August 23rd, the day Lucy passed away, so we drove only 100 kilometres before we ended up in a tiny town 20 kms. from the Spanish border. The town was Vila Riom. We arrived into town all eyes were on us, literally. The main street is 2 blocks long with cafés, bars and restaurants. After we parked on the main street I went to use the pay phone to call my family and I felt about 75 sets of eyes staring at me with everyone thinking "who are these strangers in town." I never have any luck with phones booths and after 15 minutes I gave up trying to understand the Portugese telephone operator. This language is nothing like Spanish. What we were to do, couldn't visit with my family so we hung out with the locals. We ended up at a cafetería chatting with 4 Porugese men, and as our luck would have it, they all knew enough Spanish to have a few good laughs. It was a fun evening talking with the little children, watching the teenagers hang out in the plaza giggling and the elderly visiting and laughing with their families. What an enjoyable evening with such friendly people.
I had the most peaceful sleep that night and woke up without Lucy whining for her morning cuddle and remember that she wasn't with me anymore. We got up at 6:00 a.m. and wanted to make a few miles before breakfast. There is a one-hour time difference heading into Spain, so we didn't get up as early as the clock said. On the way to Ronda I learned some Farsi words. I can count to 10 and even say Happy Birthday to someone ahah. It was great fun as Farsi is spelled exactly as it is pronounced. The letters are so beautiful, but the writing will have to wait for another time as it is hard to even write English/Spanish in my journal in the caravan.
We had breakfast over looking some mountains, and in the afternoon we found a lake in Zahara Park. It was the bluest coloured lake that I had ever seen. We were looking forward to taking the dogs down to the water and for us to go for a swim and get cooled off a wee bit. The temperature was really warm again once we were back in to Spain. So, it turns out the lake was kind of creepy. All the trees around the lake were just sticks. Yes, they were deader than doornails. We never did find out why, but needless to say we did not go near the lake except to take a few photos.
Arrived in Ronda later in the day and I tried again to call my family and a few friends. I couldn't believe it, not one person was home. I almost gave up when I was able to finally talk to Carol, my brother, Bruce's girlfriend. I spilled my heart out to Carol about Lucy and had "the ugly cry" as Earla and I call it. Carol's one cat passed away last year and she totally understood how I was feeling about Lucy. She listened and helped me feel so much better. Thank you again Carol for your kind words. And at the end of the conversation Carol tells me that she and Bruce are seriously thinking of coming to Nerja in the spring. Well, whoaza, that sure made my day! To date I have Earla and Michel coming in March for 3 weeks, Bruce and Carol possibly in April and Sarah , my Mom coming in May and 2 girlfriends from home that are also seriously thinking of coming to Nerja in June. How lucky am I?!
That evening we leisurely strolled the streets of Ronda, which is a small town perched on an inland plateau with the El Tajo gorge (100 metres) below. Ronda is the most dramatic of all the white villages we have seen in the Andalucia area. I read that Ronda is an old Islamic town with an artsy touch and felt both qualities where ever we went. Basel and I had the worst tapas we've ever tasted. Actually it was the only tapas we haven't liked in 7 months. It was a plate of paper-thin sliced meats that I think must have been sliced last week ahah. Foxy had a nice little snack though. Later that night we had a steak dinner which was special to us as we don't eat out very often. Basel absolutely loves to cook and I love to eat his cooking ahah. On our way back to the van I tried to call Sarah. Between Basel and I we had four Jazzcards (cheap phone cards to call home) and 3 of them were expired and one had one euro left which is so funny because we don't go anywhere without new Jazzcards. In the end, I was able to speak with Sarah just for a couple of minutes and it was just good to hear Sarah's voice even though I didn't have time to tell her about Lucy.
The next morning we were up before there was light. We parked on the side of the road in the mountains surrounding Ronda, had breakfast and watched the sun come up between the mountains. It was beautiful. We arrived back in Nerja in the afternoon. It was great to be back home but it felt really odd without my Lucy. I got busy though and packed my flat up as I was moving in 2 days. It took me only a few hours because I live so simply now and love it.
