar mis exploraciones porque camino mucho (menos mal).
Un problema aún mayor es que no recuerdo qué tenía la tienda y que tanto necesitaba.
Esta semana, me topé con la empanada que Elena me había recomendado hace unos meses. Le tomé una foto y le tomé una foto al nombre de la calle.
Estamos disfrutando de un breve respiro de la lluvia y el cielo gris, aunque el cielo volverá a estar gris en un par de horas y la lluvia volverá con fuerza mañana. Se pronostica un breve sol para el 1 de febrero. Después, estará nublado hasta nuevo aviso (el 7 de febrero es el único día previsto). Y eso no nos ayuda a mejorar el ánimo.
• Una vista de la calle un domingo por la tarde en el Barrio Judío.
• Una mezcolanza de azulejos, pero aún así asombroso.
• Hay una taberna al final de esta calle. He visto que llevan allí a grupos de turistas. Supongo que no suele haber mucha gente.
• Ahora sé lo que es un spa de cabeza, pero mi mente adolescente no lo deja pasar. (En inglés “head” puede significar sexo oral.)
• A menudo olvido cuando camino, sobre todo en dirección al río, que la mayor parte del camino es cuesta abajo desde casa. Al volver, siempre lo recuerdo.
• Me parece interesante este edificio de apartamentos y me encantaría verlo por dentro.
You have so many wonderful back streets to wander and explore. A “Head Spa” sounds like a place the police would raid in the 1970’s, for one reason or another.
David:
That’s exactly what I saw when I first saw the Head Spa.
You have so many wonderful streets to explore. When I saw your title, I was reminded of Barbra Streisand singing “The Way We Were.”
Michael:
That’s what I was going for in the title, although I felt that song was overplayed and I don’t like it (and the lightning bolt will now strike me dead).
Speaking of “lighting bolts”, as I was scrolling through the comments here, I hit this one – and The Way We Were started playing on BBC Radio 2’s Sounds of the 70s show! Spooky.
Megababs is watching you… Jx
I can imagine all sorts of great shops, selling exactly what you need, are tucked down narrow streets, in forgotten corners!
Bob:
So many things to see and forget!
That apartment building looks like art deco as presented by Franco.
Odd about the forgotten shop. It sounds like something I’d dream then be sure I’d really experienced. Boud
Boud:
GREAT description, although the building is post-Franco. I don’t THINK I dreamed it.
Well, that is exactly how my mind works these days.
Here’s hoping you stumble back upon the shop which holds exactly what you want, even if you have no idea what that might be until you see it. I think life is like that too sometimes.
Ms. Jealous Of Your Walks
Ms. Jealous Of Your (My) Walks:
I know I couldn’t live without that shop.
By the way, I dreamed of beautiful tile work last night. Thanks!
Ms. Moon:
Oh, I’m so glad!
Those ‘streets’ are made for wandering.
The rock pavers!
I hear what you are saying about these gray winter days and the moods they conjure up. We are settling into a 3-day polar weekend with FREEZING temps, dark skies, and lots of snow. Should be interesting……..
Jim:
That storm looks awful. Hope all is well for you. I also hope all of ICE gets iced over.
Are thos very narrow balconies there to prevent people falling out of the open windows? Which points out, I never see screens on windows in your pictures. No bugs in Spain? I love the pedestrian only streets. There used to be an empanada shop fairly close to where we lived in the city which we frequented but then he moved the shop quite far away. I still think about those empanadas.
ellen abbott:
Screens are rare, which is odd, because we do have bugs. The narrow balconies are a way to bring the outside in when there’s limited space. They’re at least large enough to step outside. We had six shallow balconies with French doors in Seville that we filled with plants.
I love those two light fixtures in your Islamic tile photos, and the funky door in the last photo! I hope you find your Mystery Store again!
Debra:
I fell in love with those light fixtures. I don’t know how I’ll survive with whatever it was I saw in that shop window.
Oh, that’s so frustrating when you desperately want to remember something but can’t. I hope you eventually find your shop.
Kirk:
I’ll be walking for months again!
All that tile is amazing. I laughed at “By Japanese Head Spa” — maybe that’s the owner’s name?
