Fair (To Middling)

San Geraldo and I walked over to Feria Fuengirola (the annual Fuengirola Fair) Wednesday at dusk. It was joyful, loud, colorful, and dazzling. Click any image to increase the spectacle.

WHAT WE SAW ON OUR ARRIVAL.

I was so happy to be at the Fair and, after a couple of hours — of music blasting from every direction; and noise of all kinds; and barkers hawking rides and food and games; and crowds growing by the second; and flashing lights — I was also happy to leave it.

Although we've been known to enjoy the rides (I just won't go on anything that goes upside down and/or backwards and San Geraldo doesn't like soaring to or from great heights), we didn't try anything this time. I figure I shouldn't push my luck, given how I've been feeling (improved but not better; it's back to the specialist for me Friday). I was simply grateful to be able to spend three hours on my feet.

HE REMOVED HIS SHIRT FOR ME.  I SNAPPED A PICTURE.
HE LIFTED HIS SKIRT FOR ME.  I SMILED AND WAVED "ADIOS."

San Geraldo was perfectly content as a spectator. A great night's free entertainment for us both. Not long after we arrived, we stopped to watch one of the rides. At that very moment, two blurred faces swept into view and I said, "That's Tynan's kids!" They spotted us and waved, and I looked to the right to see Tynan standing on the sidelines.

TYNAN'S KIDS (ARMS IN THE AIR).

LATER, DOLING OUT THE MONEY TO HIS AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL (AND DESERVING) KIDS.

(I HADN'T REALIZED TYNAN WAS IN THE SHOT OR I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE OF HIM.)

After losing 30 pounds, San Geraldo's biggest challenge was not doing his usual "country fair chow-down" of several ears of corn and a few funnel cakes. It was the first time he's felt tempted, but the temptation quickly passed — although he was clearly happy to finally leave. On our way home, we stopped at Sandpiper for a very substantial and healthy dinner.

LIGHTS!  (THERE WERE ALREADY CAMERAS AND ACTION.)

PERMANENT SCULPTURE ON ONE OF THE PLAZAS INSIDE THE  FAIRGROUNDS.

ONE OF THE HALLS, ALL SET UP TO PARTY.

BOB ESPONJA, AKA SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.  (THIS LOOKED ABOUT OUR SPEED).

GREAT TO SEE FRESHLY MADE COTTON CANDY (ALGODÓN DE AZÚCAR).
(EVEN THOUGH I'VE NEVER LIKED COTTON CANDY).

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THERE. UPSIDE DOWN. IT'S BUNGEE CORD.

ON THE STREET OUTSIDE THE FAIRGROUNDS.

RIGHT: ALTRAMUCES, WHITE LUPINS (A VERY COMMON BAR SNACK HERE).
LEFT: CHUFAS, TIGER NUTS OR EARTH ALMONDS.  BOTH ARE HIGH IN PROTEIN AND FIBER.
THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW COCONUT SERVED THIS WAY WAS IN LIVORNO, ITALY.

BACK OUTSIDE AND ON OUR WAY HOME. 

SLUSHIE AND SON BREAKING IN THE RIDES OPENING DAY.
 I LOVE THIS SHOT! I SAW IT ON SLUSHIE'S FACEBOOK PAGE AND ASKED TO USE IT.

Super Olla (Super Saucepan)

Super Olla was San Geraldo's favorite ride — to watch. We must have stood there for 20 minutes. Jessica, at Sandpiper, told us during dinner that when it's not busy the emcee actually stands in the middle of the ride and dances the entire time it does its flips and spins, without ever losing his footing. That I'd like to see. My brother Chuck will like this simply because the emcee is wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap and, for whatever reason, the Statue of Liberty appears in the background. Truly Great Nephew Jack would simply point to the mural and say, "Boobies!" (click here)

THE BIG SPIN AT THE FINISH.
(IT HAD ALREADY BEGUN TO SLOW AT THIS POINT.)

The Virgin of Fuengirola

On my way to the procession Monday (click here and here), I spotted a couple of spectators decked out for the occasion. She would have fit right in, but his get-up was a bit unusual. He wore a suit. That in itself was not so very unusual; there were a number of men in suits in the procession. But none of those suits were tiger-patterned silk. The guy's hair was expensively streaked to match (or maybe he wore the suit to coordinate with his expensively streaked hair). A very special look for the Día De Nuestra Señora Del Rosario.

