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Days 50-52, 1-3 August 2014, Fuengirola, Spain - The Spanish Life... Somewhat unbelievably it's been a week since I arrived and whilst it's gone quickly with the electricity drama and exploring, it seems like a wonderfully long week. I am still very fond of my electricity - in fact after starting my Spanish resolutions (10 laps a day around the pool and learn Spanish), it was a shock on Friday night when the power went out. Thankfully I wasn't special - it went out for the whole neighbourhood for about five minutes. It gave me a chance to remember to be grateful for electricity and also to see all the stars clear in the night sky and the thumbnail moon reminded me that Ramadan was over once more. Then the power came back on. Aside from my 10 laps and working my way through the introductory Spanish lesson... that was Friday. Saturday was action day. Ten laps around the pool + 1 - the ultimate building-block plan to physical fitness. Worked on some more introductory Spanish - seems like a good course that won't bore me into giving up - also learned how to pronounce onion. I've been eating the most wicked tortilla de patatas con cebolla (frittata with onion) from the supermarket. Turns out onion is pronounced "Thi-boy-yah". Yep. C=th (like cena is dinner and is pron: thena) and then the "ll" is yah. If I find a more unusual word in the whole language I'll be impressed. Yesterday and today have involved terribly strong winds - necessitating bringing in my sun awning in case it ended up in Madrid, but finally the wind dropped and I took the bus up the hill to Mijas Pueblo for what was billed an Arab Souk event. Having enjoyed the souks in Egypt and Morocco I'd have to say there was more chance of finding a real souk in my right armpit than there was in Mijas. Or my left for that matter. To give them credit, they did give it a crack, but really it's the same crew who turn up to most markets along with the medieval market crowd who'll be at Sohail Castle later this month. Had some seafood paella (pie-ay-yah), watched the crowds go by, naturally phenomenally frugal, so no urge to buy anything but a fun night out. Due to the vagaries of wifi and time zones it was midnight before James and I had the chance to talk and Sunday morning all too soon. It was a case of swim or go to the Sunday Market in downtown Fuengirola in the cool of the morning (the mosque one if anyone is following along on Tripadvisor). The market won. Same crew as the Tuesday market just not as many - loads of lovely summery clothes... but no bargains to be had. Strolled along the beachfront and investigated the sunbed/parasol market - €4.50 everywhere on the huge stretch of beach except right in the centre where it's €9. Will keep that in mind for the next overcast day. Highlight today was speaking Spanish to the grumpy bus driver (both ways) and at the supermarket where I bought cherries for only A$3/kg (pictured is a tempting display of jamon, queso y vino in the deli section - ham, cheese & wine). I would like to say cherries that inexpensive were utter rubbish... but I can't. It was whilst waiting for the bus home that I started chatting with two ladies who were taking the bus up to Mijas. They were Iranian but living in Austria and were fascinated with Australia. Apparently everyone who sends them letters, emails etc from Iran asks them about kangaroos. Whilst we must have missed them when we were in Vienna, it turns out one of the best selling T-shirt designs in Austria says "We don't have any Kangaroos!" Hilarious. Mind you, I had the exact same issue in Thailand years ago when I needed a hotel clerk to make a call to Australia and he insisted on dialling the Austria country code until I was jumping up and down in frustration. In the same vein and though I think it was an ordering error, there were boomerangs for sale in a shop downtown the other day. Hmmm. Well the die is cast, a "learn Spanish pretty damn quick" course has been purchased and downloaded. Beware, all you grumpy bus drivers - I will be travelling with a minimum of change for the pleasure of saying "Hola Senor - Lo siento, No tengo cambio - una por Fuengirola, por favor!"
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Jamie's Hardie Hi Babe, the blog piccie, has made me so envious, so much nummies, you enjoy, Love Jamie