"Balls!" Cried The Queen

This has been a temptingly off-colour week. But somehow I've managed to [mostly] behave myself. First there was the post about the fútbol-shaped sauna (click here) at which time I managed to avoid  talking about sweaty balls.

Then there was the fruity post about granadillas and mangostanes (click here). Mangostán is the hollow fruit filled with gooey seed[s].

Today, it's all about luscious balls of sweetness — hazelnuts dipped in white chocolate and rolled in cocoa and cinnamon. A gift to me from Ana Crespillo and her fruit market (click here if you haven't met the Crespillos) to make up for the fact that she gave San Geraldo some strawberries the day before. And, although San Geraldo didn't share his strawberries with me, I shared my balls with him. (Sorry, mom.)

AVELLANA TRUFADO CON CANELA.
(HAZELNUT TRUFFLE WITH CINNAMON.)

HAZELNUT ENCASED IN WHITE CHOCOLATE.
ROLLED IN COCOA AND CINNAMON.

Whence the title (that's English for 'where'd it come from'?):
"Balls!" cried the queen. "If I had to [two], I could be king!"
The king laughed. Not because he wanted to [two], but because he had to [two].

It's Grumpy's Birthday

One of the other of the many names I have for San Geraldo is Gruñon. It means Grumpy.

"ANOTHER PICTURE? REALLY?!?"

A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. STILL FEELING THE CHILL...

... AND SERIOUSLY GRUMPY.

San Geraldo is not always Gruñon. But, when he is, he does it with style and drama — as he does all things.

He also does everything with kindness, empathy, intelligence, love, and a warm and generous sense of humour.

So, here's wishing Grumpy — my muse, my inspiration, the butt of my jokes, and the love of my life — a joyous birthday.

He's the reason I'm Happy.

Interesting that Grumpy is the one playing the piano. Just like in real life.

What Nao, Victoria?

When San Geraldo and I were walking to the gym one afternoon last week, we spotted a 500-year-old ship in the harbour. He wondered aloud, jokingly, if it was the Santa Maria, while I wondered if it was the Niña (no votes for the Pinta).

A FIRST GLIMPSE.

It was enough that San Geraldo was walking to the gym, so I wasn't going to tempt fate by asking him to take a sidetrip. Instead, I took a walk on my own a day later and discovered that the ship was a replica completed in 2011 of the Nao Victoria, the first ship to circumnavigate the globe. "Nao" means "carrack," which was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in the 15th century.

The Victoria was built in the year 1512. The Spanish expedition, which began in 1519 and ended in 1522, was commanded by Portugal's Ferdinand Magellan (who died during the voyage). They set off with five ships and a total crew of 265. Only the Victoria completed the journey, returning to Sevilla with 18 of its original 42-man crew returning (and its hold filled with exotic spices). Crew members scattered, mutinied, died, or were killed — either by each other or by native populations.

The replica was completed in 2011. For 3 euros, I was able to board and explore. Not a lot to see, really; it's amazing how tiny these sea-going vessels used to be. But it was definitely worth the price.

SUNDAY MORNING, I AWOKE TO THIS SIGHT AS THE VICTORIA HEADED
FURTHER INTO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, toria...

Being Fruitful

San Geraldo made his daily stop at Ana Crespillo's fruit market here in Los Boliches (click for the Facebook page) and she had him try two new-to-him fruits. He liked them so much that he bought two of each so I could share in the ecstasy.

Mangostán
The first is called Mangostán. I've looked it up and learned the English name is Purple Mangosteen. It's a tropical evergreen tree. The fruit I tasted had a subtle fragrance and a mild, pleasant, and very slightly tart flavor. It's got little nutritional value, but that's not the only reason I eat.

[Postscript: Although there is no scientific evidence that Mangostán has nutritional value, there have been no studies done on the fresh fruit — only canned fruit or juice. It is reputed to have quite a number of benefits.]

MANGOSTÁN (PURPLE MANGOSTEEN).

ABOUT THE SIZE OF A TANGERINE.

ONLY THE WHITE PART OF THE FRUIT IS EDIBLE.

Granadilla

The second fruit is called granadilla. Native to the Andes Mountains, it's known as grenadia or passion fruit in other parts of the world.

Pictured below in San Geraldo's unusually large hand (he's got two of them and they are well-balanced by his unusually large feet), it looks much smaller than it is. I added a photo at the bottom of a granadilla alongside a plum-sized mangostán, so you can see the difference.

When the granadilla is sliced open, there's a gelatinous pulp surrounding the seeds. You simply pour that into your mouth. It looks like mucous and it tastes like nectar from the Gods. Sweet and smooth. And containing Vitamins A, C, and K, phosphorous, iron, and calcium. I could develop a passion for it.

GRANADILLA.

I WAS SUPRISED BY THE PERFECT FLAVOUR AND TEXTURE.

IT EVEN HAS BUILT-IN PADDING TO PROTECT THE SEEDS.

Not Naked In A Finnish Sauna

A large wooden football (soccer ball) rolled into our neighbourhood Friday evening. It rolled back out today. It's a custom-designed and -built Finnish traveling sauna created by a charming and talented national champion triathlete named Samuli Keisus.

I saw Samuli about four months ago parked on the Paseo with a more traditional-looking Finnish sauna (although also on wheels), but he was gone before I had the chance to check things out. This time, however, I was on my way home from the gym when he pulled in right near our building to spend the weekend. We talked a bit and Sunday night I returned to give it a try. I loved every minute of it.

CARE TO JOIN SAMULI INSIDE HIS FÚTBOL?

