Lazy couple in Marbella

What a shock!!!! Woke up this morning and the blue sky had gone grey, very worrying, but after some research we found out they were clouds. First time we had seen them in the 80 days we have lazed here. Decided it must be a good day to update the blog, but by the time we’d finished exercising and eaten breakfast the clouds had gone and the blue was back. Anyway, having got into the mind-set to “work” we started to review what we had done since the last update, and concluded “not a lot”. We looked at the photos we had taken and again “not a lot”. So really, we could finish our 14^th blog page here, but we don’t want people to think we’re doing nothing at all. Brian went down and took a picture of “our pool” where we spend some of our lazing time. As you can see no trouble finding a sun chair…… Brian also took a picture looking out from the bedroom,

just to show that we had bought some new balcony furniture, to laze on.

“Our Pool”

View of the balcony from our bedroom

Are you getting the impression we have not been doing much!! We did have some visitors which sparked us into action for a few days. Eloise (Brian’s youngest daughter) and friend Kate came to stay. We all had a great time with the result that Kate was reluctant to get on the bus to the airport. We’re convinced it had something to do with being handed a coffee and smoothie immediately after she got out of bed every morning, both of which were then taken to the comfy chair on the balcony as part of a slowwwww start to each day. Most evenings we’d all go out for some fun, but sometimes Brian would put on his cooking clothes and slave away in the kitchen.

Eloise and Kate enjoy cocktails at their favorite beach bar

Once again dining at nearly midnight, Spanish style!

Brian rustles up something good to eat!

We did manage to attend a few local events. July 16^th was the feast day of “ Virgen del Carmen” patron saint of sailors, fishermen and the Spanish Navy. A very large, heavy statue/platform of the Virgin is carried around the streets of Marbella after arriving by sea. We’re convinced this is to ensure that the fish continue to donate themselves for the dining tables of Marbella. We forgot to take our camera but found this picture of the event on the Internet. We were standing right beside the 'ship' as the Virgin was unloaded, by lots of 'hunky' Spanish fishermen!

'Virgen del Carmen" arrives by sea

A few days ago we attended the start of the first annual “Food and Sun” festival in the lovely small central park of Marbella, where a sponsor had erected the Spanish equivalent of a mini German beer garden, with real Bavarian beer. That kept us happy as we had a multi cultural experience. Bavarian beer, Spanish Tapas, Bavarian beer, etc. Enjoyed it so much, that after finishing this blog, we’re going back for the final day of the event (and some more Bavarian beer…and tapas…maybe another Bavarian beer…etc.)

Old fountain in Marbella’s central park

Busy night at the ‘Food and Sun’ festival in Marbella

A happy man!

Our final excursion was last night to a local restaurant holding a Michael Jackson party, what fun…. Lots of young kids being shown how to dance like Michael Jackson. Dawn wonders what the teachers will think when those darling little children go back to school next week moon walking, shaking their hips and grabbing their crotches.

We were expecting Dick and Gitte to visit at the end of August for a couple of weeks, but unfortunately Dick went down with Double Pneumonia, probably as a result of working too hard (no risk to us then……). Good news is he has recovered and is now diligently planning for his retirement.

Well, that’s just about the extent of our news and activities since the last blog. Next week we start traveling and being active again, first stop Cairo (with trips to Luxor and Dahab). While Dawn stays in Egypt for the full 3 weeks, Brian squeezes in a trip to UK for a nephew’s wedding. Then we’re both off to Istanbul, New Delhi, and Melbourne, before getting to our house in NZ, Bay of Islands on 31^st Oct. Thank goodness we’ve lazed about here in Marbella, going to need the stored up energy over the next 7 weeks………..