December in Nerja

My little Delilah with her funny floppy ears.

Let's go to the beach

Delilah on the beach Christmas morning.

Hola Everyone,

Your eyes aren't deceiving you. Yes, I am wearing a turtleneck in southern Spain!
Mucho frio some days (plus 10 celcius ugh)

Mid December in Nerja.......

Left view from my terrace

Right view from my terrace

A change of hair colour was needed and kind of fun.

I was just thinking... I don't really know why this month has flown by me without me noticing ahah, but I kind of do when I stopped to really think about this month. I met a man who is very special to me, Michel. I normally don't mention my personal stuff in my blog but I can't help but write and tell you all how happy I am. Hence why this month is flying by with my feet not on the ground and my head in cloud nine. I will leave it at that. It is possible there will be more mention of Michel in later entries ahahah. Girls, don't sweat it, you will keep getting the "good stuff ".

Juliet found a Salsa dance teacher who would teach classes in her gym this month. This was always on my mental "Things to Experience" list. So right away 25 people signed up and we have been going twice a week in the evenings for Salsa. I did not realize it would be so fast paced, the music so awesome, the sweat would be flying off of us, nor how much fun it was going to be. It is such good exercise plus we have so many laughs during our 2 hours a week with things like Dell's shoe flinging across the room; some people get their toes stepped on; often (of course) the women always want to lead; and then their is our instructor Mauricio, who sounds crazy with his screeching whisles. So we dance to authentic Salsa music and for our cool down, what comes on Celine Dion, which makes me think of home every time. Most nights after class about 10 of us go to this scungy little tapas bar and have a drink and discuss how the class went, again with many laughs as none of us take it serious at all. It is such a friendly fun crowd that we have a real hoot together. I think most of us will be returning in January for another go at it. I personally want the holidays to be done and over with because that means back to SALSA !

Anny and Pepe (my landlords) are just so lovely. Last week Anny and I went to their other property and picked fresh Mandarins right off the tree. They do not call them oranges, I was corrected a few times haha, only Mandarins. A few days later they gave me about 20 lemons from their trees and just yesterday they asked if I wanted oranges (not Mandarins ahah) that are growing just on the other side of my patio. Well I never turn fresh fruit away, so as I was picking away Anny made sure I got my camera so I can send my family and friends a few photos. She and Pepe really wants me to see, feel, think and know everything about this area called Andalucia and I love her tidbits of info, now practically on a daily basis. The things that Pepe and Anny tell me usually are only known if you have lived here a long while so I always feel I am getting the inside scoop to their Spanish culture. By the way, for 3.5 months that I have been living here I have been pronouncing Pepe's name wrong and Anny just informed me of that yesterday. We both laughed about that. It is Pay-pay, not my way ahahah. So last night at Salsa I mentioned this to the group when someone mentioned a Pepe they knew. Turns out every single person has been pronouncing Pepe wrong as well. We laughed like heck.

Christmas in Spain is very different than back home in Canada and I don't mean the obvious, the weather ahah. Here it is so low key with only a few lights hung between the streets. I have seen a couple artificial trees with tacky decorations. One thing that I have noticed is everywhere I go people have hung a stuffed Santa Claus from their balconies. The first time I was shocked, it looked like he was literally being hung by his neck and then I "got it", he is suppose to be climbing up the balcony to deliver his presents. I had to chuckle to myself. In Nerja they have quite a few round-abouts to keep the traffic flowing (only 2 traffic lights) and in the centre of each one the city has planted tons of red poinsetias. They look gorgeous amongst the green shrubs, flowers and / or palm trees. I never see the city watering them, but they are as fresh looking as when they were planted a month ago.

I never dreamt that I would miss Sarah and the rest of my family (and friends) as much as I did, as this is my first Christmas away from home. It all started when my group of healing chicks got together at Patsy's appetizer night. Oh how I loved that last year. Patsy invited me so what I did was gave them a call when I knew they would all be there. I had to set my alarm clock and got up at 5:00 in the morning. It was fabulous to speak with almost everyone. It was so clear, sounded like they were next door. Then Earla sent me a photo of Earla, Bruce and Alan getting together with Carol, and André in Vancouver for dinner and a good long visit. I was secretly whining and felt so left out. But I know they had a great time together and I bet I was brought up a couple of times ahah. Then hearing everyone getting ready for Christmas and planning being with family over the holidays did me in for a bit.

