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Lobsters & Wetsuits

Sunday, April 17, 2005

This rather hefty entry was written during the course of my holiday and taken down at various times of day, before and after events. It may be a little confusing to read but I am sure you'll get the gist of it!

Photographs from our holiday will be available at Trunk Guys' sister site Snapshots.

Torrox - Tuesday

I decided early on in the holiday that I would not spend any time writing my blog as I was simply enjoying myself relaxing, taking in the atmosphere and having some quality time with Richard.

Of course this must have been a very loose rule as I find myself writing? Why? No reason other than the iBook was on as I have just transferred some photographs.

So far we have managed to spend a great deal of time doing very little and it feels perfect! Our days have easily slipped into a routine of breakfast, walking along the beach, lunch, Siesta, sunbathing, out for dinner and drinks, moonlight walks along the promenade and bed... Not particularly thrilling but we always said this holiday was intended to help us wind down and it has.

It feels like we have been here longer and that is not a bad thing, at home I can confess to being a clock watcher but here I don't seem to bother (except when wanting to get to our favourite restaurant Arco Iris before all the Germans!)

We had a bit of drama during our siesta when the list alarm sounded in the apartment block, some poor chap got trapped inside the lift between our floor and the one below. As most of the block is currently empty (out of season) he was very lucky we were here to help.

It is so nice to simply sit on the promenade eating ice cream, strolling along the beach taking in lungfuls of clean sea air or simply sitting on the balcony reading. I think this sort of thing should be compulsory!

The rest of Tuesday was spent cruising along the coast in our hire car taking in the scenery and negotiating the numerous twists and turns of the Spanish high way. Thankfully I decided not to drive as being a passenger is hairy enough on these roads!

Loungers

We stopped at a town on the coast which I think was called La Habberbra but I am sure I going to have to check that when I get home. Anyway it was a nice place, very quiet and quite a contrast to Torrox. The whole town was based around a cove with cliffs raising up each side to produce this natural shoe horn bay which has a pebbly beach. It was very quiet and practically devoid of tourists (it is an increasing pleasure to visit these places out of season). Sadly though, as ever, our visit was over too soon.

Wednesday

We decided to visit our usual haunt of Nerja which is just up the coast. This too is another contrast to Torrox, not least because it seems to be over run with Brits! I don't mind people settling in a foreign country, but how foreign can it be when all the shop signs are in English and all offer burgers, chips and sunday roasts? What is the point?

Still that said it is nice to browse around the numerous quaint shops in Nerja and to stroll along the Promenade.

Today has to be the cloudiest by far but that is not to quote today as a grey English summers day but one with a mere wisp of a cloud in the sky - something to give my new batch of photographs some spacial interest.

I spent the afternoon finishing the one book I brought away - "Fete Worse Than Death" and to my amazement, for once, I actually managed to finish a holiday paperback! (This may be helped that I only brought one book where usually I bring several and spend the holiday chop and changing between them to the point of giving up on them all.) The book documents a summer full of typically English pursuits and traditions. This may seem like an odd read to take abroad but I felt it was appropriate.

The book was rather fun and light hearted to begin with but eventually the author just ended up sounding bitter and twisted. Anyway I have finished it now and I must confess I had much more interest in the funeral procession that past by the apartment this afternoon than that dreadful book!

Thursday

It would appear that the weather is getting warmer, the evening sky is alive with Swifts and Bats darting back and forth. The evening sun is warmer than at the start of the holiday and there is a haze out on the horizon. I guess it's only minor but this must be the transition into "summer".

There are points when I wish I could speak Spanish and speak it fluently but I never seem to be able to gain any momentum for foreign languages. I did start lessons when I started my new job but didn't continue them due to time constraints.

An old Spanish senorita stopped to greet us and chat last night and I felt annoyed and helpless that we could offer no response (this is a little unfair as Richard's' Spanish is much much better than mine so he managed a couple words with her). It was also brought to my attention when Steve sent me a text in Spanish, thankfully I could understand some of it and Richard was able to decipher the rest.

If lessons and books don't work, will one to one tuition or subliminal learning? Maybe I should give it a go on my return? Thinking about it, why don't I ask Steve?

There was a cool breeze blowing in the morning so we headed to El Iilanio like any good gay couple for some retail therapy. We didn't rock the boat either, I managed to walk away with a new shirt and t shirt which is some sort of personal record! (Last year I need to purchase an additional bag!)

Once back at the apartment we decided to have lunch and walk along the beach, taking in the sights and trying to spot any cute Spanish totty. As usual though we were confronted by overweight lobster red Germans and ageing Spanish couples.

Sunset over the Promenade

Quiet a wind blew up from the sea so we decided it was best not to stick around too long, even though it was blowing in from Africa it was still blowing with some force. An afternoon siesta before dinner seemed like the obvious option for the remainder of the day.

Friday

I am not too sure that much will be written about today as yesterdays gusts have broken into a night of gale force wind that is whipping up the beach and creating huge crests in the surf. I wish there was a windsurfing cabin nearby as the conditions are ideal.

I have to say something about dinner last night, I don't think I am at all racist or against any creed or breed of foreigner but since being on this holiday I have come to hate the Germans. This is probably not fair as I am guessing the clutch of Germans here are not the usually archetype but then again I have nothing to compare them to so I am guessing they are. It may be the visiting generation, the late forties to mid sixties, fat overbearing, rude, lobster skinned and arrogant part of their generation. I simply hope that the rest of German culture isn't like this and I hope for future generations they don't all end up being like this - it would be a terrible waste.

I have observed them this week and watched how they all like to parade the promenade in 1970's gear, fake leather jackets, David Hasselhoff haircuts and show off their blistering sore sun tans. I have no ideal what compels them to do it but it would seem that German men particularly have this urge to come to the coast, expose themselves to the sun and smell their burning flesh. Considering the colour most of them are they must have either broiled themselves before coming out or used lard as a sun block.

And then there was the arrogant son of a bitch we had to endure at dinner last night. He was loud, he was crass, he insisted on smoking a cigar (through a filter!) and blowing it over everyone. He made no attempt at speaking Spanish and he was down right rude to all the staff at the restaurant.

Before you start commenting that I am basing my thoughts of an entire nation on one man, maybe I am. But from the things I have witnessed this week I fear I am not far wrong.

If I offended any german readers I apologise but I feel you must apologise to all other cultures for the way your elders invade other countries and act the way they do.

And what's with this obsession of taking your 30 something son on holiday with you??? It makes German family groups look like some sick OAP 70's porn outing!

OK I am off my high horse now - honest!

Saturday

Well this is our last day and I am really sorry to see it arrive - we have had such a lovely week.

Yesterday turned out to be more adventurous than either of us imagined as the strong winds brought out a plague of fit, strapping young men in wet suits, wind and kite surfing along the coast. It was really interesting to watch them speed along the waves.

The kite surfers were being towed out to sea at some speed. Kite guys make wind surfers look like wimps - especially when you observe how they have to launch themselves into the sea and onto their boards. One poor guy got dragged across the beach on his back before he hit the waves with some force - ouch.

I managed to capture a number of shots from this afternoon and the odd video too. What an exhilarating way to end the week!

We are off for a walk and some lunch before we pack up and clean to apartment. When you read this I will already be home.

Adios!

I have just been through all the snaps I have taken and they are available to view at Snapshots. The shots will feature in the foreign travel section and I will put some of the surfing shots in their own location.

[iTunes: "We don't have to take our clothes off" : Jermaine Stewart]


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