Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Back In Town

I'm in recovery. Jet lag and no sleep makes my clinical depression kick in. So, I had a couple of challenging days, but was smart enough to not allow myself to think too much. Although I suppose if I really were smart, I wouldn't be able to keep myself from thinking. Anyway, when the depression leaves, the bad thoughts leave. So I try really hard to not dwell on anything. I had a wonderful afternoon yesterday with Judy and slept well last night. And now I have only a few bad thoughts to ignore. (Click any image to increase the happiness.)

AT MÁLAGA'S CENTRAL TRAIN STATION.
(WOULDN'T YOU JUST LOVE TO HAVE A "HAPPY BOX"?)

We arrived back in Málaga Friday and an hour later I signed for two letters from the Foreigners Office (Oficina de Extranjeros). When we submitted our paperwork (click here) to renew our residency permits, we followed the instructions and provided all our income info as well as a summary to make it easy to follow. We also provided proof of health insurance. The letters said we had not provided income info and they wanted a copy of our entire health plan, not just proof of coverage. We needed to do so within 10 days of the date of the letters. The date of the letters was the 17th of June. They were delivered on the 27th of June. Hmmm.

So, Monday, the 30th of June, San Geraldo, Judy, and I took the train to Málaga and re-submitted the information, which San Geraldo prepared a bit differently this time in the hopes of making it all more clear. (We think perhaps some bureaucrat in a back office just didn't want to sift through the original stack of papers.) The new info was accepted and stamped, and the entire visit took us all of 20 minutes. We'll see what happens next.

We three walked to El Corte Inglés and had lunch in their restaurant. San Geraldo then went home and Judy and I went exploring — walking for more than five hours. We covered a lot of the old center of Málaga, visited the public market, and even went inside the Cathedral. Today, you get to see what we saw on the streets.

AFTER LEAVING THE FOREIGNERS OFFICE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF TREE,  BUT, WOW!
RED FLOWERS AND RED STEMS.  I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS COVERED WITH BERRIES.
THIS BUILDING NEEDS A "HAPPY BOX."
THIS BUILDING IS A "HAPPY BOX."
CALLE MARQUÉS DE LARIOS, DURING SIESTA.
PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN...
A PASSAGEWAY OFF THE PLAZA...
MORE OF THE PLAZA...
AND FROM ANOTHER DIRECTION. 
AT THE CATHEDRAL (BEFORE WE TWO HEATHENS WENT INSIDE).
JUDY DECIDED TO JOIN HIM.  HE TOLD HER TO HOLD HIS HAND.
(I HAD NO IDEA SHE COULD READ JAPANESE... NEITHER DID SHE.)
HE DIDN'T TELL ME TO HOLD HIS HAND.
BUT HE DID REMOVE HIS NEWSPRINT HEAD TO VISIT WITH US.
JUDY HAD AN EARLY DINNER (STEW).
I HAD AN EARLY DINNER (ICE CREAM).  WITH JUDY UNAWARE SHE'S THE CHERRY ON TOP.
CALLE MARQUÉS DE LARIOS, AFTER SIESTA... AS WE HEAD FOR HOME.

So, we're back in town and everyone's singin'... (Just call me Lulu.)

18 comments:

  1. I'm sure it's nice to be home--even with all the bureaucratic mess--and I've missed the old buildings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob:
      Seeing everything with new eyes and loving it even more!

      Delete
  2. Hey Lulu!
    Enjoyed this post....the sights and buildings, like another world (it is, I know). A beautiful city.
    Really liked the photos of you and Judy sitting on the bench reading the newspaper.
    Happy you are feeling better.
    Later, Lulu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      Every day is a bit better. Judy's presence (and wonderful company) is getting me completely re-enthused.... Lulu

      Delete
  3. Oh, man, I loved these photos! Judy did a great job as a cherry on top, too.
    Fingers crossed that your new paperwork will be processed smoothly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy:
      Judy... (the one who's here) didn't realize she was the cherry (and I'll go no further with THAT) until I showed her the picture.

      Delete
  4. Wilkommen - bienvenu - bienvenido a casa!

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    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      I won't tell you what San Geraldo thought the words to THAT song really were. That's another blog post! But thanks. It was a joy to see the Dowager Duchess and the Kid Brother. And it's also great to be home.

      Delete
  5. CHERRYHEADJUDY, love it!!

    Mitch, you always always put a smile on my face. Jim says I'm easy but hey if I can laugh then I AM!!

    Malaga with very few people, sounds ideal for discovering this world. LIKE!

    Ron

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ron:
      So glad to share the smiles. You do the same for me.

      Málaga was surprisingly calm Monday. It will get busier as the month progresses and August, I'm sure, will be very busy with everyone from the interior escaping the heat and enjoying August vacations. Hopefully, I'll be able to enjoy the city center while they enjoy the beaches.

      Delete
  6. Great pictures. Part of the joy of being a grown-up (at least on paper) is being able to eat whatever you want whenever you want - even if it is icecream for dinner.

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    Replies
    1. Cheapchick:
      When we were kids, The Dowager Duchess would sometimes serve us waffles and ice cream for lunch or dinner.

      Delete
  7. Mitchell, I love your photos I was in Malaga last November amazing city in every season. I believe your depression is not as serious as you have written. The red tree is fantastic one could you check and write me what species is it? , please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gosia:
      I saw another one of those trees today at the zoo. Jerry looked it up. It's Latin name is Brachychiton acerifolius. Common name is Illawarra Flame Tree. It's native to the east coast of Australia.

      Delete
  8. You make me homesick for a country that we lived in only a couple of months... but want so much to return and live in again. Your photos are great... hope being back in Spain banishes the baddies... but happy that your NY trip was so nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon:
      You already knew how much I love it here. But having Judy around is really reviving my enthusiasm and making me RE-appreciate everything. The baddies are leaving... more slowly than I'd like... but they ARE leaving!

      Delete
  9. That street performer is quite a sight.
    :D

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    Replies
    1. TICKLEBEAR:
      The newspapers are all vinyl-coated. He created the costume/scene while living in Japan. He turned out to be a very pleasant guy (originally from Bulgaria).

      Delete

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