Pool day

 

My early morning walks seem to be getting earlier, as I try to avoid the heat , which is nigh on impossible, it is 6.40am now and 21c, the temperature having remained a constant all night.

I had noticed how few people were using balconies and how curtains remained closed all day, everyone seems to be trying to keep the heat out. Yes there is air conditioning, but I never run it when I am asleep.

Anyway back to the day that was Monday, I was out walking for over an hour which was more than enough and included a drinks stop and a sit down to watch the world go by.

Back at the hotel , it was time for a swim and pick my choice of sunbeds

This whole set up of loungers fills me with dread, if they were all full it would be horrible.

The pool was welcome relief and gave me a little bit more exercise as I put in 20 lengths.

I decided to have lunch and once again it was exception and way too much

The sandwich filling of goat cheese, tuna and olives was a perfect, I will definitely have this again. Everything was washed down with water, of which I have at least 4 bottles in my fridge in my room. Best to keep hydrated.

I slept and swam most of the afternoon and eventually wrapped it up and headed back for a shower about 5pm, it was still super hot.

I had a travel business call booked in , so took the call whilst having a walk around the area of the hotel ( more about this later).

After the call I thought I would have a 'dry martini', ahhhh how silly I was to think it would be that easy. Yes  2 ingredient drink is impossible to come by, but you can have a Long Island Ice tea, or Negroni or espresso martin no problem. I settled for a Bloody Mary which has become my new go to drink and of course counts as one of your five a day! 

tiredness and the need to get up early today meant that I was tucked up in bed before 9pm, just in time to have a quick chat with Tracey.

And today, well I am up, and ready to head off for a little adventure.

Have a great day.

Sunny Sunday

 

I was up and out of the door very early yesterday morning, wandering through the side streets and taking in the quiet of Sunday, there were lots of people out jogging, I chose to walk  at pace.

I found the a swimming spot and have decided to have a couple of early morning dips in the sea before I head home, I love a sea swim.

I stopped for a decaf coffee at a lovely little cafe, and a had a local delight a pastizzi, well I had 2! These are either filled with ricotta or curried peas, I opted for the peas and they were delicious. Also delicious was the price, large coffee and 2 pastries €3. You can hardly get a coffee at home for that price.

I headed back to the hotel and then to the swimming pool, straight in for a dip and then a little nap on my lounger. by 1pm it was scorching so I headed back to my room and had another nap. I decided when I woke up to go for another swim and then get showered and ready for a late afternoon meeting.

When I was flicking through X on Saturday I spotted that my friend Anthony was on Gozo, so messaged saying I was heading to Malta. When I got here we were exchanging  messages and it turned out that they were in a hotel about 10 minutes walk from mine. we arranged a meet up.

You just couldn't make it up!

What a fabulous early evening, sitting by the sea drinking negronis/ espresso martinis and chatting with friends. Such a tonic for the soul.

Sadly Anthony, Kate and Edward are heading home today, but just wonderful to meet up.

I headed back to the hotel by a different route and stopped for some dinner on the way.

It was after 9 when I got back to the hotel and I was in bed and fat asleep in no time at all.

I am now up and showered and heading off for my morning constitutional, and to check out the buses as I will be heading off on some jaunts over the next few days.

Off I go

 I had decided to stay at the airport on Friday evening, so that I  could have an extra hours sleep.

However I woke up in a panic, thinking that I had slept through my two phone alarms and convinced it was 6am and I had missed my plane, only to find that it was actually 1.15am. I then didn't dare go back to sleep, so had numerous cups of coffee whilst watching rubbish freeview channels.

I headed over to the airport at 3.30am and was feeling quite deflated and very tired. Obviously the Easyjet ground staff were feeling the same as they were most unhelpful. 

Through security without any mishaps and finally getting myself a glass of champagne, well it is the law!

