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Ok, back to part 2 of my Zoo adventures in past and present.

We went to the Zoo in Fuengirola with the kids, and it was really brilliant. They had gone to great lengths to make it very child friendly with lots of glass panes at floor level, aviary with birds running around freely and a HUGE playground next to a cafeteria. Ideal for the kids to get rid of some excess energy.

The zoo as a whole was so integrated and well thought out. But looking at their website, it appears that this a fairly new thing. In ‘98 it was your bog standard depressing zoo, but it all changed then. The only thing was the that the cafeteria food was a little boring. Chicken nuggets, fries, pizza, hot dogs and sandwiches. They rest of the zoo is so well thought out and wonderful that I thought they might put a bit more effort into the food and challenge the stereotype which is that children only want bland food. Anyway, a brilliant day and it appears that they are open until midnight in the summer. Wicked!

Here is some of the history of the zoo i nicked from their website:

History of the Zoo

In 1998 this small zoo, which had opened to the public in the 1970s, was in a pitiful state. Designed 30 years earlier as a traditional complex of cages and fenced enclosures, it had then expanded chaotically as the town itself developed. Both the physical appearance of the establishment and the living conditions of the animals left much to be desired.

In December 1998, Rain Forest took over the contract to operate the former site, conducting a radical refurbishment to create the first zoo fully designed in accordance with the very latest “full-immersion zoo” concept.

Taking advantage of the fine climate of the Costa del Sol, and bearing in mind the small size of the land available, one single ecosystem was chosen: the tropical forest.

The sub-tropical vegetation which grows on the coast of Malaga province served to re-create the tropical rainforests of Madagascar, Equatorial Africa and Southeast Asia.

A team of architects, builders, sculptors, painters and gardens set about making the visionary designs a reality,and over the course of two years the zoo’s appearance was completely transformed. All the fences and buildings disappeared, rivers and waterfalls sprang up, along with caves, valleys and rocks. The small size of the complex presented quite a challenge. Subterranean stables were built, deep canyons and raised gardens erected to screen off the nearby buildings. And so the zoo grew upwards, giving visitors the impression of being within a much larger site.

THE ANIMALS ARRIVE

One major step at this stage came when the first animals were introduced into their new environments. And without a doubt, the most significant of all was the arrival of the chimpanzees.

The zoo had kept, and even bred, these intelligent primates almost from the very outset, in unhealthy cages, on their own or in pairs. Over the years they had developed stereotypical and completely abnormal behavioural patterns, such as infanticide. Over a two-year period the keepers and veterinary staff at the zoo had succeeded in creating a more or less stable social unit with five of these six animals. On the day they emerged to explore their new territory, their life changed forever. For the first time they could walk on grass, touch plants, run, play hide-and-seek… For the first time they could behave like chimpanzees.

Easter time again! And in Spain it is always something special. It doesn’t really matter that I am not religious, I still enjoy looking at all the processions and shenanigans surrounding the celebration of Easter.

I am hoping to get some photos of our local set-up for you all to have a look at, but here is one I found on the internet. All the brotherhoods (Nazarenos) always were these (for me) really scary hoods that always remind me of the Ku Klux Klan. I guess if you are brought up in Spain you don’t get the same associations at all, it will be a normal Easter thing and you know that under that hood is your dad, neighbour, teacher etc. ( actually, looking at what I have just written, that is exactly the same as with the Ku Klux Klan - it was quite likely your neighbour, dad and teacher hiding under those hoods in its hey day…)

I think most people will think of scary klan people!

Here are some more pictures of Nazarenos in their different coloured robes. I have no idea what different brotherhoods they belong to or more about what the defines the different Nazarenos. But at least I got you some photos to look at

I don’t know if it is because of all the property programmes on tv, but I am finding it increasingly difficult not to get excited about investing in property abroad. Well, not abroad for me ’cause I am already abroad in Spain, or hang on, yes abroad because there are now new and interesting destinations that I get light-headed about, it is not all about Spain for me.

There is something special about owning a place. I remember the excitement when we got the keys to our first house. It was ours and we could do what ever we wanted to it.

Now, more wants more. If I could just have that cheap apartment in Bulgaria up in the mountains, that I think I could actually almost afford. I can see myself skiing around on the snow-caped mountains having a laugh and drinking mulled wine in the early evening and enjoying a roaring fire.

Our should go for the more exotic Cape Verde and find myself a property on the island of Sal ?

There is certainly plenty of opportunity out there and it doesn’t surprise me that an increasing amount of people buy an investment property abroad as their first property as they cannot afford to buy anything in Britain. Desperate to get onto the property ladder, for many it seems the only way.

And who wouldn’t like an apartment in the sun?

I am started to get really excited now. Slowly slowly you can see signs of Christmas here and there. Not in the streets yet, but some of the larger shops and supermarkets have a small corner dedicated to wrapping paper, candles, decorations etc. Nothing big yet, but I am sure in will slowly grow until it takes over a substantial part of the shop.

