Thursday, June 5, 2014

Better Beach

"Season" is upon us... almost. The city of Fuengirola is being spruced up for summer. Painting, planting, repairing. I love it. One of the activities is a beach garden project. All along the Paseo are formally defined entrances to the beach. They've been there for years. They look a bit like ancient Greek stoas (or maybe they're supposed to look Roman). Scattered along the beaches were tall showers (for whole-body wash) and lower foot showers (for... well... feet). (Click any image to see the gardens grow.)

SOME VINTAGE SHOWERS...  OR CONTEMPOARY ART.

On the beach directly behind each "stoa," the city has created gardens. And, behind the gardens, new sets of showers have been placed on new boardwalks. In addition to the irrigation installed for the garden beds, the run-off from the showers will now serve a secondary purpose — to water the gardens. The lush plantings will also block the view of the showers and make a very nice backdrop behind the columns. Fuengirola's beach is approximately 7.5 km (5 miles) long. The work started at the extreme south/west end and has worked its way back to us (and beyond).

SOIL AS OPPOSED TO SAND...
LAST WEEK, PLANTING ACROSS THE STREET FROM US.
MORE ESTABLISHED.
BOATS WAITING TO BE MOVED FOR SUMMER RECREATION.
(OUR STYROFOAM AIRPLANE VENDOR IN BACKGROUND.)
JUST PAST THE JETTY (BACKGROUND) AND NEARING THE PORT.
BEYOND THE PORT...  BECAUSE I LIKED THE SHADOWS.

In addition, instead of flimsy little wood plank walkways trailing all over the beach, the city has provided square paving stones (that don't get hot) for the owners of the beach club franchises (to pay for and install themselves). It's back-breaking work. Each small square weighs 50 kilos (110 pounds).

THE BROTHERS WHO RUN PLAYA LA SIRENA.
DUDO ENJOYED WATCHING THE BROTHERS WORK.
(HE DIDN'T JUMP UP ON THE WALL... BECAUSE HE KNEW I WAS WATCHING.)
I WAITED UNTIL THEY WERE FINISHED BEFORE I HIT THE BEACH.
DO YOU SUPPOSE HE'D BE WILLING TO CHANGE IT TO YELLOW BRICK?


If you're lost, this is how I find my way...

23 comments:

  1. You don't happen to have another bedroom, p'raps? I'll cook for views like that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline...
      It's amazing, isn't it!?!

      As you well know, I've already got a cook. Do you clean?

      Delete
  2. A beautiful world. But I see they work hard to keep it that way. And cleverly, with that runoff from the showers watering the gardens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kristi:
      We've been really pleased to see how well-maintained the city is. Lots of hard work. It has bothered me that all the shower water just ran into the sand. Definitely a clever way to make use of it.

      Delete
  3. The sprucing up looks lovely. Makes me wanna run to the beach!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob:
      There's always a chair and umbrella available.

      Delete
  4. Wow, lovely! What a spruce up! Beats the heck out of Long Beach Island, NJ, I'd say :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy:
      I've never been to Long Beach Island, but I'll take your word for it.

      Delete
  5. Dudo and Moose are your little Munchkins. Hey, what a perfect name to give a cat! Strange that no one, including self, has thought of it before (as far as I know).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      I've also never known a cat named Munchkin. I've known lots of kids whose parents call them that... One of my little Munchkins is as usual sound asleep on my lap. And my legs and butt are sound asleep under him!

      Delete
  6. What about red carpet? Direct from your door to the beach? Dudo could be accused of being a peeping Tom, just saying.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheapchick:
      I like the red carpet idea!!!

      Dudo's a peeping Tom? I was taking pictures. Now I feel dirty.

      Delete
  7. I really appreciate all the work that is being done to beautify this already beautiful area you have right in front of you, Mitchell. So heartening to see the care that is put into this.

    Very good photos as well, sir! Oh yes, I DO think you could ask him about a change of colour and 'theme'! I like yours better!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      San Geraldo loved the picture of the yellow brick road. I had to make him look again. He had completely missed the rainbow and Emerald City.

      Delete
  8. The manner in which your city is maintained always impresses me, along with the tremendous views of course.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      I've been really impressed here, as well. Having heard so many negative things said about the Costa del Sol, I really didn't expect to like it so much and to find a city so well-maintained.

      Delete
  9. WoooHooo.. you did everything but make the Wizard appear... I especially liked seeing Dudo check out what's over the wall... of course he KNEW you were watching ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon:
      Dudo has it all pretty much figured out. He sets off the alarm on the ceramic cooktop and then high-tails it to the hallway and looks at me as if to say, "Did you hear that?!?"

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. Stan:
      They're a nice touch. They're placed all along the 7.5 km stretch to define the entrances.

      Delete
  11. Watch out for the flying monkeys.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walt the Fourth:
      But never look up when they're overhead...

      Delete
  12. The yellow brick road at the beach was the perfect amount of whimsy for my morning. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

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