We were called to board the plane and here Easyjet excelled everyone called in an ordered manner. I headed out to the rear steps just wanting to get sat down and have a nap, getting to the top of the steps I only recognised  one of the crew!!!!, it was Kurt who I have known since he worked Saturdays in my hairdressers (my hairdresser Jacquie is his auntie). After a hug from him , I felt much better, and after 4 bottles of Prosecco ( yes Prosecco)  I was feeling on top of the world.

We flew over the Swiss Alps and yes there was snow!

We arrived in Malta and I was on the mini bus in record time, I was the only person for this particular hotel, and as my room wasn't ready I headed to the pool, where some 'jobsworth'  stopped me and said I couldn't go to the pool. I said I was waiting for my room to be ready, he still wouldn't let me through. So back to reception and given a key card holder to 'prove' I was staying there.

I decided to have a spot of lunch, choosing 'bruschetta as I thought it was a light option, and then it came

wowsers!!!

At 2pm my room was ready and its very big,  three beds ( in case anyone is over here and needs a bed), sadly no balcony, which put my people watching in the evening on hold.

I decided to go for a swim, to chase away the tiredness, then had a couple of hours lying in the sun, and its hot!.

There was lots of messaging going on too, but more of that another day.

I was really tired and decided to have an early night 

And now, I am up, had a fruit and yogurt breakfast and heading out to get my bearings and see whats what.

Happy Sunday

Another month almost over

 Well is April is nearly over and with it the beautiful blossom on the trees, which have put on a wonderful show this year but which is now covering my car like confetti.

Entering into May, surprisingly I have no trip planned for this month, however I am still planning my France trip ( and other options) for later in the year, and planning trips for other people.

I am hoping to fit in another Mijas trip in October which will then slide nicely into my birthday week in Mijas in November

Wih two bank holiday weekends this month I may have to find something to do on the next Bank Holiday.

The weather is warm and sunny ( although still chilly early on a morning) and the garden is starting to take shape, my hydrangeas are  in full leaf and hopefully full bloom soon.

Am I the only person thinking about next years holidays?, I am planning to mix it up a bit and maybe only go to Mijas a couple of times, and venturing somewhere else  for summer holidays.

My head is full of ideas, I just need to put them into action.

Happy Bank Holiday weekend

Not really a Mijas debrief

 

I think there have been more debriefs from Mijas jaunts than anywhere else in this whole series of blogs so I thought that I would write about what I do most of the time, and surprisingly its not drink lots of dry martinis!

1. When I wake up whether it is still dark or the sun just starting to rise, I step out onto the balcony, and take in the early morning air. When it is still dark it is lovely to take in the complete peace before the birds have risen from their nests and if the sun is just coming up , it is  lovely to just listen to their joyous song.

Sitting for 5 -10 minutes to slowly wake up and greet the day is my favourite thing. I feel that these few minutes reset my sleepy head and get me ready for the day. ( I do this at home  when it is warm enough and have an early morning coffee outside).

2. I go for a walk around the village every morning, but I really walk with no plan of where I am going ( apart from back to the hotel). This is not usually just for getting my steps in but for getting my thoughts in order. I often wake up with many  things going round in my head, and after my morning quiet time, I then try to make sense of what may be troubling me, or things that I need to do.

A walk with no real destination is a good way to just think things through.

3. Have fresh air, I sleep with my balcony door slightly open, and I know a lot of people will think this is unsafe, believe me I would never do this anywhere else but Mijas. I sleep with a window open in my bedroom at home all year round. 

I have always loved the feel of fresh, sometimes cold air when I wake up.

4. Drink lots of water. I am a great water drinker and on holiday I tend to drink more than normal, whether sparkling or still, I make sure that I am properly hydrated at all times. I always have a glass of warm water before my first morning coffee.

5. Eat local, and by this I mean, trying anything  associated with where I am. In Spain my favourite is gazpacho which  I absolutely love, but I love chicken and roasted veg Spanish style.

Pan con tomat is another favourite of mine and makes a hearty breakfast or lunch.

