Mis fotos

 

Gusto por lo verde, by Sergi blog, in flickr

¡A buenas horas, mangas verdes! = To good hours, green sleeves!

This saying refers to every remedy (solution) that arrives out of time and, then, it is useless.   Its origin is in the period of the Santa Hermandad, which had a squad (team) who werw dressed with gree clothes --similar than the jacket in the picture--; they were famous people, because they always arrive late, bad and never to the places with conflict, where they had to go.Therefore people started to say this saying.

 If you go to Grazalema --32 Kms from Ronda, although it is a village that belongs to the province of Cádiz--, you can visit a nice Art Gallery: The Neilson Gallery.Perhaps, there you can meet Jack Neilson (the owner of the Gallery).

While you go to Grazalema (one of the nicer villages in Spain), I show you the web site of the Gallery.Please clic here and you will enjoy for a while.

Have a good day.

 

Barra de pan, by rofi, in flickr

A buena hambre hambre no hay pan duro, ni falta salsa a ninguno = To good hanger there is no hard bread, neither there is not enough souce for anyone

This saying is talking about the extreme hardship, who makes you forget scruples and ingenuity, spurred by shortage, multiply resources.

Note: By the way of hanger, I want to explain you that this word (hanger) is femenine; but we never say "La hambre", but "El hambre"....; then, we use the masculine article, although hanger sounds femenine.

 

Camion con carga peligrosa, by mimio!!!, in flickr

A buen servicio, mal galardón = To good service, bad prize

This saying is used against ingratitude, because, with it, ungrateful people --who are asked for making a favour-- always pay.Perhaps it happens cause of what Diderot said: "El agradecimiento es una carga y todos tienden a librarse de las cargas" = "Gratitude is a load (burden) and everybody use to get rid of loads".

 

Luis XIV, by jaescudero, in flickr

A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan = To good listener,  few words suffice

This saying talks about the Luis XIV´s private Cardinal, who recibed in audience to a pauper   only under condition of that he set out his reasons in "two words",  the petitioner, in front of the Cardinal, said this one:  "Hunger, cold...." and the Cardinal looke at one of his assistants and answered this one "Foods, clothes...".The audience finished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Today, I have cooked "Bacalao a la Vizcaina" = "Cod Vizcaya style".

Ingredients:   Olive oil, onions, tomatoes, red pepper, garlics, dry red pepper, salt, white wine and water.

The way to cook:  I took two big onions and I cut them so chopped and I threw it into a frying pan, with a little bit olive oil.After 2 minutes, i threw out a red pepper, also so chopped.I stirred everything for 5 minutes.After that, I threw out 5 tomatoes, without skin and without seeds.I cut them so much.Also I cut 4 cloves of garlic, so chopped. I stirred everything for 10 minutes.Then, I threw out a little bit salt and a glass of white wine.I stirred and leaved everything for a while.After some minutes, I threw out a glass of water.

After that, I threw everything into a mixer and I threw the result out into a relatively big cake tin --the best receptacle is a casserole made of clay; but I have not anyone big--.

By other side, I fried 9 pieces of cod into a frying pan, with a little bit hot olive oil.I fried them --but not too much--, with the skin looking up.After that, I put the pieces into the sauce.I threw out a little bit sauce over the pieces and I put 3 "ñoras" = "Pimientos choriceros"  = "Dry peppers", without seeds.But, I did not know that the "pimientos choriceros" had to be put in hot water for several hours and, after, to have been scrape, inside, in order to take out the seeds and put the pulp of the ·pimientos choriceros" into the sauce; but you have not to leave the "ñoras" into the sauce.

Well....this one was the result:

Bacalao a la Vizcaina.

 

 

 

"Thurible", by P.C. Is2dnt,  in flickr

A buen capellan, mejor sacristán = To good chaplain, better sacristan

This saying is used for condemning to someone cause not to have fulfilled its job.It is a postscript in a famous short story by Timoneda, in which the bad arbitration, by a sacristan, called in order to mediate among two companions at table (one clergyman and one layman) makes to exclaim so to the innkeeper.

