Another Reason To Stay In Southern Spain

My sister-in-law and brother-in-law were driving the other day from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This was their view on the four-lane highway as the day progressed.

(Click the images to make things more clear — Well, at least, the last three images.)

[NOTE: THAT'S NOT FOG; THAT'S SNOW!]

These were my views as the day progressed.

Erotic Tapas 2016

It's time for Fuengirola's 8th Annual Ruta de la Tapa Erótica. (Click here for 2015  and here for 2014). If you don't feel like looking at those previous posts, I'll sum it up for you:

A tapa is, basically, a Spanish appetizer, snack, finger food, or canapé — although those labels really don't cover it. It's usually inexpensive, and it's very possibly unusual and delicious. The variety is endless. 

The Ruta de la Tapa Erótica (Route of the Erotic Tapa) is Fuengirola's annual competition that includes 100 local restaurants. The cost is only €2.50 for a tapa and a drink (inc. wine and beer). To participate for prizes (and to vote on this year's best tapa erótica), you pick up an "Erotic Tapa Passport" and get it stamped each time you sample a tapa. With ten stamps you are eligible for some very nice prizes. This year there are approximately 50 prizes that include a cruise, luxury hotel stays, TVs, cases of wine, dinners, lunches...

My first evening out on "la ruta," Pedro, Kathleen, Luke and I hit two places in my neighborhood.

My second evening out, Elena and I hit two other places in the neighborhood. Our second stop had a dish called "Well, grab this!" It was very good but left me tasting fish for the rest of the night. (And that's all I'm saying.)

EL PLACER DEL VULCANO (THE PLEASURE OF THE VULCAN/O?)

Regarding the previous photo: "Volcano" in Spanish is "Volcán." So, this is either a misspelling of the English word "volcano" (which is what the dish looks like) or it refers to Mr. Spock's Pleasure, or The Pleasure of the Sicilian island called Vulcano, or, as Elena suggested, a reference to the pleasure of a woman's "bits."

JARDÍN DE EDÉN (GARDEN OF EDEN)
GLAZED PATÉ 'APPLES' AND FIG LEAF COOKIES
LUKE FASCINATED BY THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE (OR THE GLITTER).

VALLE DE LA TENTACIÓN
(VALLEY OF TEMPTATION)
MY FAVORITE: WITH ANCHOVY PASTE, HARDBOILED EGG...

PO LLÉVATE ÉSTA!
(WELL, GRAB THIS!)

A Nice Set

Two prizes are of interest to me. They're listed as "Cestas Eróticas," which is translated beneath the Spanish on the program as "Erotic Sets." 

Erotic sets of what you might wonder.

I'm sure anyone would be happy with a nice "set." Although "cesta" is really a Spanish word for "basket." I already have a nice basket.

Truth is, I won't be winning anything. So far, I've visited four restaurants and only have three stamps, and it all ends today.

Pirates Of The Mediterranean

While at Viveros Guzmán Thursday afternoon, we... well, I, had a difficult time making up my mind what to buy to add a special touch to our terrace. We had wanted to buy a fountain but, as our astute and extremely tactful friend Tynan pointed out:

"Right! That's brilliant! You live ON the sea. You can hear the natural, lovely, and calming sound of the surf all the time. So, why not get a fountain and drown out the sound of the sea with the sound of an electric motor pumping tap water over cement?!?"

I paraphrase since I can't remember Tynan's exact words, which were more colorful.

But, since Tynan did have a point, I had to start thinking of other options. Here are a few of the things I considered (no, I didn't really) as we shopped at Viveros Guzmán.

(Click the images to increase the enchantment.)

I QUICKLY NIXED SPORTY SANTA.
FOR ONE THING, THE CAR WOULDN'T FIT IN THE ELEVATOR.

A FULL-SIZE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE. A BIT OVER THE TOP.
AND TOO SEASONAL.

TOO STAID... AND GRAY. NOW, IF IT WERE A PINTO...

DAVID? OH, PLEASE. HE'S BEEN DONE TO DEATH.

AFTER DAVID, I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT BALLS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY.
BUT TYNAN HAD ALREADY NIXED THE FOUNTAIN IDEA. NO BALLS!