A SLINKY SILK JACKET AND TROUSERS TO MATCH.
(I DON'T THINK HE'S FROM AROUND HERE.)

When I left home Monday morning, I wasn't exactly sure of the procession's course. All I knew was that it left from the church, Nuestra Señora del Rosario, on the Plaza de la Constitución. So I headed in that direction, knowing that streets would be blocked off to cars wherever the procession would go. I arrived at the perfect time, just as the procession began to turn the corner from the plaza. Having arrived at the last minute, I was lucky to find a spot. And it turned out to be a great spot. As the parade passed, the participants would step into a splash of bright sunlight. It made it look like many of my subjects were spot-lit (as you might have noticed in the first post). Note: If a photo is followed by (CLICK), well then click...

THE STREET ALONGSIDE THE CHURCH JUST AS THE PROCESSION BEGAN.  (CLICK)

CUTE KIDS.  (EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ABOUT TO SPREAD "THE WORD.")

GETTING MORE CARDS TO DISTRIBUTE. (CLICK)   

LA VIRGEN DEL ROSARIO AFTER ROUNDING THE CORNER FROM THE CHURCH.  (CLICK)

(CLICK)

(CLICK)

A FUN GROUP.  (CLICK)

(CLICK)

DETAIL OF ONE CORNER OF THE PASO (FLOAT).

(CLICK)

BEHIND THE CHURCH AND PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN.  (CLICK)

AFTER THE PROCESSION, THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH ON THE PLAZA.

BANNERS OVER PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN.  (CLICK)

And, of course there was music and dancing...

P.S.: I'm no better today, but no worse, than yesterday... Still some antibiotics to go... I don't care. This evening, we're heading to the fair!

The Horse Whistler, An Andalusian Romance

Today is all about the carriages, horses, drivers, and riders at Fuengirola's procession for the Virgin of the Rosary. I mentioned yesterday (click here) that one of the "horseman" was quite the hunk. Riding alongside him was a woman that wasn't bad herself. What immediately came to my mind as the couple passed was the image of the two of them — well, OK, just him — posed steamily on the cover of a trashy romance novel.

NOPE. NOT HIM...
(ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE THEIR CHARMS).

STILL NOT HIM...

My cover model whistled much of the time. The sound couldn't be heard above the sound of the marching bands, voices, and nearby flamenco music, but I think he was simply doing it to calm his horse. And it seemed to work. A number of other horses were a little unsettled at times, but not his. I also noticed that The Horse Whistler had a very "good seat." And I mean that, of course, only in the most appropriate equestrian sense.


The Horse Whistler

So, now, after I offer you a brief glimpse below of the hunk (he's the guy in the pink jacket) who'll appear on the cover of my first (at least) romance novel, promise me you'll come back tomorrow to meet the Virgin... (of the Rosary) and others. After all, what romance novel would be complete without a virgin? Click any of the below images to fill the screen with romance.

WHISTLING AS HE TROTS ONTO THE SCENE.

IN EQUESTRIAN TERMS: A VERY GOOD ( INDEPENDENT) SEAT.

P.S.: I'm feeling so much better today. I expect to be completely recovered by the weekend (if not sooner). And now I think I'd better knock (knock knock) on wood.

More Than Fairly Fashionable In Fuengirola

Today is a holiday here in Fuengirola, El Día de la Virgen Del Rosario, (the Virgin of the Rosary, patron saint of Fuengirola). There was a procession. (Well, of course there was a procession.) And I managed to get up the energy to walk over, take lots of pictures, and then come home for lunch and a nap. I took so many pictures, in fact, that I'm going to split them over two (or maybe even three) days.

I haven't even made it to Feria (the Fair) yet. That opened last night and runs for seven days. Today's procession left from Plaza de la Constitución, home to the church, Nuestra Señora La Virgen Del Rosario. I arrived just in time to see the procession begin on the avenue behind the church. The horses and carriages that followed the procession were stunning. The flamenco music on the plaza was joyous. Today, I'll share the fashion. Still to come: The horses, the kids, and the church. And, maybe Wednesday, the fair.

