Summarizing autumn 2012 in Andalusia

A week has passed since we packed out belongings and left Fuengirola, Malaga, Costa del Sol and Andalusia for this autumn. After five weeks at Myramar Apartment Hotel we had to (with sadness) return to Oslo and the really cold winter.

Our hotel is located close to Soheil Castle and the huge shoppingcentre Parque Miramar with 43.000 square meter shopping area and 140 different shops. A place to be when the rain is too heavy outside.

 

On a rainy day this autumn the Castle Beach looks like this from the go-cart area on top of the shopping centre.

After staying at Myramar for some years it is natural that we got friends from Norway also on long term stay conditions. Mario is a brilliant servant and delivers Happy Hours Brandy with coffee to Knut, Lillian, Karin, John and Aud. Some of these people have been here during autumn, winter and spring for many many years.

Another friend living half of the year in Marbella, is my heart transplanted companion Audun. This photo is showing that we take every possibility to celebrate with a Cava. This time at Cafe Bogart we marked that it was 22 years since Audun got a new heart.

The Osborne Bull on top of Los Boliches, Fuengirola reminds us of the Veterano Brandy

When staying in Spain it is natural to take a glass of Cava instead of a beer. The small Cordoniu Benjamin is a dry and good refreshment before lunch or dinner.

or at a break when walking the 20km from Los Alamos and back home to the hotel.

This photo is from Benalmadena Costa

A long term stay at Costa del Sol also require visits to Malaga City. Here we are visiting our favorite Bodega Bar El Pimpi. Being in Malaga without tapas and wine at El Pimpy is a crime.

During this year stay we also went to Ronda (for our first time) to see the spectacular gorge with the bridges. My sister Gerd took us thereby car and the tour up the mountains itself is recommended.

During the civil war a lot of people were killed in this gorge when the "enemy"-soldiers were dropped from the bridge. I do not think it is possible to survive such a fall.

Marbella is another regular place to visit. A shopping tour to La Canada, lunch at Plaza Naranja and a drink at one of the places along the seafront walk is mandatory. This is at the city park.

Above Fuengirola the white city of Mijas can be found. From the far top of the city it is a fabulous view over the cost and Fuengirola. We recommend the bar Sierra Mijas, but be there before it closes at 4pm.

There is a lot of places to be mentioned along the Paseo Maritimo, but here we only cover GaliGali across the road from Crispy Cod.

and not to forget the very good restaurant La Farola. Go there and be satisfied at lunch, dinner or even for only a glass of wine.

Hopefully these images give you a good understanding of why we return to this places in Spain, and why we will return for another six weeks from the middle of February next year.

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From sunshine to snow

 In my last blogpost I said goodbye (and Hasta Febrero) to Spain 2012. Today we visited our closed cottage where the first snow in Oslo has fallen

The temperature was around + zero but we did not take the opportunity to build a snowman. Everything was as it should at Solvang this part of the year.

Departure 2012

 Our 5 weeks have come to an end.
Today we are leaving Myramar Fuengirola director Carlos and his staff, friends on long stay conditions, the apartment, Costa del Sol and all the other Andalusian beautiful places. This flower goes to them all. Muchas gracias.

As yesterday afternoon the temperatures during our stay have been around +18 C all the time. Some days up to +24 C and some chilly nights down to +10 C. Heavy rain some days, but not so much wind. An umbrella has been protection  against the water. The weather forecast today says +21 C in Malaga and probably will the days ahead also be great.
The long term weather forecast for Oslo tells that we can expect cold and snow next weekend. Maybe we return a week too early, but we are looking forward to see our grandchildren presently staying in our flat.

Hedda, Mari, Henrik, Maja and Helene at our kitchen table last night.

The day before departure

 Tomorrow we once more will be onboard one of these airplanes high up in the sky. Our 5 weeks in Spain have come to an end and returning to Oslo and "bad weather?" will be a challenge.

 Down here the last week has been fantastic. Temperatures between +22 and +17. Sunbathing in front of the pool, lazy walking around in the area, relaxing over a glass of wine and eating on our favorite restaurants.

At La Farola yesterday I had a delicious Leg of Lamb. Try it!

Hand cleaning the pool

A very interesting day.
Handymen have during the day prepared the child pool for next season. Washing the bottom of the pool by hand is not only a hard day´s work, but soon also a hard day´s night. And the large pool is waiting for their energy next week.

The workers also have contact with the world outside through mobile phones is no surprise, but the show must go on. It is not like driving a car when talking, but almost there.

I do not recommend the working position for anybody, and without any deep knowledge of the chemicals they are using, I would say that according to Norwegian labor laws, the work had to be stopped immediately .

After three hours work 25% of the pool were finished. 75% to go.

At five o´clock they are close to 50% of work done.