Funny / weird story...... My ex landlord, Abraham was not happy I gave my notice to move, so for a month he gave me the cold shoulder and seemed to avoid me. I went back to give him my keys. I needed a bit of closure so I tried to chit chat with him and he started complaining to me about Foxy, which didn't make any sense because she is the most beautiful, well behaved dog. I told him I can't talk about dogs right now as Lucy died a few days ago and I am still sad. Well, what happened next floored me..... Abraham is this big loud burly man and he started balling like a child. He was so upset, surprised and felt so bad for me. He was speechless at one point and Abraham always has something to say. He really liked Lucy and couldn't believe that she had died. So there we were on his front patio, me weeping a bit and Abraham balling his eyes out. He gave me a huge bear hug and off I went with promises of us getting together for coffee one day soon. I walked away thinking, "what just went on?" So Abraham, in my mind is a big softie inside regardless of his exterior. Man, people still surprise me.
I was moved in one load and it took me only a few days to have everything sorted out. Renting is sure different than owning your own home as you can imagine like bedroom is a bright sky blue, the light fixture are useless, and the kitchen is super tiny. But for some reason I real so comfortable here and only have the odd twinge of missing my home in Chilliwack, especially my flowerbeds. My new flat is perched on a small cliff. Yes this prairie girl is not on flat land, can you believe that one! The view is to die for though. I see the whitewashed houses, the mountains, and also the Mediterranean Sea from my windows. I have no neighbors on either side except for Pepe and Anny (my landlords) who live above me but way on the other side of this huge house. I can´t tell you all how much I am enjoying my new home.
Anny is Belgium and Pepe is Spanish. I think they are in their early 60's. They are lovely people and we only speak in Spanish which was hard at first as Pepe is a 'low talker' ahahh. He is really funny now that I can understand what he is saying and Anny is so laid back. I can ask her about anything and she is so knowledgable about Nerja and Spain as she has been coming here for 30 years and has lived in Nerja 18 years. Oh, her Spanish is wonderful, I could listen to Anny all day.
The big bonus with new flat is that it is only a two-minute walk to the big beach, Playa Burriana that leads to Playa Carabeillo. Every morning we head to the beach for a run, play and swim with the dogs.
Well that is all I have to say today folks. Here are a few more photos of our last trip.
I had the most peaceful sleep that night and woke up without Lucy whining for her morning cuddle and remember that she wasn't with me anymore. We got up at 6:00 a.m. and wanted to make a few miles before breakfast. There is a one-hour time difference heading into Spain, so we didn't get up as early as the clock said. On the way to Ronda I learned some Farsi words. I can count to 10 and even say Happy Birthday to someone ahah. It was great fun as Farsi is spelled exactly as it is pronounced. The letters are so beautiful, but the writing will have to wait for another time as it is hard to even write English/Spanish in my journal in the caravan.
We had breakfast over looking some mountains, and in the afternoon we found a lake in Zahara Park. It was the bluest coloured lake that I had ever seen. We were looking forward to taking the dogs down to the water and for us to go for a swim and get cooled off a wee bit. The temperature was really warm again once we were back in to Spain. So, it turns out the lake was kind of creepy. All the trees around the lake were just sticks. Yes, they were deader than doornails. We never did find out why, but needless to say we did not go near the lake except to take a few photos.
Arrived in Ronda later in the day and I tried again to call my family and a few friends. I couldn't believe it, not one person was home. I almost gave up when I was able to finally talk to Carol, my brother, Bruce's girlfriend. I spilled my heart out to Carol about Lucy and had "the ugly cry" as Earla and I call it. Carol's one cat passed away last year and she totally understood how I was feeling about Lucy. She listened and helped me feel so much better. Thank you again Carol for your kind words. And at the end of the conversation Carol tells me that she and Bruce are seriously thinking of coming to Nerja in the spring. Well, whoaza, that sure made my day! To date I have Earla and Michel coming in March for 3 weeks, Bruce and Carol possibly in April and Sarah , my Mom coming in May and 2 girlfriends from home that are also seriously thinking of coming to Nerja in June. How lucky am I?!
