This week's Spanish lesson was Direct & Indirect Pronouns - difficult; by the time we've worked out where they go & in what order in the sentence, whoever we're talking to has given up & gone home!
Jeannie safely back on early bus to Malaga & flight to Exeter. Shortly after, a very large black cloud raced across the Med to Nerja, developing into a thunder & lightning storm. On the News later, we learned that a local man operating a road drill had been struck by the lightning & killed. A house in Malaga also collapsed in the storm (probably only the noise of the thunder knocking down a shoddily-built property!).
In Nerja Cultural Centre we enjoyed 'The Bucket List' with the wonderful Jack Nicholson. There was an audience of approximately only 10. It was in Spanish, with no subtitles, but easy to follow the gist; not a dry eye in the house. Later in the week, in a bigger audience, we marvelled at Javier Garcia Moreno's classical guitar playing. He seems to have at least 10 fingers on each hand. After the performance, we bumped into him outside the theatre. He spoke no English, but with the help of Sue E. we cobbled together a conversation & now he knows he has English 'Groupies' (a word he seemed to like).
On one of our terrific hill walks we spotted eagles (short-toed?), an Egyptian Grasshopper (3 inch long flying locust like beast), & stripey geckos. There was an varied abundance of flowers appearing following the recent showers.
Sunday 24 February 2008
Sunday 17 February 2008
Intrepid Jeannie
Jeannie arrived safely at last, & very gamely joined us on several long mountain treks. She proved extremely observant, being the first to spot a metre long green snake (that we could not identify), a black squirrel climbing up a quarry face, & a very long procession of caterpillars (on a pavement in Nerja!)
We all enjoyed, at the local Cultural Centre, a performance of two classical guitarists, in the style of Segovia. We have no idea what pieces they played as there was no programme, & they only spoke Spanish.
It has been very windy from the east this week, resulting in crashing surf washing away some of the beach. It has brought out the entertaining kite-surfers. Rows of house-martins are sheltering on the window cills of our apartment block.
Their were 5 of us for Sunday lunch at Chiringuito Breine (a local beach restaurant) on the west side of Nerja. As we tucked into paella it began to RAIN!!! Undeterred, our waiter hauled an enormous sun parasol to our table, covering us all amply. We carried on regardless, consuming as much as we could eat, 2 bottles of wine & coffees for approximately 9 pounds a head.
Spanish lesson again tomorrow - more 'somes'!
We all enjoyed, at the local Cultural Centre, a performance of two classical guitarists, in the style of Segovia. We have no idea what pieces they played as there was no programme, & they only spoke Spanish.
It has been very windy from the east this week, resulting in crashing surf washing away some of the beach. It has brought out the entertaining kite-surfers. Rows of house-martins are sheltering on the window cills of our apartment block.
Their were 5 of us for Sunday lunch at Chiringuito Breine (a local beach restaurant) on the west side of Nerja. As we tucked into paella it began to RAIN!!! Undeterred, our waiter hauled an enormous sun parasol to our table, covering us all amply. We carried on regardless, consuming as much as we could eat, 2 bottles of wine & coffees for approximately 9 pounds a head.
Spanish lesson again tomorrow - more 'somes'!
Tuesday 12 February 2008
Local Attractions
Jenny (Mike's sister) & husband Richard flew in from East Midlands Airport for the weekend.
We took them sightseeing around Frigiliana village & then wore them out walking them back down the rio to Nerja (Mike & Richard were hurrying too quickly as they were anticipating a San Miguel!)
We were impressed to see that lots of new full size palm trees have been planted along the edge of Burriana Beach, where we four joined Sue & Graham E. for our usual Sunday Paella. The restaurant (Ayo's) was heaving & generally the town is busier this week due to UK half-term hols.
We all joined in with Richard's delight at Mansfield Town's away victory (4 in a row!) when we saw the UK football scores Saturday evening.
The highlight of their visit was the last evening when we went Tapas-ing. Jenny attracted the attention of a young(ish) local chap in a very Spanish bar, who gave her his seat, & asked if she wanted a 'novio' (boyfriend!) He took it very well when we decided after one drink & tapas to move on, kissing both Jenny & Sue goodbye. Richard was oblivious to all this, as he was busy watching local football on the bar TV, but we were both impressed with Jenny's pulling power - possibly enhanced by the rarity of fair haired ladies in Spain!
