A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND;

FRIDAY 10th/ JULY 2015.

Another early start this morning thanks too the site workmen and the shop delivery men! A quick breakfast before we shot down to Sabinillas for our weekly shopping; I called into the bank for some cash before picking up the English newspapers from the book shop, next it was our main shop in ' Mercadona' before buying some new flowers & plants from the local market on the promenade.

After unloading back up at the house we sorted ourselves out for the day ahead; we are taking things easy as this evening we are going across to San Pedro with Den & Josie for a late 'Tapas' supper on the 'Boulevard' before coming back to Estepona to check out the new 'Orchid House' at night! Watch this space.

In yesterdays post there was a post card from the USA - Kelvin & Gaye where travelling around California,for her birthday, and stayed at the famous " Beverly Wilshire Hotel" in Beverley Hills - thanks for the post card - yours is in the post from Cadiz!

Today's Stage '7' of this years 'Tour de France' is from Livarot to Fougeras over 190 kms - the last sprint stage before they enter the " Pyrenees''

Thoughts for the day; See above.


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A SUNNY CADIZ ON THURSDAY LUNCHTIME;

                                                                     
                                                                     " BEACH BELLES"

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY SUNNY MANILVA, CADIZ, PUERTO DE SANTA MARIA & SANLUCAR DE BARRAMEDA ON THURSDAY;

THURSDAY 9th/JULY 2015.

We were up early this morning and had a cold shower before our regular breakfast; we picked Den & Josie up and set off on our travels through the mountains up to Cadiz on a very pleasant day as there was a little breeze and it was only 30 degs in the city,it got a little warmer later!

As we came across the old bridge into Cadiz the new " La Pepa" bridge( see above) which is still under construction and when finished will be the longest bridge in Spain, was shimmering in the heat haze. We headed thought the new part of the city and then dropped down into the old part thought the City walls past the cruise liner terminal where there was two very large liners berthed, it looks rather strange as they right in the centre of the city towering over the quayside!

I was heading for the University area past the oldest & largest tree in Spain,as you can see in the pictures above, we found a parking space in a small Plaza and had our first ' pit stop' of the day for a coffee & cool drink before heading off across the main Plaza in front of one of the may grand churches,We walked down through the main shopping area past all the shops, which had on their 'July' sales had started,sorry Brenda & Josie, and ended up next to the Cathedral  for another cool drink sat taking in the sights and sounds of Cadiz!

We then walked back to the car and headed along the very long white sand beach front back into the new part of the city where I parked in the underground car park 'under' our favourite Tapas Bar " Arte Serrano" We chose from the very large display & menu and had a selection of cold and hot Tapas - see below - Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese, Russian Salad, Tortilitas Camorones, Diced Chicken & Chips and a selection of other warm Tapas.

By late afternoon we decided to carry on down to the coastal town of " Puerto de Santa Maria" for a little culture as we visited the castle in the centre of the town which was shut so with a little help of a friendly local who directed us on the right road to our most favourite town of " Sanlucar de Barramenda" where Mano and his family were born - all 12 of them!

We parked up and walked into the main Plaza past the temporary " Market Hall" as the very old one is being refurbished; yet another nice cool drink was called for as we took in the sights and sounds of the town before driving around it to show Den & Josie the sights!

It was time to head back down through the mountains home to sunny Manilva after a 'Helluva' Day!!

On the way out we had noticed that " Bar Rojas" was just opening,they had a new coffee machine just being installed, so we ended up there for a late supper where Keino looked after us; the drinks were excellent,just as we like them! Brenda has a 'Pincho de Gambas' and I went for my favourite 'Bar Rojas' supper of Chicken Egg and Chips - Spanish style! - Campo Fried Egg,Chicken that tastes like Chicken, and of course fresh -'Patatas Fritas'!!

There is a large Menu to choose from and the prices are as normal in the village for locals,- Keino came along later with a drink on the 'house' to finish off a memorable day down here on the 'Costa Del Sol'!!



Thoughts for the Day; See above.


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A VERY HOT & SUNNY TARIFA ON WEDNESDAY LUNCHTIME;

                                              " BOLONIA BEACH " CLICK ON TO SEE !

                                              GIBRALTAR FROM THE ALGECIRAS SIDE

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA;

A VERY HOT & SUNNY MANILVA, TARIFA AND BOLONIA ON WEDNESDAY;

WEDNESDAY 8TH JULY 2015.

We were up early this morning as the workmen are coming in earlier and leaving in the early afternoon; after a quick breakfast we collected Den & Josie and set off on our 'Travels' Today is the hottest day so far this year and possibly one of our hottest here in sunny Manilva , by late afternoon it was showing over 40 degs - that hot that " Castle Radio FM 89.2" has gone off air due to the heat in the studio effecting the computers and the presenter!

We shot over to Tarifa in the 'Nissan Note' ( see below) and walked in to the town for a cool drink before going into the old walled center of the town,ending up in the local market as you can see in the pictures above; another cold drink was called for before we headed along the coast past the 'Kite Surfers' to Bolonia.The beach was packed as was the local 'Chininguitio' for lunch.

We had a typical 'Beach' lunch which is OK but not memorable; Brenda had the local 'Fish' Den had the 'House Ham Croquettes' I had 'Steak & Frits but Josie choose wisely as she had the 'Grilled Sardines' with a Tomato salad! See below;

We came back the same way over the mountains above the 'Strait of Gibraltar' looking across to the 'Riff Mountain' & Africa; we stopped at the Mirador Cafe' for a ice cream before heading back along the coast to sunny Manilva.See the pictures above.

I will catch up later with the results of today's Stage 5 of the " Tour de France" from Arras to Amiens over 189 kms through the Battle Fieilds on the 'Somme'

Yesterday on the Facebook page of old pictures of Liverpool is showed " The Stork Hotel in Queen Square" taken in the 1900's ! 66 year later I was the youngest Manager ever,at the age of 21, as a Trainee Manager in 1964 I used to have to test the fire escapes from the top floor of the hotel,once a month in my 'Black Pinstripes'-.by wrapping a rope around my self and dropping down on a pulley system at the front of the hotel much to the 'Delight' of the market workers! See the picture below of the hotel - it had not changed in 1966!

This evening we are taking things very easy and trying to keep as cool as possible to prepare ourselves for tomorrows trip to Cadiz.Watch this space.


Thoughts for the Day; See above.