October 15, 2011
                  It was wonderful taking a leisurely paced morning. The weather has definitely cooled down and there is a softer cooler breeze that surronds us. As a result we have noticed that the smog is much less than it has been recently.
                  We went to La Canada shopping center in Marbella in the early afternoon to do some last minute shopping for our new arrivals, Catherine, Ryan and Connor.  We had been working how to get to Malaga and the airport without taking a cab (quite expensive) or taking our car up and driving two cars back.  The car we have is so small that Cathrine and Dave rented a car from the Malaga airport. While in Marbella, Sheila and I drove to the bus station because they have a bus that goes directly to the Malaga airport. We were told that it is booked early, so we went to check out getting a ticket for Sunday and get a clear understanding of the Sunday time schedule. The bus ticket was very reasonable and we decided to take a cab to Marbella and ride the bus.
                    We spent the afternoon reading and relaxing and do a last minute touch up for our vistors from London. 
                    That evening we decided to try the Rancho Grill one more time. We were told that they had an excellent barbque so we thought that was worth a try. We order the grilled beef for two and had a plate of sliced filet, a baked potatoe and a burner with a hot plate on top and we cooked our own meat to our own tastes. They gave us four different sauces to try with our meat. It was fun and a good meal but the price was a little high. We did have entertainment come to our table areas and we could not resist taping an portion of our strolling minstrel, The celebration of music was fun but it just was not enough to bring us back for another visit
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October 16, 2011   
            We got our cab at 10:45am and got to the bus station in plenty of time. Our bus left the terminal at 11:35 and we were off to Malaga airport. The bus is larger than the Marin Airporter, and the seats are about the same, uncomfortable. Fortunately, the trip was only 45 minutes.  We were dropped off at the arrival section terminal 3 and found a place to see if we could find Catherine, Ryan and Connor. About 15 minutes later we saw then and she motioned that they had to stay in the terminal. Sheila called Catherine on her cell phone, and Catherine said that they had to go to a lower level to the car rental office before they could go through security. She told us that they were going through Goldcar Rental, so Sheila and I went to the garage where the rental cars were stored and we perched for almost 2 hours before we all got together, I was added as a driver, we got the car and found our way back to the freeway and on to Cabopino. It was hard to imagine that it would take so long to rent a car and leave the airport. Catherine told us that they were behind about 40 people with two staff seving at the front desk.
              We stopped at our local mini market and got home and had a late snack. Connor and Ryan checked out our pools and Connor went in for a dip.
 
















                When we were all settled in we took some time to relax and we were set for dinner reservations and El Puerto Restaurant at the Cabopino Harbor.  As we got out of the car I pointed out the numerous fish that are easily seen in the end of the harbor. There seems to be a hundred and they are all near the surface. The evening was cooler than before and we enjoyed sitting on the beach side of the restaurant. We had viewed the harbor and Ryan and Connor had an opportunity to check out trhe beach. We ordered our starters and entrees, Sheila order the sea food soup, remembering how delicious it was the last time here and I ordered the Shrimp Pil Pil to share with Catherine, Connor and Ryan. We all enjoyed the shrimp. Sheila ordered Shrimp and curry, Ryan order the Chicken in sidre sauce, Connor ordered the Pasta Carbonara, Catherine ordered the Sea Bass and I ordered Veal Scaloppini. The meals were very good and we had a chocolate cake to share as a desert.   We returned home fully replenished and ready for a cool nigtht for a good sleep.

