Our friend Miguel was visiting family in Marbella during the week and zipped over to Fuengirola to spend some time with us. He and I had a great afternoon at the beach Wednesday, and the three of us then drove into the mountains to Benahavis for dinner. Benahavis is one of the most mountainous villages in the area and has become famous for its restaurants. It’s known as “the dining room of the Costa del Sol.” The sun had well set by the time we arrived, so we didn’t see much. Miguel thought it was a 20- to 30-minute drive. It turns out to be really a 45-minute drive, and it took us nearly an hour. San Geraldo and I experienced our first-ever Spanish traffic jam as we neared Marbella.
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| THE COSTA DEL SLOW. |
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| A PLAZA FILLED WITH PRICY RESTAURANTS IN BENAHAVIS. |
We took the mountain roads in pitch darkness and arrived in town around 10:15. I might like to see the town in daylight. It was founded in the 11th century and — although it now has six golf courses, dozens of expensive restaurants, and sprawling housing developments — there are parts of town that retain some historic charm. I won’t spend much time recalling our meal, except to say I wouldn’t recommend the restaurant, Flor de Lis. Charming atmosphere. The food was okay but absurdly overpriced (the most we’ve paid for a meal in Spain). The service? The worst any of us could remember experiencing. Bad on every level. And when Miguel very nicely (he couldn’t have been more gracious) told the manager what a nice place it was but the service was disappointing. She made every excuse she could come up with: short-staffed, lots of stairs in the restaurant, summer rush (four other tables were occupied). Miguel was gracious; the manager wasn’t. Benahavis might be worth a visit. Restaurante Flor de Lis definitely is not. Fortunately, we had the pleasure of Miguel’s company.
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IT WAS ALL DOWNHILL FROM THERE.
MIGUEL AND JERRY HEADING BACK TO THE CAR AFTER DINNER. |
Cowboys
As we were getting into the car to head home, San Geraldo said something about being very comfortable. Only, he didn’t exactly say that. Comfortable is spelled the same in Spanish as in English. And San Geraldo knows that. He also knows that, in Spanish, it’s pronounced (first syllable like the English word ‘comb’) comb-for-TAH-blay. For some odd reason… (Does San Geraldo ever really need a reason?), he decided to say cum-for-tah-BILL. Miguel found this funny. He said in Spanish, “Ah, like Buffalo Bill… Or Wild Bill…”
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| BUFFALO-BILL. |
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| WILD BILL. |
. . .
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| COMFORTA BILL… AKA SAN GERALDO (WITH HIS GAL SAL?) |
