La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Restaurante Primavera in Fuengirola is closed Wednesdays, so Lulu took us for a farewell dinner Tuesday night of last week. The food is exceptional, which is important to us. But no matter how good the food, the staff have to be equally good and make us feel welcome. This professional group goes above and beyond and makes us feel loved. Not everyone was working that night so we said our good-byes to them on previous visits. It wasn’t easy to leave. We actually went back for lunch the next day. Anna hugged us and said, “You will not make me cry again today!” The photo above is our final sunrise from our Fuengirola terrace.
We went to the public health centre yesterday thinking we might get some information about getting on the rolls, selecting a doctor, getting our Covid shots, getting myself a nephrologist so my prescriptions can be covered, etc. The centre is a 3-minute walk from our apartment and it was empty when we arrived. It’s a contemporary, clean, airy, and light building with excellent signage. We stepped right up to the desk and were helped by the most wonderful woman. She explained the entire process. We have to register at City Hall first and return with a document confirming our residency. We expected that but she signed us up as temporary residents so she could assign a doctor right away (which I need if I want to be referred to a nephrologist). She also gave us appointments for next week for our covid shots. She apologized that she couldn’t get appointments with our new doctor any sooner than 11 November. She apologized for that! She showed me a new app to download which is more intuitive than the one we’ve been using. We couldn’t believe how pleasant the exchange and how successful we were.
I thanked her profusely on my and San Geraldo’s behalf and we went out for lunch. We haven’t yet had a meal at home, not that I’m complaining (well, except for Burger King). Our morning cafe breakfasts have been a pleasure and we’re about to go around the corner to a little bistro for lunch.
Although our short avenue is lined with mostly contemporary apartment buildings, we are a minute away from parks, greenery, and history in most directions. It’s uplifting (as long as I’m helping with the lifting of poor San Geraldo; he thinks his back might be improving today). My feet hurt. I’m tired. And I’m happy.
Restaurante Primavera de Fuengirola cierra los miércoles, así que Lulu nos llevó a una cena de despedida el martes por la noche de la semana pasada. La comida es excepcional, lo cual es importante para nosotros. Pero no importa lo buena que sea la comida, el personal tiene que ser igual de bueno y hacernos sentir bienvenidos. Este grupo de profesionales va más allá y nos hace sentir queridos. No todos estaban trabajando esa noche, así que nos despedimos de ellos en visitas anteriores. No fue fácil irnos. De hecho, volvimos a comer al día siguiente. Anna nos abrazó y dijo: “¡No me haréis llorar de nuevo hoy!” La foto de arriba es nuestro último amanecer desde nuestra terraza de Fuengirola.
Ayer fuimos al centro de salud pública pensando que podríamos obtener información sobre cómo inscribirnos, elegir un médico, ponernos las vacunas contra la COVID, conseguir un nefrólogo para que cubra mis recetas, etc. El centro está a 3 minutos a pie de nuestro apartamento y estaba vacío cuando llegamos. Es un edificio contemporáneo, limpio, espacioso y luminoso con una excelente señalización. Nos acercamos al mostrador y nos ayudó una mujer maravillosa. Nos explicó todo el proceso. Primero tenemos que registrarnos en el Ayuntamiento y volver con un documento que confirme nuestra residencia. Esperábamos eso, pero nos inscribió como residentes temporales para poder asignarnos un médico de inmediato (lo cual necesito si quiero que me deriven a un nefrólogo). También nos dio citas para la semana que viene para nuestras vacunas contra la COVID. Se disculpó por no poder conseguir citas con nuestro nuevo médico antes del 11 de noviembre. ¡Se disculpó por eso! Me mostró una nueva aplicación para descargar que es más intuitiva que la que hemos estado usando. No podíamos creer lo agradable que fue el intercambio y lo exitoso que fuimos.
Le agradecí efusivamente en mi nombre y en el de San Geraldo y salimos a almorzar. Todavía no hemos comido en casa, y no me quejo (bueno, salvo en Burger King). Nuestros desayunos matutinos en la cafe han sido un placer y estamos a punto de ir a un pequeño bistró a la vuelta de la esquina para almorzar.