Christmas Day in Nerja......

Once Christmas Day arrived I was all right. My emotions were in tact once again because I love living in Spain and this is where I am meant to be for now (even without my family) I did exactly what I always wanted to do in the morning. Delilah and I went to the beach for almost 2 hours armed with her ball and my book. It was a lovely warm day. After Delilah's playtime, I thought again (for the millionth time) how lucky I was to be sitting on a beach. Here I was, looking out over the Mediterrean Sea, watching the waves do their thing and it just hit me. I am in Spain on Christmas Day with no family or friends from home and I am all right knowing they are thinking of me and me of all of them. It was a special moment and I will never forget it. Afterwards I was invited to the Blue Med with the regular crowd for appetizers and drinks in the early afternoon. Then in the evening, Dave, Alastair, Chantelle and I went to a hotel on the way to Frigliana in an old snazzy looking hotel that reminded me of a skiing lodge back in Canada. There we had a 4 course meal, with turkey and all the trimmings, which by the way was my very first turkey dinner in almost a year. And anyone that knows me, knows that turkey dinner with my Mom or Sista's gravy is my absolute favourite meal. There was a singer and dancing afterwards, so we danced til the wee hours of the morning. Okay, 1:00 a.m. The gang dropped me off at Michel's restaurant as he put on a private party for 20 of his friends and special customers. There we sang and danced for a few hours. It was a very different Christmas. So I survived Christmas Day as it was my first time being away from home and I ended up having a great day.

New Year's Eve was even more fun than Christmas. Michel's restaurant was fully booked for a beautiful meal. Half of the people walked to the Balcon de Europa for the countdown to 2009. I stayed with the other half and we watched the t.v. screen for our countdown. The tradition here in Spain, and no one can tell me how it started, is this....there is a 12 bell that ring and on each ring you pop a grape or a raisin into your mouth. So there we all were popping green grapes into our mouths, laughing and almost choking. It was hilarious. But still no one can tell me how this tradition came about. Then we had a night of dancing and singing with a friend of ours, Reno playing any music we wanted off of his snazzy iphone or something. I met so many nice people from Nerja and also from all over the world that night which isn't as overwhelming as it used to be. The languages flying around the dance floor was amazing. I wanted to stay up to see the first sunrise of 2009 but it didn't happen ahah. All in all, it was a great way to ring in the New Year.

January 1st most places were closed but Michel and I, armed with our books, ended up findina a cafeteria overlooking the sea that was open. We ended up talking for hours and then walked all around Nerja the rest of the afternoon, going down streets I couldn't believe I hadn't seen before. It was a sunny warm day and what a way to spend the first day of 2009!

The Spanish celebrate their Christmas on January 6 and it is called Three Kings Day. I happened to go out and do a few errands on the 5th and all the little stores were packed. People were lined up in each store and I was thinking, there must be some good sales happening. Then it dawned on me, it was the Spanish Christmas Eve. So they obviously do what a lot of Canadians do, leave their Christmas shopping until the last minute ahaha. See we are not so different, no matter what country we happen to live in. ahah So January 6th is when they have their big family meal together and exchange a few gifts. The children receive a few small gifts, so in that regard, their Christmas is nothing like it is in Canada.

There is almost no trace of the holidays here except those scary Santa Clauses still hanging off of balconies. There are no huge Boxing Day sales. Life is back to normal quite quickly here after the holidays. I have to say I enjoyed this whole experience during these holidays because they were so low key, and to me it feels that this time is mostly about getting together with family and friends.

I really felt like I fit in quite nicely with my friends who have become my Spain family.

Until next time.

And a Happy New Year to you All !
Love,
Leigh-Ann xox

Eleven Months in Nerja

Pepe makes canes from branches that grow
from the bottom of trees. This is from his orange tree.
I got to chose one. It is so cool because it takes a while to train and grow.

Pepe behind one of their orange trees.
His profession was a gardener so we have a bit in common.


Pepe tending his muli-level garden.
These are are broad bean plants.


The orange tree I was able to pick from.


Mauricio, our Salsa dance instructor twirling me.


Salsa class
Alastair and Chantelle in the middle.
Alastair is my Scotish serrogate Dad here in Nerja.