Samuli's construction firm (check it out here) specializes in, among other things, custom saunas — for sale and rent. He's been traveling Europe to promote his saunas. I paid all of 2 euros for more than a half hour of bliss; and I was invited to jump in the sea and return to the sauna a couple of times. I might still be there if I hadn't already been late for dinner.

BASKING IN THE WARMTH: YOURS TRULY, SAMULI, AND A LOCAL FRIEND.

Samuli told me that in Finland, most people enjoy saunas communally, family friendly — and naked. He hasn't had any nude-sauna-takers here in Fuengirola. I was given the option.

He still hasn't had any nude-sauna-takers here in Fuengirola.

From Zero To Irresistible In 60 Seconds

He's a cat of few words. But then who needs words when you look like this?

Thursday morning, as we were about to head out for coffee, I grabbed my camera to snap a quick picture of a flirtatious Dudo. This is what he did over the next 60 seconds.

New Moon

I awoke to a new moon this morning. Well, it wasn't actually what some [any] astronomers would describe as a new moon. That kind of new moon would look more like the above photo. The new moon I saw is pictured below.

THE OWNER OF WEDNESDAY'S GIBBOUS MOON IS AT RIGHT IN PHOTO.

For any doubters, I used a formula I found on Wikipedia to ascertain that this was in fact a new moon. I'll paraphrase:

The length of a lunation is about 29.53 days with precise duration linked to many phenomena, such as variation between spring and neap tides. So,  d = 5.597661 + 29.5305888610 x N + (102.026 x 10^{-12}) x N-squared where N is an integer, starting with 0 for the first new moon in the year 2000, and that is incremented by 1 for each successive synodic month; and the result d is the number of days since 2000-01-01 00:00:00 reckoned in the time scale known as TT used in ephemerides. To obtain this moment expressed in UT, add the result of following approximate correction to the result d obtained above: -0.000739 - (235 x 10{-12}) x N-squared days. Periodic perturbations change the time of true conjunction from these mean values. For all new moons between 1601 and 2401, the maximum difference is 0.592 days = 14h13m in either direction. The duration of a lunation varies in this period between 29.272 and 29.833 days, −0.259d = 6h12m shorter, or +0.302d = 7h15m longer than average. This is smaller than the difference between mean and true conjunction, because during one lunation the periodic terms cannot all change to their maximum opposite value. 

NOTE (also from Wikipedia... and paraphrased):

The long-term error of the formula is approximately: 1 cy2 seconds in TT, and 11 cy2 seconds in UT.

So don't blame me if you try this formula and it doesn't work.

Cougar Town

I have so many things to share with you today. Chocolate-covered hazelnuts. Surfers. Mountains. Mouth-watering Spanish meals. Five-hundred-year-old sailing ships...

But, well, then this irresistible cougar* came along.

Or maybe she was a cheetah, or a tiger, or a...

Whatever her inner animal[s], I'd bet she'd be a lot of fun.

So, everything else will just have to wait for tomorrow.

*Cougar [koo-ger]: An older woman who seeks sexual relations with much younger men.

Full Moon After Sunrise

There's so much work going on around us. Every day brings another noisy surprise. Stucco repaired. Buildings painted. Trees removed. Trees planted. Bricks being laid.

When I woke to this morning's hustle and bustle, I looked out the window and saw an unusual sight.

A clear view of the sun almost completely risen and the moon almost completely full.

(Click the images for full effect.)

A BIT AFTER SUNRISE.

I'M NOT SURE IF THIS MOON WOULD BE CONSIDERED A WAXING OR WANING GIBBOUS.
ADMITTEDLY, IT COULD BE CONSIDERED ONLY A CRESCENT.

My Basket of Goodies

Not that basket of goodies.

My Christmas basket of goodies!

I never got around to eating... sharing a large sampling of traditional Spanish Christmas sweets and cookies with everyone, so I went to my favourite shop, El Caramelo De Oro (The Golden Candy), and asked the owner Miguel if he still had any Christmas treats in the store. He had one gift basket with a great assortment.

I bought the assortment and have been researching, testing, and photographically documenting each and every item (wrapped and unwrapped).

I've been forcing myself to quickly sample (consume) it all, so I could share the results with you. Yes, in case you hadn't already been made aware (by me), I'm selfless.

(Click the images to see how big the basket is.)

MY OTHER BASKET.

FUNBAR: CHOCOLATE, HAZELNUT...
NOT A VERY TRADITIONAL-SOUNDING NAME, BUT SO GOOD.

ROSCO DE VINO Y ALMENDRA
(WINE AND ALMOND SPANISH SHORTBREAD RING)

MANTECADO DE ALMENDRA.
(ANOTHER VERSION OF SPANISH SHORTBREAD, WITH ALMONDS.)

MANTECADOS SABOR CANELA.
(LEMON-FLAVORED SPANISH SHORTBREAD.)

ANOTHER MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH SWEET.
(I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE.)

TURRON (NOUGAT).

TRUFADO AL LICOR WHISKEY.
(TRUFFLE-FILLED TURRÓN FLAVOURED WITH WHISKEY.)

HOJALDRE IS PUFF PASTRY.
THIS OBVIOUSLY IS NOT. HOWEVER, IT DID HAVE DELICIOUS FLAKY LAYERS.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED COCONUT BALLS (BOLAS DE COCO).
I'M EATING MY SECOND BALL RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS ALL THAT'S LEFT. WELL, EXCEPT FOR THE PRALINE IN
GREEN WRAPPER. WHICH SAN GERALDO JUST ATE...
AND THE TRUFADO CRUJIENTE IN BLUE WRAPPER, WHICH I JUST ATE...
OH, AND THE TURRON CRUJIENTE IN FRONT, WHICH I JUST ATE.

OK. THIS IS WHAT'S LEFT...