Saturday night our first seafood paella in a very long time. The newly opened El Muro restaurant in Benalmandena http://www.aicorestaurants.com/ proved to be a most enjoyable dining experience, the sangria was particularly good, John had his usual red wine. Sangria's the closest I get to a red, gives me a headache although I was once told by a wine “expert” that I'd obviously never tried a really good red otherwise the head wouldn't hurt so at a New Years Eve party, given by said “expert” I tested his theory. A glass or two from a $650.00 bottle still made me shudder and reach for the paracetamol, now a bottle of Crystal champagne is a very different kettle of fish, or rather different bottle of grape.
Since arriving in Spain, almost two weeks ago, the weather's been unusually hot for the time of year according to the locals, no problemo we'll take any amount of this. Since sitting down and starting this blog three days ago, I know slow going but there have been extenuating circumstances which I'll not go into at the moment, we've had three day of exceptionally high Sirocco winds, no rain and still hot but we've needed to sweep and dust .... a lot!
As a side bar, the beauty of a long house sitting assignment like Spain (it's all in the title "HOME" sit) is there's absolutely no rush to document every minor or major happening immediately, we have the luxury of time and of course it's only when we begin to get immersed in the local culture and familiar with our neighbours that I'll have the really interesting subjects to write about.
Being half term in the UK the whole area is quite busy with visitors. Benalmandena is a small town still with much Spanish influence unlike the large coastal resorts a short distance away. There are many resident British ex pats in the area and even more British visitors, close proximity and low cost Airlines have made this a veritable UK over spill. I'm always amazed however why some travelers, tourists, holiday makers call them what you will, find the need to turn everywhere they go into a mini version of home. We were in an authentic Panaderia (Spanish bakery) http://www.foodsfromspain.com when an English gentleman, given his accent probably calls home somewhere north of Watford Gap, came in and asked “DOOOO UUU 'AVE ANY SAUUUSAGGE ROLLLLLS!!!!” Translation (shouted s-l-o-w-l-y) “Do you have any sausage rolls?” This would be like me popping into a branch of a very well known British High Street “Bakery” ...... sandwich & pie shop .... and asking for The alfajores from Medina Sidonia. Or the same gentleman wanting battered fish and chips instead of enjoying some freshly grilled sardines or tapas. Now nothing wrong with fish and chips I love them! The very best I've ever had at Red Fish Blue Fish in Victoria, Vancouver Island, http://www.redfish-bluefish.com/ my point is this instead of trying to stay “home” abroad, after all you paid to fly out of the country you live in, embrace everything another culture has to offer at least try, if it's not for you fine but who knows that gentleman may have wondered why he'd never tried octopus before ....... Speaking of wanting home if only I could find a good nail tech, frivolous I know but there's just some things a "girl" needs to have!!
Since arriving in Spain, almost two weeks ago, the weather's been unusually hot for the time of year according to the locals, no problemo we'll take any amount of this. Since sitting down and starting this blog three days ago, I know slow going but there have been extenuating circumstances which I'll not go into at the moment, we've had three day of exceptionally high Sirocco winds, no rain and still hot but we've needed to sweep and dust .... a lot!
As a side bar, the beauty of a long house sitting assignment like Spain (it's all in the title "HOME" sit) is there's absolutely no rush to document every minor or major happening immediately, we have the luxury of time and of course it's only when we begin to get immersed in the local culture and familiar with our neighbours that I'll have the really interesting subjects to write about.
Being half term in the UK the whole area is quite busy with visitors. Benalmandena is a small town still with much Spanish influence unlike the large coastal resorts a short distance away. There are many resident British ex pats in the area and even more British visitors, close proximity and low cost Airlines have made this a veritable UK over spill. I'm always amazed however why some travelers, tourists, holiday makers call them what you will, find the need to turn everywhere they go into a mini version of home. We were in an authentic Panaderia (Spanish bakery) http://www.foodsfromspain.com when an English gentleman, given his accent probably calls home somewhere north of Watford Gap, came in and asked “DOOOO UUU 'AVE ANY SAUUUSAGGE ROLLLLLS!!!!” Translation (shouted s-l-o-w-l-y) “Do you have any sausage rolls?” This would be like me popping into a branch of a very well known British High Street “Bakery” ...... sandwich & pie shop .... and asking for The alfajores from Medina Sidonia. Or the same gentleman wanting battered fish and chips instead of enjoying some freshly grilled sardines or tapas. Now nothing wrong with fish and chips I love them! The very best I've ever had at Red Fish Blue Fish in Victoria, Vancouver Island, http://www.redfish-bluefish.com/ my point is this instead of trying to stay “home” abroad, after all you paid to fly out of the country you live in, embrace everything another culture has to offer at least try, if it's not for you fine but who knows that gentleman may have wondered why he'd never tried octopus before ....... Speaking of wanting home if only I could find a good nail tech, frivolous I know but there's just some things a "girl" needs to have!!