Drinks after class


Friends in and out of Salsa Class
Dell, Andy and David (my other serrogate Dad)


Juliet, Toni (Andy's partner) and Mauricio


Dell, Gerry, Alistair and I
After our last class until January


This is a poster I bought at the Luiz Santiago's Art Exhibition.
I loved every one of his paintings. It makes me smile every day.


Side view of my flat.


My front door


View from my living room window.
I can see the Sea!


Across the street 2 men were harvesting olives by
picking and dropping the olives onto a huge net.


Mandarin tree where I was able to load up a bag for myself.


Picking the mandarins.


Anny, my landlord at the property they look after.


Delilah still cute as ever and dozy as
heck while she is sunning herself.



Delilah spends half her day people watching from the terrace.
Jill and Michele, Delilah's Canadian collar is in the washing machine ahah.


Zebra-dog, Delilah standing and possibly sleeping.

Hola Everyone,

Since my last entry, here are a few things that I have been up to.

I was back in private Spanish conversation classes with Antonio once a week. It is so much fun as we mostly just talk. He told me I don't need to work on my Grammar for a while, but only speak with what I know. We talk about what I have been up to, what experiences I have had during the past week; current news topics; my family and friends; the weather; and he informs me of any up coming events around town which always includes their Spanish traditions. The hour flies by because it is so much fun and he is a true teacher in my eyes, as he is very patient. So for 8 weeks we have covered many interesting topics. I am finished school for a while now, but will return eventually for more help.

One weekend Juliet, Delilah and I drove up to the campo in the mountains to visit our friends, Toni and Andy. I have mentioned them before and they are such lovely people with so many interesting stories. They build a beautiful house on the side of a mountain which they continue to work on all the time. I have offered to go to their place for a few days and help them paint outside walls which will happen in the new year sometime. Toni served us an awesome chili dinner and we sat around all night talking and then watched the X Factor on the tele. Juliet and I never watch t.v. so it was a real novelty to me to sit and veg-out for a few hours, all the while we are talking away. Delilah loved it at their place since she could run around the lemon and avocado trees the whole time. They have a swimming pool off their covered patio facing the most gorgeous valley, mountains on the other side and also the Med. Sea. So the next morning we had breakfast poolside and Juliet and I agreed that could life get any better at this moment. ahah It was heavenly, a really "get choked up" moment. We didn't want to over stay our welcome the next day (mind you I sure could have ahah) plus Juliet had to whip to Málaga airport later that morning.

Juliet's daughter, Laura, flew in from the UK to visit for a few days. One day, Juliet had the use of her friend's car, so the three of us and another friend of ours, Jeni, drove to Marbella. Marbella is along the west coast of Spain about 45 minutes away. Juliet took us gals to this muy grande shopping centre and we shopped until we almost dropped. It was fantastic as we all were able to find what we wanted at great prices (bonus). Jeni did half of her Christmas shopping and the 3 of us were into clothes. The clothes stores in Nerja are not very good. They are geared for tourists. The quality just isn't there and they are rather expensive. It was a nice girlie afternoon / evening.

November was my "Everyone dear to me is leaving me" month. Four friends left Nerja and it was a bit much for me.

My friend, Antonio (my restuarante homework helper friend) and I got together before he left for Cuba on a 2 week trip. He had invited me along and if I had my passport in my hot little hands it would have been a difficult decision, do I go, or do I stay ahah. I found it odd that people from beautiful southern Spain would go to a warm country to holiday. He was so excited as he hasn't travelled much plus they were going to an all-inclusive hotel in Havana with his amigos. We agreed that when he returned we would get together to talk Spanish and he said he would like a bit of help with his English. He has never taken formal English classes only what he has picked up working in restaurantes over the years.

June, my dear friend moved back to England the 3rd week in November. She and I went out on the town one afternoon and had such a good time, great talk and many laughs. I made a photo album for June to take home with her as to not forget Nerja and the places that she and I went together. The power was out for a bit at the printing place and so I wasn't able to give June her gift and will send it tomorrow. Oh, how I miss June though. I miss popping into her shop for good talks. I miss her belting out a few good songs for me. I miss hearing the local gossip from that part of town. I miss her advice, suggestions, her great listening ears, her hugs and mostly her funny English sense of humour. She was always cracking me up with her expressions in her special accent. I am calling her this weekend for a very long much needed gab session.

