A balls (and blocks) up

Morning
I seem to be slightly losing control over the whole calories in must equal calories out equation but a long hard run this morning should help even things up a little.

Noon

That was until I was exposed to the culinary delights at Borough Market, London's premier artisan food destination whilst meeting my friend Chris for lunch. Amongst my purchases was a 'fig block' from Croatia which consisted of dried fig with some herbs and lemon zest (at the stall I mistakenly read their sign as 'fig balls and bollocks', when it actually said balls and blocks).

Night

Is there an anymore confusing pedestrian crossing in london for drivers than the one outside Abbey Road Studios, where tourists congregate on the footpath waiting for their moment to recreate that Beatles album cover? Leah and her boyfriend live right around the corner and I made my way to their house for dinner, the only person on the street to cross at the other crossing (I actually think neither of them are the one in the iconic photograph).

This blog doesn't write itself

Morning
Packing, driving, airport rigmarole on minimal sleep, fun times.

Noon
"This is your captain speaking, we are now beginning our descent into Gatwick where the temperature is currently 15 degrees with a light mist." Hmmm can you turn around and go back to Spain please? We were not greeted with the nicest of summer days but I guess it was nice that the holiday within the holiday was concluded in the same way as it started, walking with luggage from the station in the rain.

Night

Like a naughty kid behind on their homework, I spent much of the rest of the rainy day on the couch working on what I'd been putting off - this blog. That makes it sound like I find it a chore, please understand it is not, that I am writing this first and foremost for my own entertainment, an opportunity to record the experience of travel and life away from day to day routine.

Back on top with a better bottom

Morning

Take off those toning shoes, step off the stair master, purchase these pants (in a choice of colours) from San Pedro markets and instantly improve your rear assets! Note. Does not come with cellulite free thighs.

Noon

Hitting the beach for one last time I was quite impressed with my progress reading the lengthy novel Anna Karenina. That is until Susan asked me where I was up to and I told her that Anna had just told her husband of her affair with Vronsky. She said that was where you said you were up to yesterday. Turns out I'd spent the afternoon reading 70 odd pages on the intricacies of Russian farming in the 1870's. Tolstoy - I'm sure he gets there in the end!

Night

When in Rome...ok so we weren't in Rome but as Marbella is a party hotspot we thought we'd embrace this culture on our last night and booked a table for dinner at the Nikki Beach Club. Delicious food - tick, camp waiter sashaying in culottes - tick, Kid Creole & the Coconuts entertaining the crowd with tropical tunes & back up dancers - tick, mum dancing - tick, DJ set by Sophie Ellis-Baxter and her husband - tick, going to bed only 3.5 hours before having to get up, pack, clean, drive, catch a flight - tick.

Help me Ronda

Morning
Hahahahahaha (see previous post)

Noon
Anyone who has known me since childhood will know I have a predisposition to travel sickness. Combine this with 'Spanish night club' sickness and an incredibly windy road and you get an opportunity to 'enjoy' the view at unplanned road side turn outs. Still, however painful the journey there (nice driving Susie), the inland town of Ronda was worth it. It spans two sides of a deep valley and features three spectacular stone bridges which traverse it. We wandered and read interpretative signs, a fair effort considering our delicate conditions.

Night
I maintain that it is completely acceptable to stay in and watch episodes of Grand Designs when one is abroad as long as it is done sparingly.

Good Mediterranean Living

Morning

I managed a run this morning, it was definitely the physical health highlight of the day because from there...


Noon

Hang on what is it we have here? A picnic in the park, looks like good wholesome fun - supplies purchased from Marbella food market ( jamon Serrano, membranillo, manchego, crusty bread, figs and cherries), enjoyed in the shade of a municipal park, still on the straight and narrow...
 
Night

Laying on a sun lounge reading classic Russian literature....then the sun went down....
Meeting up with three Irish lads we met on Sunday there may have been drinks and dinner (at the true Spanish time of midnight) and more drinking and dancing and home at 5.30am....

Gum trees on the beach

Morning
So you may be noticing that a whole week of the blog is being published at once. This is because I've had a lot of trouble with WiFi access in Spain. I am writing this from a cafe and my iPad says I have full connectivity but won't connect to the Internet. It is probably something I am not doing right but the irony is, apple help is of course online....

Noon

Gum Trees on the beach!

Working out

We figure it is because the sand here is more like dirt that eucalyptus trees are able to grow right on the beach. The beach is at San Pedro a little up the coast with a much more relaxed vibe than Marbella or Porto Banus. Exercise equipment was also a feature and Susan and I had a real workout, earning our lunch on the beach and a tough afternoon on the sun lounges.


Night
Marbella old town with it's narrow streets and window flower boxes gave me a taste of actual Spain, even if our dinner was spoiled by a very loud English woman. The 'degustation' menu may have been a mistake, whilst the tomato bread and fish skewer were delicious, I can't see what the chef EVER thought was appealing about zucchini and tropical fruits in jelly, it is not often that I can't physically eat something but this was one such occasion.

Narrow Street in Marbella Old Town

Susan's and her boutique (apologies for poor quality of photograph)

Getting around Marbella in the Ibiza

Morning
Sit in sun, read book, swim in pool, repeat.

Bedroom window view - sun!

Continental breakfast on the Continent (and the patio)

Noon
Susan well and truly honed her right side of the road driving skills as we searched the streets of Marbella for the Nikki beach club only to realise google maps had thrown us a complete furfy. We ended up back in Puerto Banus for some people watching on the marina, the term 'CUBS' springs to mind, short shorts and heels, during the day? At the beach? Really?

Ocean Club Puerto Banus, Me and my friend Rose

Night
Still adjusting to the abundance of evening light it was six pm before we went to a beach club and I had my first swim in the sea. It is hard as an Australian to appreciate most beaches in Europe, the brownish sand, the abundance of sun lounges, the smell of boat fuel....still it was more beach than I have access to in Alice Springs.


ps. It would seem (although I don't want to do it), that aligning the photos to the centre is the best way of avoiding other unwanted formatting.