La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
For those of you wondering what goes on under the caparotes (the cone hats of the penitents), I’ve shared some images below. They get erect with some help, although not from Viagra as Jon of Give ’em the old razzle dazzle suggested in a comment.
Often when I’m out on my walks, I come across cats that are part of the Trap, Neuter, Return program here in Córdoba. The colonies can be found at the Roman temple next to City Hall, in gardens alongside historic buildings, along the river (click here for a historic home). They all look so healthy and happy. Córdoba has 365 registered cat colonies. Since 2021, more than 6,000 cats have been sterilized, vaccinated, and have received veterinary care. Abandonment cases have been reduced by more than 50% and the births of approximately 3,000 new cats have been prevented in the last three years, at a cost to residents of €0.62 per person per year. In 2022, Córdoba was recognized by the Spanish Government as having the best national project for managing feline colonies.
My plan yesterday was to get out of bed early, throw on some clothes, and see the final procession of Semana Santa. I didn’t wake up early enough and didn’t feel like facing the crowds at that point when the procession would have been near the mosque-cathedral. So, I missed the resurrection. And, if I don’t see it with my own eyes, I won’t believe it. I am unrepentant.
Para quienes se preguntan qué pasa debajo de los caparotes (los sombreros cónicos de los penitentes), he compartido algunas imágenes a continuación. Se ponen erectos con algo de ayuda, aunque no con Viagra como sugirió Jon de Give ’em the old razzle dazzle en un comentario.
A menudo, cuando salgo a caminar, me encuentro con gatos que forman parte del programa Captura, Esterilización y Retorno aquí en Córdoba. Las colonias se pueden encontrar en el templo romano junto al Ayuntamiento, en jardines junto a edificios históricos, a lo largo del río (haz clic aquí para ver una casa histórica). Todos se ven tan sanos y felices. Córdoba tiene 365 colonias de gatos registradas. Desde 2021, más de 6000 gatos han sido esterilizados, vacunados y han recibido atención veterinaria. Los casos de abandono se han reducido en más del 50 % y se ha evitado el nacimiento de aproximadamente 3000 gatos nuevos en los últimos tres años, con un coste para los residentes de 0,62 € por persona al año. En 2022, Córdoba fue reconocida por el Gobierno español por tener el mejor proyecto nacional de gestión de colonias felinas.
Ayer mi plan era levantarme temprano, vestirme rápidamente, y ver la última procesión de Semana Santa. No me desperté lo suficientemente temprano y no tenía ganas de enfrentarme a la multitud cuando la procesión estuviera cerca de la mezquita-catedral. Así que me perdí la resurrección. Y si no la veo con mis propios ojos, no lo creeré. No me arrepiento.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Molino de la Albolafia. Molino medieval a orillas del río, cerca del puente romano. Se cree que es de origen islámico del siglo IX y que fue construido sobre un molino romano anterior.
• Alberga una colonia de gatos registrada.
• Me pregunto si se cambia el color del pelo para cada atuendo. O tal vez usa los mismos pantalones de yoga todos los días.
What a cool location, I would like to explore that….but cats? I only spied dogs.
The Lad was here this weekend. I missed the resurrection too. Well, I did see one resurrection.
Doubting Thomas! Pictures or it didn’t happen. Boud
Oh …well I would, but I think this is a PG rated blog my dear, lol!!!!
Boud:
Amen!
I stand corrected…I had to get my opera glasses out, those are indeed cats.
Mistress Borghese:
You DID have me wondering. I suppose they’re not easy to see on a smart phone screen.
Mistress Maddie:
I didn’t see ANY resurrection!
I love flamenco music — I would gladly sit and listen to that busker.
Debra:
I hope to find him again and am sorry I didn’t catch more. He’s from Turkey and here to study flamenco guitar. His girlfriend is from Ukraine and also a student. Nice guy.
Should you ever entertain the thought of another cat……you don’t have far to go!
Imagining if Jesus had missed the resurrection…….just sayin’.
Jim:
Ha! It’s a good thing I’m not Jesus.
I love what Cordoba does for the cats!
When we lived in Miami a friend used to rescue feral cats and bring them to the animal hospital where Carlos worked to have them euthanized. Carlos took her money, then vaxxed the cats, spayed or neutered them, and released them back in the wild.