Basel, another of my awesome friends from Nerja, flew back to Munich for 2 to 3 months to make some serious money. He will be back in the new year sometime and continue his Caravan Inn business. It turns out to open a proper business there are a ton of loop holes one has to jump through and it all costs mega bucks to do that, hence going back to Germany. We had a few good long talks before he left and we just know we will always keep in touch. Since Basel has been gone, we've texted and called quite a few times. He complains how cold and yucky the weather is there and I brag about how nice it is in Nerja ahah. We jam a lot in each conversation, but mostly we just like to hear each other's voices (accents ahah).

Then the last week Joe, my Belfast barman friend, from the Blue Med returned home to be with his family for the holidays. He will decide if he wants to stay there to save money and eventually travel or possibly return to Nerja. Anne and Stewart have kept his job waiting for him. I secretly hope he saves and travels to the places he has mentioned to me. He is Sarah's age and if he can do it now, why not. I hope he doesn't wait until he is 46 yrs old like me ahah. Joe was my "tell everything about my relationships" guy, and he did the same with me. The last shift he worked a whole bunch of people met him at the bar and everyone had a good time teasing him. I gave him heck for leaving me ahah.

These interesting people I will never forget. The will always be a part of my Spain Adventure in one way or another. I realized one day that I have never felt what it was really like for a friend to leave me and go on to live somewhere else. Well it sucks, but I then thought how it must have really felt for my family and my good friends to say goodbye to me. Losing Basel and June (who were as dear to me as family) in the same week must have been like Earla and Sarah saying goodbye to me, or similar. Anyways I had a few rough days where I didn't want to even see my other friends. I moped around, stuck close to my flat and eventually I got out of this "I miss my friends" phase. I have to say, going to and walking along side the Mediterranean has helped me get out of my stuff pretty quick because just looking at it makes me smile every single darn time. How can one person be so unhappy in front of something so darn gorgeous? ahah

The last week in November was surprising for me. Once I got a grip on my friends not being here anymore, I ended up meeting 3 new people (who in my mind I call them "my replacements") who want to get together with me and speak Spanish. Dean and Monica and I hooked up through Antonio, my profesor at the school. The 3 of us met one night after class and we talked for 3 hours in Spanish and the last hour we slowly switched to English (always seems to happen like this ahah). Dean is from the UK and Monice was born and raised in Venice. They have lived here for 3 years and love it as much as I do.

Then there was a man, Miguel who I met a few times to talk with and enjoy tapas. Also at the end of Nov. Antonio returned from Cuba and he and I have gone out 3 times so far and only speak Spanish. I can see a subtle improvement so that sure makes me happy. Both Miguel and Antonio says my grammar is good, but why isn't my speaking ahahah. I said I need to practice every day with friends or a Spanish boyfriend for it to improve ahahah. It is a standing joke that the best way to learn Spanish, you need a Spanish boyfriend ahah. But we are only friends, that is the deal. I also know now that playing with little kids who speak Spanish is awesome. Anne and Stewart's daughter, Neve (6 yrs. old) and I have gone to the beach to play with Delilah. Here is this little girl (cute as a button) who has the strongest Liverpool, England accent and when she speaks Spanish she sounds like she was born here. The first time I heard Neve talk to Delilah in Spanish I couldn't believe it. So now she helps me with some of my words and pronounciation. It is all so much fun.

I am so sorry family and friends if I go on and on about this language thing and all that it involves but I don't want to forget how I actually did it when I go on to my next language ahah.

Mail from home is so special. I can get home fast enough to see what was sent. I don't stop to chit chat with a single person especially when I receive a parcel. My Sister, Earla definitely the writer in the family, sends me a letter, card or postcard every few days I think and man, I love those Earla and appreciate every single one. In early Nov. Earla had sent me two very full boxes which included some of my cozy clothes and other goodies I had asked her for from home. I am such a local now and am very climatized. I find it chilly at night so I need to go out with a coat, scarf and pants on now. Thank you Earla for you gathering my stuff and your notes were something else! But I know how to repay you, free lodging at Casa Leigh-Ann's for 2 or 3 weeks in April tee hee.

One day, I received a notice in the mail that there was a parcel for me. It was from my sweet Sarah. It was a large box with red love heart stickers all over it. So there I was, trudging through town trying to carry the darn thing without my arms falling off. Delilah decided not to walk nice that day while I had a few shopping bags in my other arm. I have my mother's stubborness in me, so of course I wouldn't dream of calling a taxi. The whole way home though, I was so excited and happy to receive a care package I didn't care that my arms were going numb ahah. Sarah, bless her huge heart, sure knows her Momma. She had put in about 40 different items that either made me laugh, cry, or say "awe". And every item Sarah had written on a bright pink heart shaped sticky note which would either got me laughing or crying all over again. I was an emotional mess as I slowly unpacked Sarah's parcel. Thank you my Sweet Daughter.

