CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Tues 22nd May.
Well we had a "Helluva" day but not one we want to repeat !! As the weather
picked up we went out on the scooter in the afternoon down to the Marina
for a coffee and orange juice then went to the hypermarket at about 4.00pm
as it is the quiet time there; As we went across the car park and around a
left and right bend which we have done hundreds of time,the scooter's wheels
shot from underneath us and we hit the car park floor with a" thud" !!! The result
being a very painful broken rib for me, with bumps and scratches for both of
us. We were very lucky as if it had happened on the main road it would have
been a lot worse.People outside picked us up and i realized straight away
that i had something wrong by the pain! Luckily we were not going fast and
we think we hit a grease patch, so no damage to the scooter only to our
pride.The hypermarket staff were very good and attended to our wounds
and offered to call an ambulance but i said no.We called our friend Vidal and
he shot down to us,by then Brenda told me i had lost my suntan and was white
and the pain was bad so with great difficulty a got into the car and went to
the hospital in Estepona,only to be sent to the main hospital in Marbella about
22kms away.They were very good and quick in the Emergencies Department
and gave me the once over and X-ray and Brenda heard the screams as they
put me on the table! The result is that i am out of action for a couple of weeks
and will have to sleep up-right on the chair for the time being ! Brenda seems
to think that i broke her fall and i think i agree!! So we are stuck on the site and
and will have to rely on our friends for the shopping etc. as well as using the
bus and taxi's.Vidal also arranged for the scooter to be brought back to the
site later in the evening by somebody we don't even know,which is very kind.
This also means that we might have to re-plan our date's etc. about our return
to England,watch this space !!

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Mon 21st May.
We had an at home day as the forecast was not to good,so we caught up
with jobs and just popped out to pick up the papers.In the evening we had
the thunder storm of all thunder storms ! The whole area rocked with the
thunder and the lightening was spectacular. We had planned to go to
Gibraltar on Tuesday with Vidal and Gisela but one of Gisela's friends
who lives just behind the Camp was taken very ill so Gisela went to look
after her as she has no family down here and stayed with her untill the
Air Ambulance took her home to Austria on Wednesday morning.

MARBELLA

Sat/Sun 19th/20th May.
We had a late start so we had brunch then went out later to the "Happy Hour" at
The Mai Tai bar at Luguna Beach as Vidal was playing a set there as his brother
is away in Trinidad-after he finished we started on the" Caipirinha's" and carried
on down to Marbella Marina.Gisela had on her new hat and shawl and looked
terrific as we visited the bars that Vidal plays in. We then went for a late Fish
supper in a Restaurant on the front in Marbella-but for the first time we had an
terrible meal,every thing was wrong and even unedible- we left quickly but it
did not spoil a good day with our good friends!! On Sunday after we had serviced
the Winnebago we went down to Estepona Marina for some Tapas but we had
to jump back onto the scooter as it started raining without notice and we arrived
back at the site wet!!

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Thurs/ Fri. 17th/18th May.
After our usual start we went out for lunch in the Flower Square in Estepona
and afterwards we caught up with the shopping. When we returned to the site
we were talking to the two couples next to us,one with a small motor home and
the other with a caravan.The motor home couple were English but lived in New
Zealand and the caravan couple were Dutch but lived in Belgium !! Both were
very helpfull and gave us lots of information for the future.On Friday after our swim
we called into the butchers and also bought a Orange sun hat and shawl for Gisela
as a thank you for cutting Brenda's hair.We went out for dinner to the" Pink"bar
across the road and had a lovely supper sat out side overlooking the sea across
to Africa; just before we went out a large American Motorhome pulled in and we
spoke to the owner-who was from South Wales and has been everywhere and so
he was very helpfull and even showed us how to fix our on-going problem with our
LPG gas-its all to do with Adaptors and Regulators! So we will try again on Monday
to solve the problem once and for all!

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Wed 16th May.
Well it started off as a usual day and ended up at 2.00am the next day! We went
into Estepona to the dentists to make an appointment and got one for 4-30 pm
in the afternoon.As we came out of the pool in the morning Gisala called in and
offered to cut,style and colour Brenda's hair later in the day.As we got back in
the early evening the Winnebago was turned into a" Hair Salon" with me acting
as the assistant,ie folding the Tin Foil etc.During the session we both had face
masks applied,made with Avocado,Olive Oil and Lemon Juice! On the TV the
UEFA cup final was on so i asked Vidal around for a drink-he turned up at 11-
00pm with his electric Wok and his famous Spicey Fish ,so we had a late supper
with our cold Spit Roasted Chicken ,Gisela's salad and fried Plantin all washed
down with bottles of the local Rosado and more drinks.The football was very
exciting, i rung Mano who is in North Wales with Anna as his team Espanyol
were playing and whilst i was talking to him they scored ! The picture below
shows Brenda at 2.00am with the new hair cut and colour !!