That evening we leisurely strolled the streets of Ronda, which is a small town perched on an inland plateau with the El Tajo gorge (100 metres) below. Ronda is the most dramatic of all the white villages we have seen in the Andalucia area. I read that Ronda is an old Islamic town with an artsy touch and felt both qualities where ever we went. Basel and I had the worst tapas we've ever tasted. Actually it was the only tapas we haven't liked in 7 months. It was a plate of paper-thin sliced meats that I think must have been sliced last week ahah. Foxy had a nice little snack though. Later that night we had a steak dinner which was special to us as we don't eat out very often. Basel absolutely loves to cook and I love to eat his cooking ahah. On our way back to the van I tried to call Sarah. Between Basel and I we had four Jazzcards (cheap phone cards to call home) and 3 of them were expired and one had one euro left which is so funny because we don't go anywhere without new Jazzcards. In the end, I was able to speak with Sarah just for a couple of minutes and it was just good to hear Sarah's voice even though I didn't have time to tell her about Lucy.
The next morning we were up before there was light. We parked on the side of the road in the mountains surrounding Ronda, had breakfast and watched the sun come up between the mountains. It was beautiful. We arrived back in Nerja in the afternoon. It was great to be back home but it felt really odd without my Lucy. I got busy though and packed my flat up as I was moving in 2 days. It took me only a few hours because I live so simply now and love it.
Funny / weird story...... My ex landlord, Abraham was not happy I gave my notice to move, so for a month he gave me the cold shoulder and seemed to avoid me. I went back to give him my keys. I needed a bit of closure so I tried to chit chat with him and he started complaining to me about Foxy, which didn't make any sense because she is the most beautiful, well behaved dog. I told him I can't talk about dogs right now as Lucy died a few days ago and I am still sad. Well, what happened next floored me..... Abraham is this big loud burly man and he started balling like a child. He was so upset, surprised and felt so bad for me. He was speechless at one point and Abraham always has something to say. He really liked Lucy and couldn't believe that she had died. So there we were on his front patio, me weeping a bit and Abraham balling his eyes out. He gave me a huge bear hug and off I went with promises of us getting together for coffee one day soon. I walked away thinking, "what just went on?" So Abraham, in my mind is a big softie inside regardless of his exterior. Man, people still surprise me.
I was moved in one load and it took me only a few days to have everything sorted out. Renting is sure different than owning your own home as you can imagine like bedroom is a bright sky blue, the light fixture are useless, and the kitchen is super tiny. But for some reason I real so comfortable here and only have the odd twinge of missing my home in Chilliwack, especially my flowerbeds. My new flat is perched on a small cliff. Yes this prairie girl is not on flat land, can you believe that one! The view is to die for though. I see the whitewashed houses, the mountains, and also the Mediterranean Sea from my windows. I have no neighbors on either side except for Pepe and Anny (my landlords) who live above me but way on the other side of this huge house. I can´t tell you all how much I am enjoying my new home.
Anny is Belgium and Pepe is Spanish. I think they are in their early 60's. They are lovely people and we only speak in Spanish which was hard at first as Pepe is a 'low talker' ahahh. He is really funny now that I can understand what he is saying and Anny is so laid back. I can ask her about anything and she is so knowledgable about Nerja and Spain as she has been coming here for 30 years and has lived in Nerja 18 years. Oh, her Spanish is wonderful, I could listen to Anny all day.
The big bonus with new flat is that it is only a two-minute walk to the big beach, Playa Burriana that leads to Playa Carabeillo. Every morning we head to the beach for a run, play and swim with the dogs.
Well that is all I have to say today folks. Here are a few more photos of our last trip.
Isn't the colour of this lake spectacular?!
The 12 kilometre bridge leaving Lisbon, Portugal
One beach on the coast of Portugal
Estoril, Portugal
Very beautiful seaside town
Plaza de Torres is one of the oldest and
most revered bullrings in Spain
El Tajo gorge in Ronda,one of the oldest pueblos in Spain
The Puente Nuevo bridge across the gorge
Enjoying a cerveza in the evening
You can't see, but there were hundreds of
tiny black birds zipping up, down and around the cliffs.
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