Stormy Monday

 

Well Monday started with sunshine and blue skies and saw me off on my early morning trek around the village, I found the start point of the floral trail and headed back along the panoramic walk, taking in the lovely little ponds and water channels that had been put in along with the flowers and trees.

There is really something soothing about the sound of water, especially when there is practically no other sounds. I sat listening and before I knew it I had been there half an hour. Holidays really are a luxury for me, in what  I sometimes find is a time poor living and working life, just been able to idle away half an hour in nature is very special.

Walking back towards the village centre I glanced up between two houses and saw the foundations of the public auditorium, yes I am that geeky, everything here is on top of a hunk of rock.

By the time I was in the village square I decided to go to get a coffee, I went to 'Cafe Bella Vista' where Tracey and I had fab crepes last month.

I wandered around the shops, this could mean only one thing, there will probably be a new handbag before I come home.

And then it started to rain, and rain, and rain.

There I was in a top and cardi, no jacket, I headed into the Taberna and had a beer, and eventually made it back to the hotel in between downpours.

Passing the florists I noticed she had poinsettias on display and there was also white and orange ones.

The hotel will soon be full of them if last Christmas here was anything to go by.

Back at the hotel the rain had started again, so I decided to go for a swim, the pool was all mine.

There was no let up  so a hotel room picnic was the order of the day

I love the Gazpacho they sell in the supermarkets, I know its not homemade, but its very good.

I watched a bit of Netflix whilst listening to the wind getting stronger, and stronger, that along with lashing rain made me rethink my evening plans and eat what I had planned for lunch Tuesday. Can't complain and these salad bowls are one of my favourite supermarket finds in Spain, I found them first in Salou and have continued to buy them on every visit.

By the time I was half way through this, there was noises of moving furniture out side and I was just in time to see a table go for a swim and a chair about to follow suit, it was wild. My idea about not walking into the village for dinner was definitely a good one.

The table and chairs are still in the pool this morning.

I decided to make Gabriels evening and go and have a cocktail. I was greeted with the usual distaste, but he does make a mean Martini.

I retired to bed around nine, and started to watch 'The Beast in me' on Netflix, I would recommend this.

Today has dawned a lot quieter and no rain so far, the weather forecast is telling me its a pool day, but first breakfast and a walk.

Have a great Tuesday

A quiet day

 

The sun made a welcome appearance and after a hearty breakfast I set off for a my daily walk around the village, I had set out a new route for this holiday. I headed off , it was very quiet and apart from a few dog walkers there was  not a soul around.

nts

After passing through the cafes and restaurants I headed upwards towards the 'top' of the village and the beautiful panoramic walkways.

Wonderful views from the pueblo down through the campo to the coast, but not only stunning views, the whole walkway area is planted up with all kinds of trees and shrubs, all marked up with information and descriptions.

I walked around the village auditorium, which hosts concerts and has stunning views, and then round to the bullring, which isn't actually round. No bull fights take place here now but it is still a huge part of the fabric of the village.

I carried on down through the original fortress walls and then back into the main drag of the village.

The whole walk took just over an hour.

Back at  the hotel I headed straight to the pool, and  got comfortable. It was very hot and remained that way until just after lunch when it clouded over.

I headed into the main bar and to my surprise Alejandro appeared with a piece of cake and candle. My birthday week just keeps on going.

It was Alejandros  last working day and then three weeks holiday. In October he told us he was hoping to go to Scotland, but he is now taking his mum to Paris, as she has never been.

I decided to go and have an afternoon nap, and that's were it all went a bit strange.

I settled down at 5 pm for  a quick nap and woke up at 5am this morning. I knew I was tired when I got here, but that has shocked me as I haven't slept like that in years.

So I am now preparing to go to breakfast and then out for my walk, before possibly getting the bus down the mountain.

Lets see how today pans out

Birthday escape

 So Friday meant a sluggish drive up to Newcastle airport after work, checked in and surprise surprise, after 5 years of staying here on and off, they re finally updating the rooms. Mine was lovely and to be honest I would love the furniture for my bedroom. Big fat tick for them.

I wandered over to the airport for the twilight check in, got bumped up to an extra leg room seat free of charge and found out the flight was no where near full. I got back to my hotel, had a catch up call with Dale, cracked open some champagne, a half bottle that I had squirrelled away, put the TV on and promptly fell asleep.

I woke up at 2am and thought I should get up.

I was bathed dressed and ready to leave at 3am.

There were two lovely men on reception when I went down and one walked me to my car with an umbrella, I drove round to the car park and dropped off the car, closer to the terminal than I have ever been.

I was straight through security and having my first glass of birthday champagne by 4am.

Happy Birthday to me!

the flight took off on time and I was stretched out having extra leg room and the whole row to myself.

The flight flew by ( no pun intended) and I headed down to the dreaded 'ramp' of Malaga airport...................and there was no passport snake!! there was no queuing on the ramp!!! it was straight down and straight through passport control, still no mug shot or fingerprints taken, and cases waiting at the other side. Of all the birthday treats, this was the best.

I walked down to the 'bowels' of the carpark where I was told I would be transferred by taxi with another couple from my flight, 45 mins later we were still waiting for them. They had tried calling them, no answer, so it was decided that I would go on my own as they had obviously made their own way to the hotel. I was told the taxi would be 10 mins, and just at the last moment the couple turned up. They had been having a cigarette ( of 20 ) as , and I quote ' we had been on a plane for 3 hours!'. Not sure how that took nearly an hour!!!!

