La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Merchi is gone for another summer in Fuengirola. She’ll be joined by a large percentage of the population of Córdoba which is why Fuengirola, in summer, is known as Little Córdoba. Things are quieting down around town. The temperature remains high. The humidity is low. San Geraldo is fantasizing about buying a house back on the beach. I’m fantasizing about having a place here with a swimming pool (piscina in Spanish).
I’ve mentioned before that the building next door to us has a pool on the roof that I can see when I’m up there hanging laundry. The entrance to that building is around back so I never have the opportunity to casually befriend any of the residents. Even better, though, is a building I see across the boulevard with four pools on two roofs. And those are private pools for individual apartments. That’s what I’d prefer.
San Geraldo planned to make burritos for dinner last night. He’d never made them before and found all the ingredients he wanted at El Corte Inglés. He even found the brand we used for Mexican cooking in the States, Old El Paso.
He took out the food processor for the first time since we moved. We bought it right after we arrived in Spain, which means it’s 15 years old and has seen a lot of use. We had to search the house for the parts and I was so relieved when I found them. They were in a basket and covered with dust. SG poured the contents of one can into the bowl, flipped the switch, and nothing. The food processor is deceased. Fortunately, we have a hand-held mixer. Finally, SG got the sauce and filling simmering on the stove and then said, “I’m bored.” So we went to Goiko Grill and will have burritos tonight.
I headed for the National Police today around noon to pick up my national identity card. I forgot to pick it up Friday. I was more than halfway through my 15-minute walk when my stomach began to heave. I figured I’d better turn back for home. As I did, I realized I didn’t even have my paperwork anyway. I also had the too-small tank top from Zara with me for return. I made it home just in time, have taken two pills, and will try this all again Friday. It’s already 40C/104F. I don’t want to cut into my time out for second breakfast with San Geraldo tomorrow. Maureen and Connor will be here Thursday. We noticed we’ve adjusted to Córdoba’s heat. We now think 35C/95F is pleasant. In the shade. At least we have that beautiful view from the cool and comfortable terrace.
Merchi se ha ido a pasar otro verano en Fuengirola. Se le unirá un gran porcentaje de la población de Córdoba, razón por la cual Fuengirola, en verano, es conocida como la Pequeña Córdoba. Las cosas se están calmando en la ciudad. La temperatura sigue siendo alta. La humedad es baja. San Geraldo está fantaseando con comprar una casa en la playa. Yo fantaseo con tener un lugar aquí con piscina.
Ya he mencionado antes que el edificio de al lado tiene una piscina en la azotea que puedo ver cuando estoy arriba tendiendo la ropa. La entrada a ese edificio está en la parte de atrás, así que nunca tengo la oportunidad de entablar amistad con ninguno de los residentes. Pero aún mejor es un edificio que veo al otro lado del bulevar con cuatro piscinas en dos azoteas. Y esas son piscinas privadas para apartamentos individuales. Eso es lo que yo preferiría.
San Geraldo planeó hacer burritos para cenar anoche. Nunca los había hecho antes y encontró todos los ingredientes que quería en El Corte Inglés. Incluso encontró la marca que usábamos para cocinar comida mexicana en Estados Unidos, Old El Paso.
Sacó el robot de cocina por primera vez desde que nos mudamos. La compramos justo después de llegar a España, lo que significa que tiene 15 años y se ha usado mucho. Tuvimos que buscar las piezas por toda la casa y me sentí muy aliviada cuando las encontré. Estaban en una cesta y cubiertas de polvo. SG vertió el contenido de una lata en el recipiente, encendió el interruptor y nada. La procesadora de alimentos se ha estropeado. Por suerte, tenemos una batidora de mano. Finalmente, SG puso a hervir la salsa y el relleno en la estufa y luego dijo: “Estoy aburrido”. Así que fuimos a Goiko Grill y cenaremos burritos esta noche.
Hoy fui a la Policía Nacional alrededor de las 12:00 para recoger mi nueva tarjeta nacional de identidad. Se me olvidó recogerlo el viernes. Estaba a más de la mitad de mi caminata de 15 minutos cuando me empezó a doler el estómago. Pensé que mejor volvía a casa. Al hacerlo, me di cuenta de que ni siquiera tenía mis papeles. También llevaba conmigo la camiseta de tirantes de Zara que me quedaba pequeña para devolverla. Llegué a casa justo a tiempo, me tomé dos pastillas y lo intentaré todo de nuevo el viernes. Ya hace 40 °C. No quiero perder tiempo mañana para el segundo desayuno con San Geraldo. Maureen y Connor estarán aquí el jueves. Nos hemos dado cuenta de que nos hemos acostumbrado al calor de Córdoba. Ahora nos parece agradable 35 °C. A la sombra. Al menos tenemos esa hermosa vista desde la terraza fresca y cómoda.
• San Geraldo (y mi pierna y pie derechos) junto a la piscina en San Juan, Puerto Rico. Noviembre de 1981.
San Geraldo con las hijas de nuestros amigos en nuestra piscina en Guilford, Connecticut. Alrededor de 1992.
• Al lado.
