La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
All in all, I did have a pleasant long walk in the sun yesterday, and I’m glad I went early because the temperature kept climbing throughout the day. 45˚C/113˚F in the sun (but only 42˚C/108˚F in the shade). I crossed the river which takes me out of the city of Córdoba and explored briefly. I got caught up with the water, the flowers, and the view, so didn’t wander far. Of course, I have plenty of photos, but except for today’s video at the medieval, probably 14th-century, San Antonio Mill on the other side of the river, those will wait for another day.
At around 6 p.m. when the heat was at its peak, San Geraldo and I took a taxi to another aquarium shop, called Acuario Santarém. San Geraldo hadn’t been impressed with the cleanliness of the previous shop, nor the quality of the displays and supplies. When we walked into Acuario Santarem, I completely understood what he meant. What a difference.
The owner, José María, was friendly, amazingly knowledgable, and very helpful. He spoke some English, but I was mostly translator and he often lost me with his technical and scientific explanations. What I could understand, San Geraldo was already familiar with from all his reading and understood, for the most part. We were there for over an hour and by the end, SG had ordered a tank; an oak cabinet base with doors; substrate for the plants; programmable full-spectrum light; and a hi-tech external filter. And we selected the rock and wood SG will use to create his underwater environment. I hope Gregg, husband of Jennifer (of Sparrow Tree Journal) who is an expert and creates and cares for aquarium environments for a living, would approve of our choices.
It all should be delivered Friday. Then the fun starts. SG has to set it up and get everything going. It should take about three months of adjusting the water and getting things settled before all the plants and fish are home.
SG has a long list of tropical fish that he continues to narrow down. Many now have his added label DNB, for Do Not Buy. I took lots of photos in the shop. With most tanks, the moment I stepped up with my camera, the fish darted away. Some actually went into hiding. But not the Discus fish in today’s photos. They came up to visit and study me and I fell in love and started talking to them because I know they could hear and understand (I spoke Spanish) behind the thick glass and the noise.
I’ve come out of the worst of my slump. It was rough going for a day or so. I didn’t want to be here or anywhere. (I’m sending an enormous hug to Mary Moon, aka Maria Luna.) Anyway, maybe it was the eclipse. Apparently, Córdoba was one of the top places to be to view the eclipse. What I read in the paper in the days leading up said just the opposite. But we never did find (we didn’t try very hard) the glasses and figured we could see it better anyway on the web after the fact.
I’ll be out briefly in the heat of the afternoon to “stroll” (as opposed to run) some errands. I plan to be productive today. We’ll see how that goes.
En resumen, ayer disfruté de un agradable paseo largo bajo el sol, y me alegro de haber salido temprano porque la temperatura siguió subiendo durante todo el día. 45 °C al sol (pero solo 42 °C a la sombra). Crucé el río que me saca de la ciudad de Córdoba y exploré brevemente. Me dejé llevar por el agua, las flores y el paisaje, así que no me alejé mucho. Of course, I have plenty of photos, but except for today’s video at the medieval, probably 14th-century, San Antonio Mill on the other side of the river, those will wait for another day.
Alrededor de las 6 de la tarde, cuando el calor estaba en su punto máximo, San Geraldo y yo tomamos un taxi a otra tienda de acuarios, llamada Acuario Santarém. A San Geraldo no le había impresionado la limpieza de la tienda anterior, ni la calidad de las exhibiciones y los suministros. Cuando entramos en Acuario Santarém, entendí perfectamente a qué se refería. ¡Qué diferencia!
El dueño, José María, fue amable, increíblemente experto y muy servicial. Hablaba algo de inglés, pero yo era principalmente traductor y a menudo me perdía con sus explicaciones técnicas y científicas. Lo que yo podía entender, San Geraldo ya lo conocía por todas sus lecturas y lo comprendía, en su mayor parte. Estuvimos allí más de una hora y, al final, SG había encargado un acuario; una base de mueble de roble con puertas; sustrato para las plantas; luz programable de espectro completo; y un filtro externo de alta tecnología. Y seleccionamos la roca y la madera que SG usará para crear su entorno subacuático. Espero que Gregg, esposo de Jennifer (de Sparrow Tree Journal), que es un experto y se dedica a crear y cuidar entornos de acuario, apruebe nuestras elecciones.
Todo debería llegar el viernes. Entonces empieza lo divertido. SG tiene que montarlo y ponerlo todo en marcha. Debería llevar unos tres meses ajustar el agua y estabilizar todo antes de que todas las plantas y los peces estén en casa.
SG tiene una larga lista de peces tropicales que sigue reduciendo. Muchos ahora llevan su etiqueta DNB, de No Comprar. Tomé muchas fotos en la tienda. En la mayoría de los acuarios, en cuanto me acercaba con la cámara, los peces salían disparados. Algunos incluso se escondían. Pero no el pez disco de las fotos de hoy. Se acercaron a observarme y a estudiarme, y me enamoré de ellos y empecé a hablarles porque sabía que podían oírme y entenderme (hablé español) a través del grueso cristal y el ruido.
