Tuesday, April 29, 2014

The Buoys Are Back In Town

High Season is soon to arrive here on the Costa del Sol and the city of Fuengirola is showing signs. Repairs are being done. The city is getting a fresh coat of paint. The restaurants along the beach (called "chiringuitos") are mostly open again after being closed up tight for "non-season." The lifeguards are back, although right now only on weekends. And the buoys are back to clearly define swimming areas from boating areas. (Click any image for a closer look.)

THE DIFFERENT COLOR BUOYS DEFINE A "LANE" THAT DIRECTS PEDDLE BOATS
AND OTHER SMALL CRAFT FROM THE BEACH.

In parts of the United States, the word "buoy" is pronounced "BOO-eee." In other parts of the States, it's pronounced exactly like the word "boy." So, yes, the buoys are back in town.

YELLOW FLAG LAST WEEKEND. IT DIDN'T LOOK ROUGH TO ME.
SAND-FILLED BOAT NEXT TO A CHIRINGUITO.
USED FOR SMOKING SARDINES AND BETTER DELICACIES (ALL ON SKEWERS)
A VENDOR SELLING POLYSTYRENE FOAM AIRPLANE/KITES.
TOO BAD, THEY DON'T COME AS A SET OF NINE.

You had to know the song was coming...

22 comments:

  1. High season looks glorious! I can almost feel the heat from here. I could get used to that, Mitchell.
    I wonder what I was doing in 1976 because I don't remember that tune at all. Oh I know now....we were living in an old farmhouse on a 'mountain' in the Valley in the middle of nowhere!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      And high season doesn't even hit until some time in June. But it feels like summer here.

      Your mountain valley farmhouse home sounds like South Dakota. Set your clocks back ten years.

      Delete
  2. Of course we say boys but I thought all of the US said boo-ee. Where do they say boy? Boston?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew:
      I know people in parts of New England pronounce it boy. But pronunciation is a mixed bag in the United States, so I couldn't say for certain who says it how. There are also those who pronounce it "bwoi"!

      Delete
  3. It's great to see the area in its various personas: quiet, serene, cyclonic winds, joyful with processions, anticipatory of the high season, crowded, full of life. It's wonderful that you and San Geraldo are able to be there year-round to witness the changes, and that you share the many faces of your area with me and others.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jo:
      So happy to do so (to live it and share it...)

      Right now, it's another day at the beach!

      Delete
  4. We say boys both in northeast Ohio and upstate New York.

    It is so beautiful where you live! We are in very early spring here, and rain all this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kristi:
      Much of the winter here feels like early spring. Now it feels like we're already into summer. Glorious!

      Delete
  5. Mitchell, it's very nice that summer is coming and long holidays for me as a teacher . Costa del Sol is a great choice I was there last year and boys are coming back ....wow.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Gosia:
      One of the benefits of teaching is having the summer off. (I hope your country has more respect and appreciation for teachers than the USA does.) I hope you have some fun travel plans for this summer!

      Delete
  6. The boys in speedos are back in town....such a beautiful beach you have....I'm soaking up your sun because we are sunless in Seattle, right now. I Gods aren't happy with us this year Mitch!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ron:
      I had thought of sharing some shots of "the boys" who are back in town, but that feels like an invasion of privacy. But they ARE back. Not so many Speedos. Apparently, for a certain age, that's not cool. Instead, they were board shorts and gym shorts and then roll the waistband down and the legs up so they get a better tan. I may be missing something because, to me, a Speedo would look a lot more cool (and be a lot more comfortable)! So sorry you're so far sunless. That's to keep you from doing too much work in your garden!

      Delete
  7. I've always pronounced it boo- ees. Your pictures make me what to return to Spain so badly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      I've lived so many places, I don't now how I really say it... or originally said it.

      Come back! Come back!

      Delete
  8. You do live a charmed life in Paradise.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Laurent:
      So said that I actually have to remind myself some days how lucky I am to live here. It really is wonderful (although San Geraldo could live without the "cyclonic winds").

      Delete
  9. I say "boy"! What a beautiful beach. And that song will be running through my head all night...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Knatolee:
      It's unbelievably glorious here today! As for the song, just look at yesterday's post. You'll instead be singing, "We're watching Jewish boys who almost speak Latin up battin'."

      Delete
  10. I know you enjoyed some of that sunshine we enjoyed when we were in Portugal. Things were still really quiet though in Estoril and Cascais. Hopefully this will be a good tourist year for your city. I call them "boys". Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheapchick:
      We have been a lot of sunshine this spring, which right now looks and feels like summer. I also hope it's a good tourist year for the area... and then I look forward to them all going home in September!

      Delete
  11. BOO-e is proper. Do not dare to question this. Those who say otherwise are itching for a fight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spo:
      OK... Boo-EEE Boo-EEE baby... "Won't you let me take you on a sea cruise..." Well, at least "Watching Jason Play Baseball" is out of my head!

      Delete

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