This morning we, Franco Pipster and I had our walk about the local area, then headed off out in the car, we went to Mijas Pueblo, they have been working on the lower plaza for some time now, seems to be at the stage where it looks like it will never be finished... the stage that comes just before the... Wow! its done por fin!  If I start dropping more Spanish into my sentences its because I seem to be actually understanding people speaking Spanish! lol er yes, long time coming, and maybe after being back in the UK and back to work after a week I

might not again! Feels like I have past a threshold, thats been my problem in learning Spanish really, I remember what I read, what I see, I can spell every word I can speak... I just don't seem to have 'the ear' for it! Like I am deaf to the Spanish language... until this week, just in random passing, hearing people speak amongst themselves I know what their saying! Cool!


Anyway!  We had a coffee down near the 'new' parque, and then

walked up to the upper plaza, where there were a group of Flamenco dancers and singers performing, it was lovely, seemed very impromptu, although there was a wooden floor put down, they were just very relaxed and going with the flow... great to watch and listen too... We sat a while and did so, before walking around the gardens, as we always do, always have and will always...  A fantastic view across the Med to Africa, the mountains over there clearer than my camera has made out!

 You could see miles of the African coastline, all the way along, from Gibraltor to Malaga... Fantastic!  Then in the little pond a great noise of small toads, probably calling for a mate, and this little chap here got more than he bargained for when a dog jumped in!! Not sure who was the more shocked, him, me or the dogs owners!!!  Then Franco saw this wonderful butterfly, it was huge!  Beautiful... there used to be 100's of butterflies in these gardens, and over the years they had gone.

But now they're back! and so wonderful to watch... As was this great locust!  He was huge!  He seemed a bit sluggish!  He was actually walking step by step towards the edge of the wall, when he reached it he tried a jump and landed with a thud, almost!  on the path beneath, and so he didn't get squished Franco picked him up and put him in the grass!

There were beautiful freesia everywhere too, gorgeous, flowers everywhere, spring has sprung and summer has followed on its wing... the swifts, swallows? Whichever, I can't remember again which

is which, but they are visiting here again, by our house sweeping and performing aero-acrobatics!

The car park in Mijas Pueblo is only a Euro now, which is great, brings people into town instead of forcing people out!  So the place was buzzing, I love Mijas... we didn't eat in the town though today, we stopped in a little road-side bar on the road home, we got in just in time we had almost the last table!  and for just over €10 we had four tapas, a

coffee, a glass of white wine and a Pepsi!  The tapas were of good size too, I had paella and meatballs, not together, two separate tapas, both came with bread and there was a spare rib in the paella along with shrimp and chicken...!  Franco had spare ribs and curry tapas!  We sat outside, watching the world go by, which meant only a few cars, bikes and bicycles! a view down over Voltocado...  where Pippa was born and down to the Fuengirola coastline...  Sat in the sun and appreciated how very very lucky we are indeed!

TTFN
Marian

Mijas today! Wall to wall blue skies... cool in the breeze and there was one helluva wind up there!  We started off at the Market at La Trocha in Coín... had coffee with friends and a good look around each and every aisle... Then around the artisan food hall and back in the car... Quite a breeze in there, I was glad of having my coat on!

Such a nice day we decided on carrying onto Mijas pueblo and lunch at our favourite opposite a little church near the museum... the road is up there at the moment, the road is up all over Mijas just now!  But works have to be done before summer... so no complaints from us!

We shared a plate of fried whitebait and nice fresh bread, and I had a glass of wine, the only one since I have been home, after coming back with a cold which might quite possibly have been the flu, followed by a jaw thing doing on, probably related the the virus I had had... still coughing now, but so much better!  This is the first time I fancied a glass of vino!  Mind you, I then fancied a cigarette... Franco said no! lol I don't smoke, but really just wanted one!

 Coming to the end of this month back home, feels like two months not one, so been a great visit home... and I am looking forward to getting back to work next Tuesday, working with a lovely lady, in a lovely location, which makes a huge difference with wanting to be at work and not!

We've met up with friends, we've travelled to Ronda, and all over the place, its been lovely...

I am packed, I am taking the minimum amount with me this time, I had taken a few extras as it was Christmas with me last trip back to work... This case is holding, four tops, one pair of trousers, one on... no travel bags with my shower/cosmetics etc etc... a plastic bag will suffice!  One pair outside shoes on, a pair of house shoes, [fewest undies!], pj's... that is it!  Well and lap top, kindle, phones with chargers and camera of course!!

I do not intend to carry a heavy case on and off planes... [well, you know what I mean!], on and off trains at least!