You may notice there are few photos here of men. The procession was predominantly women. Besides, the men who participated mostly wore business suits. [Yawn.] The horses and carriages were a different story. One rider could have posed for the cover of a steamy romance novel. I might even share him with you tomorrow. Maybe.

Easy As Pie

San Geraldo keeps serving up wonderful meals for lunch and dinner. Sadly, my throat being what it's been for more than two weeks, I haven't enjoyed much of what he's forced me to eat, but I have appreciated his efforts and his concern. Had he not been here, I'd probably have lost 20 pounds. And I can't afford that.

Every time San Geraldo prepares another one of these excellent and healthy meals, I comment on all the trouble he's taken just for the two of us. His response is always the same: "Oh, it was easy as pie."

REVUELTO (SCRAMBLE) FOR LUNCH.

In the past, in my own kitchen, unless the pie was made by the local bakery or "Marie Callender," it was not easy (well, let's face it, it simply wasn't made).

PIEL DE SAPO (TOAD-SKIN MELON), KIWI, AND MANGO FOR DESSERT.
(ALL BECAUSE THE DOCTOR SAID I SHOULD EAT FRESH KIWI.)

I wonder if, when San Geraldo says, "easy as pie," he's talking about the book and movie "Life of Pi," where the guy ends up in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for 227 days. Or maybe he's talking about the Greek letter pi, π, the mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, and is approximately equal to 3.13159 3.14159.

Easy as Pi... Now I get it.

MY JOB:  NOT PRETTY.  BUT, FOR ME, A LOT EASIER THAN PIE.

P.S.: The antibiotics seem to be working. I'm feeling better today than yesterday. Still kind of miserable. Still whining. — m

Yada Yada Yada

Saw my doctor Thursday... virus missed by urgent care doctor... my doctor worried... antibiotics immediately... more blood tests Friday... then otolaryngologist... diagnosis confirmed... nothing serious... hurts when I swallow... hurts when I chew... hurts when I talk (gasp!!!)... don't want to eat... don't want to drink... have to do both... (want to talk...) cranky and tired...

Yada yada yada... On the mend.

THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. STILL NICE TO WAKE UP TO.
(CLICK TO MAKE IT SWELL... LIKE MY NECK.)

MOOSE (AND DUDO... AND SAN GERALDO) STILL LOVE ME.

Being Green

The Dowager Duchess has changed her nails to their autumn shade. It's not Oocha Coocha Bing Bang Bam Alakazy Alakazam (click here) because the Duchess doesn't DO glitter. As a matter of fact, her green nail polish doesn't even have a name. It's simply got a number. And I didn't ask her what it was. I grabbed a shot while we were on Skype Saturday.

MORE NUDITY IN FUENGIROLA.

The Duchess apologized because her nails are now "short." The sculpture studio has reopened on campus for fall semester and the long nails are "very inconvenient" when working with clay. So, she filed them down before applying the new color. When she held up her hands, I couldn't tell the difference.

FOR THE DUCHESS, IT IS EASY BEING GREEN.

The Duchess has worked in both stone and clay (and cardboard; and styrofoam; and wood; and wine bottles — already empty wine bottles; and ...). But she decided a few years ago that it was no longer fun to haul around and chisel away at a 15-pound rock. She gave us one of her early sculptures. A white alabaster piece about 11 inches tall (28 cm).

THE ONLY PIECE IN OUR DUCHESS SCULPTURE COLLECTION... SO FAR.

The Duchess has a free-form work she completed around the same time as our white alabaster. There's a shot of that below. But, there's another beautiful, nearly finished, piece from a few years ago (at the time the Duchess decided she'd had enough of hauling around a 15-pound rock in her tote bag). She doesn't have the elbow grease to polish it and I keep promising to do so. She even said we could have it (after San Geraldo asked if we could have it). We just have to lug it back to Spain. I hope to do so on my next visit and will share a photo once I've done the polishing. That one is also in shades of green. Yes, the Duchess does like green. But I think she selected the stones simply in terms of what she could lift.

GREEN STONE WORK CREATED BY THE DUCHESS YEARS AGO
(WHEN SHE STILL HAULED AND POLISHED).