There was another false start with the taxi but by this point  my champagne buzz was wearing off and I needed a top up, so any further drama was seriously testing my birthday patience. 20 mins later we were at the hotel and I was being wished a Happy Birthday by the staff and my room (33) was ready for me.

After getting my cards out of my case, opening and reading them ( and having a little cry), I headed out for my long awaited birthday lunch. I walk up to the lovely Italian in the village for Penne gorgonzola with walnuts, I had promised myself last year that I would have it for my birthday after my op ( too rich to have last year), now I actually had this in October but was too 'martinied up' to remember!!!!.

It was amazing and I might just have it again before I go home.

I got back to the hotel and headed down to the swimming pool for a swim, it had started to rain so I was on my own. it was freezing but it really blew the cobwebs of the early morning away.

A nap was now the order of the day followed by cocktails of which 2 were on the house. Ahhhh Grumpy Gabriel was on duty, he sort of smiled at me .I think, but  it might have been wind, I'm not sure, but then out of the back came Alejandro, my day was made.

Despite the nap, tiredness was creeping up on me, so I decided to have an early night and listen to the torrential rain, which by 10pm was showing no signs of letting up.

It carried on most of the night, I had visions of catching an ark up into the village, but it has calmed down and I think my early morning walk is still on the cards.

So let Sunday begin.

Last day of summer

 

And so all too quickly the last day of summer has arrived.

I took the opportunity to  have an early(ish) morning stroll.

The sky was a stunning blue with fluffy white clouds, the sun was shining but the air had a definite autumnal nip in it. after only a few minutes my cheeks were pinched  pink by the wind. It was just good to be out in the fresh air, soaking up the late summer vitamin D.

 

The trees, which back in August were starting to shed their leaves, seemed to decide to hang onto them after a fair amount of rain, and now in late October, they are still clinging on and not quite in their full Autumn coat. With  ever busy lives, it is sometimes good to just stop and take stock of your surroundings.

My walk took in country lanes and open fields, the hedgerows still being full of bounty, the sloes are huge this year and still offering themselves up .

the leaves of the Blackthorn  are long gone in this area, but the sloes remain, providing much needed fruit for my gin and also food for wildlife especially pollinators and caterpillar. The dense spiny structure of these bushes make for excellent  secure fencing as well as lacerating various parts of my hands and arm, worth it though.

That bag of sloes is destined for the freezer, enabling me to make sloe gin in the early part of the new year.

I also collected some rosehips, which again, were plentiful on the bushes which unlike the Blackthorn, was still hanging onto  most of its leaves

These rosehips will this afternoon, be deseeded ( a totally thankless task), and then soaked in vinegar overnight before being used in my last batch of chutney for the year.

Rosehips are a great source of vitamin c , they actually contain significantly more than oranges, and can be frozen, so I might be out again tomorrow to collect some more!

Just being out soaking up the last of the late summer sun, walking in the fresh air and taking in all that nature provides, is a huge tonic, tomorrow we enter into darker shorter days, the light gradually changes over the next few months, a time of year that I do not like at all.

Luckily in 3 weeks I will be taking in  some winter sun.

Mijas the debrief

 

Mijas,

Well once again, Mijas excelled itself. For me there is something about this little place in the mountains.

I often feel as if I am on an island as I look down towards the coast, I also never really want to head down to the coast, and for me an avid beach lover this is slightly alien.

On this, my 4th visit in 11 months, it hasn't lost its charm.

My early morning walks through the village are a delight, everyone out doing there day to day things, always pleasant.

The range of restaurants  in the village to cater for the mass of tourists who venture up the mountain during  the day, give a wide selection of food choices. The tapas bars in the village full of locals in the evening.

The winding streets and alleys are a delightful view of village life, the streets may seem narrow and not getting much sunlight from one angle but theses houses usually have roof terraces and as such  get maximum sunlight.

The hotel, the only one in the village, strikes you as being small and cosy with quirky seating areas around the reception a strange array of pictures on walls ( including a picture of Lumley Castle at Chester Le Street!!!) but it is in fact  a massive place with over 200 room and  being on 5 levels. This is well disguised, despite the  fact that it is built on  side of mountain. To look at it looks like a two/ three storey building.

The staff are brilliant and super friendly with the exception of Gabriel who I now realise doesn't just hate me but also most of the residents, there are some who are the chosen few, who he speaks to and laughs with.

The hotel is super clean through out although the bedrooms and bathrooms are a little jaded, none of this detracts from my love of the place.

There are great walks and hiking around the area, if that is what you like. Although for me just walking through the many streets is brilliant, a lovely walk up to the Church and the bull ring gives amazing views.

The village is always clean and tidy, with the street cleaners being  out early on a morning. The Spanish and there recycling puts the UK to shame.

Would I come back to Mijas a fifth time?? well yes I absolutely would. Its my very happy place.

last day

 

Early morning start with a 6am alarm call, the lights down on the coast still shining brightly, in the pueblo not quite so although the multi storey car park was well lit.

Two very weary ladies headed down for the last breakfast, and enjoyed the views out from the dining room over the campo.

It was in no time at all that we were on the coach and heading to the airport. 

Where had the weekend gone?

We were on board and away before we could even blink an eye.

We flew out over Madrid, who knew it looked so small

With a tail wind pushing us closer to the UK, we made it back into Newcastle 20 minutes ahead of time and landed through thick cloud and a temperature of 11degrees, a bit of a change from 26!

Picked up by our lovely taxi driver and home in  less than an hour.

I was in bed, just over 12 hours ( 13 with time change) after I originally got up.

Was I glad to be home?

No!

The countdown now begins to my next jaunt.