Palm Trees Here and There

The weather wasn't great for our visit to New York. Raw, rainy, overcast, and windy. When it wasn't raw and rainy, it was still overcast and windy. The Dowager Duchess lives very near the ocean. The winds, like those here on the Mediterranean, can be overwhelming. One morning, San Geraldo and I were heading out for a stroll to Starbucks in Brighton Beach. It began to rain and the wind was blowing so hard that our umbrellas couldn't be opened. Fortunately, there's a Starbucks drive-thru about a mile away.

AT THE STARBUCKS DRIVE-THRU IN BROOKLYN.

THE KID BROTHER (AND OBSESSED NY YANKEES FAN?)
ANOTHER STARBUCKS DRIVE-THRU DAY — ON THE WAY TO THE CASINO..

Sunshine
The day we left New York, Wednesday, it was clear and sunny and in the mid 70s (24C). Apparently, Fuengirola had great weather while we were away. Since our return it's been warmer than New York but otherwise overcast and windy, with some scattered showers. I'm told New York has had nothing but sunshine. Ironic or just bad luck?

SPRINKLER PALM TREE, CONEY ISLAND, LAST WEEK.
CONEY ISLAND PIER CLOSED FOR REPAIRS SINCE HURRICANE SANDY.

GARDEN ALONG THE BOARDWALK, BRIGHTON BEACH.
THAT'S BEACH SAND WHERE THERE ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE BEACH SAND.

SAILING LESSONS TODAY IN FUENGIROLA.
CLICK FOR A BETTER VIEW. TINY SAILBOATS CAME OUT FOR LESSONS LATER IN THE DAY.

Travels with Grumpy (and Grumpy)

San Geraldo and I returned yesterday from New York. It was a wonderful visit with My-Mother-The-Dowager-Duchess. The Duchess is not a hoarder, but she does have her share of "stuff." The Kid Brother doesn't help, having left some of his own stuff behind temporarily when he moved out 26 years ago. Among his things was a set of plaster dwarfs (of the Snow White variety), all seven of them. That collection has dwindled down to two. Either he eventually took the other five home or they broke and were tossed (more likely). Ironically, Grumpy (Gruñon) was one that remained (click to see my recent post).  I ignored the other Dwarf — he was bashful anyway — and I adopted Grumpy. Well, I actually kidnapped him; but don't tell the Kid Brother.

Look Who's Smiling
Grumpy's frown wasn't painted on very precisely. San Geraldo, my own Gruñon, thought Grumpy was smiling and, therefore, a different Dwarf.

"That's not Grumpy. That's Smiley," he said.

I had him look more closely at the facial expression and explained to him that there wasn't actually a Dwarf named Smiley. I then touched up the frown myself.

To be honest, there was a 1991 "Snow White" movie that had only six dwarfs and, in that version, there was in fact a Smiley. But, don't tell San Geraldo; he'll think he was right. Besides, in the original Brothers Grimm story, none of the Dwarfs even had names.

FROWNING ABOUT HIS VIEW OF CONEY ISLAND FROM THE BEDROOM WINDOW.
(THE CYCLONE, WONDER WHEEL — AND RETIRED ASTROTOWER — IN BACKGROUND.)

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FROWNING OVER MOCHA AND LEMON POUND CAKE AT STARBUCKS, BRIGHTON BEACH.
(THE OTHER GRUÑON BEHIND HIM READING HIS KINDLE.)

WALKING HOME FROM STARBUCKS.
(GRUMPY OPTS FOR THE "Q" TRAIN.)

ONBOARD AND IMPATIENTLY AWAITING DEPARTURE AT KENNEDY AIRPORT.

IN FLIGHT. TWO GLASSES OF WINE.
 DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE MILANOS COMPLEMENTS OF THE DOWAGER DUCHESS.
AND STILL GRUMPY. (WELL, THE WINE WAS CRAP.)

ABOUT TO DEPART MADRID FOR MÁLAGA ON THE HIGH-SPEED TRAIN.
(DON'T LOOK AT ME! HIS NOSE WAS BROKEN BEFORE WE MET — SAN GERALDO'S, TOO.)

Happy Cats

By the way, the cats clearly missed us but they're fine. Our neighbor María Carmen took tender loving care of them. Moose is presiding over San Geraldo's desk and Dudo is on my lap... again. Except for jet lag, all's well in Fuengirola.