THERE WAS ALSO A LIFE-SIZE RHINO. IT WAS ALSO A "NO."
(NOTE: SAN GERALDO SAYS THIS NEEDS CLARIFICATION. SO, YES, I KNOW
THE ABOVE IS A ZEBRA BUT, IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A RHINO.)

SAN GERALDO THOUGHT I WAS KIDDING.
IMAGINE!

SO ALL WE BOUGHT WERE PLANTS! SIX GAZANIAS (THREE COLORS),
TWO CORDYLINE FRUTICOSA AND TWO CORDYLINE AUSTRALIS.
NO PIRATES. ARRR!!!

Bread And Pepsi

San Geraldo had braces on his teeth when he was in his early teens. He had to pay regular visits to the dentist to have his braces tightened and would always return home with a sore and aching mouth. Somehow, he discovered that what best soothed his aching mouth was bread dunked in Pepsi Cola.

I told this story back in 2012 (click here for that post), but, sadly I have a new chapter to add.

I have no idea how anyone in their right mind would think to dunk a piece of bread in a glass of Pepsi and then eat it. But, somehow, San Geraldo did think of it. And, somehow, he has never lost his taste for it.

As he dunked bread in his Pepsi yesterday while we waited for our meal to arrive at Papas Fritas Y Huevos — yes, he did it in public — San Geraldo defended himself by explaining that it brought back sweet memories of his youth.

Then he wondered aloud why having his braces tightened would be a sweet memory and he realized, still aloud, that the bread and Pepsi itself was the sweet memory.

My sincere apologies to anyone out there who also finds this to be a tasty treat. No offense intended. And I never suggested you weren't in your right mind no matter what you might have read. Never said it! (Hey, it works in American politics!)

It's Not A Car; It's An Adventure

We took a drive again today to our new favorite garden center, Viveros Guzmán in Alhaurin de la Torre. In the mountains. A world away from the sea and the city. (Note: Viveros means Nurseries.)

First we stopped for gas and to have the car washed. At San Geraldo's request, I bought some treats while we waited to help us survive the long, long, — 25-minute — ride. (Don't worry. We brought plenty of water.)

I bought too many treats. But I had to; they were on sale. We managed to consume only three PiM's each (a bit of heaven my sister, Dale, introduced me to when I was still in my teens) before stopping for lunch a few minutes from Viveros Guzmán.

(Click the images to increase the calories... and for a closer look at a hunky bartender.)

50 CENTIMOS OFF IF I BOUGHT TWO PACKAGES.
EVER BUDGET-CONSCIOUS, I GOT ORIGINAL OREOS AND DOUBLE-STUFF!

San Geraldo had done some research before-hand and found what sounded like an interesting restaurant. So that's where we headed before loading up the car with plants.

THE CAR, AFTER ITS VERY FIRST BATH, OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT.

The restaurant is called Papas Fritas Y Juevos (French Fries and Eggs). It turned out to be located in an industrial/business park near a beautiful residential area. It's obviously extremely popular.

Great food, service, and price. We decided it would be worth a drive back up just for a meal. We thought the joint was jumping but our server told us it was a very quiet day. She said if we ever wanted a meal there on a Wednesday or Saturday to be sure to make a reservation. Good to know.

RESTAURANTE PAPAS FRITAS Y HUEVOS.

COCHOPO: A SPECIALTY FROM ASTURIAS (NORTHWEST SPAIN).
TWO LARGE VEAL FILLETS, HAM, CHEESE... FRIED (WITH PAPAS FRITAS Y HUEVOS)
THANKFULLY, WE WERE TOLD TO SHARE.

I HAD THE VIEW THAT INCLUDED THE HUNKY BARTENDER.

Ah-EH-row Eh-SHMEET

I love mispronunciations!

Remember Rode Eh-STEE-gwar (click here if you don't know the story from back in May 2012).

I'm not passing any judgments and never would. After all, my father used to smoke GAR-shuh VAY-guz. (That would be Garcia y Vega to a Spaniard.)

Our Spanish friend Tere once told me that one of her favorite British actresses is EhLAYna Bone-HAHN Carr-TEHRRR.

As you know, San Geraldo provides me with constant entertainment in his multiple languages (well, his attempts at multiple languages).

But this, for a change, is not about San Geraldo. This is about another Spanish friend who was recently telling me about the American rock groups he loves. His favorite?

No, it's not Metallica. (Dream on!)

His favorite American rock group is Ah-EH-row Eh-SHMEET!