Octubre en Nerja

Hola Everyone,

Sunset near Nerja

The Nerja sign coming into town.

I was thinking that I haven't done much lately until I started jotting down notes while sitting by the sea.

So here it goes....

For one week in October La Fería (the fair) comes to town and the children have the whole week off from school. It reminded me of our little fair in Estevan, SK where I grew up. They had an opening ceremony which I thoroughly enjoyed. I think it was the high school band that played a few songs while a man sang in Spanish of course. He had a beautiful voice. In town they had hung lights across out the streets and a huge, fancy overhead set of lights at the entrance to La Fería. There were fireworks that scared the people crowded in the streets as I don't think the tourists were expecting them plus they were set off only 10 feet away from everyone. Something that sure wouldn't happen in Canada. But the fireworks were spectacular and went on for about a half an hour. When they were done the crowd went nuts with cheers and then all the lights were turned on and they were so pretty. As the gates were opened it seemed everyone, at once, made their way into the fairground which was located in the centre of town in one of their big car parks.

We wandered through the crowd and watched the kids enjoy the rides. They all seemed to be screaming or laughing. Like at any fair, there were many food stands: homemade french fries, cotton candy, nut cakes, and candy galore. They also had tents for sit down meals and many places to sit and enjoy a beer. We walked into one tent where there was flamenco dancing, but the music was so loud we only stayed for 2 dances.

The Spanish-style fair was really something to see but every ride, every tent and every make-shift pub had the music too loud. It was like going to a loud concert where your stomach vibrates. I am glad I experienced the fair for a few hours, but we ended up going to our favourite tapas bar.

Five friends of mine went to Ronda for the day last month and had a wonderful time together. We toured the town, gazed down into the gorge, saw the oldest bullring in Spain and for lunch, Basel cooked us a beautiful salmon meal in his caravan. Later on, a few us went shopping and we came accross some really good sales and then popped into a chocolate restaurante for a rest. The café con leches were to die for and Alistair treated us to a variety of cholocates. Oh my, they were the best I have ever had. The drive home seemed to take forever even though we talked the whole time. Then we played cards until a couple of us got car sick. Overall, it was a fun day with good friends.

Two of my friends and I went to the Luiz Santiago Art Exhibition at Plaza Ermita. It was fabulous. The artist's work was prints and paintings depicting the Spanish culture in a very funny way. We enjoyed the wine and nibblies while we walked around trying to decide which picture was our favourite. There was no way I could pick a favourite. They were going for about 200 euros, pricey for my pocketbook. I ended up buying a poster which had a smaller version of each of his pieces for 10 euros. I have it hanging in my livingroom and it makes me smile everyday.

I am back at Quorum Spanish school one night a week for private conversation with Antonio. It is going well. We basically sit and talk for an hour and a half about anything and everything. It shows me how much I still need and want to learn. I was going to enroll in the Residencia Class but there weren't enough students to fill a class of my level. As soon as they start up again, the school will be calling me. And then the classes are 2 afternoons a week, plus a lot cheaper. I still continue to study 2 hours of Spanish on my own each day. This week it is all about pronouns and prepositions, fun stuff.

One night a bunch of us were going to go dancing in Torrox but it had rained that day. When it rains here places either don't open or close down early. So no dancing, bummer. We ended up going to a pub called San María in the hills north of Torrox. A live flamenco band was playing and it was awesome as I could recognize some of the Spanish music that I have heard on the radio or my CDs. Every Monday they have an open mic night and I would love to go to that some day.

I don't remember if I mentioned in a previous blog (too lazy to look back) ahah, but I had taken 2 pictures of Lucy to an artist near the Balcón, Paco, and he sketched a picture of my Miss Lucy Lou. I was surprised at how large it was, but it turned out looking exactly like her. It was so similar to Lucy I got choked up in the shop when I was picking it up. I had it matted and framed right away and have it hung in the best spot in my home. Sorry Delilah, Lucy and I have a history together and our has just begun.

