La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Today welcomes the first several of more than 40 processions for Holy Week. I don’t know how many I’ll take in, but I’ll share whatever I do see. Meanwhile, we had an exceptional afternoon Friday with Maureen and Connor, our friends from Glasgow. They’ve been enjoying some time in the sun in Fuengirola, as they regularly do, but they took a day to train up and spend time with us. We had coffee (and talked for hours). Then, they came home with us where we had torrijas (and talked for hours).
Connor is fluent in Spanish and French. English is of course his first language but he speaks with a Glaswegian accent and we often have to stop and translate for San Geraldo. Maureen is the same (not the fluencies, the Glaswegian). I think Connor is more challenging because he speaks more quickly. I watch SG’s eyes to make sure he’s still following.
Maureen showed us photos of her home renovations. When she said, “This is my hole,” I quickly repeated it for SG. “Her hall,” I said. I think we shock Maureen. Radiator was especially difficult for SG to understand. I can’t talk, however. I grew up pronouncing it RAD-ee-ater. Rad to rhyme with bad. It was a New York City thing. I wasn’t aware of it until I was around 19 and with my girlfriend. She was from Rochester, New York and had what I would describe as a harsh, sharp accent. “RAD-ee-ator?” she commented. I nodded questioningly. “Using the word, tell me what it does,” she said. I looked at her quizzically and replied, “It ray-dee-ates heat.” She simply smiled.
I’m often in awe of Maureen and Connor and their kindness, their sincerity, their determination, and their achievements in life. We can talk openly on any topic. We laugh. A lot. We consider ourselves lucky to have them as friends. Even the cats like them. As much as these two cats like anyone other than us and their treats.
The image above is a tile I saw during my museum day. It translates to: In this house, we do what the cat commands.
Hoy damos la bienvenida a las primeras de las más de 40 procesiones de Semana Santa. No sé cuánto absorberé, pero compartiré lo que vea. Mientras tanto, pasamos una tarde de viernes excepcional con Maureen y Connor, nuestros amigos de Glasgow. Han estado disfrutando del sol en Fuengirola, como siempre, pero se tomaron un día para entrenar y pasar tiempo con nosotros. Tomamos café (y charlamos durante horas). Luego, vinieron a casa con nosotros, donde comimos torrijas (y charlamos durante horas).
Connor habla español y francés con fluidez. El inglés es, por supuesto, su lengua materna, pero habla con acento de Glasgow y a menudo tenemos que parar a traducir para San Geraldo. Maureen hace lo mismo (no la fluidez, sino el Glasgow). Creo que Connor es más desafiante porque habla más rápido. Observo a SG a los ojos para asegurarme de que sigue entendiéndolo.
A menudo me admiro profundamente por Maureen y Connor, su amabilidad, su sinceridad, su determinación, y sus logros en la vida. Podemos hablar abiertamente de cualquier tema. Nos reímos. Muchísimo. Nos consideramos afortunados de tenerlos como amigos. Incluso a los gatos les gustan. Tanto como a estos dos gatos les gusta cualquiera que no sea nosotros y sus golosinas.
La imagen de arriba es un azulejo que vi durante mi día en el museo.
• Ordenar a San Geraldo que sirva el aperetivo número 4. (¿O era el número 8?)
• In the sunshine with a view from a rooftop terrace on our floor. The rooftop terrace above us is for hanging laundry.
• Disfrutando del sol y de las vistas desde la terraza de nuestra planta. La terraza de arriba es para tender la ropa.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.