 Yesterday afternoon, I was in the Hotel Finca Cortesín, near Casares (Málaga).I went there to drink a coke.

This is a corner before going into the Hotel.Everything in the hotel is so impeccable.

This is another nice side outside.

This is the main front of the hotel.

This arch is situated on the left side of the entrance, before the front.Suerely, this way take you to the golf course.

This is an angle in the library of the Hotel.

This is the opposite angle.

This is the main patio

This terrace, on the left side of the picture, is situated out of the dining room.On the right sid of this picture, where the first little tree is situated, there is a big swimmingpool.Behind the swimmingpool is the golf course.

Behind the swimmingpool, you can see a piece of the Golf course --among the swimmingpool an another white building, on the top of the picture; perhaps you can see a part of the golf course.

This is another side of the Hotel, to the left of the swimmingpool.

This view is before the terrace, where you can celebrate a First Holy Communion or a Birthday or a Wedding.

There, they told me that, in that golf course, the next 28 Wenesday, will be celebrated the Volvo World Match Play Championship.The Hotel has organized this Championship in colaboration with the Foundation Seve Ballesteros, in order to collect funds used for two main causes: the investigation about brain --which has marked his life-- and offer some chances to young players, who come from some environments with low purchasing power.

This is another side of the garden of the Hotel.

If you go to see the Volvo World Match or simply want to go for eating or drink something, you have to go through the motorway A7 or the old road 340, for example from Sabinillas to Estepona --the hotel is among Sabinillas and Estepona.When you arrive to a roundabout, you turn to the left and go through the road to Casares--; and, soon, you will see the Hotel, on the right side.

If you go from Malaga Airport, click here

If you go from Gibraltar Airport, click here

The telephone number of the Hotel is:   +34 952 93 78 84.

I assure you that there you will find a great tranquillity.

 

 

 

This is a very good olive oil from Tolox.It is very soft.It is made with a kind of olive named "Manzanilla Aloreña" = "Dry sherry from Alora" (Alora is a little village near Tolox).This kind of olive was eaten in the Wedding of the Prince Felipe de Borbón (Prince form Asturias).This little bottle cost 3,50 Euros and I bought it in the Museum.

This olive oil is cultivated in a land like this one and in trees like these ones:

On the right side of this picture, you can see a land with olive cultivated, with a house in the center.

 Today, for lunch, I have cooked some fillets of tuna, with onion, red pepper, tomatoes, salt, olive oil, white wine and water.

First of all, I took two big onions and I cut them so little; then, I threw them out on a thin layer of olive oil, on a fryed pan.After that, I threw out four cloves of garlic, so chopped, and one little red pepper, cut so little, because red pepper is too hard.

Some minutes --about 20 minutes-- past, I threw out 6 tomatoes, without skin and seeds.After 15 minutes, I put the tuna over (4 fillets).Then, I threw white wine out.Also I threw salt out.iI leaved it for a while.When I suposed that the wine lost the alcohol, I threw out water.

I forgot to say that after throw out the tomatoes, I put two potatoes, not too much bigs and cut on slices thin.I stirred everything,

And.....it was the result: 

I hope that you try it and you like my recipe.

 

 

 

 

 

"Marisco - Seafood", by marcp_dmoz, in flickr

A buen bocado, buen grito = To a good bite, good shout

This saying teachs that, when you take too many pleasures, after that you have to pay the consequences.Therefore, Covarrubias said:"Suelen algunos tocados de la gota no guardarse de los que les han de hacer daño, y despues lo pagan cargandoles la enfermedad  que les hace dar gritos de dolor" = "Somebody touched by the drop use to not to guard against those who harm hande, and after pay it loading the disease that gives them shouts of pain".

 Yesterday, I was visiting the Museum of Tolox, where therewere a lot of old things.The first room, that I saw, was the bedroom:

I am sorry, because the picture is out of focus.On the floor, before the bed, are a couple of big espadrilles --made of esparto grass and named "Alpargates"--  and two small espadrilles         --made of pita fiber and named "Alpargates" too--.They are made in Tolox; in the past, they were used for working in the land.

