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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
Sunday, we decided on a trip around Lake Vinuela and a stop at Periana. Everytime we go to Periana it seems to be fiesta time. This time it looked like they were recovering from one the night before. The place was pretty quiet. So a leisurely stroll around to see the sights.
Saturday 5th July. Its my Birthday. Gerry and Mike came over from Estepona to visit. First port of call was a helping of Paella at Ayo's. Then it was off to have a stroll around Frigiliana.
New building finished in Frigiliana.
This was a chance to have a look at the new building in Frigiliana. What exactly was it? It seems like a large car park, shops and cafes. Where were the houses? Strange place.
Gerry and Monica.
It was about 7pm in the evening and still it was red hot. It seemed everyone was still indoors enjoying the siesta. We strolled around the near deserted calles. A stroll up Calle Real was now possible. No danger of bumping into a stampede of vaquillas today.
Calle Real.
The only way is up.
We went to look for the bar that Antonio told me about. El Adarve was run by his cousin and was the local base for the peña de Málaga. We found it on the top street but alas, they were setting up for dinner. So it was off to the next bar for a coffee.
Outside the Adarve.
The bar had a wonderful panoramic view of the village, Nerja and the sea. An excellent place to chill out and relax. Afterwards, it was a fairly trick descent back to the car. Reminder for next time, don't wear those flip-flops in Frigiliana unless you want to go ski down the cobbles again.
Pepe Reina, Superstar, Celebrates the Spanish victory with a good old sing song in the Plaza de Colon in Madrid.He turns requests to a poor waiter (Camarero) into popular songs for a good old sing-song.
Bueno! Yo en otro dia fui a un restaurante y había un camerero muy pesado. Eso es lo que decía. (Well! The other day I went to a restaurant and the waiter was a pain. This is what I said.)
Camarero! Que! Camarero! Que!
Una de mero. (A Halibut.) Uno de enero, dos de febrero, tres de marzo, cuatro de abril, cinco de mayo, seis de junio siete de julio, ¡SAN FERMÍN. A Pamplona hemos de ir, con una media, con una media, a Pamplona hemos de ir con una media y un calcetín (Song usually sung before the bulls run in Pamplona for San Fermin)
Una de pacharán! (An Aniseed based liquor.) Marchará mas de mil anos mucho mas
Una cuchara (A Spoon) La cucaracha, la cucaracha Ya no puede caminar Porque no tiene, porque le falta La patita principal. (The Cockroach song – Mexican I think!)
Una de Crepes Cuando crees que me ves, cruzo la pared Hago chas y aparezco a tu lado Aragones: “hijo de puta” (Son of a bitch!)
Una de Queso (Cheese) Que sos den por culo, matarilerilerile
una de queso que sea de huelva! (Cheese from Huelva) Que sos vuelvan a dar por culo matarilerilerile
Una de pollo al ajillo que lleva avecrem (Chicken in Garlic with stock) Pollo al ajillo que lleva Avecrem,
La Cuenta (The Bill) Cuenta me que te pasó
La recuenta (The Bill) Dos y dos son quatro, y quatro y dos son seis, seis y dos son ocho y ocho deciseis…
Una para el guaje Villa y para Sandi Cazorla, una de alubias (Beans) Asturias, Patria querida, Asturias de mis amores (Asturian regional anthem as Villa y Cazorla are from there)
Una de Sandía (Watermelon) Sandía una vez un circo que alegraba siempre el corozón
Una de kiwi Give me hope joanna….
La mas importante por todos vosotros (The most important for all of you) Una de champioñes! (Mushrooms) Campeones Campeones Oee Oeeee Oeeee….
Pepe Reina introduces all the players to the crowd at La Plaza Colón in Madrid in his own style.
Con el 1, el auténtico sin manos, el que hizo posible el sueño parando los penaltis en cuartos de final. Iker… Casillas (Without hands whom made possible the dream saving the penalties in the quarters) Con el 2, la longaniza más grande del mundo: Raul …Albiol. (The largest spicy sausage in the world) Con el 3, el auténtico jabato, el genuino Fernando… Navarro. (Wild Boar) Con el 4, el mariscal del área, el jefe de la defensa, el inigualable Carlos…Marchena. (The marshal of the area, the boss of the defence, The incomparable) Con el 5, Tarzán, el hombre que come piña: Carlos…Puyol. (Tarzan, The man that eats Pineaples) Con el 6, el hombre que no se lleva bien con el astro rey, el que no ve la luz del sol: Andrés …Iniesta (The man that doesn’t take well the star king, that doesn’t see the light of the sun) Con el 7 de España, el que ha ganado por sus cojones el Pichichi: el Guaje… Villa (Who has won by his balls the golden boot, The Asturian Kid) Con el 8, el Humphrey Bogart del fútbol español. Xavi…Hernández Con el 9 el Ñiño, ¡ay mi niño! Fernando… Torres (The Kid) Con el 10, el tío más empanao del mundo, no se entera una mierda: Cesc… Fábregas (The most dizziest bloke in the world, He dosen’t understand shit) Con el 11, Garrincha: Joan …Capdevila Con el 12, el de la afición, es muy pequeño, es muy pequeño: Santi…Cazorla (Of the fans, He is very small) Con el 13, ¡ay el 13!, que me ha limpiao 500 euros en los penaltis: Andrés Palop. (That cleaned me out of 500 Euros on the Penalties) Con el 14, el hijo pequeño de Cruyff: Xabi Alonso (The little son of Cruyff) Con el 15, Sergio Ramos, que lleva el 15 en homenaje a Antonio Puerta, que en paz descanse. (Who wears the 15 in tribute to Antonio Puerta, that rests in peace) Con el 16, Hijo Mio, Falete: Sergio García (My Son) Con el 17, ¿quién cóño es el 17? El auténtico gitano, Rodolfo Chikilicuatre Güiza. (Who the Fcuk is he the No 17? The Gypsy) Con el 18, el segundo más empanao del mundo, tampoco se entera una mierda: Arbeloa. (The 2nd most dizziest in the world, also doesn’t understand shit) Con el 19, la samba del equipo, la samba de España: Marcos Senna Con el 20, Juanito, el más grande (The Largest) Con el 21, es muy pequeño, mide 1,50, sólo 1,50: David…Silva (He is very small, only measures 4 foot nine!) Con el 22, Diego Armando Maradona, qué clase, qué crack: De la Red (What Class, What fun) Y con el 23, un humilde servidor, que ha hecho de speaker para presentar a este equipazo: Pepe Reina (Your humble servant, made speaker to present this team)
