La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
A couple of Tuesdays ago, I took a late, random walk. It was cloudy, but I had checked the forecast before I left and there was to be no rain for another couple of hours. I had reached the Gardens of the Duque de Rivas, about 15 minutes from home, when Shannon and I exchanged WhatsApp messages. They were on their way to Mauricio and Diego’s new restaurant for Taco Tuesday. I was nearly there anyway, so said I would meet them.
And then the sky darkened, the wind picked up, and it began to thunder. I checked the forecast again. Heavy thunderstorms for at least the next two hours. What what? By the time I reached Mercado Victoria, another 4 minutes, the rain had begun. And it stormed. I thought perhaps I’d wait it out, but it didn’t appear to be moving off all that quickly. I was wearing a pair of old sneakers, no jacket, and a lightweight cap. I waited inside the mercado.
Shannon and Stacey wrote that they had arrived at the restaurant. Soaked. So, I called for a cab which usually takes about 5 minutes. I immediately received a text with the cab number followed immediately by another text telling me they were looking for another cab.
Over the course of 35 minutes, I was assigned seven different taxis. And, finally, when the seventh neared, the driver went to the wrong address and phoned me to find out where I was. A few minutes later she made it around the park and I jumped in. It was still pouring. I decided to just go home and I was there about 5 minutes later. By then, the rain had stopped (but it started again).
We had a couple of days of heavy rain again late last week. I’m going to try again tomorrow for Taco Tuesday when there’s a 24% chance of rain. Today, I hope to see a few more flowery patios.
Hace un par de martes, salí a dar un paseo al azar. Estaba nublado, pero había consultado el pronóstico antes de salir y no se pronosticaba lluvia hasta dentro de un par de horas. Había llegado a los Jardines del Duque de Rivas, a unos 15 minutos de casa, cuando Shannon y yo intercambiamos mensajes de WhatsApp. Iban de camino al nuevo restaurante de Mauricio y Diego para el Taco Tuesday. Yo ya casi llegaba, así que les dije que nos encontraríamos.
Entonces el cielo se oscureció, el viento arreció y empezó a tronar. Volví a consultar el pronóstico. Fuertes tormentas eléctricas durante al menos las próximas dos horas. ¿Qué? Cuando llegué al Mercado Victoria, cuatro minutos después, ya había empezado a llover. Y se desató una tormenta. Pensé en esperar a que pasara, pero no parecía que fuera a cesar pronto. Llevaba unas zapatillas viejas, sin chaqueta y con una gorra ligera. Esperé dentro del mercado.
Shannon y Stacey escribieron que habían llegado al restaurante empapadas. Así que pedí un taxi, que suele tardar unos 5 minutos. Inmediatamente recibí un mensaje de texto con el número del taxi, seguido inmediatamente de otro mensaje que me decía que estaban buscando otro taxi.
En el transcurso de 35 minutos, me asignaron siete taxis diferentes. Finalmente, cuando el séptimo se acercaba, la conductora se equivocó de dirección y me llamó para preguntar dónde estaba. Unos minutos después, llegó al parque y me subí. Seguía lloviendo a cántaros. Decidí irme a casa y llegué unos 5 minutos después. Para entonces, la lluvia había cesado (pero volvió a empezar).
Tuvimos un par de días de fuertes lluvias a finales de la semana pasada. Mañana intentaré de nuevo con el Taco Tuesday, aunque hay un 24% de probabilidad de lluvia. Hoy espero ver más patios floridos.
• Desde el interior de Mercado Victoria.
• La lluvia cesó durante 45 segundos mientras esperaba el taxi número 7. Salí corriendo de mi refugio en la entrada de un estacionamiento para tomar esta foto.
• Waiting, under a not very effective tree umbrella, to cross the street.
• Esperando, bajo un paraguas de un árbol que no era muy eficaz, para cruzar la calle.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
We had a couple of incidents like that. Our 11th wedding anniversary on a trip to NYC. Walking through Greenwich Village it started to come down. Felt like someone was holding a fire hose on us for BLOCKS.
Rade:
Oh, I’ve been in those situations when you’re finally so soaked there’s no need to care anymore.