October 17, 2011
                I left to play golf around 7:30 am at the Rio Real golf course.   I arrived early because I had a later t-time and was hopeful of being paired with someone earlier. When I got to the club house there were about 14 golf bags and I was certain I would have to wait. I checked in at the desk and a group of men were there and they asked if I was playing alone and I said yes. They asked if I would play with Christophe one of their group and I agreed. They decided that Christophe and I should tee off first so I got to go off early. Christophe lives in Paris, France and was on a golf trip company outing. The others were from Japan, US and some from Great Britian. Christophe spoke English, probably better than I and it was fun to show him the course, as it was his first time playing. I did know the course, but it was not a very good round, I scored 102.  The company is textiles and is international, but based in the US. I did hear one gentleman tease Christophe and me and it was no surprise when Christrophe told me he was from Memphis, Tennesee.
                When I got back to the condo I fouind out that we were going to the Cabopino Beach. We hopped in the car and we drove to the parking lot which was for Andy's Restaurant. We had passed it so many times that it was easy to find. We walked down to the beach and Sheila and I got spot under an umbrella with two lounge chairs and there was a ten euro charge. Catherine, Ryan and Connor sat out on the beach with their towels. Everyone, except I, put their toes in the Mediterranean Sea, actually more than just toes for most everyone.


 

























































                We really had a warm time on the beach. There were some incidents that caused some commotion. The boys saw someone out in the water having difficulty getting in and two others dove in the water to assist the gentleman to the shore.   The man was brought to shore and he was having some difficulty breathing and they guided him to a lounge chair with his family next to us. A few people came over to give him liguids and check on him along with his family. Then we noticed a group of people gathered further down on the beach nearer the water and they appeared to be attending to someone who was near the beach and on the sand. People were moving around him and finally someone called for assistance and the Marbella area police showed up and within another 10 minutes an ambulance and emts came out on the beach. They finally got the gentleman who was alert and moving to some degree on a stretcher and took him off the beach.   Someone conveyed to us that they thought he was one of the first to assist in the first rescue and went down after the gentleman was brought up near us.   It certainly put a damper on the afternoon, but it appeared that both would be alright.
                We were a little exhausted when we got home. So we order some food to go from Da Bruno's, pizza and two calzones, along with a salad we made at home. We watched the game show pointless, laughed, talked and got a good nights rest.

October 18, 2011
               The morning was an easy one, everyone getting breakfast at their own pace. The plan was that we would go to Nerja and check out the beach and restaurant there for lunch.   We drove the rental car with airconditioning, which was certainly a treat compared to our other trips without. 
                We stopped in Feungirola to check out the market that it held on Tuesdays. It took me a while to find the location and even better than that I found a parking space within an easy walk. The market was four times the size of the one in Mijas. We walked up one row for at least a quarter of a mile, not going the whole distance. crossed over into a third row and walked back toward the entrance. People were still setting up and it was incredible the amount of clothing and merchandize that was for sale. The market had some unqiue latice screen over the alleys of the market which really caught our eyes. From a distance it appeared to be more intense, but as we walked closer we found that this was the effect of seeing them as one when they were separated by posts along the alley.



 
 

































 












































                It took almost 45 minutes to get to Nerja and when did we arrived in a different location then we had before so it took us a while to find a parking lot.   When we did I realized it was different from the last trip so I had to try to figure out how to get to the pier. Fortunately, Ryan and Connor enjoyed the adventure, I just knew that it was a longer walk than Sheila and I had anticipated.   We walked toward the center of the waterfront to the Balcon de Europa (Balcony of Europe).   The small walk path with white stores and homes along the way came to life with Catherine camera and eye for beauty.

 
 

























































            We finally reached the Balcony of Europe and I found the path down to the beach and PapaGayas. I mentioned this to Sheila and a gentleman starting his way down to the beach informed us that it was closed on Tuesdays. Talk about havin a deflating experience. Sheila and I had planned this return because of the restaurant right on the beach.
 
 




































            We did go to the end of the balcony (pier) and climbed down to a restaurant that was one story below and had an expansive view of the water surrounding Nerja. We had a light lunch and afterward walked back up the pier to the shopping area and purchased some ice cream. 
 
















                When we decided to leave Nerja we walked in the direction of the parking lot, however the walk back was not as easy as we thought. The narrow pathway that we took lead to some cross streets with traffic which we had not encountered on our walk to the Balcony of Europe. None of us thought of stopping at the information center and getting a map. Fortunately, we sent out Ryan as our scout and he eventually he found the parking lot and we were able to return to Cabopino.   Ryan and Connor and Catherine decided to head to the beach and take in some more sun.  We stopped in Feungirola to go to the market. It was the first experience for Catherine, Ryan and Connnor.   We went to the Jamon Shop first to get some slices for an appetizer with a mellon we bought before. 
 