• Al otro lado del bulevar. La piscina de la izquierda todavía no está llena. ¿Debería ir a ver qué pasa?
Click and soar with the swallows.
Haz clic y vuela con las golondrinas.
I lived here for a decade before I used the pools, and really didn’t use them much until I started participating in water aerobics a couple of years ago. The water in the outdoor pool is up to 82F this summer, I was there yesterday, and the day before, and the day before. Are there public pools you can get access to?
David,
We lived in Fuengirola for nearly 13 years and SG never went to our pool. It took him a year and a half to step onto the beach across the street. There are a number of municipal pools but that’s not what I’m dreaming of.
I love that drawing!
Deb,
Thanks. I’m trying and trying to get back in the habit.
A few years ago, I was home on a hot summer day and there was a knock at the door. A lady from the county tax assessor’s office.
“How can I help you?”
“I just need to check out your pool.”
“Pool? Um, we don’t have a pool.”
“Our lists show that you do. And so I need to see it.”
“Lady, in this heat don’t think that if we HAD a pool I’d be IN the pool?”
She did not smile, so I walked her around the house and through the gate and said:
“When you find it can you tell me where it is?”
And I went back inside to the AC.
Bob,
Did she find it and did you enjoy it after that?
Pools are a lot of work, a lot of maintenance. I don’t think I’d like to live in an apartment under a pool. All that weight of water hanging above me.
Ellen Abbott,
We had a pool at our house in Connecticut that we loved, but, yes it was a lot of work. And we were on well water, so,had to have a truck deliver water to top up the pool. But it was a great way to entertain and for a midnight skinny dip. .
I’d kill for a little piscina these days. I will settle for a romp in the backyard sprinklers. Well, maybe a waddle. My romping days are over.
Deedles,
A backyard sprinkler sounds ideal. So does a backyard.
I want a pool! I’m pretty sure that Glen planted the fruit trees in our back yard so that there would be no room for a pool. We had one once at another house and I literally still dream of it.
Mary Moon,
We loved our pool in Guilford. (So did our friends.)
I’d prefer being by the sea to a pool any day. Jx
PS I had a double-take at your sketch from Puerto Rico, trying to work out whether that was what I thought it was in your hand! I think, on closer examination, it’s a book(?).
Jon,
In nearly 45 years, I never noticed that about my drawing. Now I can’t unsee it. I love the sound of the sea.
Burritos for dinner then “halfway through my 15-minute walk when my stomach began to heave” … OH NO! thought I. So ??????
Shirley,
Oh, no, the burritos were saved for the next night. The stomach just did what it does. No apparent connection to what I eat. All my meds.
I guess heat is a relative thing when you don’t think 95 degrees is not so hot! I get what you mean though. I was outside yesterday with the dogs and I didn’t feel overwhelmed with heat. It was “only” 91!
Michael,
It was only 93 last night when we walked home from dinner at 11. Like spring!
Hi, the same here, summer comes and people leave en mass. It used to be to the South… France, Spain or the mountains. I don’t understand why as it’s beautiful here in summer, currently running at 30 -34 degrees, beautiful lakes to swim in. What more could you want? More… heat? All accessible by public transport -train, buses.
Today, I was at Vevey – 34 degrees, swimming, restaurants and shops and a market. Why go anywhere else? Here is ‘perfect’.
As for swimming pools, at this temperature they get too hot – like bath water and when the rain comes you have to deal with all the different algaes – pink, green and blue. Yes… really. Let nature sort it all out and go to the lake or the sea.
Karen,
It IS surprising that everyone still feels the need to escape. But I suppose there’s the desire to simply be somewhere else. In late summer in Palm Springs, it was impossible to keep the water temperature down in the pool.
Just checked our temperature here…..33C with humidity/feeling like 40C!
So without the humidity it would be possible to function outside at that temp.
With it…….makes it dangerous.
Yes, a pool would be perfect with or without humidity.
Time to have a visit with my sister who lives across the province on another shore and who has a pool.
Good luck meeting someone from the ‘pool apartment building’.
Jim,
The humidity would destroy us.
40 degrees bloody hell man
Finlaygray,
Yeah, it’s a bit much.
The sunset with the swallows is wonderful.
Kelly,
Our constant view.
Piscina is a great name for a pool since everyone will piss in it, LOL! That’s why I prefer swimming in a cold Shield lake to a chlorinated pool be it indoors or out.
Tundra Bunny,
But the chemicals kill things!
Just don’t try jumping from one roof to the next when coveting that pool. Unless you think you can make it.
Kirk,
The idea did cross my mind. There’s no gap to bridge; the buildings abut. But our roof is higher than theirs. I’d need a ladder and I don’t like ladders.
104F? Um… no.
Rade,
We got used to that in the California desert. Still, it IS hot.
Odd, I commented yesterday and it’s gone! Vital stuff like I really love that drawing, not just technically, though that’s great, but the atmosphere. A relationship in a single drawing. It’s wonderful. Boud
Boud,
I just posted a response and it disappeared! Thanks regarding the drawing. I used to not go anywhere without a sketchbook and pens. I love looking at those drawings now and the stories they tell.