The Last Day

Today is MaryAnn’s final full day with me. She will have to get up very early as Paco will be picking her up at 3:30 am. I have made certain she has a ‘to go’ coffee cup so I can send her on her way with a Donna coffee. Caffeine is a morning requirement for our MaryAnn.

The forecast is still unstable, with hopes of clearing up later. We skip breakfast this morning as MaryAnn wants to run some last minute errands and we are meeting Anne-Grete at Las Yucas for coffee at noon.

The rain stops and MaryAnn hurries out the door. I watch her cross the street just as the skies open up again. We have learned not to leave without an umbrella and thankfully she has hers.

I’m feeling bad about the weather she has witnessed, but then we can’t control it and there is no shovelling involved. You have to look at the positives. Also, she is experiencing weather that is unusual for this time of year. It will only add to her overall story.

I know MaryAnn will be packing up later so I place a bottle of Rioja and a can of Spanish olives on her bed for her to take back and enjoy with Jamie. Tapas are forever!

Suddenly, breaking the calm of the morning, I hear sirens outside the building. Police, ambulance and loads of horn honking. I look across the plaza over towards the Dover Pub and Sale y Pepe restaurant to see a hook and ladder fire truck and a pumper make their way over to the restaurant. Oh no!

I don’t see any smoke. I text Anne-Grete and we brainstorm that it could have been a leak with all the rain. It was interesting to watch the ladder go up to the top floor of the building. A resident opens their terrace window and has a conversation with the firemen. Everyone is fine, and the ladder retreats.

I want to introduce MaryAnn to Spanish churros and hot chocolate. They are enjoyed at breakfast or as a snack. We find a table and order a coffee and shortly afterwards we have a girl chat with Anne-Grete while enjoying our churros. I don’t think they were MaryAnn’s favourite, but it would hold us over until we grab something later.

The sun eventually comes out so after bidding farewell to Anne-Grete, we decide to go for a walk to get our steps in. My head is buzzing from the two coffees and churro chocolate. I am, however, sighing with happiness that I can finally feel the sun on my face; even if it is only for a short while.

On our way back from our walk, the smell of espetos tickle our nostrils. MaryAnn knows I’ve been waiting for her to try them. We are trying not to eat too much today as we are having a final fish meal at El Yate tonight. Tapas and a drink it will be.

We find a table in the sun looking out to the promenade with the sea off to our left and place our order. MaryAnn has enjoyed the tinto de verano drink (red wine and citrus soda).

The olives come with the drinks. They are so yummy and salty. Then, the espetos arrive. I giggle with glee. I’ve waited my entire holiday for this. I could have done it solo, but sharing is more fun.

Is a Food With a Face a Thing?

After all the years of our friendship, I never realized that ‘having a face on your food’ was a thing that made MaryAnn squeamish.

In Málaga, she did mention a face, after seeing the monster langoustines on the paella, but it never registered with me that it was a ‘thing’ with her. I probably couldn’t hear her while sucking out all the juices from the shell. LOL

She did very well considering. Not an issue for me. Not at all! I now know for the future.

The espetos are delicious, washed down with a caña (little beer) while enjoying the sunshine, the sea and people watching.

A Negative

One thing I haven’t mentioned are the street sellers. I understand street musicians and buskers, but mothers dragging young children around with them while selling beaded bracelets for 1 euro, or men carrying knock off hats and watches come up to you in the restaurants and ask you to buy. I would expect it on the beach, but not in the restaurants.

When you are seated outside, it is even more prevalent. A polite, ‘No, gracias’ should suffice. Usually they are not aggressive. We had one woman who wouldn’t leave after 3 refusals and that was on MaryAnn’s first night here.

I have asked the locals about this, and they say as long as the vendors are respectful, they are allowed inside. It takes a bit to get used to. Many are migrants from Africa. There is still so much to learn about this place. If I was going to pick a negative, that would be it. Still, it is tolerable.

There is a bracelet scam that I personally witnessed in Seville just outside the Plaza de España by the gardens. Women attempt to tie bracelets on your wrist and when you say no, they demand money. People pay it just to get away from them. I did not pay.

Back at the apartment, MaryAnn is packing up while I catch up on the news and look at my March Madness picks before we head to dinner.

Return to El Yate – Our Last Supper

It is El Yate for a final fish dinner around 8:00 pm tonight. We have adjusted quite well to the Spanish eating hours, but not so much to the staying up late.

Dance clubs go to 6:00 or 7:00 am. Needless to say that as I have matured, my sleep is a priority. No dance clubs for me. We can, however, hear the revellers in the plaza as they make their way home in the early morning.

Lucas

We are becoming regulars at El Yate. The servers know us and wave. We know the routine of bebidas (drinks) first and we ask the waiter for his recommendations. Tonight, we have my Carlos Alcaraz look-a-like as our server. He assures us everything is fresh.

Later on, we were concerned for our waiter because he was standing up with his eyes closed, He looked like he was about to collapse. Long hours.

After some friendly banter, he tells us that his name is Lucas. He shares his journey with us, and how he has landed here in Torre del Mar and how much he loves it. I can understand this.

Tonight, the calamari and aioli is a given, the best I have ever eaten, and we add a salad of sweet ripened tomato and creamy avocado dressed with olive oil. The topper is the octopus. We both love grilled octopus, but this version is different and is mouthwatering, melt in your mouth deliciousness. The recipe is from the Galicia region in the north.

Maryann and I enjoy our glass of vino tinto and reminisce about the last two weeks. She says she totally understands why I love this place so much. It all makes sense now.

We finish off the evening with a photo with Lucas.

El Paseo Final

With bellies full, we slowly saunter back to the apartment knowing this is our last walk up the Paseo Larios. The wide pedestrian walkway glows from the overhead lights reflecting on the stone and spitting raindrops. The birds have gone to sleep, The young girl is thankfully not on the steps of the church tonight. Hopefully, she has found a safe place to rest her head.

We pass by the bronze lion and the abuelo sculpture in the plaza. We take deep breaths before taking the stairs to our unit.

Shortly afterwards, we bid each other goodnight. MaryAnn has to be up at 2:55 am for a 3:30 am pick up and I’m making coffee.

The return flight times back are horrible in that you have to leave so early, but necessary in order to make the connections to Canada.

It is hard to believe that MaryAnn’s visit is concluding, but we have many memories to draw upon. She says she will return to Spain someday. There is still so much for her to see and experience.

Adiós mi querida amiga. Que tengas un buen viaje. Te veré pronto. (Goodbye my dear friend. Have a good trip. I will see you soon.)

As expected, while MaryAnn was here I didn’t get a lot of writing done so I have been capturing our escapades after she has returned to Canada,

I hope you have enjoyed following along. Time for a walk along the promenade. I still have 11 days left until I return to Canada.

Hasta pronto!