Beside the bed room, was the dining room:

On the table, there is sometthing like a book, made, by hand, of "pan de higo" = "bread of fig"; it is painted by hand; it is an almond carvinged by hand.

This is the "Pan de higo", painted by hand.

This little table was in the dining room, on the right side of the other picture.Here, you can see a glass and another piece of glass, used, in the past, in the Spa.

 

In another room, there were a lot of things for farming:

On the left side, you can see some stones of this arabian mill.

On the left side and at the back of the room, you can see two receptacles, for soup and made of wood.On the right side, you can see two horns; they were used for oil and vinager; they are named "Alcuceros".

They are the receptacles for soup.I am sorry, because they are out of focus.

Those are the "Alcuceros".They were hollow, in order to put oil and vinager inside, to take them to land.On the right side, you can see the top of a pumpkin, also hollow, in order to take salt to land.And, on the left side, you can see a piece of a horn, also for salt.

Almost in the middle of the picture, you can see a table of wood, where it was made cheese.It was named: "Entremijo".

 

 

 

  

Bola de Sementes, by MANDALAS & Cia, in flickr

A bola vista = To ball view

This saying refers to a kind of spanish game, and wants to express the fact to do someting "A las claras, descubiertamente, con evidencia y seguridad" = "Clearly,  discovered, with evidence and security", as the spanish dictionary says."No se anduvo con tapujos: lo hizo todo con desfachatez y a la bola vista" = "He minced no subterfuge: he made everything with cheek and to the ball view".

 

"Dime....", by Guesus, in flickr.

The night before yesterday, a lady called to an spanish radio station, to tell a neighbor´s case.She told that a young boy went to this old lord ´ s home, telling him that he (the boy) was working carrying on a liitle apparatus of "Teleasistencia" ("Telecare") for old people.The boy told to the lord --who was living alone-- that the apparatus was spoiled and he had to take it out of his home; and he told him that he had to take the VISA and his DNI (Personal Id), in order to receivable the repair of the apparatus.The lord accepted. And the boy went to a cash dispenser and took 900 Euros out.

Please, Be care !!!!!!!!!

This boy --and surely another people-- is doing that in Cataluña (Barcelona, Tarragona, Lerida and Gerona).The lady, who told this story, told that the company responsible of that apparatus, said that  "please, nobody gives its account number to anybody without confidence".

I do not know if that lord has thought the possibility of reporting the boy to the Police; but my wife (as a lawyer) has told me that it is perfectly reportable.

Note:  Perhaps, when you have seeing the tittle, you have thought that it should talk about a new fraud about Real State.I am sorry, if it has been so.But I thought that the rip-off that I have told you, should be interesting for you.Anyway, excuseme.

I am sorry that it happens in my country; but I hope that you know that in Spain there are many good persons and other very good things.

 

Picture by pollobarba, in flickr.

The "Melocotón de Calanda" ("Peach from Calanda") is a designation of origin, since 1999.

Calanda is an area, situated among the provinces of Teruel and Zaragoza.

These are "Peaches from Calanda"; I have just bought them.You can see the label, which shows the designation of origin; in this case, the company is "San Miguel" --probably is the name choosed by the owner--.

 

In 50s, they started to protect the peaches, before taking them off from the tree, with some bags made of paper, that should prevent the flies eating the peaches.He checked that his peaches ripened healthy; however, in other farms, the peaches died.That technique was named "Embolsado" (To put a bag).In 70s and 80s, the expansion of this farming grow up till 3.000 Has.

The production of this unique fruit appear in medieval documents, under the forms "presec" or "priscos".

The plantations of Melocoton de Calanda are in the region of the Bajo Aragón, an environment, whose geographical and climatic characteristics let to make a product sweet, consistent and flesby.

The technique of "Embolsado" let getting a product healthy and clean.

The Melocoton de Calanda has gotten its fame thanks its special size, quality and seetness.But, also, cause of its cream yellow and pajizo (straw) yellow color, that make it to be a colorful and distinguished fruit.

To be continued.....

