Monday, May 22, 2017

TGI FRIDAY'S / EL RESTAURANTE


Our first night in Bergen, we went for a traditional (NOT) Norwegian dinner at the American restaurant chain, TGI Fridays. We were greeted warmly and soon met our waiter, Juan. Not a traditional Norwegian name.

"Do you speak Spanish?" I asked. He said, "Yes. I'm originally from Madrid."

We told him we lived near Málaga and he asked where exactly. When we told him Fuengirola, he said, "You must meet my colleague. She's from Fuengirola!"

He ran off and returned a moment later with Ana. We hugged in greeting and she told us she was from the neighbourhood next to ours, Torreblanca. "However," she said, "my cousin owns a restaurant in Los Boliches. Meson Salvador. Do you know it?"

Do we know it?!? "We're there at least a couple of times a week," we said. "We're family!"

It turns out we even know her brother and we have other mutual friends in Fuengirola.

It's a small world.


Nuestra primera noche en Bergen, fuimos para una comida tradicional (falso) noruego en un restaurante americano, TGI Fridays. Nos encontramos con el camarero, Juan. Obviamente, no es un nombre tradicional noruego.

¨Habla español"? le pregunté. Él me dijo, "Sí, soy de Madrid."

Le dijimos que vivimos cerca de Málaga y nos preguntó dónde exactamente. Cuando le dijimos a Fuengirola, dijo, "Debe conocer a mi compañera, ¡es de Fuengirola!"

Salió corriendo y regresó un momento después con Ana. Nos abrazamos en saludo y ella nos dijo que era del barrio Torreblanca, al lado de nuestro barrio. "Sin embargo," dijo ella, "mi primo posee un restaurante en Los Boliches, Mesón Salvador, ¿lo sabeis?"

¿|?Lo sabemos?!? "Estamos allí al menos de dos veces a la semana", dijimos. "¡Somos familia!"

Incluso conocemos al hermano de Ana y tenemos otros amigos en común en Fuengirola.

Es un mundo pequeño.

MY BLOOD ORANGE AND CHOCOLATE MARTINI.
MI MARTINI DE SANGRE NARANJA Y CHOCOLATE.
CHICKEN QUESADILLAS.
QUESADILLAS CON POLLO.
BEAUTIFUL ANA.
LA GUAPA ANA.
I COULDN´T RESIST TAKING A BITE BEFORE THE PHOTO!
¡NO PUDO RESISTIR TOMANDO UNA MORDIDA ANTES DE LA FOTO!
THE VIEW AS WE EXITED THE RESTAURANT.
LA VISTA CUANDO NOS DEJÓ EL RESTAURANTE.
ON THE WAY TO OUR HOTEL.
EN EL CAMINO A NUESTRO HOTEL.

23 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Snoskred:
      It sure was and it filled our hearts with joy. Ana was as wonderful as everyone at Meson Salvador. Pretty amazing.

      Delete
  2. A great story and the food looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer:
      Not Norwegian, but the food was excellent.

      Delete
  3. TGIF-Norway! Who knew?

    And, wow, it truly is a small world, eh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob:
      It was excellent and it's very popular with locals. We have made sure to have loads of Norwegian cuisine to compensate!

      Delete
  4. What a coincidence! very small world we live in.

    And yes, there are a lot of good people around....and you guys are two of them!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      We couldn't believe it. And Ana was as wonderful as all our friends at Meson Salvador.

      Delete
  5. Amazing! But it doesn't really surprise me since you and SG are so friendly and gregarious that you find these wonderful connections. The garden outside the restaurant is also amazing. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wilma:
      Sometimes I think we talk too much and then something like this happens, which wouldn't have happened had we not talked!

      Delete
  6. It is a small world...you go all the way to Norway to meet Spaniards :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheapchick:
      We met a lot of other Spaniards working in Bergen, too! Really fun. But says a lot, sadly, about the Spanish economy in recent years.

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. mistress maddie:
      The flowers in Bergen are spectacular. Unlike any city I know.

      Delete
  8. That's hilarious! I especially enjoy that this took place at an American chain restaurant in Bergen. Looking forward to details about your stay.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shawn:
      We were stunned and overjoyed. Ana hasn't been home in a long time, so she was really happy, too. This has been an incredible trip. Home tomorrow!!!

      Delete
  9. What a wonderful story Mitchell ,it is a small world. Sounds like you and Jerry are having a wonderful time. Shame on you for showing us such a delicious dessert!
    Take care.
    Robin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robin:
      Oh, just wait until I share all my food pictures. We have been feasting!

      Delete
  10. A small world indeed! And what gorgeous photos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debra:
      I'm looking forward to sharing so many more unbelievable views.

      Delete
  11. It looks and sounds like you are having a great adventure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Travel:
      Even more joy than we expected. More stories and pictures to come.

      Delete
  12. anne marie:
    I don't think all the good people are hidden; I think it's that the assholes use way too much oxygen.

    ReplyDelete

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