La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Relatively speaking, today is not a hot day. I went out for a walk at noon and the temperature was only 25˚C/77˚F. When I returned home around 2, it had reached 28C/83F. It’s still climbing but it’s only expected to reach around 32/90. The problem is that the humidity was 54% and it’s only supposed to drop to 35% as the temperature climbs. That’s high for here. And this is our only coolish day for the foreseeable future. I hope you’ve memorized all the numbers. They will be on the quiz.
I’m still going through the photos from our trip to Segovia. I used my iPhone camera and my Canon camera (mostly for zooming). Between the two, I had nearly 800 photos. I can’t remember the number exactly, so that will NOT be on the quiz. I’m down to 343 with many more destined for the trash bin. Still, you’ll be seeing photos for some time to come.
I had a difficult time deciding what to share with you today. Do I tell you the story of the superb highway restaurant where we stopped on the way up (and the gift shop) or do I tell you about the friendly local hangout on the way home where I ordered well and SG did not (and, had we seen the toilet beforehand, we never would have stopped there)? Should I share views from the road? Old billboards that have been maintained without the advertising and are now national roadside art? Views in and around Segovia? Shop windows? Would you enjoy seeing the food we ate? I’m overwhelmed. And to top things off, I have photos from today’s walk around Córdoba. I’ve already whittled those down to 115 (from 127).
I thought today would be a great day to visit the Roman temple next to City Hall. My first attempts when we arrived here were met with disappointment. The park was under restoration and took much of our first year. Then I tried and found it closed again; I think it was a Thursday. I walked up to the gate today to find it was closed due to the high temperatures. I whined (I hope not aloud), ‘But it’s not hot now!’
Merchi left today for the beach. They stay with her parents who have a second apartment in Fuengirola. Merchi showed me live video of her parents in their living room. I asked if they knew she could see them and she said they know the camera is there, but they seem to forget about it. I think she should remind them (or maybe not show others). She said she likes to be able to check on them when they’re so far away. Her father is 84 and her mother just turned 78. I said, “Oh, she’s only a year older than Jerry,” to which she replied, “They are NOT the same generation. Jerry made a pact with the devil!”
I couldn’t wait to tell SG. He didn’t know what it meant. (The Picture of Dorian Grey anyone? Damn Yankees? The Devil and Daniel Webster? Faust?) When I explained it, he said it was new to him because, when he was a kid, people in South Dakota didn’t make pacts with the devil. He added that was probably something we did in New York.
I finally made the decision on which photos to share. The decision was not to decide. So here’s a shot of the closed gate at the Roman temple and hand-made fans to help with the heat. So they can open the damned gate. I even bought a new cap!
En términos relativos, hoy no hace calor. Salí a caminar a las 12:00 y la temperatura era de solo 25°C/77°F. Cuando regresé a casa alrededor de las 14:00, había alcanzado los 28 °C/83 °F. Sigue subiendo, pero se espera que solo llegue a unos 32 C/90°F. El problema es que la humedad era del 54% y se supone que solo bajará al 35% a medida que suba la temperatura. Eso es alto para aquí. Y este es nuestro único día fresco en el futuro previsible. Espero que te hayas memorizado todos los números. Entrarán en el examen.
Todavía estoy revisando las fotos de nuestro viaje a Segovia. Usé la cámara de mi iPhone y mi cámara Canon (principalmente para hacer zoom). Entre las dos, tenía casi 800 fotos. No recuerdo el número exacto, así que NO entrará en el examen. Me quedan 343 y muchas más irán a la basura. Aun así, veréis fotos durante un tiempo.
Me costó decidir qué compartir con ustedes hoy. ¿Les cuento la historia del magnífico restaurante de carretera donde paramos de camino (y la tienda de regalos) o les hablo del acogedor bar local de camino a casa donde yo pedí bien y SG no (y, si hubiéramos visto el baño antes, nunca habríamos parado allí)? ¿Debería compartirles las vistas desde la carretera? ¿Los viejos carteles publicitarios que se han conservado sin publicidad y que ahora son arte vial nacional? ¿Las vistas de Segovia y sus alrededores? ¿Los escaparates? ¿Les gustaría ver la comida que comimos? Estoy abrumada. Y para colmo, tengo fotos del paseo de hoy por Córdoba. Ya las he reducido a 115 (de 127). Pensé que hoy sería un gran día para visitar el templo romano junto al Ayuntamiento. Mis primeros intentos al llegar aquí fueron una decepción. El parque estaba en restauración y nos llevó gran parte de nuestro primer año. Luego lo intenté y lo encontré cerrado de nuevo; creo que era jueves. Hoy me acerqué a la puerta y la encontré cerrada por los próximos días debido a las altas temperaturas. Me quejé (espero que no en voz alta): «¡Pero si ahora no hace calor!»
Merchi se fue hoy a la playa. Se quedan con sus padres, que tienen un segundo apartamento en Fuengirola. Merchi me enseñó un vídeo en directo de sus padres en el salón. Le pregunté si sabían que ella podía verlos y me dijo que saben que la cámara está ahí, pero que parece que se olvidan de ella. Creo que debería recordárselo (o quizás no enseñárselo a nadie). Dijo que le gusta poder ver cómo están cuando están tan lejos. Su padre tiene 84 años y su madre acaba de cumplir 78. Le dije: «Oh, solo es un año mayor que Jerry», a lo que ella respondió: «¡No son de la misma generación! ¡Jerry hizo un pacto con el diablo!».
