La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I didn’t tell you how excited I had initially been to reach the end of the Paseo Friday. I had a few goals. The first, obviously, was to walk like I used to. That, again obviously, didn’t work out the way I had planned. Another goal was to actually see one of those fish-shaped plastics recycling containers (click here).
Well, I’ve now covered 5 of the 8 kilometres of coastline in Fuengirola and all but one of the so-called main four beaches, and I haven’t seen a fish. I think someone in the newspaper misrepresented (or was provided with bogus information on) the status of those installations.
It reminds me of when I worked for US News & World Report, the magazine, in the 1980s. One of my roles was to evaluate and improve software being developed for us to coordinate with our cumbersome and coding-heavy computerized page layout process. I was expert in that coding and process and was also the on-staff trainer. This was before Macs and PageMaker and QuarkXPress and easy breezy desktop publishing. When we left Washington DC for another career opportunity for San Geraldo, I was hired by the company that created the software as product manager, sales, marketing, and quality assurance. (Yeah, it was ridiculous, but I was the only one there who knew anything about what we were trying to accomplish.) I learned, however, a high-level member of a US News affiliate had just told the press that US News was already using the product for production. That was a big fat lie that I was stuck explaining without completely trashing the jerk who said so. The software was nowhere near being used in production and never got there because other technology left it in the dust. So, anyway, that’s what I thought of. Odd.
The other thing I was excited to view on my walk was the site of an old chiringuito, called La Piedra (The Rock), named such because it was fronted by a large natural rock formation, just across the footbridge (the one I didn’t cross the other day). The chiringuito became an unmaintained eyesore on Benalmádena’s beach and I couldn’t understand how it was still there — especially since a new high-end resort had been built immediately behind it. It turns out there was a squatter living in the chiringuito for the past 7 years. He would even sometimes sell drinks. I’m amazed that went on for so long. But the minute the court order recently arrived, the chiringuito was razed.
My back and knees are a bit sore today, but not bad considering. For some reason “He floats through the air with the greatest of ease” has been playing in my head since yesterday.
No les dije lo emocionado que había estado inicialmente por llegar al final del Paseo el viernes. Tenía algunos objetivos. La primera, obviamente, era caminar como antes. Eso, obviamente, no salió como lo había planeado. Otro objetivo era ver uno de esos contenedores de reciclaje de plástico con forma de pez (haz clic aquí).
Pues ya he recorrido 5 de los 8 kilómetros de costa de Fuengirola y todas menos una de las llamadas cuatro playas principales, y no he visto ni un pez. Creo que alguien en el periódico tergiversó (o recibió información falsa sobre) el estado de esas instalaciones.
Me recuerda a cuando trabajaba para la revista US News & World Report, en los años 1980. Una de mis funciones era evaluar y mejorar el software que se estaba desarrollando para coordinarlo con nuestro engorroso y complejo proceso de diseño de páginas computarizado. Yo era experto en esa codificación y proceso y también era el formador del personal. Esto fue antes de las Mac, PageMaker, QuarkXPress y la autoedición sencilla y sencilla. Cuando dejamos Washington DC en busca de otra oportunidad profesional en San Geraldo, la empresa que creó el software me contrató como gerente de producto, ventas, marketing y control de calidad. (Sí, era ridículo, pero yo era el único allí que sabía algo sobre lo que estábamos tratando de lograr). Sin embargo, una de las primeras cosas que aprendí fue que un miembro de alto nivel de una filial de US News acababa de dijo a la prensa que US News ya estaba utilizando el producto para la producción. Esa fue una gran mentira que me vi obligado a explicar sin criticar por completo al idiota que lo dijo. El software no estuvo ni cerca de ser utilizado en producción y nunca llegó allí porque otra tecnología lo dejó en el polvo. De todos modos, eso es lo que pensé. Extraño.
La otra cosa que me emocionó ver en mi caminata fue el sitio de un antiguo chiringuito, llamado La Piedra, llamado así porque estaba frente a una gran formación rocosa natural, justo al otro lado del puente peatonal (el que no No cruzé el otro día). El chiringuito se convirtió en una monstruosidad sin mantenimiento en la playa de Benalmádena y no podía entender cómo seguía allí, especialmente porque se había construido un nuevo complejo de alto nivel inmediatamente detrás de él. Resulta que hubo un okupa viviendo en el chiringuito durante los últimos 7 años. A veces incluso vendía bebidas. Me sorprende que eso haya durado tanto. Pero en cuanto llegó la orden judicial, el chiringuito fue arrasado.
• Cuando nos mudamos por primera vez a Fuengirola, el propietario del chiringuito construyó y mantuvo un sendero y una pasarela.
