I was jogging through Cabanillas yesterday—decked out in running shorts, running shoes, a Sony Walkman® and little else—when a man walking down the street signaled me to stop.
I removed the headphones from my ears and he asked, “Can you lend me a cigarette?”
Now, just think about that for a minute.
Sal, Sal, Sal. You realy shouldn’t set yourself up this way. Since this is a family blog I will keep the rude comments to myself but it is very tempting….
~ B
A “Midnight Cowboy” scenario, eh? I pride myself on finding the naughty side of every situation, but I must admit…this one escaped me.
Must be something in the NW Pacific air. 🙂
Sal
Wow! So did you ask where this guy learned how to speak English, and how he knew you spoke English?
Hello my Austuriano friend:
He asked me in Spanish. It would’ve been impossible for him to tell that I was American, because (a) I wasn´t wearing hair mousse; (b) I don’t have an enormous beer belly; and (c) I don’t wax my chesthairs.
Besides…American’s don’t smoke. Our vices are Doritos and Coca-cola. 😉
Sal
Unless Spain has changed greatly since my times there (and I do go back every year to check in) most everybody in your barrio o pueblo know exactly who is the ‘Americano’ and most likely know many of your most intimate details…family members, likes, dislikes, vices…. and if they don’t know then they just make some up.
As I have blonde hair and blue eyes y “una cara de guiri que te cagas”, I always stood out like a sore thumb…which sometimes had it’s advantages.
Hello Iron man:
Although I pretty much look like a Spaniard (including my not-so-imposing 5´9″ stature), you are correct…all 5,000 of my townsfolk know that I am a gringo. I often expect an old widow to approach me in a grocery store and say, “Ah! Your underwear! I see that you switched from briefs to boxers last week.”
But it cuts both ways. I am just as nosy about them as they are about me. Point of fact: My next door neighbor is not wearing any underwear at all this morning.
Sal
reminds me of bill clinton jogging to mcdonalds
I was of course aware of the fact that he asked it in Spanish. I just couldn’t resist to make that foolish remark.