 This long weekend, I have been in the "Hotel Balneario" ("Hotel Spa") for respiratory tract.I went, by car, through the toll motorway to Marbella (Málaga).When I arrived to the bridge close the shopping centre "La Cañada",I went out of the motorway, to the right side, and  I took that bridge, over the toll motorway, acrossing it, and I took the new road, straight ahead, --the shopping centre stayed on my right side--.I went along that road ("The road of Ojen") and I arrived to the village of Ojén.

That is Ojén.I went along the same road to Coin  --but going past beside the village of Monda--.When I arrived to Coín, I I went along the road, looking for a sign, which says Ronda - Malaga.After that, I search a traffic circle and when I went past it, on the right side, I saw another road, which said: "Alozaina" (it is a village, 10 Kms from Tolox).Some Kms after, I saw a crossroads and I turned to the left side, to Tolox.Some Kms after, I could see the village.....

Those mountains are named: "Sierra de las Nieves".I went along to the village.....

I had going past through the village, in order to go up to the Hotel Spa.

Here I was so close the Hotel, on the right side.

This is the entrance of the Hotel.

This is the old building of the Hotel.A double room, only with breakfast, cost 63 Euros / night; with a lunch or dinner --you can choose it-- cost 78,5 Euros / night; and full board cost 102 Euros / one night.

This is the main patio, where people meet --when they are not in the Spa or in their rooms or in the dining room--.

 I assure you that here you can find a great tranquility.

That --in the middle of the picture-- is the staircase to the dining room and the living room.   These two windows belong to the new building.

As you can see, the new building is very nice.Also it is nice inside.Here, a double room with breakfast cost: 85 Euros / one night and  half board: 109 Euros / night.During winter, since next November, they will have no lunch, only breakfast and dinner.

Another angle.Behind it there is another patio, with tables and chairs.To the right side of the picture, you can find a very good path, for walking to the Spa.

This Hotel is open only weekends, from October 31 to May --because the Spa is closed from October 31 to May--.

The most of the people come here in August and September.Last August, 1000 persons went past through this hotel.

This is the staircase, where you can go --to the left side-- to the Spa and, --to the right side-- to the village of Tolox.Form the Spa is 200 meters, more or less; and from the village is 300, more or less.

This is the path to the village.

On the right side of this picture is the Hotel.

This is the path (road) to the Spa.

 This is the path, to the Spa, with a bit of the new building of the hotel, on the left side of the picture.

Coming around the chapel.

On the right side, you can see a part of the chapel.

Another angle, to the chapel.

This is the whole chapel.

This view is on back to the Spa and past the chapel to upstairs; then, over here, to down, you can go to the hotel.

Over here, you can go up to the Spa, going past this wrought-iron gate.Those trees are named "Eucaliptos" ("Eucalyptus") and they are some hundreds of years old.

Here I was near the Spa --at the back of that road, where you can see some cars stoped--.

Again this is the road to the Spa.

This is the road going down to the Hotel.

At the back of the picture, you can see a part of the village of Tolox.

That is the Spa.

This is the building of the Spa.

 This Spa, inaugurated on 1867, is the only spa, in Spain, strictly specialized in the respiratory system --only there is another one in Russia, with similar characteristics; but for others, this Spa in Tolox is the only one in the World--, thanks to the inhaled gas that comes away from an special water, which comes out of land.

It is situated  to a short distance from the village of Tolox; at the foot of the "Sierra de las Nieves"; to 55 Kms west from Malaga city; 42 Kms from Marbella and 54 from Ronda.

The mountains, around this Spa,  make up a natural amphitheater, faces East, that protect against the winds and give a healthy microclimate.

Some few kilometers from Tolox, is the highest peak in the province of Malaga (La Torrecilla) which overlook all those mountains; La Torrecilla, from its 1.919 meters, goes down through rugged slopes, till 360 meters, where the Spa is.

3.000 persons go past through here, every year.

This Spa close from October 31 to May.

One of the phases of the treatment is drinking water with sulfur.It is the same water that goes out from an spring, situated close the center of Tolox and named  "Fuente amarga" ("Source bitter").

To be continued.....

 

"Tanzania-Lake Manyara", by Marc Veraart, in flickr.