In the house, we have improved, by painting, moving, and clearing...  flowers blooming and all good!  We have one of worlds smallest bedrooms, because I brought the living room up into what was the big bedroom... we had a tiny cupboard on one side of the bed and an old bedside cabinet on the other, we got four Ikea Billy bookcases, of the small narrow variety, doubled them up, and they now reside by the bed sides!  sideways on, second shelves are for bedside stuff, and the other five shelves for storage... having the white side face on they actually make the tiny room seem bigger???

Plans afoot for next trip home, so the time will fly, I start on Wednesday 10th and finish on 10th March...

TTFN
Marian

 View from the gardens at Mijas... this 'tree' is less than two feet high, its just the way I took it! Looks huge doesn't it...

Great shot of this tree... Looks like a couple of things, depending on your view point of course, maybe a huge foot with a giant abscess! Or a dog... or a bear!!

I love the gardens at Mijas, so many beautiful memories... I am always full of emotion there, to over spilling!

In side the little restaurant where we had breakfast this particular morning on our holibobs!  I have eaten here on many many an occasion since 1989...

View from our terrace on the morning of leaving, again....

TTFN
Marian

Holibob pics!

Some shots from Malaga, taken July 17th ... Above, just an attractive apartment building!

The front end of the market in Malaga, mostly a fish market, it was closing up by the time we entered it to walk through to the next street, beautiful stained glass windows this end, and Arabic arches on the other side...

If you look closely the apartment on the second floor is up for sale!!! Hope it looks better inside than its does from the out!!

Alhaurín el Grande, our church near our house, so pretty at night.... and during the day with the Roman pillars outside the town hall and the buena vista of the valley... magnifico!

The path towards the gardens in Mijas pueblo, every house recently painted white and the pots painted a beautiful blue, so fresh and clean looking, there were two little girls selling small hand made knitted bits and pieces, babies booties, gloves etc...

This picture, a bit of an optical allusion, because I took this looking down into a gorge in the gardens of Mijas pueblo, there is a little walkway bridging the gap where rock climbers climb or abseil! Centre of the photo is me, arms raised above my head to take this photo, but afterwards looking at it, I can see the big shadow on the left, and to me, just me maybe?  but I see my Pippa dog, sat down, and leaning slightly to the left, one ear up the other down...!! Only me then is it that sees her??? Oh well... I was missing her....

This beautiful avenue of trees is on the way from leaving the grotto of the Vigin de la Peña... also in Mijas, one of my favourite places in this village, and I was more than a little bit annoyed on leaving, I had gone in on my own, put some money into the electronic candle box, lit five candles for various thank yous, and wishes... and there was a couple in there laughing about and taking photo after photo.... flash flash flash, shouting and acting about!!  I know its not some great Cathedral, but to me, its somewhere special, and beautiful, and is normally so calm and sort of listens to your thoughts... oh well!!! Tourists eh! lol!!!

Above and below taken in The Palm Trees restaurant in Calahonda, the whole place has changed, I know some would say for the better as it hadn't since I first set foot in there, back in 1989, but went in there to see Antonio, who had managed the place for all those years, or at least up until three years ago... now he is gone?  Maybe still has his other restaurant near Fuengirola, one I will try and visit next time, car permitting, its out of the way somewhat!  The whole place has been repainted, the seating running up the left hand side, the booths, are raised on a platform, they still are, but all totally new!  Less tables in the main area, but where the pool table was, are now more customer tables and chairs, gone are the champagne holders, the ice cream machine...

Franco had to settle with pasta, not the greatest thing to eat out, for those of us that eat so much of it at home, cook our own sauces etc ourselves and are rather critical of Italian food other than our own!

But I had the most wonderful salmon dish and was more than pleased with it!!!

Fuengirola market Saturday and half way round, near where mom and I nearly bought a place is this area, below, two bars, the one of the left, hardly seen from here is where her and I went often whilst living in Fuengirola, at least twice a week anyhow!

TTFN
Marian

Feliz Holibobs!

 Okay amigos, lots of photos and quick run though of holibobs in Spain last week!!

Above the view from home, there, almost the same view, a few changes, some new terrace work, the odd bit of solar panneling!! But basiclly just the same, with the wonderful Guadalhorce valley and Malaga mountains in the distance...

My Birthday cake! It was so beautiful, and tasty so beautiful too!  Only the second birthday cake with my name on it, ever!  The first on my 40th Birthday back in California...

The wonderful art work in Malaga rail station... Picasso shining through, zoom and in and see his well known face...

This big glass building is the Malaga town hall, or a part of it, tonnes and tonnes of glass, not just the windows, but hanging there as if by magic, looking like wonderful opaque shelves...

Couldn't resist taking a photo of this great Mercedes-Benz camper van!  Yes a camper van, should have taken more photos from the sides and back, but the two occupants came back and drove off, a couple of girls, girl power I say, what a great vehicle to drive around Europe in!!