I guess whatever that shop sold it wasn’t TOO essential to your daily life. You’ll find it again soon enough. 🙂
Steve:
I never thought of that being the owner’s name. But I wonder what they call him for short. The shop IS absolutely essential to my daily life, I think maybe.
It’s a shame you didn’t take a photo since you can zoom in from the maps in your photo library and find exactly where it was taken.
What is the round thing in the photo with what looks like a poinsettia in it. It looks like a window, but I see lighting behind it. Is that what it is? A light of sorts? I’m feeling a bit stupid. (I should say ignorant, since you can’t fix stupid)
Kelly:
The round thing is a light fixture that I think was intended to be on the ceiling.
I’m surprised you don’t have a GPS unit to map your routes and save the locations of shops, Scoot. Given how much you love to wander and explore, I’m sure you’ll find that shop again.
So many windows have bars on them, even upper floors… is this to deter burglaries or for decorative purposes? I like the wrought iron Juliet balconies though — they remind me of Paris!
Tundra Bunny:
I reset Google Maps to remember my history. A bit late! The bars are for a variety of reasons. Added security, safety from falls for children and pets (and adults), ventilation without leaving the house open to intruders. The thing that surprises me is that in the States, laws were changed so that if you had bars on windows they had to have an emergency release in case of fire. These rarely do.
Your comment about the (special) shop reminds me why I love European towns/cities. On top of all the amazing architecture and history, there are also so many unique small stores. For example, of the various cities I’ve visited in Italy, in each one, I have found tiny shops selling only gloves. Hundreds of amazing pairs in soft-as-butter leather and other materials. Every color of the rainbow. Every style. I always try to find a unique pair (my kind of souvenir)–which is not hard to do in these special shops. Will be hunting for a store in Venice in March. I’ve seen the location of one (on g..gle maps) just down the canal from the Rialto Bridge–after you make a few twisty turns (which pretty much describes Venice). Can’t wait. 🙂 Mary
Mary:
Yes, gloves! We have those shops. And wonderful hot shops. And all kinds of specialties. Ooh, I want to go to Venice in March!
Love a hat shop! Found a wonderful hat in a shop called Fabhatrix in the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh in October. Styles for men and women. The cost of men’s flat caps was a tad eyewatering, but the selection was amazing. Yet another souvenir idea. 🙂 Can you tell I like wearable souvenirs (e.g. gloves, hats, scarves)? lol Mary
The green door building looks forbidding. Very defensive. What does the sign over the doorway say, please? Oh, the tiled room! Love it. Olivia
Olivia:
The tile sign is peculiar and looks like a movie marquis. It reads Edificio Plaza Dr. Emilio Luque (Dr. Emilio Luque Plaza Building). Most of our buildings have names in addition to numbers. Thats the name of the building and the plaza. Catchy address isn’t it?
Ha! If the “thing” was actually something you were “so desperately in need of”, you wouldn’t have forgotten it! It’s easily done, stumbling across something special, then being completely unable to remember the way back to find it again.
Gorgeous selection of photos, once again! Jx
Jon:
I know it’s something I can’t live without.
Ditto what Kirk said!
Judy C:
Thanks! It only took me a little over a year to find it the first time.
You’ll remember what the shop carried when you need the item. Then you’ll figure out where it is. I like that curvy apartment building in the final photo.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
I hope I can survive until I remember what I thought I needed.
I always love an interesting shop even if I don’t buy a single thing
Adam
Nekorandom.com
Adam:
I’m the same way. Especially interesting is this shop I can’t remember.
If you’re tech-minded, there are apps like (random, not necessarily a recommendation) “Map my walk” — for re-finding future unicorn shops…
Anon:
Yes, plenty of options. I now save my walk history.
What beautiful and outstanding Architecture, and that Tilework is Sublime. I’ve always Fantasized about a Moorish built Home in the Desert here in Arizona, you just never see that kind of Architecture here and I’ve always been drawn to it.
Anonymous:
I love the style of architecture and would love a house like that myself.
What a wonderful place for wandering around discovering great shops! How lucky you are. I hope you find that particular one again soon. 🙂
Jennifer
Jennifer:
I hope so, too. It’s been tough living without whatever it is.