They have both arrived safely back at home now, & we are eagerly awaiting our next visitor, Jeannie from Plymouth. As we write this she has texted to say she is currently stuck in Malaga Airport due to the non-appearance of the scheduled shuttle bus (well, this is Spain!)
Spanish classes are continuing to challenge us - this week's saw the introduction of the indefinite pronouns/adjectives for 'some' - there seem to be approximately 15 words in Spanish for this!!! Ah well, I expect we can learn some of them!
We took them sightseeing around Frigiliana village & then wore them out walking them back down the rio to Nerja (Mike & Richard were hurrying too quickly as they were anticipating a San Miguel!)
We were impressed to see that lots of new full size palm trees have been planted along the edge of Burriana Beach, where we four joined Sue & Graham E. for our usual Sunday Paella. The restaurant (Ayo's) was heaving & generally the town is busier this week due to UK half-term hols.
We all joined in with Richard's delight at Mansfield Town's away victory (4 in a row!) when we saw the UK football scores Saturday evening.
The highlight of their visit was the last evening when we went Tapas-ing. Jenny attracted the attention of a young(ish) local chap in a very Spanish bar, who gave her his seat, & asked if she wanted a 'novio' (boyfriend!) He took it very well when we decided after one drink & tapas to move on, kissing both Jenny & Sue goodbye. Richard was oblivious to all this, as he was busy watching local football on the bar TV, but we were both impressed with Jenny's pulling power - possibly enhanced by the rarity of fair haired ladies in Spain!
They have both arrived safely back at home now, & we are eagerly awaiting our next visitor, Jeannie from Plymouth. As we write this she has texted to say she is currently stuck in Malaga Airport due to the non-appearance of the scheduled shuttle bus (well, this is Spain!)
Spanish classes are continuing to challenge us - this week's saw the introduction of the indefinite pronouns/adjectives for 'some' - there seem to be approximately 15 words in Spanish for this!!! Ah well, I expect we can learn some of them!
Friday 8 February 2008
Processions.....
Saturday evening was Sue E's delightful birthday dinner at Pacomari's restaurant, with guests from far & wide (well at least Ruthin, North Wales!)
Yet another excuse in Nerja for a fiesta was the Lenten Carnival - three days of celebration prior to the dark days of Lent!!! This culminated in a procession through the town to the beach. The many participants all wore flamboyant costumes, including much elaborate cross-dressing. The theme was bizarrely the 'Funeral of the Sardine'! Accompanied by much wailing (whaling?) & the usual brass bands, a full-size coffin was carried through the streets, then towed out to sea behind a local fishing boat. It was then blown-up, accompanied by a large firework display!
Sue & Graham E. showed us the way through the farmland up to the Maro Torre (no wonder we missed the path when we tried as it was a tiny obscure track). The Tower is in a natural herb garden of thyme, basil, rosemary & lavender, with wide coastal views.
On a midweek evening at the Cultural Centre de Nerja, we enjoyed a very professional & funny tribute show to 'Flanders & Swann', including the famous Gnu & Hippopatamus songs. Our robust audience participation could have been due to the drinks & tapas we consumed prior to the performance. Knowing the words also gives away our ages!!! We have no idea how the Spanish people in the audience understood any of this peculiarly British humour!
The other processions we saw in the week were those of the previously mentioned poisonous 'Processionary Caterpillars' They are now leaving their nests in the pine trees. We rode our bikes over several long lines of the nasty little critters, & will have to watch out for them when walking in the countryside from now on.
We are now looking forward to our next visitors - Mike's sister & hubby (Jenny & Richard) for a few days, then our friend Jeannie from Plymouth for a week (she is temporarily a motorbike widow whilst hubsband Roly bikes the length of South America!)