• Después de que se construyó el complejo (a la izquierda), el puente a veces era un montón de tierra que siempre era arrastrada cuando corría el arroyo.
• El año pasado todavía estaba en okupación.
• Y después de mi visita del viernes.
• Otro chiringuito. El establo para vacas es el edificio para guardar las sillas de playa.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Glad you’re feeling okay … but I look at that first footbridge and wonder why you ever thought to cross the other one!
Bob:
Why is it… (Because I’m an idiot.) I’ve walked that plank many times before.
The world is full of BS, isn’t it!
Debra:
And I hate being put in a position where I can’t comfortably call someone on their lies. Some recent family situations come to mind. Uf!
Maybe you could write innocently and request pictures and exact locations of the fish? Pointing out your personal injuries suffered during your research? Boud.
Boud:
Good idea. Although I’d probably hear back from a lawyer.
I like hearing about your history. I am so late to this party.
Do you suppose those mixed-plaid guys thought their outfits were a good idea? I would wager they are both single. If they had partners, someone would have said, “No. You are not wearing that. Go change.”
Glad you’re not suffering too much from your mishap yesterday.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
Those guys knew exactly what they were doing and liked the combos. Also, they’re very possibly married. That hasn’t seemed to matter.
I like that cow shed probably more than most people should
Adam:
Oh, I love that cowshed.
Glad to hear you are recovering from your latest adventure. Keep the shiny side up as they say. You should see the wild tropical print shirts that are for sale in the cruise ports – cheap. Wait until those hit the beach this summer. I almost bought one just to illustrate (but they were really cheaply made, and I may not have fashion sense, but I do have standards.)
David:
And those wild tropical shirts are meant for wild tropical, or plaid, pants. Thank you for not buying one.
He even sold drinks!?!? Ha!
I hop you soon will really be (practically) floating through the air with the greatest of ease 🙂
It’s very interesting to me to hear about the jobs you have had… for me it’s just obvious…. teacher (until Tuesday), but I love imagining you doing these jobs (and how horrible that people lie and make you have to figure your way out of their crap).
¡3 màs kilometres de playa a descubrir!
Judy C:
I couldn’t believe when I read the squatter even sold drinks sometimes. I don’t know how he survived there legally for so many years.
*hope, not hop 😉
Those flowering trees in the top photo are stunning.
Kelly:
They’re all over town right now.
Having caught up with your blog posts from the last week or so, and read yesterday’s “chapter of accidents”, I am relieved to see you’ve rediscovered your mojo for publishing ridiculously mismatched beachwear outfits! We saw loads (no photos; we were too busy enjoying ourselves to grab the camera) – and even several “one leg up, one leg down” shorts-wearers! It’s good to note that the fashionistas of the Costa del Sol are going strong… Jx
Jon:
I hope to see so much more. Tourist season is upon us.
opukas sounds like a cryptid.
Urspo:
Isn’t that a great word? I had to look it up and was sure, when I found it, that I was in the wrong language.
Judging by those photos, at least the squatter took care of the place.
He’s not the guy singing, but I think I spotted Al Jolson in that video.
Kirk:
I wonder what the place looked like inside and I wonder how many people walked in for a drink. Did you really see Al Jolson? I almost used a video of him performing the song, but the Dick Powell video was easier to understand.
Beautiful oleander! (I think?)
Your story about publishing software reminds me of my newspaper career. I was a trainer for a new editorial and pagination system we got in the ’90s called Hermes. At the time it seemed so fancy but by today’s standards it was ridiculously cumbersome. I wonder how long it was used before it got scrapped for something else.
So I guess the occupied chiringuito couldn’t be torn down because of squatter’s rights laws?
Steve:
In the ’90s, everywhere I worked either used PageMaker or QuarkXPress. But I never worked for a large newspaper. Amazing how quickly the technology changed in those years. When I started out, I always had an X-ACTO in hand (and bandages nearby). I don’t know the laws around squatter’s rights, but that was clearly the issue. Seven years! And astounding that he got away with selling drinks. You’d think that would be a completely different issue.
Right
DONT overdo things my friend
Your body needs its proper recuperation
finlaygray:
I need a little angel on my shoulder SCREAMING in my ear. I can be such an idiot.
I just caught up on your last two posts. I am so glad that you are okay. You know what? I would have done the same thing. I know I would have.
Michael:
I wonder if I’ll (we’ll) ever learn. I’m trying hard right now to respect my limits.. but they really piss me off.
I have a hard time respecting my limits myself, and the older I get the harder it is!
“My back and knees are a bit sore today”
*no comment*
Sassybear:
Oh, I wish.