Way Up High

I was back in Benalmádena Tuesday with Kristina to go up to the town's highest point, Mount Calamorro. We rode the "teleférico" (funicular or sky cablecar). The trip begins at about 100 meters above sea level (328 feet) and ends at nearly 800 meters (2,625 feet). San Geraldo didn't join us. He has a fear of heights, can be a bit claustrophobic, and experiences motion sickness. (Other than that, he really is loads of fun.)

BEGINNING THE CLIMB.

Story Time
Twenty-three years ago, we were stuck in a ski lift (chairlift) in Vermont with our friend Judy. While we waited in the air above Mount Snow, Judy and I commented on the spectacular view.

San Geraldo was not pleased. "Stop turning your heads!!! You're shaking the chair!!!"

We were stuck for about 10 minutes — maybe less — at a height of about 30 feet.

San Geraldo says we swung wildly over a 500-foot chasm — for more than two hours.

Admittedly, there was a really big boulder below us. It would have hurt.

So, I suppose Benalmádena's Teleférico is one thing San Geraldo will likely never experience.

HANGING OUT THE WINDOW FOR A VIEW BACK TO THE SEA.

LOOKING WEST.

FROM THE TOP: VIEW FROM ONE OF THE HIKING TRAILS.

HANGING OUT THE WINDOW AS WE HEAD BACK DOWN.

WE COULD ALWAYS JUST HIKE THAT TRAIL..

ON A CLEAR DAY, YOU CAN SEE THE NORTH COAST OF AFRICA.

LOOKING BACK AT MOUNT CALAMORRO.

GETTING THERE (IT IS HALF THE FUN).

Maybe some fairy dust would help San Geraldo. 
Then again, maybe not. He'd still be airborne.
I remember seeing this on TV for the first time in 1960 and it gave me goose bumps. It still does. (I won't grow up, I guess.)

Walking Through The Park

One afternoon last week, San Geraldo and I met Kristina 10 minutes away from here in the town of Benalmádena, where she lives, and went for a walk around her neighbourhood and through the beautiful city park called Parque de la Paloma (Dove Park).

The park works its way down a hill toward the Mediterranean Sea. At the top of the park is a pond that backs onto the public library. Beyond that is a lush desert garden. It's where I got up close and personal with that bee (previous post).

So, I had two great escapes that day – the park and the bee. I plan on visiting the park again and again. The bee? Not so much.

(Click any image for the big picture. No bees.)

Parque de la Paloma... Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um

Oops!... I Did It Again

You might remember I have a serious allergy to bee stings. You might also remember that I can be a little careless (accident prone). (Click here for my nightmare, here for when I fell out of bed, and here for a more recent run-in.)

I haven't learned much over the years. Last week, we visited a stunning city park in Benalmádena. The cactus gardens are out of this world. As I bent to take a picture of a prickly pear (chumbera) flower, San Geraldo said, "Watch out for the bee." I saw it leave the flower, so I assured him I was safe. I got my picture and then quickly turned to another flower.

As I clicked the shutter, a bee (or THE bee) shot off that flower and slapped me in the head before flying off. No sting.

(Click the images, but don't fall off your chair; they get bigger.)

I woke up this morning with a bit of a weather-related headache. After days and days of heat, clear skies, and glorious sunshine, a cloud cover had rolled in overnight. The headache was minor. No big deal. Until I got a cereal bowl from the shelf and closed the cupboard door.

With authority.

And without first moving my head out of the way of the door.

Ow...

"That is just so typically me..."


NOTE
This morning's episode reminded me of a line from Monty Python's Gumby Theatre: "I've got my head stuck in the cupboard!" Lucky for you (and especially San Geraldo who is not a Monty Python fan), I couldn't find a video clip.

Catching Flies

Dudo was on the den bed the other day. Usually, he looks at me when I call or simply comes running. I called his name. He just stared into space. I called again. Nothing. Then, he lowered his head slightly. And more staring. A flip to the right and up. More staring. That's when I realised a flying 'something' had caught his eye. It was a house fly. And he was clearly too lazy to do anything more than watch it.

NOT CATCHING... WATCHING FLIES.
(CLICK TO ENLARGE... YOU STILL WON'T SEE THE FLY.)