Here in Spain it all usually starts a bit later than in Northern Europe where I assume they have been going for a few weeks already. My guess is that it is because they celebrate Reyes here. Los Reyes or  Three Kings Day is celebrated on the 6th of January, so if Christmas started as early here as it does in Northern Europe we really would be sick to the bone of it.

Anyway, El Hombre is not bothered about Christmas, but since we have now got El Rubio and this is going to be his first Christmas, things are going to change! Can’t wait to bake cookies and listen to Christmas music. Oh..and I just forgot about the mulled wine! Last year due to my pregnancy I tried a none-alcoholic mulled wine which was absolutely shit. Overly sweet and sticky. I really wasn’t impressed. But this year we are back to the good old alcoholic stuff.

Our Christmas is going to be in Spain this year. Probably just at home, or maybe we will go up and see some family elsewhere in Andalucia, still undecided but it feels quite nice that we don’t have to plan everything in advance.

What are you doing for Christmas?

So let’s celebrate the dead. That’s what we do down here at the moment down here in Spain for All Saints Day.

The feast day of Todos los Santos on 1st November, a public holiday in Spain, is celebrated as the Roman Catholic and Anglican feast to honour all Saints, known and unknown, and was moved from its original date in May more than ten centuries ago to offset the pagan autumn festivals held at that time of year.

All Saints’ Day in Spain now revolves around remembering all the dead, when relatives visit the graves of their loved ones in the cemetery and decorate the graves with flowers. Extra public transport is generally laid on in the larger towns, and florists more than double their sales compared with any other time of the year.

Personally I think I quite like this custom. I mean, at first it strikes me as a bit odd this whole hanging out at the grave yard late at night adding flowers and cleaning etc. but on second thought what a nice idea.
I do think that when someone passes away nowadays society accepts a certain time of grieving. But after that you are meant to be moving on a get over it.

Which you never do.

So what a nice idea to have a time every year when you remember the loved ones that are no more and allow yourself to feel that loss.
Everything seems to be so concentrated on moving forwards and moving on, when it is not alway the most sensible thing.

1. You can’t for the life of you figure out why bars and clubs keep closing down just as you get started with a night out. Surely the night’s just beginning?

2. You aren’t just surprised that the plumber, painter or repairman has turned up on time; you’re surprised he turned up at all.

3.  You think it’s nice to tell everyone how great they look today.

4. Not giving every new acquaintance dos besos just feels so rude.

5. What’s with all this butter on toast? And where’s the olive oil? Toast without olive oil? Is this a joke?

6. You forget to say please and thank you when asking for things. You implied it in your tone of voice, right?

7. You don’t see sunflower seeds as a healthy snack - they’re just what the cool kids eat.

8. Every sentence you speak in English contains at least one of the following: ‘bueno,’ ‘vale,’ ‘venga,’ ‘pues nada’…

9. You recognize clapping as an art form, not just a way to express approval.

10. You have friends named Jesus, José María, María José, Ángel, and Inmaculada Concepción. Many of each, in fact.

Its that time of the year where the weather is all opposite of how things normally are. Well, down here in Southern Spain any.

When I sit inside I can feel the chill from the thick stone walls that the sun doesn’t quite manage to warm up any more. I found a jumper that I wear when Im sitting still for a while, eg. in front of the computer:) The tiles floors contribute to the chill and Rubio is getting cold hands from crawling across the floor. He has got little slippers on and a jumper as well.

But then we go outside. And it is the other way around. The sun is so hot, I now literally have to undress (no…not undress like that..!) when we are going anywhere..

Yesterday we went for lunch in the next village on from ours and I honestly wish I had put a skirt on rather than my jeans. Rubio was wearing a body, a pair of trousers and lots of sun lotion and he was a bit too hot.
And here I am now in the house in the morning with a bloody fleece on and a blanket over my lgs like and old lady! That said I must admit we haven’t turned the heating on yet. Would be quite something if we could wait until the first of November to do that, a personal best I think (And hooray for the environment and our bills.).

But whether I want to or not, I think I have to wait until Thursday as that is when the Butanero (gas man) comes and I have just discovered that we are completely out. So even if I wanted to, I couldn’t turn on the heating.
So until then, it’s the old layering trick that will have to do.

I woke up with having the ears of a fluffy bunny rabbit dangled in my face. As my reaction wasn’t quite as the desired effect (I didn’t get out of bed and pick up el Rubio) he the proceeded to drop the bunny on my head, sit down and reach through the bars to retrieve it again, stand up and drop the bunny on my head again.

It was 6.45. I was tired, (that’s kinda a permanent thing now. The tiredness. I’m always tired and I consider 11 to be a late night.) but there really was no two ways about it, had to get up, because babies don’t care what day of the week it is.

Now he is sleeping his midday nap, I am sitting here by the computer looking at my favourite mountain.

