Cipo's first round

Andrea's first round of golf ever. He had put a lot of practice in on the range. Now it was time to show if he could put all his training into practice on the course.

It didn't start off to well, the nerves getting to him a bit. However, things changed on the difficult par 3 9th hole. Andrea gave a master class on how it should be done!


Teeing off on the 9th.

"Ignore the water" was my advice. It turns out he should think about the water on every shot. He hit his best drive and ended up driving through the green.



Andrea's drive through the green on the 9th.


Andrea's chip shot.

This left a tricky chip on to the green. The 9th green is treacherous and anything slightly over hit ends off running through the green and down the slope. Andrea hit the perfect shot.

After the chip on 9th.

He deserved his first par in golf after two great shots. Could he hold is nerve and hole the putt? He sure could and walked off the 9th with a well deserved par.


Cipo proves again that water is a motivator.


And again on 14.

The Dino Golf Academy outside the new clubhouse.

Approach to the 18th Green.

The end of the round. A job well done.

Almunecar

Photos of our trip with the Cipolato's to Nerja.

El Ayuntamiento de Almunecar.

Monica relaxing in the square.

Erotic water fountain!

Sculpture near the beach.

The Pink Palace.

Horse sculpture in the Park.

Prepared for the "Jazz en la costa" series. Must remember to book for next year.

Random photos July 2008

View from the Balcony.

One of the highlights of the Cipolato visit for me was the meals on the balcony. Loats of good food, good wine and Tiramisu! The Ciploato's especially liked the view. Better than the old place that's for sure.


View of "The Killer's" house.

Of particular interest to Roberto was the view of the villa's. On in particular caught his eye and his imagination. At first he was amazed that they had a "camarera". A few nights in and no sign of life across the way and it was "There is a killer in the house". Better than Cluedo any day!


Time for the Bellini Appetiser!

Its not possible to have a genuine spritz in Nerja. However, the Bellini is no problem. Especially when Roberto makes it. What are the ingredients? Sorry, its a Venetian secret!


Paella at Ayo's

No holiday is complete without a trip to Ayo's for Paella. I'm no Paella expert but I think Ayo's is pretty good. The family thought so too as this was not how only visit.


Beer and Tapas.

Outside the bar I can't remember the name of, near Vinoleto's. A game of "Guess where the waiter is from" started. "He's English" was Roberto's opening gambit. "No, he speaks English very well but he's German" was my reply. Roberto: "So he is from Belfast". Turns out we were both wrong. He was Dutch. Roberto claimed the victory as Holland is close to Belfast.

Big Night Out!

A few beers with the family.


No more shopping!


Roberto finds out the cost of the latest shopping spree.


Something funny at the bar.


Monica hiding from the camera again.


Antonella y Roberto.

Virgen del Carmen

16th July is el dia de la Virgen del Carmen, the local patron of the people who live off the sea. This is celebrated by a procession of the patron to the local Torrecilla beach, where she is loaded on a boat and taken to sea to bless the local beaches.


The patron of the fisherman outside the Church.

The church was packed for the service and the crowds gathered outside the front door started to grow. We decided on watching the procession from Cavana 5. We settled down with a beer and waited for the procession to pass by on the way to the beach.


Procession passes by Plaza Cavana.


Virgen del Carmen.


Getting ready for the launch.


Trip to the local beaches.

Shopping!

A late evening trip to Nerja usually means a pleasant stroll through the calles before settling down in a favourite spot for a beer and tapas. So it was an unpleasant shock when a "Nerja Trip" turned out to be a shopping expedition.


Monica and Antonella in Shopping mode.

As usual on most shopping trips, the effort put in doesn't equal the return in purchases. Visiting all the shops, trying on various garments whilst I stood outside watching the sane people enjoy their tapas and beer in the bars across the way. Only to hear the familiar phrase "I don't like it!" coming from the dressing room. The sum total of the trip was Monica's new bag.

At last, a trip to the bar. I was all shopped out. The refreshing cold beer took some of the sting out of Monica's statement "Maybe I'll find a dress tomorrow". Great, more shopping!


In the square.

Bowling Night

Bowling Night! Fresh from offering my pearls of wisdom on the golf range, I thought I would show the Cipolata's how to go Bowling. Another master class was served. Dino "Strike" Burkett knocking them over for fun on the lanes.


Antonella's methodical approach. A couple of swings of the arm and off it went at a blistering 2 mph!


Roberto thunders another ball down the lane at the speed of sound.


Andrea opts for the casual bowling method.


Monica takes my advice and a strike soon follows.


Antonella explains why another ball went harmlessly down the gutter.

Dino Golf Academy

With the local pro seemingly done a runner, I spot a gap in the market. So he is the launch of the Dino Golf Academy. My first victim is Andrea, a golfing novice. My mission, to get him around Baviera on Sunday without embarrassing himself.


Student and teacher ready fro the first lesson.


A little warm up.


Dino giving a master class.


How will Cipo do on Sunday?

Cipos in Nerja July 2008

The Cipolatas have arrived for their annual holiday. I have done the usual last minute Italian lessons. Monica has done the usual running around the house making sure everything is ready. The usual ceremonial dip in the Med completed, then a night out in Nerja.


The Family.

After a brief shopping spree, well I bought a new belt and Andrea got his new T-shirt with "Pepe dime algo" slogan (you will have to see the picture), we went to La fonda del Budha for a tapa.


Ordering the tapas.


Andrea so Happy with his shirt he bought a new one!

Then it was off to Los Barriles for the Chorizo Infierno. Gnammy!


Chorizo Infierno!


What to eat first?

Canoeing in the Med

We have started a canoeing course run by the Ayuntamiento. Monica started in June and with the later start times in July and August I have signed up too.


The usually calm Med.

To date I have had 3 outings, and so far I have a 100% record for falling in. The first trip was the short journey to the caves. Everyone waited in line near the entrance. When it was our turn, Monica exited without incident. I took a little longer, a split second later and a wave broke on the rocks sending my flying int the sea. I was the only one to get a dunking.

The caves were fantastic. We all had our head lamps and squeezed through the narrow entrance. Once in, the caves opened up a little so it wasn't too claustrophobic. Inside, there were plunge pools where the outside light made for a beautiful electric blue colour.

Deeper in the caves and we reached the largest cavern complete with plunge pool. Manolo took a group photo with his snazzy Olympus waterproof camera. Must get one of those! We had been in the caves some 30 minutes at this point. My headlamp was looking a bit dodgy after my dunking. We all switched off the lamps for the photo. That's when I started panicking about being stuck in the caves with no light! We would never get out, it was pitch black. So it was a relief when we headed back, Monica reassuring me that the batteries of everyones torches wouldn't go flat at the same time....


Monica lands safely.

The second trip and the calm Med had become a bit more volatile. This time I was in my own canoe. The entrance is a bit tight, and getting in is a bit of a problem. I managed the first part without incident. Then it I was trying to get my feet into the correct position when a wave broke and capsized the canoe. Needless to say that I was the only one to get a dunking again....


Another lesson finished.

The third trip and the furthest to date. A trip past the Maro beaches and to a secluded bay. This time, Monica helped to keep the boat steady whilst I entered. The sea was rough again but this time I didn't fall in. That would wait until we set off form the secluded bay on our return. One day I will come back without incident.