The Dowager Duchess told me she was hugely relieved to read that I was too heavy for the bungee trampoline (see preceding post). But, despite my mother's relief, I have been considering other local options for risking life and limb.
(I'm not, however, known for being much of a daredevil, so don't expect anything to come of this fantasy.) As a result, I have also been looking into what protections (rescue measures) Fuengirola has in place for
idiots, I mean
people who take physical risks.
Fuengirola has new lifeguard stands. Since most of the beach is flat and the sea is usually calm, there are only a few placed in strategic locations — where the beach curves or where the marina completely blocks the view, for example. So, a number of lifeguards walk the 7-km (5-mile) shoreline throughout the day. The lifeguards who staff the stands wear red "SOS" T-shirts or sweatshirts. The ones who walk the beach are clad differently but, unlike "Aussie lifeguards" (who I'm led to believe wear nothing but skimpy swimsuits — and those always tucked into their butt cracks), Fuengirola lifeguards wear dark blue board shorts and day-glo lime T-shirts (official Fuengirola logo included) so they can be easily found on the beach. And they of course carry torpedo buoys (those orange rescue floats).
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| THE LIFEGUARD IS THE ONE IN THE DAY-GLO T-SHIRT. (HARD TO TELL, I KNOW.) |
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THE FIRST GUARD STUCK AROUND TO MONITOR NEARBY SWIMMERS. HIS COLLEAGUE PATROLLED.
(I WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT NEITHER OF THEM OGLED THE TOPLESS BEAUTIES ON THE BEACH.) |
The lifeguards are all very pleasant and they're also always presentable. I've been taking photos over the last few days, from the terrace and from the beach. One of the lifeguards (pictured) did roll up his shorts, but that seems to be as far as they go. I hear the Aussie lifeguards put on quite a show; I wonder if that results in more people needing to be "saved."
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LEFT: A FUENGIROLA LIFEGUARD HEADING ALONG THE SHORE.
RIGHT: AN AUSSIE LIFEGUARD ON VACATION? |
Coming Soon: My risky options.
You crack me up with your fabulous song selections :) --and your fabulous photo captions :)
ReplyDeleteJudeet:
DeleteThat song has been playing in my head ever since I saw the first lifeguard in May. So glad to have gotten it out of my system!
That video looks rather dated but I still really like that song. Great pics.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteThere's just something about ABBA... And the songs are not the same without their own brand of English.
What is it about lifeguards?
ReplyDeleteOh ..... yeah.
Bob:
DeleteOh ..... yeah!
Oh no! I've been ABBA-tized! I love the beach there, it looks like heaven.
ReplyDeleteJacquelineand....
DeleteRight now, the beach IS heaven. Can't wait (well, curious) to see what it's like in full season.
I was disappointed when I clicked on the photos and they didn't get bigger. LOL. ;)
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteYeah, well, so was I!
Did ABBA ever record a bad song? The answer is "Well, hardly ever".
ReplyDeleteThey should provide the perfect background while you search out inspiration for your upcoming feat of derring-do.
Raybeard:
DeleteI'm going through the ABBA catalog to see if there's a good song for the next blog post!
Many years ago I was so worried about beach safety and the technicalities of life-saving and rescue that I watched every episode of Baywatch.
ReplyDeleteIan:
ReplyDeleteAnd what did you learn?
I need a close up of the lifeguards! lol
ReplyDeleteKnoxxy:
DeleteSo do I, but don't want to be too obvious!