sun-drenched spain

04Aug09

Tanned and rested.

Just the state I like to be in after a beautiful, relaxing vacation. This time was no different. We wandered off to the South of Spain to immerse ourselves in beautiful Marbella located in the Spanish region of Costa Del Sol. Aptly named. For it was HOT HOT HOT!

Averaging in the mid to high 30’s, air conditioning was a must and the fact that we had two pools within 50m was just gravy. Oh! And don’t forget about the roof-top deck for those evening BBQs!

From there we moved on to Cordoba for a day and then Madrid for another week.  Too many stories to share, so here’s a few photographic highlights from the trip.

We had many-a-fish on this trip.  The fish were fresh and oh so yummy.  Plus, nothing like getting your natural omega-3’s from the shores of Costa Del Sol and home-cooked!

Unfortunately, it took a few unlucky fish to be sacrificed before we learned the art of flipping.  This was attempt #2.  Attempt #1 was too gruesome to photograph.

We tried to see a football match but unfortunately all the local teams had finished their seasons.  So, we opted for a little more traditional sport, Bull Fighting!  We found an amateur contest and bought some outrageously expensive tickets, but boy was it worth it.  Takes a little to get over the inhumane-ness of it.  It really is an unfair fight.  But, definitely an experience and perhaps a must-see.  Haven’t decided on that yet.  A young boy and a young girl were the matadors du jour and they put up a decent show.

Neither was able to earn the prestigious tail, though.  If, after the fight, the El Presidente throws up three white flags, the matador gets to keep the bull’s tail (makes good oxtail soup!).  Two gets both horns and one gets just a single horn.

We also made a side-trip to the rock that the UK still owns.  And after visiting it, I can see why Spain is in no rush to repatriate it.  It’s really a rock with a Marks and Spencer and other random shops I’d expect to see in a Harry Potter movie.  The one saving grace?  It’s the closest point to Africa, so that’s kinda cool.  We got pictures of Africa commemorating the closest I’ve ever been to the continent (not the country, still haven’t found that on the map yet ).

Obviously, food continues to be a highlight of any trip I take.  And so… Churros!!!  Yummy awesome goodness covered in sugar and then dipped in thick, thick hot chocolate.  *drool*

In Cordoba, we stayed just a single night, but long enough to do some damage shopping and sweat off a few pounds checking out the Alcazar Castle and Roman Bridge.  Pretty cool… pretty hot.  Honestly, can’t remember much about this particular sight.  The fountain was cool… it kept me cool.

Right next door was the Roman Bridge.  You guessed it, build by the Romans… still standing.  Quite a feat, I might add.

And a true testament to how hot it was… people were ditching shoes left right and center.  Well not really, but there was this suspicious pair of boots just sitting there.  Spontaneous combustion?

So really, the most important take-away from this is to get a place with a/c.  It’s a must.  Then you can do brotherly things like kicking ass in chess…

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