Too bad about the rainstorm’s timing, but look at all the beautiful flowers! 🙂
Love,
Jennifer
Jennifer:
Yes, I enjoyed the flowers before and even during the storm.
We got out just in time! Jx
Jon:
I’m so glad you had good weather.
I love the triumphant flowers, perfectly fine while the people are sloshing around wet and glum. I imagine the taxis’ upholstery was pretty damp by day’s end. Boud
Nature fighting back against a drought.
David:
And no flood. Kind Mother Nature.
Boud:
Taxis were overwhelmed by the demand. I’m sure no one noticed the wet since we were all simply adding to it.
Judging by your video, that was quite the shower! I think by that point with the production I too would have just went home. But the pictures were glorious. The first picture two of my favorites…Snap Dragons and ‘Grace Ward’ gromwell. I love Grace Ward gromwell with attractive star-shaped, bright blue flowers. I had it last year, but with our heat in summer, it doesn’t stand a chance, best for early spring.
Mistress Maddie:
Just getting a cab took it all out of me. I don’t know if those are specifically Grace Ward gromwell, but it’s likely. The color is electric.
Sorry you were foiled by Mother Nature and the taxi company!
Debra:
That poor taxi company. They were slammed.
We never know when the rain will come here as well…..right out of the blue most times. Considering the draught conditions we had last summer here, the more rain the better to fill up the water table just in case.
Wonderful flower photos……loving spring.
Jim:
Despite the downpour, the flower colors powered through.
We had lightning and thunder last night but when I got up this morning everything was dry so I guess no rain.
ellen abbott:
I love a good thunder and lightning storm. (Because I’ve always been safe.)
Your weather has been like our … wait a minute and it’ll change completely!!
And it’s unforgivable that the rain spoiled Taco Tuesday!!!
Bob:
The rain only spoiled Taco Tuesday for me. Apparently, they had a ton of business.
I love rain when I am hoe with no need to go out, but man can it cripple plans in no time. But there is nothing like getting home into dry clothes and sipping on a mug of hot tea or cocoa after getting stuck in the rain. Well, there may be a FEW more enjoyable experiences….
Sassybear:
I used to love getting caught in a rain storm when I was wearing shorts and sandals and not carrying anything with me. Those days are long gone.
God, I WISH we would get some rain like that. We had a light sprinkle today and it felt like manna from heaven but I’m not sure it’s enough to do the plants much good.
Steve:
We are happily not suffering from drought or deluge right now. And the parks and gardens are happy.
All those gorgeous flowers and plants in Cordoba need a drink too, but your photos never disappoint!
Tundra Bunny:
It’s been great weather for all the growing things. Lots of sunshine. Enough rain. Glorious. Except on Taco Tuesday.
The flowers are beautiful. We’ve had a little rain, but we need more. Carol returned to her home in Wisconsin a few weeks ago, where it’s been pouring almost non-stop. I hope your next Taco Tuesday works out.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
Aw, sorry Carol is back in Wisconsin. The forecast for tomorrow is sun and clouds, high 74, 6% chance of rain. Taco Tuesday looks promising.
I miss her terribly when she’s gone. I always make a fuss before she leaves and beg her not to go, but of course she wants to be in her home there where it’s so much cooler during the summer.
The Mercado Victoria certainly looks like a nice place to wait out a thunderstorm.
Kirk:
If I drank, it would have been a very good place to wait out the storm. (Also, if I had been hungry.) I don’t know why I didn’t sit down and have a coffee… and maybe a pastry.
If only we could have some rain like that! We, like Steve, ( we are only about 20 miles away) have barely had any proper rain for weeks….the garden is so dry.
Frances
Frances:
At the moment, it’s neither drought nor flood here. Nice!
The storms here in Florida are often like that. Sudden and violent.
Run! Or get very, very wet as the wind gusts and lightning and thunder strike and rumble.
How frustrating not to be able to get a cab. Obviously, you were not the only one to get called out by that storm. But look at what those rainstorms bring- all those beautiful flowers.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
The poor cab company was overwhelmed. What a mess. And, yes, all the beautiful flowers.