Luggard Cumulous Tourists

Day 13

It was an “mmmmm…no, just stay in bed” day. The clouds turned a cold shoulder to the city, hording the sunshine for themselves. Lackadaisical street cleaners lumbered down empty streets dousing the sleepy gray stone with icy water. The wet wash made it seem that a rain storm had just passed through even though the clouds hadn’t let a drop fall. Still hung over from late night partying or having just gone to bed because of late night into early morning partying, much of the city kept doors tightly shut and windows like crossed arms, protecting the people inside from intrusion of sound or light. Even with such a moody start, I find it unthinkable to waste the day.

Perusing the city in the morning you meet the rare early rising Spaniard. I like these people. They are quiet, they are modest, the move slowly (or remarkably fast) and they are so kind. The trash men help me sort my garbage, teaching me that all of it is ‘organicos’ but my orange juice box is ‘papel’, wishing me a good day. The market lady lets me pick out my own apples and gives me a free bag to put them in. The men working on the tile in our building cheer for Valencia after reading my t-shirt, saying that’s a good Espanola (I secretly smile, even though I may rag on Spaniards ALL the time). Shops are just opening; the Chinos spin the sign and beg the world to come shop. They sit quietly at the register and let me nose around. And they smile and nod again and again when I say ‘hasta luego.” The beach is free of boisterous children and pestering tourists. Seated by fishing poles standing like soldiers at attention the fishermen eye the bobbing lines a fair ways out in the Mediterranean. At the beach side cafes folks of all types sit to drink a café con leche with a bonbon. The sun hasn’t been let out of its prison of clouds to wake the rest of Malaga, so for now, it’s just me all bundled up and the quieter side of Spain.

After 4 years of incessant chaos and never ending to-do lists, I find these slow days abounding with free time to be curious creatures. They make me anxious, but I’m learning (well, trying to learn) to ease into them. An overwhelming desire for more activities for things to do keeps rising up and I keep telling myself to appreciate the slow days while I have them…but that’s easier said than done.