Reinventing the Wheel

The Dowager Duchess and the Kid Brother have been keeping us awfully busy since our arrival in New York Wednesday afternoon. I've got lots of photos and stories but no time to share them. We head back to Spain tomorrow. Sunday, the Kid Brother arrived at 8 a.m. (he had already arrived at 8 a.m. Thursday and then Monday, as well). We headed to the casino at Aqueduct Racetrack, gambled, had lunch, gambled some more, and then went shoe-shopping (sadly, not with gambling winnings). San Geraldo bought two very nice pairs of big shoes for his big feet.

NEW YORK CITY MOSAIC WALL AT RESORT WORLDS CASINO AT AQUEDUCT RACETRACK.
(CLICK TO MAKE THE BIG APPLE A BIGGER APPLE.)

The Dowager Duchess financed The Kid Brother's gambling, but gave me the money to dole out so he would think it was coming from me (I'm much better at saying "no"). The Kid Brother's financial management skills are no better than ours (San Geraldo's and mine). When I finally cashed out all our tickets, I had $77 remaining of The Kid Brother's original $100 budget. He couldn't quite understand that the $77 were not winnings and, in addition, the $77 did not get turned over to him.

BROADWAY MOSAIC AT THE CASINO.
(CLICK TO MAKE THE GREAT WHITE WAY GREATER.)

We rented a very nice car at the airport. We upgraded so The Dowager Duchess could be chauffeured around town in comfort. We insisted on a very new car (low mileage), so we could be confident that the car would not give us any headaches. The first thing I was thrilled to notice was that this car actually had REVERSE. And it worked. I didn't have to push us out of the parking lot.

THE RED "R" STANDS FOR REVERSE. AN AMAZING INVENTION.

On our second day here, we were going to head out shopping (in the blowing wind and pouring rain). Chivalrous San Geraldo went to get the car and bring it around to the back entrance of The Dowager Duchess's building so that she (and I) wouldn't have to suffer in the weather. However, about two minutes after leaving us San Geraldo returned. "We're not going anywhere," he said. "We've got a flat tire."

The tire was as flat as a pancake it turned out. We had picked up a large and pointy screw. So, our American rental car (made in Japan) wasn't going in reverse or forward.

WELCOME TO NEW YORK CITY. A SPANISH TIRE SHOP AND A RUSSIAN PHARMACY.
(IF YOU EVER HAVE A FLAT IN BROOKLYN, HERMANOS ARE THE GUYS TO SEE.)

We, of course, hadn't taken the additional "tire insurance," which would have cost $9 per day. So, now we figured we'd regret that decision. AVIS sent someone very quickly to put the temporary spare on the car, but we then had to get the tire repaired ourselves. We went back upstairs and went online to find a nearby tire repair place. San Geraldo phoned and we headed over. We double-parked out front and waited 10 minutes in the entry of a very funky (well, very dumpy) little store. The repair cost $10! So glad we didn't take that insurance.

See You Later, Alligator

After a while, crocodile.

We're off to New York for a week with The Dowager Duchess and The Kid Brother. I'm sure there'll be plenty of stories and photos to share while we're there.

I used to know people in New York and New England who would fly to Paris for the weekend... "to shop." San Geraldo needs shoes. You may remember my post about San Geraldo's ginormous feet and his difficulty finding shoes in Sevilla (click here to refresh your memory). 

SHEDDING CROCODILE TEARS FOR OUR UPCOMING DEPARTURE?

CLICK FOR THE BIGGER PICTURE.

Given there are so many large-footed expats living around here in Málaga Province, we thought shoe-shopping would no longer be a problem. Not so. They must all bring their shoes with them. So, we'll pretend we're flying to New York for the week... to shop. But not for alligator shoes.

Sunrise Surprise

There was another spectacular sunrise this morning. I grabbed my camera from my bedside and began to snap away. I didn't even bother getting out of bed. The entire day has been picture perfect, as well. Teré and Miguel are visiting from Sevilla; sunshine follows them wherever they go. San Geraldo and I are getting ready to visit The Dowager Duchess and The Kid Brother in New York. We begin our trip Tuesday with a high-speed train ride (our first) to Madrid. But getting back to this morning's sunrise. While I was taking pictures, something shocking popped into view. Click on any of the scenery photos to see the sunrise in all its glory. Scroll to the bottom to see the added surprise that greeted me this morning.

Beauty and the Beast

Sunrise/Sunset photos are going to get a bit boring (if they haven't already), but sunrise Thursday took my breath away. Unfortunately, the rain and clouds that followed took away what was left. Yesterday was more of the same. Maybe a bit worse. Gray, cloudy, and rainy, and no breathtaking sunrise.