Ya superé mi peor momento. Fue un día o dos muy duro. No quería estar aquí ni en ningún otro sitio. (Le mando un abrazo enorme a Mary Moon, también conocida como Maria Luna). En fin, quizás fue por el eclipse. Al parecer, Córdoba era uno de los mejores lugares para verlo. Lo que leí en el periódico los días previos decía justo lo contrario. Pero nunca encontramos las gafas (tampoco nos esforzamos mucho) y pensamos que, de todas formas, podríamos verlo mejor por internet después.
Saldré un rato durante el calor de la tarde para dar un paseo (en lugar de correr) para hacer algunos recados. Tengo pensado ser productivo hoy. Ya veremos qué tal me va.
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Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
I didn’t realize you had to get the tank set up and the water just right before the fish went in! That’s a lot of stuff going on.
We are in the throes of another heat spell … yesterday I went into work and even with AC it was warm inside. I raced home and took a cool shower.
I’m done with summer but I don’t think summer is done with me.
Bob,
I remember preparation for my aquariums when I was a kid but never this level. Ignorance was bliss. 115 in the sun right now. Only 106 in the shade.
I wonder what the fish were thinking as they were examining you?
David,
They were hanging on my every word.
How wonderful to hear you’re out of your slump! As one who also slumps, I know how good it feels to come out of one. Fish are fine things; I kept an aquarium back in my high school days. Do not put kissing gouramis in the same tank with angelfish. Were the fish impressed with your command of Spanish? 🐠🐙🐡🐳🦑🐟🦈🦞🐬
wickedhamster:
I still have some climbing to do, but one day near the bottom is enough. I had three aquariums from the age of 11 to 17. I really enjoyed them, and I don’t remember them being so complicated! The discus fish fell immediately in love with me and my accent.
Oh Mitchell. Well, I’m crying again.
I don’t even have words to say how beautiful that song is but I think perhaps if I was told I could only ever hear one song for the rest of my life, that might be it.
You know.
You know.
Mary Moon:
Paul Simon has a way with words and their harmonies were incomparable. His lyrics always get to me. Hope you’re smiling today.
I am. And you?
Mary Moon:
Still moody, but SO MUCH BETTER. And you helped.
Gregg wanted me to tell you to tell SG to look up Takashi Amano on YouTube if he hasn’t already. Amano is the original planted tank guru/genius. He’ll love it!!! So much inspiration there!
It sounds like SG has done the work to really learn about everything and that’s impressive.
Jennifer
Jennifer:
Wonderful! I’m going to tell him immediately.
Jennifer:
Thanks to Gregg from Jerry. He had found and loved Takashi Amano’s work.
When I was in university, I always took Saturdays off to have fun scouring junk shops and whale sales for antiques, with a visit to Petland to watch all the tropical fish. They must’ve had a dozen tanks and I’d lose track of time watching all the brightly coloured fish. Best of all, my stress always melted away by the time I got home! I’m sure all of SG’s careful planning (and advice from you and others) will result in a beautiful aquarium too and I can hardly wait to see it!
Tundra Bunny:
I LOVE vintage shops of all kinds. We don’t have many of those around here. There’s a beautiful shop less than 10 minutes away where you can get lots of wonderful things. Some are even under €5,000! I agree with about aquariums. I think this will be very therapeutic (while SG does all the work).
I’m surprised a fish is even aware of a camera. Anyway, good to hear that you’re out of the worst of your slump. May that continue.
Kirk:
It wasn’t the camera, it was my presence (or anyone’s). They probably thought I was going to feed them.
A Fish Called Wanda comes to mind. I’m in a helluva slump. My mouth opens and closes like a fish but the fish says something intelligent.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
I should watch A Fish Called Wanda again. So sorry about your slump.
I came across it and watched it about six months ago. It’s the movie that made me fall in love with Kevin Kline. I don’t know why he married Phoebe Cates when he could have had me.
janiejunebug:
Well, I don’t know why you didn’t tell him he could have had you. That would have changed everything.
How exciting that SG is moving forward with the fish aquarium . Is it a saltwater one?
How cute the Discus fish are!
Jim:
It’s going to be a planted aquarium with the addition of rocks and branches, plus tropical fish. The discus fish were wonderful, but they’re not on the list for what he plans to do. What he has in mind will be beautiful.
Well, this is exciting — THE ADVENTURE BEGINS! Glad SG has found a great shop and made his aquarium infrastructure purchases. Tropical fish are so beautiful, aren’t they. Glad to hear you’re emerging from that slump too.
Debra:
Thanks. A little brighter again today. Waiting for the first round of aquarium items to be delivered today!
This aquarium is quite a production. Over weeks! I’m glad you’re doing better today. Do you think the oncoming eclipse didn’t help? Boud
Boud:
Mary Moon and I were wondering about the eclipse. Anything’s possible.
I love discus fish. They are very curious and personable.
In every entry you write of the heat, I do hope it is less oppressive when we arrive in Barcelona. The fish look beautiful.
larrymuffin:
Unless there’s freakish weather, you should be very comfortable in Barcelona in October. Temps usually in low 20s. Sounds like heaven!
OK I will take your word for it and if it is not, you will hear about it.