La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
San Geraldo and I had a nice walk Thursday afternoon before meeting Tyan, Elena, Isa, and Alexander for dinner near T&A’s house. I did a bit of walking Friday. But Saturday was the day for walking. I met Elena for coffee near her house. We two walked Tynan to work and then continued to the east end of the Paseo. I then walked back to the hotel from there. More than 11km/7 miles.
That night, San Geraldo and I walked to our old favorite restaurant, Primavera, for dinner. Another nearly 4 km/2.5 miles. After another night in the awful hotel bed, my muscles were so tight in the morning I couldn’t even stretch. And I’d do it all again, except for the hotel bed.
When I phoned Primavera for a reservation, I wasn’t sure I recognized the pleasant woman’s voice. When I gave our names, she shrieked. It was Ana, the assistant manager. She told me I had just made her cry. When we arrived a couple of hours later, we received the biggest hugs imaginable that will keep us feeling loved for another year. Juan, the manager, was equally welcoming, although he didn’t cry. The meal was as good as ever. When we sat down, a waiter immediately brought us a bowl of their exceptional French fries/chips, San Geraldo’s standard routine that we had both forgotten but they had not. Ana later told me that she had called Laurent, the owner, because she was so excited we were coming.
More to come on Tynan, Elena, Isa, Alexander, Pedro, Kathleen, Luke, and Beckett. The love was overwhelming and so needed.
San Geraldo y yo dimos un agradable paseo el jueves por la tarde antes de encontrarnos con Tyan, Elena, Isa y Alexander para cenar cerca de la casa de T&A. Caminé un poco el viernes. Pero el sábado fue el día de caminar. Me reuní con Elena para tomar un café cerca de su casa. Las dos acompañamos a Tynan al trabajo y luego continuamos hasta el extremo este del Paseo. Después caminé de regreso al hotel desde allí. Más de 11 km/7 millas.
Esa noche, San Geraldo y yo fuimos caminando a nuestro restaurante favorito de siempre, Primavera, a cenar. Casi 4 km más. Después de otra noche en la horrible cama del hotel, por la mañana tenía los músculos tan tensos que ni siquiera podía estirarme. Y lo volvería a hacer todo, excepto la cama del hotel.
Cuando llamé a Primavera para reservar, no estaba segura de reconocer la agradable voz de la mujer. Cuando di nuestros nombres, gritó. Era Ana, la subgerente. Me dijo que la acababa de hacer llorar. Cuando llegamos un par de horas después, recibimos los abrazos más grandes que podamos imaginar, que nos harán sentir queridos durante otro año. Juan, el gerente, fue igual de amable, aunque no lloró. La comida estuvo tan buena como siempre. Al sentarnos, un camarero nos trajo inmediatamente un plato de sus excepcionales papas fritas, la costumbre de San Geraldo que ambos habíamos olvidado, pero ellos no. Ana me contó después que había llamado a Laurent, el dueño, porque estaba muy emocionada de que fuéramos.
Pronto les contaré más sobre Tynan, Elena, Isa, Alexander, Pedro, Kathleen, Luke y Beckett. El cariño fue abrumador y muy necesario.
• Esa es la entrada al Puerto de Fuengirola al fondo.
• La primera tarde, San Geraldo me acompañó a dar un largo paseo. Así que, por supuesto, hubo una recompensa. Comí chocolate belga con limón. El limón tenía el toque justo de acidez.
• Un día de riesgo “muy alto”.
• Llegué un instante tarde con la cámara para captar a este tipo orinando contra la pared en lugar de entrar. Quería reprenderlo por orinar debajo de la silueta de la mujer y no del hombre. ¡Qué vergüenza!
• La única foto mía.
• A primera vista, pensé que el inflable cubierto con la toalla amarilla era alguien agachado en bikini.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
I truly believe you guys need to rethink all this and move back to Fuengirola. There, I said it! winks
ron troke:
Only if you pay for it. Apartments to buy were €300,000 when we moved there. The same are now a million or more. To rent were €700 and are now at least €2,500 for the same. Besides I like Córdoba more despite no sea.
