Well, we made it. Move day went smoothly (and it’s already almost a week past). Fuengirola welcomed us with fairly miserable, windy, and brutally cold weather (it’s gotten down to 3C/38F overnight once, and at worst it’s been up to 12C/54F during the day; so, OK, everything is relative). Of course we’ve been told again and again that it’s never like this! The owner of one restaurant was at least honest enough to blame us. Admittedly, we did have some glorious blue sky and sunshine here and there after our first night, but that now seems like a distant memory.
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| FROM ONE OF OUR BALCONIES IN SEVILLA BEFORE WE LEFT THURSDAY AFTERNOON. |
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| FROM OUR TERRACE IN FUENGIROLA FRIDAY BEFORE THE MISERABLE WEATHER RETURNED. |
Thursday is Andalucía Day; lots of businesses will be closed. We still don’t have internet hooked up at home. We’re expecting that to occur Friday or Saturday. So we checked into a nearby hotel this evening to allow us to relax with our computers and TV while the winds blow outside. We’ll stay two nights. The serene Mediterranean Sea looks like Surf City right now. I stood on the terrace at times this afternoon and took pictures of a couple of wind-surfers. The first spent a lot of time on the beach trying to control his sail (which was work enough). The second guy was amazing and surfed back and forth along the coast for a couple of hours.
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| WIND-SURFER #1 THIS AFTERNOON. |
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| WIND-SURFER #2. CLICK ON EITHER OF THESE PHOTOS TO SEE THEM BLOW UP. |
We left Sevilla on a dreary rainy day and arrived in Fuengirola to much the same. But our views are spectacular, and the apartment is coming together nicely… and we love it. The cats are settling in — and taking over. But they’re, so far, afraid to go more than a few feet out onto the terrace. A gull flies overhead or an awning flaps and they’re back inside like a flash. Also, it’s kind of cold out there.
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| SUNRISE THIS MORNING FROM THE TERRACE.. SUNSET WASN’T VISIBLE TONIGHT. |
We haven’t been eating at home yet, but are looking forward to getting settled enough to want to do so in the next few days. Meanwhile, we’ve discovered several good restaurants — although nothing to compare to Catalina in Sevilla, where we of course had dinner our final night in the city. Lots of photos to come of our final days in Sevilla and our first week in Fuengirola. Our new town has a much larger international community than our old (aka, lots more expats). Americans are rare. But there’s a huge population of expats from Finland. And, apparently, they think this is shorts and sandals weather!
Great to hear from you! Glad the move went smoothly and the cats settled in. Quite the difference in views! That morning sunrise was glorious! What a nice greeting to the day. Continued best wishes to you and San Geraldo as you explore your new home town.
Jo:
Thanks! Glorious GLORIOUS views!
Crumbs, that's a magnificent view! It may seem cold and miserable but you should try living here in Derbyshire darling – 3°C is positively warm because it's above freezing !!
On second thoughts, there is no way you would want to live here…..when you have such a lovely view. Just imagine what it will be like in spring and summer…..I look forward to reading all about it.
Glad the move went well and I hope you settle in quickly.
Jean:
No, I could not survive a Derbyshire winter!
Okay, I'm officially green with envy over the terrace view!
Bob:
On Skype yesterday, we tried to show our brother-in-law the view. But he complained the palm tree got in the way.
Glad to hear about your move. Hope it is as pleasant as I remember.
The cats are afraid? And I thought they would be VALIENTES like the masters.
saludos,
raulito
Raulito:
The cats are cowards. Big birds. Big waves. And big winds. But they're happy.
Looking forward to all that your new home has to be shared with us.
A person could get used to sunrises like that.
Stew:
I could sit on the terrace all day and night.
THIS is so exciting Mitch! Sorry the weather isn't cooperating for you. This will all blow over(pun intended) and beautiful sunny days will prevail. The poor kitties have to contend with all the new sounds. They'll come around. Thanks for sharing.
Ron
Ron:
Well, it was a great day today. So I can deal with some more clouds and rain (which are supposedly coming again). The cats really are doing great.
Been wondering how the move was going. It's good to hear you both (plus cats) are settling in and getting used to the new surroundings. Now, that view will never get boring!! Wow!
Jim:
Today was a major day for settling in and enjoying the sights. The view and the sound of the sea is paradise for me.
