I took another one of my long walks Wednesday with the idea that I would get pictures of ... um... what? ... of... pictures...
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REMIND ME AGAIN WHY I'M HERE...
(CLICK IT TO MAKE IT BIGGER...) |
... Oh, chiringuitos! I was about to tell you about chiringuitos.
A chiringuito is a restaurant/bar right on the beach. There are dozens of them here in Fuengirola. I have included photos of those east of where we live
(and this time, I really mean east and not west; I got confused on my last post). The chiringuitos are well-known for the "boats" they have outside filled with sand and firewood for preparing different skewered fish (especially sardines).
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| VERY INVITING. |
Enjoying a meal or drink in comfort on the beach with the gorgeous view can be very enticing. But, prices are often higher at the chiringuitos than they are at many of the restaurants and bars across the street. Also, quite often, you don't get what you pay for. There are, however, a few good ones. I've been told the one right across the street from us is one of the best.
Our friend Tynan refuses to eat at a chiringuito. As part of an agreement with the city, all the chiringuitos have to provide public access to their restrooms (toilets). I can't remember Tynan's exact words, so I'll paraphrase (and won't do him justice):
"Some bloke walks in off the beach. A waiter or someone passes him a key attached to a huge, dirty wooden thingy. The bloke comes back a few minutes later and returns the key. You know full well he hasn't washed his hands. The staffer hangs the big contaminated wooden thingy back on its hook — using his bare hand, mind you — and goes right back to dishing up your food."
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| THE CHIRINGUITO ACROSS FROM US WITH ITS YEAR-ROUND AMARYLLIS. |
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| A SMOKING BOAT. |
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| THE GUY IN THE MOSAIC MUST BE MARTIN. |
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| ALL FIRED UP. |
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| SHADED TERRACE DINING. |
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| HOPE THAT'S ENOUGH BEER. |
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| AND, OF COURSE, PAELLA. |
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| CHARMING, BUT AIR QUALITY SUFFERS. |
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| ANOTHER... THIS ONE APPARENTLY SELLS LOTTERY TICKETS. |
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| SKEWERED SARDINES. |
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| OR IF YOU'D PREFER TO HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED IN THE KITCHEN. |
Looks like you are walking around in a thong-thingie Mitch....second photo proves I'm wrong again! You are a tease.
ReplyDeleteI think I agree with Tynan...dirty fingers need scrubbing when food is being served!
Ron
Ron:
DeleteWe were joking with friends about your comment while out to dinner the other night. She also thought it was a thong at first glance. I explained that I didn't believe dental floss was appropriate apparel. I then had to explain THAT to San Geraldo (who told me I was disgusting).
Don't those boats burn along with the firewood?
ReplyDeleteSounds terrific, although I'm not fond of eating sardines with all those bones...I'm sure we can find an alternative when I go visit Spain again.
saludos,
raulito
Raulito:
DeleteMany of the boats are made of aluminum. But they're filled with sand and the fire is in the middle so I haven't seen one go up in flames. I'm not fond of the sardines either; but the better places do all kinds of fish and even langostinos.
Very philosophical ( '....remind me why I'm here...') and entertaining at the same time! I think you figured out the answer all by yourself, Mitchell!
ReplyDeleteInteresting concept of having restaurants on the beach while using 'real' restaurants washroom facilities! Can't see that ever happening around here.....geez we must be very very conservative in Nova Scotia.
Great photos by the way and I hope you are using sunscreen mister man!
Jim:
DeleteI don't know about philosophical... more like easily distracted by half-naked runners. The chiringuito bathrooms are entered from outside... like many gas stations. I've used one once. The city also installed bathrooms along the beach but not very close together, so the chiringuito bathrooms do get a lot of use. And, admittedly, I'm with Tynan!
1/2 naked male runners ~ are you gay? !!
DeleteLOL
Ron:
DeleteWell, I don't think he ran by just for my sake...
Your toilet-key story puts me in mind of the incident in the first book of Maupin's excellent 'Tales of a City' series (which you know well, I'm sure) where Mary Ann Singleton is publicly humiliated in a restaurant, by way of a joke, after emerging from 'powdering her nose' and is greeted with the loud admonition to "Wash your hands!" She is NOT amused.
ReplyDeleteBut just look at you showing off your body - and taking TWO photos of it - under the guise that you thought it was someone else! Of course you did. ;-)
Having said that, reminds me of a time when I was entering a building, opened the glass door, stood back and said loudly "After you!" then, on finding that 'he' had disappeared, as you'll have guessed, realised I'd talked to my own reflection.
But at least I was fully dressed at the time - and, no, it wasn't in my newly-entered senile(?) stage. I'd have been about 20.
Raybeard:
DeleteThe restaurant Sandpiper that we love and frequent has it's toilets at the tope of a narrow stairway. I think of Tales of the City every time I'm there. Like in Tales of the City, there's a communal sink in the hall. One good thing: The sink is not visible from downstairs. However, there's an automatic hand-dryer. So, if I don't hear the blower before someone comes back down, I quickly add them to the list of people with whom I will not shake hands.
Very often, I'll pass a window and step back because I just saw my father. And, honestly, this time I wanted the shirtless guy to get out of my picture. Although I did think he was worth a second look ... until I realized it was me!
Great photos. I am jealous of your residence because you live in a paradise.
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteIt IS beautiful!
I got so caught up with that first image I forgot to read the post ... I'll go back and try again.
ReplyDeleteBob:
DeleteI got so caught up with that first image I almost forgot to DO the post.
I hope these sardines are better than the ones my mother made us eat on Fridays when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteAlthough I'm still not a fan of sardines, I can guarantee these are a million times better than whatever you used to have on Fridays. I sometimes even like them here (and they're fresh and not oily/salty/fishy). Until moving to Spain I never once had sardines that I liked.
The terrace dining looks very inviting! Food with a view, what could be better? Maybe food that doesn't cost a fortune?
ReplyDeleteHayley:
DeleteMost of the places are truthfully very affordable, but we get some wonderfully cheap (and wonderful) meals around town that it just doesn't seem worth it to me. One day we'll have to try the place right across the street, which comes highly recommended.
Clicking it to make it bigger - if only!
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteWell, it does work to some degree...