Another gorgeous day here on the Costa del Sol on Thursday. Boiling actually. We decided to pay a morning visit to the local market in San Pedro de Alcantera, basically our nearest town. It’s just about 5 minutes north on the A7. A word about the A7 and Spanish main roads in particular. They have obviously been designed by a maniac!! For a start, most entrances onto this super fast 120 kph dual carriageway motorway do not have much of a filter lane IF ANY which is pretty dangerous for both entering cars and those already on the road. Consequently there are quite a few accidents as you won’t be surprised to hear. And weird junctions where you exit to the left ACROSS the lanes of oncoming traffic (remember we’re driving on the right here ) . Completely uncontrolled crossing, no traffic light! I could go on about the G force inducing bends and clover leafs and other quirks of this roadplanning loon but I have ranted enough….
Anyway, we braved the road and went to the market. And survived the trip each way. Great little market. Not so little really although obviously a fraction of the size of the Fuengirola one. We had a great mooch around. Some lovely clothes stalls. I bought an evening trouser suit of floaty silk chiffon in a pink swirly design. Nice wide legged trousers under a long top. Lucy bought one too in creams and fawn and she bought a nice handbag. We had great fun bartering which the stallholders also clearly enjoyed! In the end the heat beat us and we retreated back to the Marriott having made a stop at Aldi for a few bits and bobs. The Aldi is most convenient to the Marriott. Literally 2 minutes drive or 5 minutes walk.
We had a lovely lunch on our terrace, just delicious bits and bobs of food, cheese and good village bread. The sort of lunch we most enjoy here in the sun. Then about 3 we took Baby down to the indoor pool for another lovely swim and then a wallow in the spa bubble pool. She really enjoyed it and showed us how she can go down underwater and then swim back up to mum. You give her the key phrase before you dunk her and she knows to hold her breath. It’s amazing. Just to say, I have many amazing pictures of her in the pools but in this digital world we are trying to protect her safety and privacy and so in a public forum like this blog I don’t show her face in the photos which limits them a bit.
After our swim, Lucy took Baby back for a rest and Bob and I lay out by the pool in the sun. After a while we got so hot we actually ventured into the water. It was very cold lol. But actually after a minute or two (or was it after we went numb?) it wasn’t so bad. Cooling anyway… Had a pleasant hour or so. At 430 Lulu went off to the spa for a skin analysis and a facial. and left Baby with us. It is so nice for her to have some free time to herself for some me-time. I think all of us who have children know how full-on those early years are. In so many ways, delightful, but also exhausting and unrelenting. Anyway, we have been glad to give her an hour here or there where she can relax in whatever way she chooses and of coure we have the enormous pleasure of undiluted Baby time.
So we moved to the sports pool which was also outside but totally deserted and shady. All was great for about 80 minutes, we had lovely games and fun. Then we had 10 minutes of bawling for mum, like a donkey being slaughtered, so it was a relief when Lucy came back and that cacophany immediately ended. There’s no substitute for mum at such times
In the evening we had a lovely dinner at home of corn fed chicken with chorizo, cheese and bread.
Today (Friday) came too soon….. Lucy and Baby’s last day. They went home on the 4pm Heathrow flight so that they get to spend the weekend with Geri. We spent a last lovely morning amusing Baby B-T whilst Lulu packed and then set off for Malaga at 1230. The trip took about 1 hour and we parked in the special drop off-short term area there. The lines at the BA check in were really bad – only 2 desks open and it was a hard decision whether the Priority line was moving faster than the ordinary one. A snails pace. It must have taken us 45 minutes to get to the desk. Then we had to take the car seat to the large baggage check in. We said goodbye at security and waved them through. Lucy messaged me from the plane to say that the lines were not bad and they got to spend a short time in the lounge before boarding. That’s good to know.
Filled up with petrol on the way back. 1.42 euro a litre. It seemed cheap from prices we’d seen around.
So having a quiet evening in tonight – eating up some of our food, although we did buy some more ice cream!!! I have to start a big diet on Monday so may as well indulge a bit. Tomorrow we are having a full pool day and then in the evening going to a favourite restaurant near here. Tune in to see what happens.