Yesterday morning, on the radio, the Doctor Manuel Elkin Patarroyo (Director of the Foundation of Inmunology of Colombia) spoke.He was here, in Spain, to tell about his discovery of the Vaccine against the Malaria (an illness which is killing some millions persons, in several countries).The Malaria is transmited by the mosquito Anopheles gambiae.

In 1994, the Dr. Patarroyo got the "Prize Prince of Asturias of Scientific and Technical Research", thanks to the promise of this discovery.

In 1999, the OMS tried the vaccine in Gambia, Tanzania and Thailand, with partialy effective results.

Today, in 2009, Patarroyo and his team have improved that vaccine (from 1999), successfully on 90% or 95%.They have had the support --technical and economic-- from the University of the Basque Country.

 

 

This is a parte of the vegetable paella, that I cooked yesterday afternoon.

Ingredients: Onion, raw tomato, olive oil, red pepper, mushroom, green bean, salt and water.

I took a medium-sized fryied pan, in order too cook a big onion, with a little bit of olive oil, of course;I cut the onion very chopped.I stirred it, several times. After 2 minutes, I threw 1 red pepper out, also very chopped.I was stirreing everything for a while.After that, I threw 4 tomatoes out --after peeling the skin, with hot water--.I cut the toomatoes and I threw them out with the rest; I stirred everything.I threw a little bit thin salt out; also a glass of white wine.

I was stirreing some times again.Then, I threw everything out in an electric mixer.Then, I threw that out on a paellera --also named "Paella", like the food--.Paellera or Paella = a big frying-pan, and which is not very deep, with two handles.

Then, after 2 minutes, I threw 1 glass with rice --for 2 or 3 persons--.I threw a glass of water out and I was stirreing everything , for a while.I threw a little bit of salt.After that, I threw the mushrooms out  and, after 1 minute, stirreing, I threw the green beans.

After 25 or 30 minutes, stirreing also the apellera  --because, cooking paella on electric stove is complicated--, I moved the paellera away from the fire and I left it standing, for 5 minutes --it is very important--.

Have a good taste !.

 

 

 

"Boda Real 5-22-04", by corremadrid, in flickr

This picture belongs to the Royal Wedding of the Prince and Princess of Spain --although They really have been called "Principes de Asturias = Principes from Asturias =  , while they were making a tour through Madrid.

A boda ni bautizo, no vayas sin ser llamado = To wedding either baptism, do not go without being called.

It is said about two young students, who, very well-dressed, went to each wedding which they knew that it was take place.They divide a lot of greetings and smiles and, when they already had enjoyed, they left the wedding, but...after taking a gabardine or another thing from any guest.

Note: When this saying says "A boda ni bautizo, no vayas sin ser llamado", you can see a tipycal spanish sentence, where you find two negations: ".....ni bautizo, no vayas.....".Another example: "¿Por cual de las siguientes razones no has trabajado nunca?", in English it should be so: "For which of the following reasons have you never  (or have you not ever) been employed?"; but, in Spanish, it should be so: "For which of the following reasons have you not never been employed?"."...not never...." is a double negation; but, in Spanish, we speak so.

 Yesterday night, I put 4 fillets of Dorada to defrost and this is the result:

I bought it frozen, because it is without bones --and it is a great peace, above all thinking of children--.Also it is cheap: less than 5 Euros/ Kg.And, moreover, it is delicious.

This morning, in the afternoon, I cut 2 big onions --on trips-- and 4 tomatoes --cut in 4 pieces, each one--.First of all, I put the onions over a thin coating of olive oil, in a friying pan, and past 2 minutes, I left the tomatoes --without seeds, of course--.I stirred everythig, several times and, when I saw that the skin of the tomatoes went out, I took it out of the friying pan --and I accepted my mistake: not to have taken it out before, with a knife--.Anyway, I got there in time.

Then, I threw  white wine in --a normal glass--.I follow stireing everything.I threw salt in.I stirred it again.I wait just 10 or 15 minutes, in order that alcohol evaporated itself.I put the 4 fillets of Dorada, over the onions and tomatoes,I left them, 5 or 10 minutes, over each side.After that, I threw a glass of water and I left everything, on a low heat.