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Sun/Mon/Tues/13th/14th/15th May.
As the weather is so nice we are taking full advantage of our last month here
to top up Brenda's tan! and to keep my tanned spots up to date !! We went
for our swim and went down to the marina to the market and had a light Tapas
lunch.the marina was busy as it always is on a Sunday.We then came back to
the site and watched a film on Spanish TV in the evening-our Spanish is getting
better by watching the news and sport all the time - we even follow "Who Wants
To Be A Millionaire" and some times get the answer's correct! On Monday after
we serviced the Winnebago and went for our swim, we then went into Estepona
to make an appointment at the dentists for Brenda and had a glass of fresh
orange juice in the local bar,then we came back along the front in the hot sun
shine to the hypermarket to pick up some essentials.For supper we had Lamb
Chops and Potatoes" Bravas" Today,Tuesday Vidal came round in his" Handy-
Man" role and fixed all the little jobs on the Winnebago. We were going around
to Vidal's and Gisela for supper tonight but he has picked up a Gig at the last
moment so its a "Sun-Check " !!

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Sat.12th May.
The temperature today reached 31c so our swim at lunchtime was very welcome
after we had gone out to the English Butchers before he closed. In the afternoon
we went to Laguna Beach to see Felix and Martine,Vidals brother who were
playing at the Mai Tai Bar; as the happy hour started Vidal and Gisela joined
us after their gig in "Heaven" so we went onto the cocktails-Caipirinha's being
my favourite! We then came back to the Winnebago and had a "Eurovision"
party-with a Chinese take out delivered to us and Rosado to wash it down,
then onto Brenda's famous G/Ts and B/Cs- we ended up feeling no pain and
staggered to bed !

ESTEPONA

Thurs/Fri 10th/11th May.
After our morning dip we went into Estepona and found a market hall in the
old town which we had not seen before so we bought some fresh farm veg.
and home killed pork chops; the tapas bar next to the market was a real
locals haunt and we had a Fresh Prawn mini brochette for 1euro! We had
lunch in the square at our regular bar and as usual had a wonderful meal,
with Tinto de Verano.We then went for spin along the coast road on the
scooter as the weather is very hot and sunny as forecast.On Friday we
serviced the Winnebago and had our swim ,then we went on the scooter
to the hypermarket for the weekly shopping and spotted in the household
department a collapsable table which we had been looking for;we then
came back on the scooter with it tucked under Brenda's arm and my elbow
to the site!! We then went back and did the shopping that we had gone for
in the first place.! In the evening i made a Tortilla for supper,which proved
a great hit with the local Spanish Receptionist,we gave him a piece to try
and also Vidal and Gisela who called in after a gig for a chat.

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Tues/Wed,8th/9th May
As forecast the weather is very hot,with a high of 31c so we are taking things
easy. After our swim we went out on the scooter to the English Butchers and
to the English supermarket to top up with essentials then we went to the hype-
market in Estepona.In the afternoon Brenda sat out for a while and i started
to check the paper work and make some phone calls on the Skype Phone
to England; it looks like we will have to be back by the 11th July for the MOT
and then spend about four week's on the grand tour as the Winnebago is
repaired and serviced ! Wednesday is even hotter so Brenda has used the
new sun lounger to help with her tan as we have an at home day on the site.

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Sun/Mon,6th/7th May.
The forecast for the next seven days is hot and sunny with a high of 25o so we
have got the summer gear on including my 3/4 shorts! Our swim first thing in
the morning is going very well-we do 20 lengths and find it very relaxing and
therapeutic,On Sunday we went out on the scooter down to the marina and
on the way back called in to the" Sonora" Beach Bar for a Tinto de Verano.
In the evening we watched a film on Spanish TV after catching up with the
sports news and watching the late match between Real Madrid and Sevilla.
The football on TV does not start until 9-00pm.Monday was a service day
and also a good day for the washing-so Brenda is outside,oiled up and
watching the washing dry!! and i have tried the Air-Con for the first time
whilst i am Blogging and we are cooking Chicken and Beef Brochette's
for supper from the left-over's.Tomorrow we are starting to plan our trip
to Oxford and will arrange on the Skype Phone our renewals for the
insurance,breakdown etc.and book the Winnebago in for the repairs.
service and MOT.We are going to leave it in Oxford and hire a car and
do the grand tour of family and friends-you have been warned !!