Last summer I had the MOST unpleasant wakeup call every morning. Because of the heat we would sleep with open windows.  We live in the centre of a village with small streets, so you can pretty much hear all that goes on.
And every morning they come to collect the thrash. People hang it outside their doors on hooks, or on the metal bars covering their windows (got to get it off the ground so the cats and street dogs don’t find it and disperse of the full contents all over the street. I’ve tried it once, not funny. ).
My street is one of the first ones the bin men go to, so I would usually still be asleep when they got there. But not for long. Oh, no.
Because one of them was obviously smoking too much, cause my wakeup call was him coughing up phlegm EVERY morning.

Ever tried retching whilst still asleep? Not recommended. It was just so utterly disgusting, and not a very nice way to wake up.

I’ll take a bunny in the head and a full nappy any day over that. 

So tell me, how did you wake up this morning and in what country?
With breakfast in bed and a dirty look? (I think I’ll go for this one next time, if I had the choice)
Alarm clock as you had to go to work?
When a fly landed on your face and you found yourself still dressed on the sofa and some empty bottles to prove what you where up to last night?

And I speak from bitter experience. Not being much of a cheese lover myself, I do love my cheese cake as it is, well, not very cheesy. I ordered a cheese cake in Las Alpujarras, Spain some years ago. It was made with goats cheese…
I almost vomited as the rank taste and smell of goat hit me.

Never go for the cheese cake whilst abroad!

Ok, If you live anywhere near Málaga, you must be both deaf and dumb if you have not heard that IKEA is opening a store very soon.

And how we have been waiting for it! Beforehand the nearest store was in bloody Sevilla (or Seville to the ignorant…) , which is quite a few hours drive away. A drive that an amazing number of people from Málaga and around actually did, lured by the promise of cheap and nicely designed furniture in a monster store where you can find it all.

So when will this new place of worship open? On the 30.10.2007. I saw it myself as I drove past IT the other day. The building was plastered in massive posters displaying the date, and I felt a funny flutter in my belly when I looked at it. A feeling akin to being in love.

To ease (or fuel??) this general feeling of excitement building in the whole region, IKEA has handed out their catalogue to almost every household in the region of Málaga. Including my little village. I must have about 4 now. Some where left outside derelict houses, and I did think that one can never have too many IKEA catalogues which has come true since I have already given away 2 to some unfortunates who never got it.

But here we are. We have arrived at the point of my title for today’s blog posting. Yes, I have watched it, the sacrilege that is, here in the tiny, windy, village streets. I saw them lying there, some pages torn, all of the damaged and dirty. I saw several and thought to myself; how could anyone let this happen? Have people no sense of what is right and what is wrong? Because there they were, the poor discarded catalogues. In the streets like ordinary thrash, trampled on by ignorants unaware of their value.
I clutched my 4 copies closer to my heart and scurried on. As I fought to hold back the tears I murmured to myself “Bedrooms page 120, kitchens page 92, textiles 246…”

Do you know what a Spanish Feria is?

You probably think women dressed in colour full flamenco dresses, men playing guitars, clapping of hands and dancing, fine wine and fine horses. Well, you are right and you are wrong. It is all those things and a lot more.

First of all it’s noise and lots of it. The first feria I attended in a small village here in Spain had two bands playing back to back all night. So one band would play for about 2 hours, a medley of cover versions of latest hits as well as some old classics to get the older generation going. Then the other band would come on and…guess what…do exactly the same! So after a few hours you would be brainwashed after listening to the same songs over and over again. By a bunch of tartly dressed women and some cheesy guys with far too much grease in their hair.

And they didn’t stop until 7 the next morning, the poor sods.

What else is Feria in a small village? Its ferris wheels, bumper cars and candy floss. Macho men riding their horses. Horses they don’t normally care to exercise, but kept to keep their Feria pride of being real men and be able to parade around on a stallion, however rarely they ride it.

But for a lot of people in the pueblos, the town feria is a chance to come back and see family and catch up with old friends, wherever they have gone in the world. Which might be the bit I am lacking to truly enjoy the feria.

So…what is this going to be about? Well, I live in a small village in Spain, so mostly about my daily life here and other things I might observe.

Sometimes I really cannot believe that I have lived here in Spain for more than 6 years as time has flown by. And I can’t see it slowing down as I now have a baby. A baby who will probably grow up feeling Spanish more that anything? Kinda strange. And in a few years time he will be correcting me when I don’t it right in Spanish unless I really make an effort to become completely fluent.

I am hoping to get some feedback from you readers. It is always a bit more interesting when a  dialogue gets going, so please feel more than welcome to leave a comment or a question to me.

For some reason I have just realised that I never got to go to the beach to go swimming this year. I mean, it’s usually packed in August when most Spanish take their summer holiday, so that is not the time to go, but didn’t go at all.
Next year El Rubio will be bigger, so we will definitely be there building castles in the sand and digging for the sake of digging.