Aunque nuestra corta avenida está bordeada en su mayoría por edificios de apartamentos contemporáneos, estamos a un minuto de parques, zonas verdes, e historia en casi todas las direcciones. Es reconfortante (siempre que esté ayudando a levantar al pobre San Geraldo; él cree que su espalda podría estar mejorando hoy). Me duelen los pies. Estoy cansado. Y soy feliz.
• Nos dieron a cada uno una botella de agua Primavera (puedes ver la de SG a la derecha).
• Fotobombeado. Lulu le dijo a Navila: “Tengo 3 hijos; ella tiene 2 hijos; ella tiene 1 hijo. ¿Podemos darles tu número de teléfono?” Navila no está disponible.
• Con Rita, Anne, and Lulu. Entre ellas seis hijos. (Se puede ver el halo de San Geraldo.)
• Lulu nos regaló un imán para que recordáramos Fuengirola. Yo le añadí el nombre de Lulu para que nunca lo olvidáramos (también cubrí los pezones). Es solo Photoshop. El magnetismo de Lulu no se exhibirá en toda su extensión (al menos no en nuestra casa).
Welcome Home! Do they package Etham for take out?
David:
If they did, they’d make a fortune.
So glad you’re happy! That is the best feeling after big changes. Continued wishes that Gerry’s back improves quickly. You all are so good at building community. That is such a gift! Olivia
Olivia:
I look forward to getting to know people here. So far, I’ve met some wonderful taxi drivers. Staff at a nearby cafe already remember our orders, and we’ve learned some local breakfasts. More on that another day.
Quite a sendoff! I can see you returning now and then for a visit. What a nice crew. Boud.
Boud:
The most wonderful group of people. No matter how bad a day we were having, we always felt better after a meal there.
You two are loved.
I am SO glad that your visit to the health centre went the way it did. Sounds like the complete opposite of the attention and help you would have gotten here.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
The health centre experience was an enormous surprise. What a way to start. Back for flu jabs tomorrow.
A Fuengirola send-off and a Cordoba welcome that both gave you joy – remarkable! Jx
PS Did you fall out with Meson Salvador? You used to be such regulars there over the years.
Jon:
Sadly, although the kitchen remains fairly consistent at MS, the front staff turn-over left us with a team (for a couple of years now) that just never made an effort or treated us like they knew us. AND after all this time, they NEVER got our coffee orders right. A sad way to end when it really was our first home away from home in Fuengirola.
You need to be eating out for a while so you can find your new favorite place.
Kelly:
We’re trying. We have found a great breakfast place and a great lunch place! And we loved a bistro around the corner.
What a wonderful sendoff!
Now, back to business at hand. Remember it all doesn’t have to be done in a day or two or three.
Jim:
I’m reminded that I’m not at my best in the first place and have been taking it VERY easy today. Had breakfast and a siesta. Now it’s time for lunch.
Lovely smiling faces
finlaygray:
You’d feel so loved.
What a farewell party! And that’s quite the magnet, I must say. So glad you were assisted by such a helpful medical administrator!
Debra:
The experience at the health centre was incredible. We will seriously miss the gang at Primavera… and the food.
Fantastic success at the health center, and I am heartened to see the warm send offs that everyone is giving you 🙂
Judy C:
Lulu and Primavera really made us feel loved. Lulu plans to come up for a visit soon. Etham and his girlfriend, too!
If I ever get there, remind me to order the entree of Ethan! Now….onward and upward as they stay , on to the next chapter.
Mistress Borghese:
As I’ve said before, Ah Etham! And he speaks several languages.
Photobombing though it may be, San Geraldo steals the show!
Kirk:
Yes, San Geraldo often steals the show.
You guys crack me up. Glad you got a good send-off. Love the magnet, even if it IS Photoshop!
Steve:
I haven’t yet heard what Lulu thinks of the improved magnet. But she did know what was coming when she gave it to me.
Wishing you and Geraldo all the best
Frank D:
Thanks. We’re hoping for some “best.”
I think Etham would make a nice Houseboy ….
Looks like a lovely send off at the restaurant and a very nice welcome at the public health center!
Bob:
Ah, Etham. What a sweetheart. We will miss him!
Final sunrise; this sounds sad. May the next chapter be good for you.
Urspo:
At least the sun is still rising.
tears are being wiped away!
ron troke:
We do miss the gang at Primavera.