WISTERIA IN THE SUNSHINE. PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN, FUENGIROLA.

Today, however, is glorious. Breakfast outside. A walk with San Geraldo —making the rounds of the hardware stores to pick up supplies, but still a walk. We just had lunch out on the terrace. San Geraldo is now repairing a bathroom light fixture. After that, he's going to hang new clothesline. I think I'll head across the street to spend an hour relaxing on the beach. And that's why he's called a saint.

CLICK ANY SUNRISE FOR A BETTER VIEW.

HIBISCUS ON THE PASEO. RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR DOOR.

Chasing Rainbows

San Geraldo and I went for a walk yesterday afternoon and got caught in a downpour.  No matter how good life seems to be, we both have our "rainy" days. Even so, when the sun comes out San Geraldo always looks for the rainbow.  (Then, for better or worse, we both chase it.)

WE'VE HAD THIS GUY WITH US SINCE WE CHASED A RAINBOW TO PALM SPRINGS IN 2001.

THE CURRENT RAINBOW'S END — FUENGIROLA.

The Last Supper(s)

I passed another inspired sand sculpture the other day. "Sand Bar" (click here) is a three-person effort, with most of the creative work done by one person in particular. I found him the other day working further along the beach on an independent work called "La Ultima Cena" (The Last Supper). And that reminded me of a couple of other "Last Suppers" — before we left Sevilla.

THE LAST SUPPER ON THE BEACH. NOT QUITE READY...

... THE CHEF AND SOME DISCIPLES.

CLICK ON ANY OF THE THREE ABOVE PHOTOS TO SUPERSIZE YOUR MEAL.

THE LAST SUPPER AT "DOS DE MAYO" BEFORE LEAVING SEVILLA.
MANAGER PACO WITH SAN GERALDO

THE LAST SUPPER AT "CATALINA CASA DE COMIDAS Y MÁS" BEFORE LEAVING SEVILLA.
(I'M RETIRING THOSE GLASSES. THEY LOOKED MUCH BETTER WITH A SUIT AND TIE.)

WASHING MY FEET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.
(I'M SURE THE BIBLE SAYS YOU HAVE TO DO THAT BEFORE YOU EAT.)

I'LL TAKE MINE ON THE ROCKS.
SAN GERALDO IN FUENGIROLA ... BEFORE SUPPER.

No Need for the Big Guns

Now that we've moved... again... we had to register our new address with the local and national authorities. Our residency cards have our address in Sevilla, which means we need to be issued new cards. We headed over to City Hall last week to see if we could find out what we were supposed to do. San Geraldo couldn't find definitive answers online, but he did find enough to get a general idea.

NOT FAR FROM HOME. PULLED FROM THE SEA WHERE IT SANK DURING A BATTLE IN 1578.
GLAD WE DIDN'T DRAG IT ALONG WITH US.

Remembering Thing 1 and Thing 2 (and even Thing 3) in Sevilla (click here and here for that story), we were prepared (we thought) for anything. What we hadn't expected was a warm greeting, a charming visit, and an easy process. At City Hall, we registered as residents of Fuengirola (and the Province of Málaga).

PLAZA DE ESPAÑA AND THE FRONT OF THE AYUNTAMIENTO (CITY HALL).

THE BACK DOOR (ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ZOO).

We then had to go to the National Police a few blocks away to update our residency cards. We were given an appointment to return this morning, which went perfectly, and we'll go back in 30 days to pick up our new cards. We were treated well by every staff member as was every other visitor (no matter how annoying, obnoxious, confused, or uncooperative. We, of course, were charming and gracious... and very cooperative.

NATIONAL POLICE. A FRIENDLY PLACE... AS FAR AS WE KNOW.

During this morning's process, the officer at the desk wanted Jerry to place his finger on the scanner so she could get a new print. She didn't speak English and was very shy. Instead of telling Jerry in Spanish to place his index finger on the scanner, which neither of us had noticed (the scanner, that is, not his index finger), she simply held her finger up in the air. Being so very cooperative, as I mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and having absolutely no clue what she was pointing at, San Geraldo laughed and stuck his finger in the air as well. That broke the ice and our once-shy bureaucrat seemed to enjoy the rest of our visit. We have to go back in 30 days to pick up our new cards. So, we're covered until mid-2014 when our residency is up for another two-year renewal.

ANOTHER BIG GUN. AT LEAST WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE IF WE NEED THEM.
(THE SPANISH ARMADA LOST AN AWFUL LOT OF THEM OFF THE COAST.)