I love tapas, mainly as you can usually find something that you really like.

6. Relax!, The joy of not having to drive to and from work, the fact that the day is completely yours and you are not tied to doing anything that you don't want to do is just the best feeling in the world.

If you are looking for holidays,  get in touch.

lainey.robinson@notjusttravel.com

 

A quick catch up

 

I had decided not to blog every day on this holiday as I think you vicariously know Mijas.

This has been a wonderful and simple holiday for me, having arrived slap bang in the middle of Holy week most, and on some days all of the shops in the village have been closed which means that this holiday I return home without a new handbag!,

All restaurants in the village are open and so far I have managed to restrain myself from living on Roquefort lasagne or tagliatelle with walnut and gorgonzola sauce, good for the waistline.

What I have done though is totally relax. simple joys, like watching a very cheeky blackbird taking a bath on the swimming pool steps

sleeping in the sun and having a martini around the pool.

My nemesis Grumpy Gabriel has turned into my new best friend, and surprised me the other evening, when he told me that I was the only person to come to the hotel  and drink Dry Martinis, he know that I only have it made with Larios gin ( the essential gin in my opinion), and I have had several interesting conversations with him.

Tracey is also a one off in the hotel with her drink of choice being a Black Russian, again probably the only person to order it.

The weather has been absolutely wonderful with super hot temperatures, today we are looking at a high of 22, which will suit me nicely.

This has been the break that I never knew I needed. 

Every time I come here I say that I will get the bus down the mountain and have a wander around the coast, but I never do, I never want to leave the village until it is really necessary. 

And now I am pulling on my swimsuit and heading for another day of swimming, sunning, sleeping and reading.

Have a wonderful Sunday

Happy Easter

off I go

 Well, off I go again!

I decided to spend the evening at The Britannia Hotel at Newcastle airport so that I could take my case over for the twilight check in and have a decent sleep before heading off on my jaunt.

I have stayed at the Britannia several times over the last 5 years and luckily now they are slowly upgrading the rooms, which were slightly tired. I had a very nice room with views over the long stay car park, to be honest you are never going to get gorgeous views.

I was up at 2 am and the disappointing thing ( I noticed this last time I stayed) although there is a bath and shower, there is never really 'hot' water, more of a tepid splash ( even the wash basin). The shower was hotter but I do like a soak in the bath.

I was in the airport by 3.30am and through security ( no problems with the underwires!) and glass of champagne in front of me by 3.45am.

We were called to the plane and then sat on the tarmac for half an hour, due to loading cases they said, I was expecting delays in Spain not UK!.

The flight sailed( or flew??!!) by or maybe I dozed off.

We had a very hairy approach over the sea, as it was quite windy, and a bit of a bumpy landing but the blue sky and wonderful Mediterranean light made up for it.

All expecting delays due to strikes at Malaga were not noticed ( if they happened).

On the coach and surprisingly not the first drop off, we went to some hell hole on the coast, it looked like Blackpool on speed and the hotel pool and sunbathing area, had metal railings at road level so that you could be seen by everyone walking/ driving to and from the beach or just having a perambulation, not my thing at all.

Dropped off at the usual spot for the race down the hill to the hotel, this is due to the incline and the fact that your case takes on a mind of its own. walking into the foyer, I felt a sense of relief, I was 'home'.

Then suddenly I heard someone calling out my name, it was Ignatio on reception, I got some funny looks from the others from the coach! I was welcomed back with news my room was ready for me and it was room 33, my favourite room.

I was changed and swimming off the tiredness in less than 10 minutes.

The rest of my day was sunbathing, martini drinking and then sleeping which meant that anyone messaging me after 8.45pm got no answer. It had been a long day.

OOOHHH!!!! and I had a very long conversation with a smiling 'Grunpy Gabriel'. Not sure which I prefer!!!

Who knows what today holds.

As I have visited Mijas very very often, I will probably not be blogging every day.

Have a wonderful easter weekend ( if you observe this holiday).