Franco drove, [pedalled] us the length of the port, easier than walking that's for sure, especially for me!  We did have a rather steep ramp to negotiate, luckily it had a good hand rail for me to help pull us up!!! Must have been funny to watch!!  We were over taken by people walking, horses pulling tourists and boys on electric bikes!! Oh well what the heck!!

The little Chapel on Malaga Port, I am glad they kept this charming piece of history,  it is the most beautiful part of the Port, surrounded by the multitude of tourist shops, bars and restaurants...

Tapas above, two beers and two tapas for less than €4 for both! Not a huge amount obviously, but fresh and tasty!

Wonderful architecture of the approach to the Port on foot, took this on the way out, the open roof is in the shape of a wave, sort of! The shadow below shows you the same design... beautiful eh!

We arrived Tuesday July 16th, mid day ish, got the bus to Malaga bus station and then onto home in Alhaurín el Grande!  Chilled out in the afternoon, very tired from getting up so early, left before day break and travelled through very foggy patches at times, but then as time past we watched the sun rise on our way to the airport at Bristol.

Wednesday, my birthday! Whoop whoop!  Still excited about my birthdays, usually left with a cold empty feeling by the end of the day, but not this year...  First thing I went down to 'The Office' and had coffee with the gang!!! Was met along the way and safely escorted into my chair!  Had the most beautiful birthday cake as seen above... very very nice! It lasted up to the last morning when the final slice and crumbs I consumed!! lol...

Then it was off to Malaga City, the first bus to arrive! And spent the whole day there, walking, sitting, riding [the bike], eating! And more food!!!  Last bite to eat was near the bus station and we got the 6pm bus back to Alhaurín el Grande! Took the bags back and came back into town for dinner at Bar Rosa...

Thursday a day around town, and visited friends locally...  In the evening met up at Bar Rosa and three of us went to Al Alegra, lovely dinner with great company...

Friday bus to Fuengirola, we went to a parada further away from us, so as to beat the rush of kids who would be going down to the beaches, it worked, or we wouldn't have made it at all!  And because we had gone to a bus stop we wouldn't normally have used, I bumped into a friend I hadn't seen on my last visit, so was really great to see her, catch up with the past year or more, since I last saw her... Wouldn't have seen her this time otherwise... fate eh! 

So, back to the bus.... Was all push and shove to get off at Mijas, but I had to have some time there, we did, the whole morning, some small changes here, and one big one!  I remember when they cemented the walls around the garden walkway, disturbing something Tony had left for me there, gone forever more... and now I was disturbed again! A special place that I had loved as it was was different, extended and just not the same anymore, why can't they leave things alone... don't like changes sometimes... We had food there, at a bar I have also been using for twenty four years... then bus down to Fuengirola, another to La Cala, where we visited a friend at work in her bar, then onto Calahonda!  And dropped off out bags, again!!  Back out and to El Zoco, all change there with bar owners etc, opened shops, closed shops, new shops and some old ones!!

Before eating in the evening, on way through El Zoco, we detoured to friends house, they haven't been having a great year so far, and not been out, but thought it would be worth just popping by.... and there was their car!!  They were visiting too!! So popped in for a chat and made a date for Sunday evening with them!  Then off we went to The Palm Tree restaurant at one of the resorts there, one I have been going to since 1989!!!  Expected to see the owner we have known and last seen about three years ago... he was gone!!!  Will have to visit his other place near Fuengirola, need a car for that trip, hope he is okay...  took some photos... tomorrow of the new place, felt very strange in there now, things change eh!

Saturday bus into Fuengirola and around the flea market, love that place!  I went with purpose, to buy ornaments for home in Spain!  Enforced ornament buying does not work, believe you me!  Its alright seeing something when your not looking for it!  And only saw one thing out of the billions of things there that I actually really liked, but it was too costly, no way worth what they were asking, so let it go... no matter eh!  Went to the usual bar I always went in with Mom, and had the usual croissant toasted with marmalade!  Spent the rest of the day on the beach, parasols and sun beds incluido!  Kept leaving for drinks and snacks at another friends bar, he wasn't there, had had a knee operation but caught up with his wife about how they've been doing so far this year...

When we eventually came away we thought we would eat there in town and had kebabs!  I know I know... I hear ya'all!! But you know, it was pretty dam tasty!  In a restaurant, sit down dinner and drinks!  Ice cream of pink bubble gum from a parlour along the paseo maritimo and job done!  Back on the bus and back to apartment on the beach! Thank you Maria.... xx

Now, before leaving town we went for a wander about town, shoe shopping!  For Franco!  His favourite shop, we were in it for ages, then I wanted a pair, of course! lol, and because of that we then bumped into friends we had been looking for earlier but couldn't find! Made a date to see them Sunday morning! Another lucky fateful meeting!El Zoco again in the evening for wifi! Thank you peeps!!