Hand cleaning process will hopefully give the expected result for Director Carlos.
I am very impressed of how the workers are progressing. I have to make a last photo of the pool before I leave Myramar this time. (Wait for another blogpost).
I am confident that the pool will be to everybody´s satisfaction when we return in February 2013.

Dinner at Mijas

 Yesterday afternoon and evening we visited Mijas, ( a typically Andalusian white-washed village located at a mountain side about 450 m above mean sea level) and hoped for a drink and possible dinner at the nice restaurant Sierra Mijas above the city. We climbed the hill and all the stairs up to the restaurant, but came 90 minutes too late for entering the restaurant. It closes at 16.00.
The environment surrounding the stairs is however so nice that the tour itself can be recommended.

At the top the view over Mijas and Fuengirola  is great. The near sunset made the light over Mijas red roofs spectacular and the white city really presented itself.

The lights from Fuengirola this evening was also really beautiful, but at the temperature  between eight and nine was really chilly so do not forget your jacket if planning to copy our tour to Mijas

Last week this time

It is Monday and the beginning of our last week in Andalusia this time.
The rising sun also meets us from the eastern sea promising a clear, warm and sunny day at the pool. Hopefully we have said goodbye to the grey and rainy days we have had too much of during the last weeks.
It is only four weeks to winter solstice and the winter is coming closer to Costa del Sol too, but compared to the dark November in Norway, this part of Europe is much more preferable.
Hopefully will my blogposts during the coming week show some of the reasons why we love southern Spain.

Celebrating 65

On this beautiful day, although lots of turmoil in other parts of Spain and Europe, I celebrated my ordinary day of pension if I not had left DNV as a disable pensioner already 15 years ago.
65 years are a respectable age for normal people. When I have reached this age after the severe heart and kidney failure in 1994 and simultaneous transplantation in 1998, celebration is well deserved.

A good lunch / dinner with my wife at a restaurant in Fuengirola (Charolais) after some hours at the pool was followed up with a drink at Scubie´s Bar (best wi-fi in the harbor) before we strolled back to the Olea Bar at our hotel.

Carmen serving another bottle of Cava (gift from Knut and Lillian) making the celebration perfect.
Thanks to all friends all over the world sending greetings on mail, text, FaceBook or by calling.
Life is still great.

Friends and refreshments

At a beach bar close to the Mediterranean Sea, some of our acquaintance in Fuengirola have a relaxing time over sone coffee cups. Knut, Lillian, John and Karin go for a Brandy after dinner while we are satisfied with a Cava on the turning point for our 13km walk (6.5 km and home).

Sunset over Costa del Sol

In our way back from the afternoon walk. Beautiful day and three hours sunbathing at the pool before lunch. This is what we expect on a day in Spain.

Almost 65

It is not today, and  to tomorrow, but the deadline to 65 is coming closer. Today´s lunch together with my sister and brother-in-law (Asian Buffet) ended with this beautiful bouquet. Some days too early, but in time before they return to Norway. Thanks to Gerd, Arne and Brit for the flowers.

Friday and Audun Bell

 Yesterday the weather became a little better than the day before but the waves rolled to the shore from heavy storm outside the coast.

 Like Robinson Crouso we discovered footprints in the sand this afternoon . Could it be Friday?

 The footprints ended in the fierce wave foam and no Friday could be seen in the sea. Btw yesterday was wednesday

However, on this Thursday, we found somebody else. My friend from the TX community, Audun Bell wanted to mark and celebrate his 22 years since his heart transplantation, and a nice talk and some Cava was an excellent way to do so.
Audun (living in Marbella during wintertime) is a person we always look forward to meet during our own stay at Costa delSol.

Carnations and a Rose

 At our balcony a jug has to be a flower vase for our Carnations. The beauty of the tiny flowers are the closest to light and summer weather we can come at the moment. The rain is still pouring down from grey clouds.

Another flower, the Rose of my heart, made her hair yesterday, and as you can see the sky became much nicer immediately .

Fuengirola and Los Boliches

 Normally I post summer images from Costa del Sol. This Sunday however, started with a grey and rainy sky and ended up in a almost +30 C humid afternoon. (no photos from this part)

Instead I give you two images over Fuengirola (first) and Los Boliches (second). Coming a little off the beaches the city profiles changes and the volume of big buildings come more visible.
This morning the sum opens the day and we hope it lasts without raindrops although the weather-man at Canal Sur tells something else.

19,99 km Workout

 Once a week we make a more longer workout than daily.
 Yesterday, when the Movember month started our traditional workout from Los Alamos and home took place. My beard had to be removed and the mustache  became dominant in my face. This image shows the borderline between Carihuela and Benalmadena where we normally stop for a refreshment.

At Benalmadena beach the lunch break takes place and in this beautiful weather the clothing is according to summer temperature although it is Movember.
The walking ended at 19,99 km when returning to the hotel.

This morning the clouds have once more returned to the sky, but for me it is better with shades than the burning sun on the bold head.