Pepe and Anny, my landlords were over for a bbq a few weeks ago and it was terrific. They speak only Spanish to me which I appreciate, more practice for me then. When the evening was over, the Spanish side of my brain was fried, but I loved every minute of it.

Anny and Pepe are retired and I feel they have taken me under their wings. They are always asking if I need anything, bring me my mail everyday, share everything they have in their garden or off their fruit trees or just ask how I am doing. Anny asked if I wanted some pots and holders to go around my patio railing. I would never turn an offer for a plant pot, so I said sure. A few days later she took me to this huge greenhouse in Torrox and I was in plant heaven. They grow such different plants than I am used to. I recognized only a few that are grown in Canada. So together, Anny and I loaded up a cart of plants that are all flowering and will continue to flower through the winter months. This place also had thousands of plants pots of every size, shape and most were painted in Spanish designs. I held back and only bought myself one 'beauty of a pot' for my palm tree. I have potted and hung my new plants and they look lovely without obstructing my view of the sea.

Listen up folks! I have just finished a book called "Shadow of the Wind", by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It is a must read! It is based in Barcelona with a little bit of romance and a lot of mystery. The first few chapters are not that great, but keep reading. The ending is the best ending I have read in a long while. Right now I am reading a book titled "Mutants Message Down Under" by Marlo Morgan. A story of a woman, while walking through the Outbacks of Australia with a tribe of Aboriginals, she is learning to trust and have faith in her own inner knowledge and guidance. Sounds heavy-duty but it really isn't because she is rather funny. Thank you Patsy for recommending me this book. Any book suggestions, please send them my way. I have finally gotten over the fact that I don't need to feel guilty about reading English anymore. haha I devote enough time to my Spanish and enjoy English now and again.

The middle of Octubre went on a 6 hour hike starting at Maro (next little town over) up and around a fairly big mountain. It was only a wee bit difficult at times, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. The day started out chilly, so we were decked out in long pants and sweaters. By the afternoon we were in the sea swimming. It was a little eerie at first as we didn't see another soul on the mountain or at the beach. The dogs had a hay-day, running ahead leading the way. Delilah was pooped right out and walked beside me most of the trek back to the parking lot.

That leads me to the love of my life, Delilah. She has become one very special dog with her sunny, cuddly personality. She enjoys long runs and walks on any beach or any place we happen to go to. She is a good car traveller and stays put wherever I plunk her in a vehicle now (not at first mind you). I tried to remember everything in my dog trainining days with Lucy and one thing I could not accomplish was keeping Delilah from sneaking off the patio and climbing down the hill to a busy intersection. I kept having visions of Delilah having an encounter with a vehicle like Lucy did. So Pepe, Anny and I hung a thin netting a foot up from the bottom railing so now I can breathe easier, knowing my little one is safe as can be.

So now I have trees, shrubs, plant pots to look after on my side of this huge house. You all know how much I miss gardening. We did the fall clean up in my yard and while we were trimming one tree, we came across a camelion. The little gaffer almost got his legs snipped off with my pruners, that was how well he was hidden. He was about 8 inches long and the exact colour of the leaves. They are the most interesting repiles. Their eyes are big; looks like they are frowning; their skin is leathery with beautiful markings; their paws are tiny with skinny curled fingers; and they move at an extremely slow pace. We gently placed my new pet camelion into a different tree so we could finish the trimming and I haven't seen the little guy since. I look everyday, but he is either so camaflouged or he has travelled to greener pastures, darn he was cute.

Fall in Nerja is so beautiful and very similar to their spring. It has rained 3 or 4 days in the last 6 weeks. We still have loads of plants flowering. The sea was warm enough to swim in until the beginning of November for most people (Oct. for me). The days are noticably shorter, sunrise at 8 am and sunsets are at about 7 pm. We have had 2 wicked, one day storms as far as the Spanish are concerned. They were like a very windy rainy day similar to what the Fraser Valley has during the winter. It was still warm enough in the sea, so of course, we played along the shore in the huge waves. The biggest waves I have seen so far. Delilah was a little freaked out and after she was done playing on the beach she sat and shivered staring at me like I was a lunatic. Two days I will never forget.