His friend never knew until years later and was very angry that he’d not killed the cats as she requested.
Oh, and she’s a cat lover. Go figure.
So, you have to wear a rigid cone on your head before you wear the real one??? Okay ….
Bob:
How can you call yourself a cat lover and want all feral and stray cats euthanized? I now love Carlos even more (including the fact that he worked at an animal hospital). If you don’t have something rigid, you go limp.
The secret beneath the coneheads. The video reminds me to always have a few Euros in my pocket, he is good. Glad to hear the city takes good care of the cats, and cat lovers.
David:
You’re right about the coins. I always make sure to have some.
As I looked at the pictures of what goes beneath the caparotes, my internal voice muttered, “For Christ’s sake.”
And then I laughed at myself.
I love everything about that film. The little child was so charming and watching the way the mother (?) stopped to let the child hop down the steps made me happy. A moment in time. An illustration in patient parenting. And the guitarist was quite talented.
I didn’t see the resurrection either. AGAIN! Jeez.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
The child was adorable and loved the music. The way the mother so calmly related to him made me happy (and a bit blissful). I once muttered, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph about some idiotic tourist in Seville. However, I was with my friend Tere (Maria Teresa) and her brothers Jesus and their friend José. They were confused. I spoke briefly with the guitarist. He is here from Turkey to study flamenco guitar. His girlfriend is a student at the university and she’s from Ukraine. I hope to see him again (and record an entire song).
Two connect the two themes of this post: At times I wonder, given their penchant for hanging around ruins-especially ancient ones-if we don’t all resurrect as cats. The busker brought back the recurring, winsome, and unrealistic wish that I had been able to do that in my younger days. I.e., live an urban, edgy, bohemian life (skinny and with my hair back on my head). I wasn’t built for that, as it turns out, either mentally and physically. I find it odd, but I guess it’s not unusual, to have been the opposite of what I was.
wickedhamster:
My fantasy had been to create art from my spot on Ponte Vecchio in Italy. I was skinny and had a lot of hair. I sat on a bench in Florence and sketched, and I also sketched wherever I was in Italy. But no life on the Ponte Vecchio for me.
That video was 45 seconds of bliss! Can anyone just “adopt” a kitty off the street?
Kelly:
No, you shouldn’t just take a cat home, but there are shelters and services to re-home cats. I wish I had recorded more of the music.
Biggest cat tree ever
Jssw:
ouldn’t that have looked cool on the terrace?
I wonder what the connection is between caparotes and dunce caps. Seems obvious to me, but…
Nice that Cordoba manages the feral cats. Does the city also feed them?
The cat colony at the historic mill has achieved a 100% sterilization and feeding the colony has had a significantly positive impact on the colony and reduced the cats’ predatory behavior.
ellen abbott:
The dunce cap was established in the 13th century by Scottish theologian John Duns Scotus who said the cap would funnel knowledge. In Spain in the 15th and 16 centuries, sinners and heretics were made to wear the caps (maybe they were influenced by the dunce cap). When the inquisition ended, they were adapted to be worn by penitents. Clearly, they didn’t succeed at funnelling knowledge. There are feeding stations at the cat colonies.
I remember that mill. I had no idea it was a cat colony — I’d have taken a closer look! Love the musical video (and the mischievous little kid who stars in it).
Steve:
There are cat colonies in many surprising places.
Thank you for the illustrations of Madonna’s bra! Jx
PS Flamenco! Love it.
Jon:
I love flamenco guitar (and especially the clapping). This guy was from Turkey and he’s here studying flamenco guitar. His girlfriend is from Ukraine.
So sorry you missed the resurrection. Ain’t that the way they say it goes? Some people here trap feral cats and have them neutered/spayed, but it’s not as organized as the program in Córdoba. Jacksonville needs to do much better with the feral cat problem. Too many people feed them and do nothing about truly helping them.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
In Fuengirola, good people would trap feral cats and pay for a vet to spay/neuter. The ear would be clipped and they would be released. Here, they do so much more.
I’m surprised there isn’t a cat on every rung of that stationary ferris wheel! Cordoba’s feral cat program is definitely worth implementing in communities with feral cat problems.
Tundra Bunny:
That day, there were three more cats on the structure. One had just left the wheel.
Looks like you could strain spaghetti with the insides of those caps.
Kirk:
Maybe even a second time.