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Sat 5th May.
A day of surprise's in different ways after our usual swim on a day of hot sunshine
to start.We went out for some shopping on the scooter as the Winnebago fridge/
freezer has gone again-it started up as soon as we bought the small fridge! When
we came back we had planned to go to Laguna Beach as Felix,Vidal's brother was
playing there in the afternoon.but just before we set off we had a cloud burst over
the site with thunder,lightening,rain and hailstones ! Lucky for us as we would have
been caught in it on the scooter in our shirt sleaves ! As we sat in the Winnebago
a couple who had arrived late on Friday in the spot next to us and had set up a
small tent,came back and were getting drowned-so we asked them in to shelter
from the storm.It turned out that they where on their way to Germany,Mohamed is
German and his wife Badia is from Morroco. They live in Agadir which is on the
west coast below Casablanca and past Marrakech on the Atantic side. After a
few drinks we found out all about the life/weather ect. in Agadir and all the details
about the sites in the area.The day before on Morrocan TV we had seen the open-
ing of a new motorway from Tanger to Marrakech by the King and Mohamed told
us about the journey times and distance,it's about 950kms. He also has the right
contacts to arrange a longer stay as the normal time is only 90 day's,so after we
had exchanged telephone number's and his address,he told us that he is coming
back to the site in a couple of weeks on his way back to Morroco,so we are
thinking of going back with them in a car as they have a guest room in their house
and they offered to put us up! We took them over some of the Beef Curry that we
had made and they gave us some oranges from his garden that had been picked
on Thursday.!! Mohamed also offerd to arrange things for us if we went down later
in the year after we come back over in September in the Winnebago.

ESTEPONA

Thurs/Fri 3rd/4th May.
The weather has been hot and sunny for the last two days and the weekend
forcast is also the same so we are out on the scooter every day dropping
down to Estepona and the marina to our local haunts.Our swimming is
getting better by the day and we do 15/20 lengths with no problems every
morning.On Thursday we caught up with the shopping,Brenda on the back
of the scooter with a bag on either shoulder doing her balancing act as usual.
We bought a spit roasted chicken from the hypermarket for dinner with
some of Brenda's famous salad,also Gisela dropped off some Spicey fried
fish which is Vidal's receipe! We went to the marina on Friday and had a
couple of Tapas for Lunch,then servised the Winnebago before the weekend.

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Wed 2nd May.
The day after the night before started with rain; the forcast for the next couple
of days is not good so we are stuck in the Winnebago but this gives us a chance
to catch up with chores and also our plans for leaving for England in two months
time.We had a "Helluva"night out with Vidal and Gisela at " Playa Bella" with
some lovely food-John Dory on Spinach glazed with Cheese Sauce and Beef
Strogonoff being the highlights; all washed down with Faustino VII Rosado and
of cause the local shots of chilled firewater on the house! The pictures below
taken by Gisela with the new camera shows the pony tail is still growing and
also Brenda's new cut; the picture of us together is before Brenda put on her
new top!

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Tues.1st May!
As it is the bank holiday here the site is busy with Spanish campers so we have
been for our swim after they have all left-I managed 20 lengths of the pool and
Brenda kept up with me but she did a couple of lengths of crawl !! The weather
is very hot and sunny so Brenda is out-side with the oil on - whilst i am on the
Blog.We have asked Vidal and Gisela out to dinner tonight so we are going
across the road to the "Playa Bella" and we are going to crack a bottle of
Champagne before we go out.As it is the 1st May we have started our
countdown to leaving for England-we are checking all the paper work and
will start to arrange the route and stops as we make our way back to Oxford
at the end of June.

CAMPING PARQUE TROPICAL

Mon 30th April.
It is a normal day in Spain as they have the bank holiday on the day,ie 1st May
tomorrow so after our swim we set off on the scooter along the front of Estepona
to the marina and had a drink and read the papers( They are printed on the same
day now) and watched the world go by; we then picked up some shopping and
had a quiet night in watching the Spanish version of Strictly Come Dancing which
is not as good as ours! One of the comments on the blog page suggested that we
should write a book about our life in the hotel business over the past 40 years, and
friends have also said the same thing- so watch out in the not to distant future for
the full story! You could get a mention !!