The temperature hovers around 15 during the night and once the sun comes up it shoots between 18 and 25 degrees. I have been reading about the Andalucia area where I live, on the Costa de Sol and what I don't find out on my own, Anny and Pepe fill me in. The weather patterns, look for where the clouds are forming, which direction the waves are coming towards the beach and so on. I think I should have been a news weather person. It is all so fascinating. Pepe has lived here his whole life, so he knows a thing or two about southern Spain. He is the lowest talker I have met, so I really have to listen and I must have a blank look once in a while because then he will say, comprendas?, meaning do you understand and then he tries to explain again. He doesn't know it, but he is teaching me to listen more closely and pick out key words.

Last weekend Juliet and I had a girl's trip to Toni and Andy's house up in the campo (country) situated on the side of a hill facing a valley with a view of the sea. They are an interesting nice couple. It was a relaxing overnighter. Lots of catching up, laughing, tinto de veranos, many stars out that night, and not a peep of sound during the night. The next morning we sat poolside and had our breakfast facing the sun and sea. Juliet had to get back as her daughter, Laura, from the Uk was coming for a few days to hang out with her Momma. How lucky Juliet is to have her family only a short flight away. Can you tell how much I miss my Sweet Sarah?

Things I have learned, experience and love about Nerja:

• Having glasses adjusted in Nerja can be a test of one's patience. I usually have to go back 3 times before they fix me up. I finally found an optometrist that knows what he is doing ahah.
• On hikes this time of year, you don't need to take anything but water along as there are tons of avocadoes, mangoes and bananas just waiting to be picked. The avocadoes are huge in the countryside and ripen within a day.
• I tried kaki, a fruit that looks like a pesimmon, has the texture of a tomatoe and the sweetness of a melon. I have enjoyed huge pomegrantes off of Pepe's trees. I tasted Saint's Skin, a type of finger food dessert that is authentic in Spain as they are only made 2 weeks prior to All Saint's Day.
• All Saint's Day is where the folks of Spain buy loads of fresh flowers and visit their deceased ones at the local cemetery. The caskets are not buried in land, but stacked on top of one another. Anyone can visit the cemetery anytime, so I will do that one day soon.
  
• To rent a movie in Nerja you need a 50 euro deposit or own your own home, funny rules hey? I was finally able to watch Sex in the City and it was fabulous girls, but you probably have all seen it by now. I am so out of the movieand t.v. loop since I only get Spanish, German, French, and 2 International English news channels.
  
• Jellyfish stings last half a day and it is true that if you urinate on the skin the burning goes away. It is common knowledge here. And by the way, there was no peeing on anyone at the beach ahah.
  
• There is no such thing as a Canadian Money Order available in Nerja. They have every other country, but not good ol' Canada.
• Children return to school the middle of Septiembre. They have 3 months off as it is too warm to sit in the classroom. University starts the middle of Octubre.
  
• Nerja is thinning out with tourists every day and will start to reappear in the spring I am told. It is quiet around town at night. I rather enjoy being able to walk and not have to dodge the tourists browsing in all the shops.
  
• I can easily pick the tourists out by what they are wearing, shorts and t-shirts while the locals are dressed in pants and a light jackets or sweater. (me included, in the evenings)
  
• You need no appointments for pets at the Vets. I love that. Delilah has 2 vets in the same office, but she prefers José. The other one had to take her blood for her Passport and she was not impressed.
• I was discussing with Earla (my Sista) how much I love Telus (phone company in BC) and would love to kiss the whole darn company. If it wasn't for them and their cheap deals to call to Spain day or night, I think I would have be back in Canada a long time ago.
  

What I absolutely love about my life in Spain is how I treasure the solitude on the beach. (Playa Burriana) Delilah and I head to the there every single day, early in the morning for a walk, run, and play.This is where I do all my thinking; healing; have a good cry if I miss my family and friends; look forward to all my company coming; watch the fishermen bring in their daily catch; practice rolling my r's outloud; try to keep Delilah from chasing the beach cats; wonder what Spanish person I will talk to next; plan my day; feel appreciative for every experience I have so far; try to figure out my future, and feel excited about what is around the corner for me. I have learned to dream and feel that I am stepping out of my boxes everyday (a few to go yet ahah).

I will have been here 11 months this week and I can not believe I am able to live, love and experience this new town, country, people and language. At times this has not been the easiest thing, moving here. All I know it was the right thing. How fortunate am I? ................ EXTREMELY !

Foxy and Delilah

Foxy and Delilah snuggling up together.
Okay, well Delilah is snuggled ahah


View from my new flat

Trip to Ronda, Spain
Juliet, Jeni, Delilah and I

The girls in front of the Famous Bullring

Check out the cactus growing on the side of the Balcon.