I was wondering when you'd surface. How did you manage to find a place with such a fantastic view? Just wonderful.
Stephen:
We decided if we were moving to the beach, we needed to live on the front line or it wouldn't be the same. We're so glad we did. The apartment is smaller, the terrace is amazing, and the location is incredible.
So glad to hear that you've moved away from the moldy Sevilla apartment and that the move went well! It couldn't have been healthy to breathe that in every day.
Loving the view from the terrace! We will get there to visit one of these years………..
Love to Jerry and you – miss you both!
Carole
Carole:
It's a shame the Sevilla experience had to end on such a sour note after living in that at-first wonderful apartment. But it was a really great experience and we met such exceptional people. This new chapter will be completely different.
The sea looks so beautiful and blue. I'm glad that the move is over and you can start settling in. After your last blog about the cocida, I looked up some recipes online and made a pot of it. I'm really enjoying it a lot!
Ms. Sparrow:
Yesterday, the sea was gray and green after the huge waves and blowing winds. Today, back to ultramarine! So glad you tried the cocida!
goodness gracious what have you done to the weather ???
Spo:
Yep, it was apparently a very mild winter until WE got here!
Oh boy! So glad to hear from you with news of the move! I'm really looking forward to more news on how you both, and the cats (!), are enjoying things. Can't wait to see more of the apartment (if you're comfortable showing it).
Great photos of the windsurfers, too… wow!
Judy
Judeet:
Apartment photos will eventually come. But the view's the thing! The cats are doing great. Dudo is purring away on my lap right now.
A view to die for that's for sure! Hope you get your Internet and TV set up as expected without the drama you experienced in Seville.
Craig:
We were surprised by internet/TV installation Thursday! And the entire process couldn't have gone more smoothly!
Oh! It's going to be so beautiful when it warms up a little, and that should happen very soon. That sunrise is wonderful! And running water, I imagine and no mold? That makes it perfect!
Kristi:
No mold — that we're aware of. Great water pressure. All the hot water we need, but it doesn't come out of the faucet full-boil. Such a strange place. I love the view in stormy weather, too. But it sure was nice to get out for a long walk in the sunshine today.
Love how you both checked into a hotel for internet and TV. Buahahaha. *kisses*
Nubian:
That's San Geraldo for you!
I do like that last photograph.
I'm glad that you have been able to leave the horrible apartment and are now ensconced in something more becoming.
Kirk:
I must have taken 20 shots of that sunrise. It was breathtaking and I didn't do it justice. Too bad about the Sevilla apartment; it was a wonderful, unusual space. But, this is already a joy.
Awww! I'm sad you left Sevilla before we were ever able to meet! :/ I am excited, though, to read about and see your new journeys! Take care and good luck getting settled in!!
Brittany:
Thanks so much. Enjoy Sevilla. Go to Dos de Mayo and tell Paco we miss him!
Beautiful pictures! I've been thinking about you two…I mean, four…and wondering how the move was going. I'm glad to hear that you're nearly there. 🙂
Michelle:
Settling in is going very smoothly. It's a different world from Sevilla, so we've got a lot to discover, some adjusting to do, and so much to enjoy.
Even bad weather can give you good pictures. And those Fins in their shorts… to them its high season, at home it's minus 20 degrees Centigrade!
Peter:
It's hilarious to see the Finns and Brits (some, not all, of the Finns and Brits) walking down the street in sandals, shorts, and the like, while I've got a T-shirt, two sweatshirts, a quilted jacket, and a scarf.
Wonderful views! I can almost smell the sea air. Glad to hear that the boys are settling in too. x
Elaine:
I am sleeping so well!
Dudo explore quite a bit of the terrace today; Moose, a little. But they've taken over every other square inch of the apartment.
Everything is sounding good so far. Finns in shorts and sandals now can you match that? Glad the cats are settling slowly the best way. Regardless of the weather the photos make it look good. Kite surfers always make good entertainment.
Cuby:
The wind surfers are stunning. And I found where they can be rented. I'll have to get San Geraldo on one. (I'd do it myself, of course, but he's not very good with the camera.)
I'm dying to take some pictures of some of the expat/tourist looks, but I don't want to offend anyone. Also, they might do the same of me!
Looks like shorts and sandals weather to me! Enjoy your gorgeous new surroundings and home!
Knatolee:
You would have fit right in with the Finns in the "cold"! Thanks!