GETTING TO KNOW YOU……

Our first day in Estepona was really just an evening, so after staying up as long as possible to reduce the effects of jet lag…………sounds good, but don’t believe it works………we all hit the sack, with “Zombie Day” to follow tomorrow.  Zombie Day = first day off the plane when you wander around aimlessly trying to stay active and awake when all you really want to do is go back to bed and have a big long nap.  Sibylle was the big surprise this morning………normally a chronic sleeper inner………trunk slammer even with a 10 o’clock tee time……..she was first up, had the coffee made, and had already scoped out the view from our fab condo.  We have no solid plans for the day, but have to hit the grocery store, check out bike rentals, and will probably have a trip into town to look around.  Jutta, birthday girl, is next up, and with coffee in hand I can see her checking out the pathway along the water in front of our building.  I am sure this coastal path, mostly paved, runs like forever, and when the shoreline is not available, it ducks inland, turns into the Blue Trail (yep painted blue) before heading back down to the shore.  I think there is some version of this trail all along the Costa del Sol.  I won’t say it is busy, but definitely well used, with walkers, cyclists, and scooter jockeys, heading back and forth constantly.  Jutta looks over at Sibylle………their eyes meet…….I know what is coming!  “We are going for a walk” they say……….big %&$ing surprise…….and the goats are off.  Sheila joins me a short while later and can’t believe she out slept Sibylle.  The goats return a short while later and report they had a quick breakfast at a “chiringuito” (beach bar/restaurant) which as you can probably guess, will be the next word in the mispronunciation sweepstakes.

Something I didn’t tell you yesterday.  This building has a car elevator!………no really……..remote opens this outside garage door and you drive into a tight cubicle……..open your window and press the down button, and away you go.  It takes a little while, but eventually the door opens and you are in the underground parking.  I think we have seen only one other person in the building so far (13 units), but there are quite a few cars down here………mostly with covers on……..can you say Maserati, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW……..oh yes……..all present and accounted for.  Of course I pull in with the Ford minivan and fit right in……..I have decided to call her “Little Ninja”…….good set of wheels and could kick their asses. 

We head to the old town area in Estepona, and find that because it is Sunday, many of the shops are closed, but most restaurants and bars remain open.  Very cute area with narrow little streets, and after hiking around for an hour or so we know we have barely scratched the surface of what it has to offer……will be back for sure……stop for a glass of wine and a snack for me, and make our way down to the main street/promenade along the beach……..happening place with lots going on and we find Costa Bike, the multiple outlet dealer who has cornered the market for bikes, scooters, SUP’s, all along the coast.  Get this…..regular pedal bike……38 euro/day for the first 3 days, then 8 euro per day thereafter…….I can see the goats looking at each other from across the street as I am negotiating with Elroy the manager………Elroy doesn’t really care that I have to play golf every couple of days and the bike will just be sitting there……..peasant!……….and he has no interest in offering a discount.   Goats say baaaaaaaddd, we like to walk, and bikes are off the table for now.  Have to scoot home and get ready for dinner.  Scoot is what I have been doing all day…….I haven’t walked this much since I was at St.Patricks last year and they didn’t allow riding carts on the course.

We leave early for dinner and stop for cocktails at an outside bar.  I tried to order a vodka martini, on the rocks, a little dirty, and the waiter looked at me like I was from another planet………he offered an espresso martini which they have on their pre-printed cocktail menu, and this, and the others, are the only 20 cocktails they make at this bar!  Settled for a shitty watery manhattan……..getting grumpy………..don’t get me started!!!!!

 

Jutta has selected a great upscale tapas joint for her birthday dinner…….the food, wine, and service, are fantastic.

We follow it up with a hotel bar next door where we try to order White Russians for nightcaps………kind of a tradition for us……..again we get the what planet are you guys from look from the bartender and end up settling for glasses of wine.

 

Enough…..enough……..what a full day……I am so bagged……first round of golf tomorrow.