Nothing like the open ocean to clean the mind and body.
Happy you guys had a good visit with friends and fav restaurants.
Jim,
The sea was a nice sight although the beach was busier than i like it. The rest, friends and food, was perfection.
SMILES can be felt through the miles.
David,
Lots to smile about.
Love the photos and the stories … though not the one about the asshat who peed OUTSIDE the bathroom! Seriosuly!
Bob,
And on a busy afternoon. What a jerk.
Let me just say that I am highly impressed by all those miles! Did you wish to jump into the beautiful sea when you were finished? I guess ice cream is the next best thing.
I’m so glad you got to go back to Primavera. Isn’t it lovely to have a place where everybody knows your name?
Great self portrait, Mitchell. I’d recognize you anywhere.
As to the man who feels that having a man’s plumbing allows him to use it whenever and however he chooses- You, sir, are a dick.
Ms. Moon
Ms Moon,
A jump in the sea might have been nice. Although the water is a bit cold for me this time of year. I tend to bribe SG during walks. And yes, the guy was a dick.
Looks wonderful. It’s been nearly two years since I was at the beach. What caused you to move from Fuengirola to Cordoba? Just the usual wanderlust?
Ellen,
We were renting a 3-bedroom apartments with a big terrace and it was being sold (so we were told). To rent another like it, the price would be cuadruple. Purchase prices cuadrupled over the 13 years, as well. It’s against the law to move someone out to jack up the rent. It turns out the owner, who had become a friend, has turned it into a holiday rental where she can get a couple thousand a week at least. I could report her, but whatever. Things changed when she got a new boyfriend.
You cast a giant shadow!
Kirk,
I’ve never been told that before.
Thank you for the earlier shoutout! I am so happy for the lovely welcome you received in Fuengirola. Sorry about that hotel bed, but look at you overcoming and enjoying such glorious walks. It was a soul refresher for me just to hear about it. But that guy who couldn’t be bothered to take 2 more steps INTO the restroom….Thanks for noticing the symbolism. Olivia
Olivia,
That guy was an uncouth jerk. The rest was so special.
I love it! I could do with being right there, looking out at the Mediterranean rather than Islington High Road (where my office is).
It’s lovely to have built up such good friendships, and feel so welcomed! We don’t even live there, but we’ve been visiting Benalmadena for more than twenty years, and we have made loads of friends who we love seeing (and they us) when we go back. We feel embraced every time. Jx
Jon,
I do miss the sea, but I do prefer the city of córdoba. It is wonderful to be known and welcomed, isnt it?
I never regular a restaurant because I can’t deal with the secret nicknames I’ve heard about 🤫
Adam
Nekorandom.com
Adam
I don’t think there are bad nicknames for us where we go, but ignorance is bliss.
I’ll have a cup of the lemon, please.
Kelly,
It was so good. Right down to the pucker.
Wow, Primavera treated you & SG like rock stars! With the exception of the hotel bed, I’m glad you guys had a good trip!
We went from wet snow and rain last week to a heat wave this week. Temps are 34 C here, so excessive heat warnings have been issued until Saturday. So much for a slow transition to summer, LOL!
Tundra Binny,
Primavera made us feel so loved. I can’t believe your heatwave. Hard enough here, but hellish where you are.
How wonderful to be greeted like that! (My Daughter-in-law is called Ana…..she is Slovenian)
Frances
Frances,
This Ana is Napoletana.
Mitchell, this is wonderful! I smiled so big when I read about the warm welcome from your friends! You deserve all the love and hugs. All of it.
Jennifer
Jennifer,
Thanks. It was appreciated and needed.
Unless one chooses the location carefully, at the beach women wear too little and men too much. I think Aristotle was the first to make this observation.
wickedhamster,
Aristotle was right. I did see quite a few hunks showing off, but not in thong bikinis like the women.
What a great welcome! That must have been so great, feeling so loved. Even remembering your usual! Boud
Boud:
We felt loved… and the food was as good as always, too.