Dudo must have heard about the old lady...

Ronda: Let Me Take You To Funky Town

I know, I know... I'm still going on and on and on about Ronda. But I promise this will be my last post on the subject (until our next trip to Ronda). This time it's about our hotel, which San Geraldo found online.

Since it's so easy to get there from here, we've decided this hotel will be our 'escape' destination. We could have been content (blissful) to never leave the place (but then we would have missed so much).

The name of the hotel is Enfrente Arte. It's funky, charming, immaculate, unusual, one-of-a-kind.

Each room is different and art-based. Ours had a Picasso theme and it was brilliant. Judy's had nude women everywhere (so San Geraldo was pleased it wasn't ours).

A fresh, huge, delicious, and free breakfast. A free bar 24-hours-a-day, where you can help yourself to beer on-tap, local wine, and soft drinks. Pool, gardens, views, terraces, an aviary, a library, music, art everywhere. Exceptional staff. What a find.

Check it out at: http://www.enfrentearte.com.

The first photo is of some of the art in our room, the second two photos are poolside. The rest were taken around the neighbourhood.

(Click any image to bring on the funk.)

Ow, we need the funk...

Ronda: The Fan Dance

Friday, while strolling scaling the streets of Ronda, Judy and I noticed a shop called ArtesamArt (http://www.artesamart.com). There were some beautiful fans in the windows and the place didn't look touristy, so we went inside.

I roamed the store and admired the jewellery, leather goods, pottery, and other handmade pieces while Judy talked with the salesperson, Maria. Judy was looking for a "typical Spanish fan."

We met one of the owners, Francisco, who told us some of the history of fans and encouraged us to visit the exhibit space upstairs. He joined us and we got a private tour beyond compare. I had no idea the fan actually originated in Egypt and the folding fan was invented in China, probably in the 7th century.

Francisco explained to us how some of the different types of fans are made and also shared stories of his mother (a collector), grandmother, and great-grandmother. Apparently, his grandmother didn't fan herself but slapped the open fan against her breast, while his great-grandmother opened and closed hers incessantly, never fanning herself, but instead tapping the closed fan against her open palm. We came home with little booklets describing the "language" of the fan.

We were in the store for well over an hour. I'm now a huge fan.

FRONT...

... AND BACK.

Lessons from the expert...

Ronda: I'll Never Stop Saying Maria

Our first day in Ronda, I asked someone at our hotel (Enfrente Arte) for some lunch recommendations. After she mapped out several places, I asked where the locals go. "Ah," she said, and then marked two areas of town, west and east. We were planning to walk east through the oldest part of town, so we set a place called Casa Maria as our goal. It was outside the old city walls, which meant it was outside the usual touristed areas. We never would have ended up there on our own.

PLAZA RUEDO ALAMEDA.

Casa Maria is a simple-looking place along a street bordering the expansive Plaza Ruedo Alameda. There were tables out on the plaza and just a few tall tables inside the narrow bar/restaurant specializing in tapas. We were welcomed warmly and, after we ordered our drinks, the owner asked if we would like to try "un poco de todo," a little of everything. We agreed and began our trip to Spanish tapas heaven.

We went through bread, vegetables, and cheese courses and, although a meat course was about to be prepared, we stopped after the seafood because we simply had no more room.

I've done the best I can to describe the different dishes (which, remember, is the same as cooking in my world). Click the images to make your mouth water. Then get to Ronda, if only to check out Casa Maria.

TOMATO, GARLIC, SALT... AND STUFF.

ARTICHOKE,  HAM... AND STUFF.
(I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HAD ARTICHOKE THIS DELICIOUS.)

ASPARAGUS, SALT, OLIVE OIL...  AMAZING.

FRIED GOAT CHEESE, STRAWBERRY MARMALADE.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE DONE...

BACALAO (COD) PEPPERS, TOMATO, ONIONS...
(I LOVE BACALAO. THIS WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD.)

SCALLOPS IN A SORT OF BECHUMEL... I THINK.

THE CHARMING AND TALENTED FAMILY... WITH THEIR OWN LABEL.

JUDY OUT FRONT AFTER LUNCH...
WITH OUR GIFT BOTTLE OF WINE!

[Casa] Maria, say it soft and it's almost like praying.