This was the result:

I hope that you like my way of cooking this food.

Note: I forgot it: The green little things that you can see here, are parsley.

 

"Vino y pan con tomate", by lulugaia, in flickr.

Note: This food is typical from Cataluña --where it is named "Pan tumaca"-- and from Mallorca --where it is named "Pan boli"--.Although it is better with an slice of cured ham and olive oil over the tomato, of course.

By the way of bread and wine, exists another spanish saying, which says: "Con pan y vino, se hace el camino" = "With bread and wine, is made the road".

A bocado lerdo, espolada de vino = To a slow bite, spurred of wine

As you spur to the slow animals, in order that they walk, this saying approves of some drinks of wine, when you are eaten a dry food.

 

 This weekend, has been celebrated an International Chess Tournament, in Lucena (Córdoba, España).This one has been the second part of it and the first one has been celebrated in Córdoba (Argentina).

"Lucena, 30", by Ferran Moreno Lanza, in flickr

Here, that International Chess Tournament has been celebrated, with some famous players like the actual Spain Champion (2008), David Lariño, who participated, with another companier, in a show of chess, on the tallest chair in the World --made in Lucena, because there are a lot of furnitures factories--.This chair is in the  Record Guiness Book, because it is 22 meters tall --like a building with 8 flats-- and it is similar than 9000 chairs united.

Then, this weekend, the organization of the Tournament thought to make a show with that chair and, then, David Lariño and other player go up to the chair, in order to play a game of chess.

You can see this chair, on a side of the road close Lucena.

Another player, in this Tournament, has been Magnus Carlsen: a very young Norwegian (18 years old), who is a great promise in this special sport.

Now, look at the nice main square of Lucena (La Plaza de España).

"Lucena, 29", by Ferran Moreno Lanza, in flickr

 

Yesterday afternoon, I cooked this food: "Tuna with onions"  ("Atún encebollado").

Ingredients: Tuna, onion, white wine, olive oil, salt, cumin.

The way of cooking:  I put all the pieces of the tuna in cold water, in order to take the blood of the tuna --it is very important.Do it at least for one hour, if you can--

While, I cut a lot of onions, on strips, and put them in a frying pan, with olive oil.I move everything often.I threw white wine out for a too time --in order that alcohol goes out--.

After that, I put the pieces of tuna over the onions and I threw salt, cumin --although many people though another spices, like bay leaf or pepper, out--.Agai, I moved everything, several times.

 

These are the sections of tuna.

 

 

Yesterday afternoon, I cooked this Chickpea stew.It had: chickpeas, carrots, onions, marrows, spinaches, olive oil, water and nutritious colouring.

The way of cooking:  Two days before yesterday in the night, I leaved some chickpeas to soak, in a pressure cooker, with too water --you have to see how the chickpeas are covered--. I put the pressure cooker over a high heat.while, I was cutting the carrots, onions and marrows --everything, so chopped--.

After that, I threw salt, olive oil and colouring in. I stirred everything.I closed the pressure cooker, for one hour.Then I open it and I threw the spinaches out over the food.I finished it with the pressure cooker open, while the spinaches were reduceing themselves.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

"Monedas v2009", by Guido Rossi, in flickr

A blanca el huevo, mas ¿dó el dinero? = To white the egg, but  dó the money?

blanca = name that in the past was used to name the little coin or calderilla (small change)

dó = I think that it means "where", in this case: "Where the money is?"

This saying is used, in a way mocking, when we are in front of somebody short of money, we show off having gotten something expensive in a bargain price.

 

 

 

 

"Umea leihoan" Buenos Aires, by Barrenetxea (Argazkiak), in flickr

A bien te salgan, hijo, tus barraganadas = Well come out, son, your arrogances

Barraganada = Arrogancia (Arrogance), Osadía (daring).

 

This saying makes irony with those parents who like to exaggerate their children´s stories, like the child in this saying, a "parapoco" who, seeing the bull died, he made him some alcocarras with the hood from the window.

Alcocarra = Gesto (Gesture), Visaje (Visage)