Sunday! Off to Fuengirola again by bus, great seeing everything on the roads we used to travel on every single day, for so many years, seeing the changes, the updated buildings, the beaches, all the wonderful flowers in bloom... Looking for the new speed cameras around La Cala!  First of all in Fuengirola we met up with friend for coffee near their place, then onto another bar in town, and there, someone called my name, a friend from up in Alhaurín I wouldn't have got to see otherwise, more fate eh!  Its everywhere no doubt should we stop and take notice of it!

Then to the beach again, another parasol another sun bed!  Left the beach and had a wander around town again, coffee in a favourite bar near the church where me and the boys used to have chicken and salad sandwiches going back to the early 1990's... Then a bus, then back to the apartment to change and back out again for dinner with friends.... but on the way, saw a neighbours blinds open, which had been closed the previous walks past, so popped in and caught up with her, just two doors down from our old duplex apartment at Calahonda, been ages since we had seen each other, and not enough time, but so glad we came around El Zoco that direction or we would have missed her altogether.... fate, again...  and then to dinner with friends.... Went to a new Mexican restaurant, where the sushi bar was.... where the furniture store was until the fire took it all out!

Great food! Could eat Mexican until the buffalo come home!!

Where am I now.... Monday July 22nd VID!  After a meeting to do some business!  Our friends gave us a lift back up to Alhaurín, via the garden centre which was great, had wanted to visit it, but not sure if I could have made it by foot and the bus goes only as far as the golf club on the main road!  So thanks to our friends, fate intervened and drinks at the garden centre were enjoyed by all!  Back home,  and out again!  On my way to meet up with friend past by another neighbour I wouldn't have seen otherwise... fate!

And to the home of the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood! For music, food, y té!

In the evening out for dinner, first at Bar Rosa, then onto restaurant, not sure which one we were going to, and therefore can't remember the name the place we did eat at... it was further up the street and the food was lovely! We went to Bar Cruz after dinner, and watched the Full Moon rise over the apartments and over the Sierra De Mijas... A new future King of England had been born that afternoon, an amazing day... ending with my roof top vista of Alhaurín, the lights, the smells, the sounds of a village in Spain... I feel a poem coming on, the colors purple and green and yellow.... with Rod Stewart playing in the back ground and a padded room!

Tuesday... to town, coffees, more coffees, time with friends, shopping, food! Back to the house, everything cleaned up, swept up, washed up and closed up!  Thankfully my friends visit every day whilst walking their dogs and I am eternally grateful for that... the house was clean and fresh and totally damp free, dust free too!  It did feel very strange the whole week with no Pippa there though, at every turn, and every room, I felt Pippa had just left or would soon be walking into, even or especially on the terrace, where is she, what is she doing!  Will she bark when she hears 'that' noise in the street, those people talking or walking past?  Those dogs barking!  And when down at the coast, I felt I had left her up in Alhaurin on her own!!!  However much I had cleaned, swept and hoovered before leaving there were still some signs of her... her hair of course!  And a load of her toys!! Brought a couple of them back for her, her nose buried deep in the suitcase when I opened it here, she was burrowing down in like the hunting dog she is!

We were getting the bus back to the airport, a return trip to the one taken last Tuesday, but were given a lift, which was a great saving, of time and journey, and kept Alhaurín and home that much closer to my heart for doing so...

The flight wasn't until 23.40 and seemed to be in the middle of the night, entering the airport in day light, dropping off the bag and returning to the outside bar for drinks, a headache I had had for an hour or more really started to kick in by then... Once into departures wandered about the shops, Desigual, of course! One of my favourite shops!  And then I bought a purse in a different shop, designed with Blythe dolls all over! Perfecto!!

A little too early we went through into the gate area, nothing much there, and it was the old area of the airport, so seemed to be going back in time by nearly four years, and felt like the rest of the airport must have reverted to its old self, and that by walking back out time would have gone back... and so much unchanged, so much to do again, some for good, some for bad, but so much all the same....

The flight took off on time, and we watched the whole journey over France and Southern England the amazing display of lightening storms going on beneath us and in the clouds... bright white and green? The lightening flashing through the skies in the most amazing patterns only nature can produce!  The still Full Moon seems to follow me the whole way too, always outside the window...  and then we landed about one am back in Bristol, collected bag, and bus to car all in good time, the drive back was good, dry, clear night, but the moon had a mist over it, a sad veil of whiteness...

Back at the house about three thirty am, Pippa still so sleepy still so excited to see us, but soon went to sleep as did we, and the neighbours no doubt!

That's it amigos... a holiday in a nut shell! Bound in sunshine and moon dust, heat and sand...

TTFN
Marian
E&OE [typing in the dark]