Yet another excuse in Nerja for a fiesta was the Lenten Carnival - three days of celebration prior to the dark days of Lent!!! This culminated in a procession through the town to the beach. The many participants all wore flamboyant costumes, including much elaborate cross-dressing. The theme was bizarrely the 'Funeral of the Sardine'! Accompanied by much wailing (whaling?) & the usual brass bands, a full-size coffin was carried through the streets, then towed out to sea behind a local fishing boat. It was then blown-up, accompanied by a large firework display!
Sue & Graham E. showed us the way through the farmland up to the Maro Torre (no wonder we missed the path when we tried as it was a tiny obscure track). The Tower is in a natural herb garden of thyme, basil, rosemary & lavender, with wide coastal views.
On a midweek evening at the Cultural Centre de Nerja, we enjoyed a very professional & funny tribute show to 'Flanders & Swann', including the famous Gnu & Hippopatamus songs. Our robust audience participation could have been due to the drinks & tapas we consumed prior to the performance. Knowing the words also gives away our ages!!! We have no idea how the Spanish people in the audience understood any of this peculiarly British humour!
The other processions we saw in the week were those of the previously mentioned poisonous 'Processionary Caterpillars' They are now leaving their nests in the pine trees. We rode our bikes over several long lines of the nasty little critters, & will have to watch out for them when walking in the countryside from now on.
We are now looking forward to our next visitors - Mike's sister & hubby (Jenny & Richard) for a few days, then our friend Jeannie from Plymouth for a week (she is temporarily a motorbike widow whilst hubsband Roly bikes the length of South America!)
Friday 1 February 2008
Goats & Butterflies...
Began last weekend with a farm walk by the rio Seco on the outskirts of Nerja (strangely named Seco (dry) as it is one of the few rivers with any water in it!) There were so many little offshoot roads to explore that we returned the next morning on bikes, fording the river & getting high up the valley side on the small farm roads & rough tracks. We met a party of locals out riding their magnificent horses, not a riding hat amongst them!
Sue & Graham E. joined us for Sunday lunch at Antonio's Chiringito Breine on the beach. It was heaving with people by about 1.30pm. Great Paella!
Our 'big' cycle of the week was up to the village of Competa. We think it must have been 'Goat Tuesday' as we cycled through three separate herds of goats, holding our breath as we understand there is a local outbreak of virulent brucellosis, transmittable to humans!!! We overtook two motorcyclists on the 10 mile return descent - they had switched off their engines to conserve fuel, but not their heads, as again, no protective headgear!
Enjoyed a wonderful walk with Sue & Graham E. along the ridges (up to 600 metres) directly behind their apartment. Spring flowers seem to have suddenly appeared in abundance, including the delicate white 'Star of Bethlehem'. Also lots of butterflies, notably the large yellow & black Swallowtails, & some little stripey lizards. Graham photographed lots of flowers we couldn't identify to look up later in their local fauna book. A very hot day, 23 degrees in the shade of their balcony, & Sue E. needed to put on her very fetching (nearly) pink sun hat!
As usual on our cycle to Cerro Gordo we saw a party of Ibex, but have still not seen the elusive dolphins.
Sue & Graham E. joined us for Sunday lunch at Antonio's Chiringito Breine on the beach. It was heaving with people by about 1.30pm. Great Paella!
Our 'big' cycle of the week was up to the village of Competa. We think it must have been 'Goat Tuesday' as we cycled through three separate herds of goats, holding our breath as we understand there is a local outbreak of virulent brucellosis, transmittable to humans!!! We overtook two motorcyclists on the 10 mile return descent - they had switched off their engines to conserve fuel, but not their heads, as again, no protective headgear!
Enjoyed a wonderful walk with Sue & Graham E. along the ridges (up to 600 metres) directly behind their apartment. Spring flowers seem to have suddenly appeared in abundance, including the delicate white 'Star of Bethlehem'. Also lots of butterflies, notably the large yellow & black Swallowtails, & some little stripey lizards. Graham photographed lots of flowers we couldn't identify to look up later in their local fauna book. A very hot day, 23 degrees in the shade of their balcony, & Sue E. needed to put on her very fetching (nearly) pink sun hat!
As usual on our cycle to Cerro Gordo we saw a party of Ibex, but have still not seen the elusive dolphins.
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