View from the bridge.

Spanish landscape, so pretty

Maro Hike

Nerja is above my head

Delilah and I in front of a look out tower
and the town of Maro to my right

At the top of one mountain

I am not a pip-squeak, I just look like one.

What I thought this was going to be my new pet....
a Camelion

Cousin Jill and Michele's Visit to Nerja

Hola Gang,

My cousin, Jill, and her friend, Michele from Ontario came for a visit in Nerja near the end of September.

3 Canadian women enjoying brunch at Cochrane's
overlooking the Med. Sea. Is that an empty sangria
pitcher I see?

Jill, my cousin and
Michele, my new Ontario friend
seeing a few sights around Nerja.

The gate to my new flat.

Jill with her new niece, Delilah.

More sangria Michele?
Silly question really.

Michele and I checking out Playa Calahonda.


Authentic paella at Rincon de Sabor Restaurante


First stop coming from the airport in Málaga.
Had a few cervezas and and tinto de veranos while the girls
were saying they can't believe they are in Spain.
Nerja in the distance (5 mins. east)


Us 3 gals one afternoon near Playa Salon.


Jill you were the mountain climber. Michele and I were
not, especially in flip flops.


Jill trying out Juliet's Gym in Peñoncillo,
possibly working off a ceverza or two.


Michele, as she was casually sitting
was really into working out......NOT ahah


Jill and Michele didn't seem to miss work as much
once they found my pharmacy to stop for a photo op.


The Fisherman's beach where Michele
finally stuck her legs into the sea.

Jill and Michele arrived into Málaga on standby (I was a little worried but they made it on time) and we made our way back to Nerja in no time flat but had to stop by the sea for the view and let the dogs have a run on the beach. Jill and Michel had been up so many hours since they left Ontario the morning of the day before. They had a lay over in Frankfurt, Germany. When we into Nerja we got them a bit settled in my flat and headed to Playa Burriana for a looksie. It was dark by this time so we mozied around and kept them up late so they wouldn't be so jet lagged the next day.

It worked, they slept in and were ready to go for the rest of their time here. I had so much fun with them. We went out every day walking, seeing a few sights along the way and me pointing out my favourite places to go. They both have the very best sense of humour. I think it is a combination of them being Canadian and also we three think alike. Whatever it was, I laughed my butt off most of the time they were here. They promised to weaken my bladder and I think they did ahah. Jill and Michele are super close friends so they tease each other like sisters do. And they are so quick witted. I loved their zingers to each other and then of course I got a few good ones as well.

The girls were here for a short visit but it was so good. We talked the whole time and I was able to reconnected with Jill since it had been years of actually seeing my cousin. And Michele, I had never met before and well, it took about 2 seconds to like her. But I knew I would anyways since we had emailed a bit before they arrived in Nerja. Both of the girls work in a very busy pharmacy and it was fun to hear their work stories. I enjoyed hearing about all my cousins from Ontario, who I don't really know, only a bit from our last family reunion in BC. The best was hearing about Jill's life, her hubby, kids, brother, our relatives and her parents. Michele has an interesting life with 2 grown daughters. Michele so reminds me of what I was like when I lived in Canada. We have so many personality traits the same that I noticed.

We had a few late nights as we all had so much to say in such a short time. We didn't do an official Leigh-Ann's Tapas Tour, next time we will though. We would walk and just hang out, it didn't seem to matter where we ended up. They both loved the sunshine and one morning we had a bit of rain, but mostly the weather cooperated for my company.

When company comes it is like a holiday for me as well. I get a break from studying español. I go out for tapas and drinks and of course eat out more often, all a novelty for me. I "get" that I live here now and I feel comfortably settled in Nerja so when visitars come, it is fun to see what I saw when I first arrived in Nerja. It reminds me how darn lucky I am that I have this opportunity to experience some awesome things in my 8 months living here. I take none of it for granted.

I hope I have kept our pact girls, "what happens in Spain, stays in Spain!"

Thank you Jill and Michele for coming all that way to hang out with us, talk my Canadian English and for all the belly laughs. You have left me with very fond memories of our time together.

I can hardly wait for the Payne Family Reunion in Ontario next summer. I will be there no matter where I am hanging my flip flops. That is a promise.

Until next time........... adios everyone.