Better Beach

“Season” is upon us… almost. The city of Fuengirola is being spruced up for summer. Painting, planting, repairing. I love it. One of the activities is a beach garden project. All along the Paseo are formally defined entrances to the beach. They’ve been there for years. They look a bit like ancient Greek stoas (or maybe they’re supposed to look Roman). Scattered along the beaches were tall showers (for whole-body wash) and lower foot showers (for… well… feet). (Click any image to see the gardens grow.)

SOME VINTAGE SHOWERS…  OR CONTEMPOARY ART.

On the beach directly behind each “stoa,” the city has created gardens. And, behind the gardens, new sets of showers have been placed on new boardwalks. In addition to the irrigation installed for the garden beds, the run-off from the showers will now serve a secondary purpose — to water the gardens. The lush plantings will also block the view of the showers and make a very nice backdrop behind the columns. Fuengirola’s beach is approximately 7.5 km (5 miles) long. The work started at the extreme south/west end and has worked its way back to us (and beyond).

SOIL AS OPPOSED TO SAND…

LAST WEEK, PLANTING ACROSS THE STREET FROM US.

MORE ESTABLISHED.

BOATS WAITING TO BE MOVED FOR SUMMER RECREATION. (OUR STYROFOAM AIRPLANE VENDOR IN BACKGROUND.)

JUST PAST THE JETTY (BACKGROUND) AND NEARING THE PORT.

BEYOND THE PORT…  BECAUSE I LIKED THE SHADOWS.

In addition, instead of flimsy little wood plank walkways trailing all over the beach, the city has provided square paving stones (that don’t get hot) for the owners of the beach club franchises (to pay for and install themselves). It’s back-breaking work. Each small square weighs 50 kilos (110 pounds).

THE BROTHERS WHO RUN PLAYA LA SIRENA.

DUDO ENJOYED WATCHING THE BROTHERS WORK. (HE DIDN’T JUMP UP ON THE WALL… BECAUSE HE KNEW I WAS WATCHING.)

I WAITED UNTIL THEY WERE FINISHED BEFORE I HIT THE BEACH.

DO YOU SUPPOSE HE’D BE WILLING TO CHANGE IT TO YELLOW BRICK?

If you’re lost, this is how I find my way…

Author: Moving with Mitchell

From Brooklyn, New York; to North Massapequa; back to Brooklyn; Brockport, New York; back to Brooklyn... To Boston, Massachusetts, where I met Jerry... To Marina del Rey, California; Washington, DC; New Haven and Guilford, Connecticut; San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Irvine, California; Sevilla and then Fuengirola, Spain. And now Córdoba. View all posts by Moving with Mitchell