                     After the shop we went into Eroski's market. It was quite an experience for all of us as we went to the Jamon section of the market.  I had to ask myself if there were any pigs left in Spain. Catherine was equally surprised as she walked down the aisle of olive oil. The volume and variety of names was impressive.
 
 




























                That evening Sheila Catherine and I prepared a pasta dinner with garlic bread, chirozo sausage, tomota sauce and a salad with cherry tomatoes.  It was one of the first times we actually used the oven. Once again we watched pointless and called it a good day.

October 19, 2011
             We enjoyed a leisurely morning and got ready to go to Marbella for the morning. Since Sheila and I now knew where we were going we found a parking area south of old town near the beach. Just north of the parking lot was a large park area with a water fountain and tile benches. It was an excellent opportunity for a photo shoot.
 

      





















We walked up to the Plaza of the Oranges and looked for a place that served a breakfast. Most of the restaurants in the plaza were just setting up for the early tourists and Catherine found a Churreria San Ramon Restaurant, which a small cafe and we ordered Churro's and Hot Chocolate, and a cafe Americano for me. This is sort of a tradional breakfast and we truly enjoyed the churro's and the hot chocolate, which was a cross between pudding and hot fudge for a sunday, with a rich chocolate flavor which produced wonderful brown mustaches for the consumer.
 
 
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            We walked around old town and found that one of the pottery stores that we had seen before was closed. I did light some candles in the church for those on my prayer list in the Plaza Iglesia.  The fountain and orange trees were part of the plaza to the Church of the Encarnacion. 
   


















                Catherine and Sheila decided to do some shopping and Ryan, Connor and I took off for the beach. When we got to the boardwalk area we found a small park for young kids complete with a huge scultpted elephant that sprayed water on the kids through its trunk.  We walked along the boardwalk for quite a distance and Ryan and Connor spotted sand sculptures that were very interesting. The first one we saw was a huge crocodile complete with a hand next to it and blood coming from its jaws. Then we saw an actual sand castle along with sculpts of Hamlet and Sponge Bob, certainly an interesting commentary on our current culture.
 

 
 

























































            It was a warm day and Ryan, Connor and I walked back to the plaza over the parking garage and got a shady seat waiting for Catherine and Sheila to join us.   We did not wait too long and we went back to the boardwalk and found a cafe to sit out and enjoy some drinks before we headed back to Cabopino.  When we returned Catherine, Ryan and Connor decided to go off to the Cabopino Beach. The winds were down and the sky was clearer than it has been in a while so the conditions seemed perfect for the beach.  
 

   








































            We had another home cooked meal in the early evening and watched our Pointless game show.   I became aware that since Catherine, Ryan and Connor have arrived, I got a renewed sense of stayintg here, because what they see is often very different than what I had seen and focused on. It has been almost a brand new adventure in Cabopino, as they point out things I have seen but not recorded either mentally or meaningfully. It is a gift to have more eyes seeing and experiencing the things around us.


October 20, 2011
             There was a buzz of excitement in the air because we were off to see the Rock of Gibaltar and I guess all of us brought a certain level of anticipation to what we were going to experience. We drove west to La Linea de la Concepion and had to circle behind a long line of traffic to go through customs.  We made it easily this far but it seemed like the line traffic took as long as our drive to the town. After we got to the customs area, we had our passports out and he looked at the two and waved us through without any view of our actual information.
 














            When we got through this hurtle we drove out in a wide area with a baracade up and green lights allowing us to cross the Gibaltar Airport primary runway. We proceeded through the town and narrow streets of the village of Gibaltar and I got lost in terms of finding the parking area near the gondola to the top of the rock. We stopped for gas after weaving our way through Gibaltar and asked for directions and while the directions were in English, I did not have any clearer understanding so we turned around and found an area that we had been through before and made the right turn and the parking lot was in front of us. Another typical drive through narrow one way streets that always appeared to be going in the wrong direction.