Dream until your dreams come true!

Dusting For Prints

The terrace is coming together — slowly. But that hasn't kept the cats from lounging in the sun and exploring their newly safe and always available space.

The monk parakeets have been spending an awful lot of time in the palm tree right out front. Dudo and Moose have, therefore, been spending an awful lot of time at the drain hole hoping for an errant bird.

San Geraldo vacuumed the terrace but not before the boys tracked dirt and dust all over the house (although they both deny it).

(Click the images and see if you can identify the prints.)

MOOSE INSPECTS THE MESS AND
THE CAT-EATING VACUUM CLEANER.

THE PIANO BENCH.
DUDO: "I DIDN'T DO IT!"
MOOSE: "WELL, DON'T LOOK AT ME!"

DUDO WAITS WHILE MOOSE WATCHES THE TREE.

AND DUDO TAKES HIS TURN.

"DO YOU BELIEVE THOSE CLOWNS?!? AS IF!!!"

Just Desserts

This is the last from our trip to Estepona (until our next visit).

Some shots of the drive from here to there, a couple from the interior of the Orchidarium Estepona, and ... Tirramisu!

(Click the images for a closer look — and a much larger slice of tirramisu.)

 A FINE DAM VIEW, I MUST SAY.

THE OTHER ROCK OF GIBRALTAR.
SAN GERALDO IS MINE.

DRIVING THE TOLL ROAD (AUTOPISTA)
INSTEAD OF THE FREE ROAD (AUTOVIA).

ENTERING A LITTLE BIT OF PARADISE.

THE VIEW FROM THE UPPER LEVEL.

UNDERWATER[FALL].

DROWNING OUR ELECTION WEEK SORROWS.
NOTE TO SAN GERALDO: DO NOT INHALE THE COCOA POWDER.

Shadows On The Wall

We spent about two hours in Estepona on Wednesday and I've now spent three days blogging about it. And there's more to come.

The residential buildings that surround Orchidarium Estepona are of a not unusual, late 20th-century style here. Mostly boxy and basic in white stucco with the addition of terraces, and maybe some arches and tile.

But these particular buildings become works of art with the addition of beautifully executed botanical murals. In some cases, due to the addition of painted shadows, the real looked painted and the painted look real. (Click the images and you'll see what I mean.)

In the winter, let me bring the spring to you...

Where Are The Bloomin' Orchids?

As I mentioned yesterday, there weren't lots of orchids in bloom at Orchidarium Estepona. We were there November 9 and it turns out the Orchid Fair (exhibition and sale!!!) was November 4, 5, and 6. The few flowers we did see were quite beautiful.

The large section containing the plants that will do best in our terrace environment had not a single flower to show. But check out what we did see (and click the bloomin' image to make it bigger).

So, our orchid experiment will soon begin. But it can't begin yet because we haven't "botany."

Get it? Get it? We haven't botany! You know, like bought any?

I know most of you got this really, really bad pun. The painful explanation, which only made it worse, was for the benefit of San Geraldo.

Orchidarium Estepona

Wednesday afternoon, to escape our depression after the US election results (no need to mention them again here), we took a drive to the city of Estepona. It didn't completely work to remove our pessimism, but it was a picturesque drive about 60 km (37 miles) west of here.

The reason we chose Estepona was because we had read about an orchid house (Orchidarium Estepona, also known as Orquidario de Estepona) that looked spectacular. It was. Our only disappointment: It was the wrong time to visit if we wanted to see much in bloom. I guess it's just not the season. Still, the architecture outside and in, and the collections and environment, and the outside gardens made the trip worthwhile. (We're thinking of growing some orchids on our newly warm and protected terrace.)

Our new car's still un-named "navigation voice" could soon be known as "Ditzy Dora." Once we exited the autovia (freeway) at Estepona, she told us to take the second exit at the roundabout. We did so and it was even clear on the map that we had done so correctly.

However, "Dora" immediately said "route recalculation." Thanks to "Dora," we explored a very large area of the city (maybe we should call her "Dora the Explorer") until I pulled out my smart phone and entered the address. We ended up right back at the original roundabout, took the same second exit and reached the orchid house 2 minutes later.

The trip there took us about an hour. Coming home, 42 minutes.

Today's photos are exterior shots of Orchidarium Estepona. More about our day is still to come.

(Click to be wowed.)