Estaba deseando contárselo a SG. No sabía qué significaba. (¿Alguien recuerda Retrato de Dorian Gray? ¿Malditos Yankees? ¿Fausto?) Cuando se lo expliqué, dijo que era algo nuevo para él porque, cuando era niño, en Dakota del Sur no se hacían pactos con el diablo. Añadió que probablemente era algo que se hacía en Nueva York.
Finalmente decidí qué fotos compartir. La decisión era no decidir. Así que aquí tienen una foto de la puerta cerrada del templo romano y los ventiladores hechos a mano para ayudar con el calor. Y que puedan abrir la maldita puerta. ¡Incluso me compré una gorra nueva!
• ¿No puedes leer?
• Tienda Corkcho en Segovia. Todo está hecho de corcho, incluidos los preciosos abanicos.
• Hoy frente al templo romano.
Having too many photos is almost as big a problem as having too few! I don’t think I’d like “spying” on my parents via video feed — you never know what private moment you might intrude upon. Even 80-year-olds must get snuggly now and then.
Steve:
Feast or famine. When Merchi showed me the feed, I thought it was just a video. When I realized it was live, I told her I didn’t want to watch. Her shirtless father was eating a bowl of cereal. Her mother was watching TV.
How frustrating that the Roman temple was closed – I can’t imagine heat preventing people from going to Karnak in Luxor or the Acropolis in Athens…
I prefer the abanicos in the last two photos than the ones in the cork shop (brilliantly crafted though they must be, in such a brittle material), but I guess they’re a bit restricted in the colour palette that they can use.
I look forward to seeing the next 450 photos! Jx
Jon:
It IS interesting to compare to Karnak or Luxor. I do wonder how durable the cork fans are.
I would gladly take and use any and all of those fans, cork or not. Fans can be so beautiful as well as being very utilitarian.
So when I hear about a pact being made with the devil, I think of Robert Johnson standing at the crossroads in Mississippi, offering his soul to Satan in exchange for guitar virtuosity. But I am from the pretty darn deep south here in the blighted Un-united States of America.
What’s the normal humidity there? 54% is considered low here. It’s a wonder we share so many different types of plants.
Ms. Take Me Down To The Crossroads
Mary Moon:
Fans are commonly seen around here, especially in this heat. SG always one in his bag, large size (called pericón). Solid colors, so he doesn’t lose the macho image. In summer, the humidity is mostly in the 20s.
No, no. One must not lose one’s macho image. I understand.
The humidity here this morning is already 78%. Sometimes I wonder how we manage to breathe.
I’ll take any photos, they’re all good! I do like fans. I have one and it never occurs to me to take it off the wall and use it for purpose! Boud
Boud:
Here you would have fans for the wall and fans for your use.
You have so many fans!!
Now I must go prepare for the quizzes!
Bob:
And keep studying. Old data will be on the quizzes, too.
If what she meant by packt with the devil is that San Geraldo looks and acts young for his age, then, yeah, The Picture of Dorien Grey.
Kirk:
That’s what she meant.
“…when he was a kid, people in South Dakota didn’t make pacts with the devil. He added that was probably something we did in New York.”
Ha!
Judy:
Making fun of one another’s upbringing never gets old.
Yeah, the pact with the devil quip was brilliant and quick-witted. Love the 2-tone fans, very much my style. (Yes, I do like a lot of the baroque but personally I’m quite Bauhaus.)
wickedhamster:
And I´m a little bit rococo.
In Cleveland, we made pacts with the flaming Cuyahoga River God.
wickedhamster:
And what did you trade for?
You will get in, sooner or later, no rush. I was thinking Someone would like the fans.
David:
One of these days. I’ll keep trying.
I caught the news stories about various landmarks throughout Europe were closed due to the heat. Be careful!
Rade:
I was surprised to find the temple closed. We’re not even approaching August highs. But maybe they close during the heat of summer in general.
The devil knows better than to make a pact with New Yorkers!
Was just looking for my own fans. Cork for a fan seems interesting. And yes to all the road stories. Blog fodder for days. Olivia
Olivia:
Some would say New York IS the devil.
I say I want to see whatever you chose to show. I’d love to have one of those cork fans. I bought half a dozen or so of the cork coin purses when I was in Portugal, small enough to fit in my pocket, big enough for money and the various cards I carry (credit, library, health, ID). I’m on the last one and when it wears out I’m going to be very sad. I gave to many of them away.
ellen abbott:
There’s always a cork shop around. I do love the products. I have a couple of cork bracelets. We’ve been out on drives and have seen cork trees whose bark had been harvested. Beautiful and fascinating.
I am getting regular reports of the heat in Europe. Oh the horror.
Urspo:
At this time of year, 35-40C is fairly normal for us here in Córdoba. And air-conditioning is abundant. I don’t know how others in normally cool parts of Europe are surviving this. Just awful.