Monday, September 3, 2012

Chocolate Hamburgers and Fishy Fish

My computer has been working flawlessly, better than it's worked in years, since I picked it up from Goldenmac Friday morning. (I just knocked again on wood.)

And more good news: San Geraldo signed Friday morning for two registered letters acknowledging receipt of our residency renewal paperwork and providing us with already completed forms so that we could make the required 15-euro payments.

We began our day today by walking to the bank to pay the fees. While we stood in line, we realized we didn't have our passports with us and we didn't know if we'd need them. So, as I watched San Geraldo's discomfort and stress level grow in the poorly air-conditioned bank lobby, I turned to him and quietly said, "If he says he can't process the payments without our passports, do not make a face." Fortunately, we didn't need our passports for today's transaction, just our residency cards. That's a very good thing, because it was clear San Geraldo really wanted to make a face. He might even have muttered. He went home and I went for a walk.

BACK AT DOS DE MAYO FOR LUNCH THE OTHER DAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF FISH THESE WERE (EXCEPT FOR THE SQUID AT RIGHT).
I DO KNOW I DON'T EAT THEM (EXCEPT FOR THE SQUID AT RIGHT).

Tomorrow morning, we return to the Foreigners Office. San Geraldo had a fantasy that when we submit our stamped payment form, La Rubia (or someone much nicer) will pull our new cards out of the box. (Kind of like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, I think.) At least we're making progress.

ON MY WALK. THE ARCHBISHOP'S PALACE.
NOT A BAD GIG, I'D SAY.

THE GIRALDA TODAY.

El Sanedrín has started serving breakfast again. We've enjoyed going to Emperador Trajano, but we've had to walk — gasp — four blocks to get there, and they only have indoor seating (that's the real drawback). El Sanedrín has lots of tables on our plaza (they call it terrace seating) and all we have to do is walk out our front door. Much easier first thing in the morning (between 10 a.m. and noon). San Geraldo is awake much earlier than me most days, but I shocked him this morning and was out of bed at 8:40.

BETWEEN TWO ROSES: ELENA AND GONZALO, OWNERS OF CATALINA CASA DE COMIDAS.
GOOD NEIGHBORS, KIND AND GRACIOUS HOSTS, AND HE'S AN INCREDIBLE CHEF.

My favorite restaurant, Catalina Casa de Comidas, has re-opened from summer vacation. We walked over for dinner the other night. I ended my amazing meal with a hamburger (hamburguesa) for dessert. The bun was cake, the cheese was I think caramel, and the burger was a slab of dark chocolate.

MY CHOCOLATE HAMBURGER.
SO MUCH BETTER THAN A BIG MAC (A LOT LESS FAT AND CALORIES, TOO).

As for the meal, we had a special vegetable dish (delicious), their award-winning seafood cocktail (out of this world), another special dish with pasta, the best patatas bravas in creation... Oh, and I had my fishbowl gin tonic and San Geraldo had his baby gin tonic. They actually call it a "gin tonic bebé." Apparently, San Geraldo is not the only one who orders a mini.

LAZILY CHASING SOME TAIL.

25 comments:

  1. Hello Mitch:
    San Geraldo should try living here where in addition to having one's passport for every transaction everywhere, we are often sent away for failing to have things like our mothers' birth certificates, the dates of our grandparents' deaths, etc. etc. Not unreasonable, of course.

    How lucky to have such a wonderful breakfast place on your doorstep.

    The cats, of course, are adorable. How we should love them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane and Lance:
      Wow. I've never heard of those requirements. We usually simply need to provide our residency card here, and always our NIE on everything we do (which is ironic since we were told it was confidential and should not be shared liberally). We just do as we're told and, obviously, no one has told us to do anything we wouldn't find acceptable.

      Our plaza is truly a gift. We had no idea how lucky we were when we took this place. Breakfast here lifts the spirits.

      Thanks for being so tolerant of me and my cats! I must have 200 photos at this point.

      Delete
  2. now thats a burger even i would eat :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Monkey Man:
      Yes, chocolate can be so much tastier than tofu.

      Delete
  3. We better not let McDonald's on that recipe...can you imagine how it would go over in Branson, Mo.?

    La Rubia seems like she needs some companionship...ask her out for cañas at El Sanedrín...may be the first date she's had this century...lol

    saludos,
    raulito

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raulito:
      That hamburguesa would have to be quadruple the size for the American market!

      As for La Rubia, my guess is she's married with children. She's just an unpleasant, uninspired bureaucrat and she gives all other bureaucrats a bad name.

      Delete
  4. The only thing that might improve your chocolate hamburger would be a big gob of marshmallow cream over the chocolate. Sheer heaven! Your two kitties are so cool!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ms. Sparrow:
      I knew you would know a way to make it more Mid-Western. Someone in Jerry's family would add Hershey's Chocolate Syrup, too. (And they both sound really good!)

      Delete
  5. LOL! You make me laugh Mitch! I can just see you two in that bank....both hoping everything goes well and hoping that the other won't DO something to f*&% it up!! Don't you just love when this happens to happily married couples who know each other so well!
    The meal looked and sounds wonderful! What a novel idea for a dessert too.
    And I LOVE those kitties!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      We both sometimes have short fuses. I've gotten better with bureaucracies, which has allowed San Geraldo to get worse!

      The food at Catalina is so good that I forget to take pictures before it's gone.

      Don't you think Sophie would love a little cat brother or sister ... or two?

      Delete
  6. Chocolate hamburger to die for....we OD'd on chocolate today....I'm sure yours was much healthier. If you insist on more kitty videos, Jim is going to want a kitty...just be forewarned!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ron:
      San Geraldo buys large Lindt dark chocolate bars and we split them for dessert. Fortunately, with all the melons he's been buying and desserts out, we've pulled back on the chocolate bars... temporarily. I definitely OD on chocolate sometimes.

      I'm sure there are lots of cats in Halifax that would be happy to have you three as family!

      Delete
    2. So I have officially sworn off chocolate forever, well maybe not forever but for along time...I was awake from 3 to 5 am and am now suffering from caffeine overload!

      Delete
    3. Ron:
      No need to give it up. Just start earlier in the day!

      Delete
  7. A chocolate hamburger. Sounds good enough for the Wimpy in me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      And it's Tuesday, which means you'll gladly pay for it today!

      Delete
  8. I am more intrigued by the Bishop's duplex.

    "It's good to be Bishop"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spo:
      Oops. It's really the ARCHbishop's Palace! I'd better correct that. It's a charming little place. Before an "extensive expansion" in 1704, the building and its two grand courtyards (one with ginormous fountain) took up only 72,000 square feet. Very cozy.

      Delete
  9. A chocolate hamburger??? That sounds heavenly. Whoever thought of that is a genius!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. TWIN awesome kitties! And postres, I love postres. A chocolate hamburger, what a brilliant invention.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Knatolee:
      You love postres? Then you're going to love what I just posted! We've had he cats only since early May. They are a joy!

      Delete
  11. Victor:
    I still haven't tasted a sardine I like. The only anchovies I like are served at Catalina Casa de Comidas. But, Dos de Mayo is amazing. They are just downstairs and are famous for their seafood tapas. A really popular, friendly place with amazing food.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks, Victor. SOMEone has to enjoy that stuff!

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete

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