Days 249-255, 16-22 Feb '15, Fuengirola, Costa del Sol. We've been here a little over a week and the time has just flown. It's funny to think that most of the Irish holiday makers on the flight down with us will have gone home by now. We are so lucky that we can flit about for a week just enjoying each day as it comes. Aside from one day of teeming rain that thoroughly watered the garden, it's essentially already Summer. Yesterday was Saturday Flea Market and the warm sunny weather encouraged me to buy a summery top (not needed) and some comfy, casual sneakers (needed - boots, wellies and ugg boots no longer required) - massive expenditure of €3. Also a bag of garlic for €1. Love the flea market. Had a hoot at the supermercado the other day. Got all big and brave and decided to buy fresh seafood in the pescaderia (fish section). Hmmm. They have numbers to determine order of service... Looked everywhere for a ticket number machine. Nope. Gave in and asked (in Spanish). Ahhh... tiny little red machine on the wall. Woo hoo - had ticket and was officially in the queue. Ended up with half a kilo of the world's largest king prawns and a couple of kilos of mussels - all for €8 (A$12). Made moules mariniere with the mussels - steamed the succulent little critters open in white white wine, garlic and chopped onions. Luscious. Got big and brave and whacked the prawns in a pan to sizzle with garlic, chilli, soy and sweet chilli sauce. Mmmmm. Fortunately James is an excellent peeler of prawns and I am very spoiled. Topped the feast off with home made garlic bread and a respectable bottle of white (€1.50). Yes we are foodies. On the subject, we have continued to enjoy the Cazuela/Casserole promotion and have now visited 9 different taps bars. Hang on - that's an average of 1 per day. Today we tried one of the marina restaurants for sardines and then moved on to a glorious tapas bar called Med15, on the waterfront, for a mini-casserole (lamb! hmmmm). Whilst discussing food, here are some important notes... Things to really remember... Callos is tripe. Churros is donut and chocolate. Morcilla is blood pudding. Not good. Croquetas are, however, always good. Like Italian arancini rice balls, but even nicer. Albondigas? Small meatballs in a variety of sauces (good). Higado? Chopped liver in tomato sauce (not so much). Spanish is coming along nicely and all opportunites to order and negotiate in Spanish are written off to education expenses. We walked more than 7 kms in total up and down the promenade. Very much a Sunday routine in Fuengirola due to free parking all day - woo hoo! We are well and truly on Spanish Time now - up at 8.30 am (... 9.30 am...), breakfast... Out of the house by midday or so unless there's a market on, afternoon - out for tapas lunch and some exploring... Home around 5 pm for a belated afternoon nap... Get dinner organised by 9 pm... bed by midnight. Strange days indeed after years of up early, work hard all day, eat dinner and go to bed. Emminently more preferable. Other outings this week? Drove to the massive Miramar Mall - nothing to write home about, but no doubt a haven in the heat of summer. Great movie theatres though, with English language movies - will go back for a movie for sure. We also took the Mercedes out for it's inaugural drive up to the pueblo blanco/white village of Mijas. We strolled around, checked out the old caves in the hill side and enjoyed the expansive views over the coast - one of the few days with a cold wind though - brrr. Plans this week? Tuesday market for fresh fruit and veges, excursion to somewhere... Nerja? Marbella? Ronda? Who knows what the week will bring.