A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY;

SATURDAY 9^th/ MAY 2015.

We had a well earned lie in this morning until the gas bottle delivery men arrived; the sun is out and the sky is blue, it’s going to be a hot one today with more to come tomorrow, the forecast for next week is for more of the same and getting better!

A little treat for breakfast ‘Campo Poached Eggs on Toast’ with mug of steaming tea, we are having a nice relaxing day at home as we are not going down to Sabinillas to the two election rallies of the ‘PP’ & ‘ASM’but tomorrow in the early evening we are going to the ‘IU’ ‘Bash’ in the Plaza Pozo Del Rey as Daniela has asked us to hold onto ‘Reina’ as she is the official  photographer, as one of her friends is on the candidates list.

Yesterday afternoon at tea time the cement lorries and pump returned with a vegenance,they commenced to pump vast amounts of concrete using 6/8 lorries ,they were still there as we went out! They have left the street in a mess again, I will chase up the clearing later with our local councilor Mario. See the pictures below of us cut off by cement!

We then headed down to the ‘Duquesa Golf Club’ for the election rally/presentation of the candidates for the ‘Manilva Compromiso’ The turnout was exceptional, there was well over 800 hundred people attending and the presentation was very ‘Slick’ including more mugs & pens as well as a cloth bag, as they introduced the candidates and then the Mayor, Diego gave his speech before every candidate then spoke!  The Spanish system is a bit like proportional representation as the more votes you have, the more candidates you are allowed!  This is when we slipped away for our supper out!! See the picture above of the Mayor, Diego, giving his opening speech;

We dropped down to the Duquesa Marina and we were very lucky as we find somewhere to park straight away; we then went and fond the hidden gem in amongst the usual Friday night ‘crowds’ of singing/drinking ex-pats!

The “ Restaurant Marcues” that we have been meaning to go to for a while, it’s a very old & established fish restaurant of the old school situated on the first floor with the entrance down a back ally!

We were not disappointed, in fact it was rather special, it overlooks the marina, we were welcomed by the old owner and he directed us to a window table, with the windows open on a  ‘Balmy’ night – perfect. Our drinks arrived poured at the table from the bottle ‘Spanish style’ The house ‘Amabouche’ were a very smooth Pate &  Pear with Berries along with crisp bread and then a warm roll.

Brenda choose the recommended ‘Grilled Turbot’ and I selected from the large menu a golden oldie ‘Grilled Sole’- they were cooked and seasoned to perfection and the Sole was filleted at the table by our waiter. Brenda had mixed vegetables and I had ,of course, some ‘Frits’ A half-bottle of ‘Torres Vina Sol’ was just the right wine to complement the fish.

The live music was provided by a very professional harpist playing some rather well know tunes in his own style, it created just the right atmosphere for the evening; an overall very special night out, we will return next time with friends! See the pictures below before we went out and also the meal at the “ Restaurante Marcues ”

Back to reality and tonight’s supper here in ‘ Restaurante a la Sexton’ – “ Entrecote Steak” cooked on a very hot griddle plate ‘ Med-Rare’ with sautéed Baby Mushrooms & Shallots, finely cut Green Beans and of course more twice-cooked ‘Chips’!

We will then settle down to watch the round up of all the sports news on ‘Cuatro’ Over in England in the ‘Premiere League’ Everton are at home to Sunderland, on Sunday its Manchester City at home to OPR & Liverpool away at Chelsea; over here in ‘La Liga’ today its Barcelona at home to Real Sociedad & Real Madrid welcome Valencia, then the ‘La Liga’ is going on strike before the end of the season! 

Meanwhile up in Barcelona it’s the Spanish Grand Prix.Also today the 'Giro d'Italia' cycle race starts in San Remo with the traditional Team Time Trial - Alberto Contador is the red hot favourite to win!

Last night when we got home there was an excellent documenrty on ‘TVE 2’ ( BBC 2) about the last days of Saigon back in 1975 after the USA had left, fascinating archive footage as it happened.

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

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