Hot Dogs On Dowager Duchess Day

After the Kid Brother and I finished cleaning the balcony Wednesday, we all went to Nathan’s for lunch. Judy was a Nathan’s virgin and, according to her, the first time was not a disappointment. The Dowager Duchess hasn’t had a Nathan’s hot dog in more than 20 years.

We had gotten a late start to the day and the Kid Brother, a stickler for his schedules, was fairly fed up with us all by the time we left for Nathan’s … at 1:20 instead of his usual noon. When we finished our hot dogs and fries, the Kid Brother was more than ready for skee ball — and he let me know it. As he himself would say, “Sheez, what a grouch!”

But wait! San Geraldo spotted a photo booth. So, we all crammed in for souvenir photos. Well, all but the Kid Brother, who paced nearby. That probably wasn’t a bad idea. The Kid Brother is not one for close physical contact and, well, as you can see by the photo strip, there was no way to avoid it.

Judy then, finally, got her first taste of skee ball. She played a game (maybe two) and then joined the Dowager Duchess and me in the spectator’s lounge/peanut gallery.

San Geraldo played 14 games. I’ve always known San Geraldo had balls but that was ridiculous — 126 balls–worth of ridiculous. He was trying to keep up (and didn’t) with The Kid Brother who played 31 games — 279 balls. By the end of game 14, San Geraldo’s balls (his SKEE balls) were dragging on the floor.

We checked out some of the rides (from a safe distance) and then San Geraldo drove the Dowager Duchess and the impatient Kid Brother home while Judy and I took a walk on the boardwalk. We could see rain in the distance but made it back without getting drenched.

Thursday afternoon, San Geraldo, Judy, and I bid a fond farewell — until next time — to The Dowager Duchess. We arrived home in Fuengirola this morning around 11. The adventure continues… once the jet lag wears off.

THE DOWAGER DUCHESS ON HER 87th BIRTHDAY. ENJOYING A NATHAN’S FRENCH FRY.

JUDY GLEEFULLY READY TO BITE INTO HER FIRST NATHAN’S HOT DOG.

AFTER LUNCH, SAN GERALDO OFFERS TO SHARE HIS CONDIMENTS. (THE KID BROTHER WAITS IMPATIENTLY.)

THE CONEY ISLAND SIDESHOW. WE BELONGED INSIDE.

JUDY STUDIES THE EXPERTS WHILE THE DOWAGER DUCHESS LOOKS ON. (NOTE: DESPITE THE ODD PHOTO, JUDY DOES NOT HAVE A MOHAWK.)

LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE.

BACK ON THE BOARDWALK.

A BARGE AND A TUG.

CONEY ISLAND BEACH LOOKING EAST TO BRIGHTON BEACH.

SITTING IN THE SURF. THEY LOOKED LIKE VINTAGE BATHINGS SUITS, BUT THEY WERE JUST TANK TOPS AND BASKETBALL SHORTS.

THE COMING STORM… WEST TOWARD STATEN ISLAND AND NEW JERSEY.

NORTH TO THE PARACHUTE JUMP AND BROOKLYN CYCLONES BASEBALL PARK FROM NEW CONEY ISLAND PIER (EARLIER PIER DESTROYED BY HURRICANE SANDY).

A WEDDING PHOTO SHOOT BELOW THE PIER.

CASTING A SHADOW ON THE WEDDING? (THAT’S JUDY’S BELOW THE BRIDE’S TRAIN.)

AS JUDY AND I STROLLED, THESE GUYS FLEW OVER OUR HEADS.

WE AT FIRST THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD FALLEN OFF A RIDE.

A CONEY ISLAND SLUSHEE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY… AGAIN… TO THE INCOMPARABLE DOWAGER DUCHESS.