Este Marina 9th April

Arrived Este marina, we must have looked in need of a drink because they gave us a bottle of wine :O) The sail from Caleta de Velez was not the most interesting to date. Hardly any wind, lots of swell, a lot of flopping about. About an hour before arrival the wind and sea picked up and we surfed 50% of the way to our destination. Here's Lerryn Lady at dusk on her mooring - we've since got rid of the mucky fender stain on her hull. Mostly we moor stern to with a slime line on the bow - this is typical Mediterranean mooring.

 

 And this is the view behind us:

Walk from coast to Malaga Velez

Time for some weight bearing exercise. From Caleta de Velez marina, inland for five miles, to Malaga Velez. En route, what we believe are the remains of a Roman aqueduct:

 

 Goats in a river bed.

A street in Malaga Velez

Escuela Oficial de Idiomas - Official Language School where they teach Galician, Catalan, Arabic, Korean, Mandarin, Cornish... I'm sure this gorgeous courtyard would distract me from studies:

 

Fuengirola to Caleta de Velez

Five and a half hour motor-sail yesterday. Beautiful day. No wind unfortunately and what there was only amounted to 6knots. We flew the Code Zero,  a large lightweight sail that picked up a knot or two for us. A pair of bellows may have been useful. Greg skyped family in Berlin and Norwich, who thought it surreal to be speaking to him as we sailed along.

Leaving Fuengirola early morning - prefer the hinterland to the coastal strip:

 

Sun Block required on lips today.

Greg skyping from the deck :O)

 

 The sail on left is the Code Zero, the one on right is the main, because the wind was very light (and directly behind us) we 'goosewinged' the sails (one out each side) to get as much surface area exposed as possible - even so you can see the sails are not 'full' of wind, but they still gave us a bit more ooomph :O)

 

 

 

 

Knit and Natter Fuengirola

The lovely ladies of Fuengirola Knit and Natter: Penny, Beatrice, Bridget and Jenny - thank  you so much for your warm welcome, for teaching me about 'life-lines' and life in Fuengirola - loved every minute of it :O)

 

Fuengirola - the first night.

To be frank, the approach to Fuengirola from the sea made my heart sink. On the positive side it has a long (7kms) sandy beach interrupted only briefly by the Marina. It also has a pleasant palm-lined promenade and beautiful watchful hills behind the town. Unfortunately my eyes were drawn unwillingly to the  hotch potch of 'pack-em-in' high-rise hotels on the beachfront road.  Walking into town, we were accosted by groups of young men offering free champagne if we would only follow them into the Foreplay Bar! Navigating away from the hard sell, we ventured further into town and found the Plaza de Constitucion -  a great spot to sit and people watch under massive Wisterias. Running off the Plaza a warren of charming small streets full of tapas bars with families and couples (and us)  enjoying the lively atmosphere.

 

 

Plaza de Constitucion

 

I spotted what I thought was a vacant sitting room above the street. Only when the photo was downloaded did I notice someone sitting there.

 

One of the side streets:

 

Estepona to Fuengirola

As the rain was set from daybreak we decided we may as well be making headway as sitting in a Marina. And so it is we've been at sea for 4 and a bit hours motor-sailing eastwards. A dredger adredging as we exited  Estepona Marina. Sky overcast, bit of drizzle, bit of a swell and barely 10 knots sw. These conditions followed us most of the journey; wind on our stern, taking turns on the helm and admiring the hills behind the builtups of Costa No Sol. The sun finally came out. Greg defrosted his fingers, fishermen waved and at the approach into Fuengirola Marina we noticed a sunken vessel shoreside. We are now hunkered in with a lot of other boats,  protection from the breakwater too. Tonight we're planning a wander round the Old Town. Saturday I'm off to the Knit and Natter group here. After Knitting it's over to the Flea market. Tomorrow = chill, possibly head up to the hill village of Mijas by bus:O)

Just before Fuengirola - love them thar hills.

And to Starboard ...

That's it for today folks.
 

Wandering the 'Old Town' of Estepona

After a day of computer software breakdown trial and tribulation (now resolved) we decided on an early evening walk around the Old Town for a few hours. What a treat for the eyes, flowers everywhere...

Just off Calle Terraza

 

Greg relaxes his pins:

 

A music bar

Yellow pot street :O)

Purple pot street :O)

 

 

Blue pot street :O) 

 

 

Continuation of blue pot street with mosaics...

 

 

More flowers:

 

 

more mosaics:

 

More steps :O)

Then down to the beach - Los tres amigos

 

Boy glued to palm: 

 

No prizes

 

 

This man caught my eye. I discovered that he was reading 'La Sombra del Viento' - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - one of my favourite Spanish authors.

 

Man de-fronding palm.

 

This street clown  came into the pharmacy where we were, asking for the spanish equivalent of Lemsip. Greg reckoned he must have a bad cold with such a red nose!

 

 

 

Back to our mooring as the sunset.