MARBELLA, SOUTHERN SPAIN

25 Nov 2006

After a slightly bumpy and relatively long flight (into a headwind all the way) followed by a very expensive taxi to Marbella (twice the price of the air fare) I am now sat in the hotel bar (not a great surprise some would say). Room is huge, clean and has a well stocked minibar! Double bonus after blagging the front seat on the plane (no, not the pilot’s, the one near the door).

The main story to tell is that Ile Nastase is alive and well and playing keyboards in a dazzlingly white jacket with a blousy young Spanish girl who may or may nt be his grand daughter. She really does not need a microphone but seems worryingly keen to sing her little heart out for the bunch of ne’er do wells gathered before her - yes I know that includes me. Total number about 20, including a dazzling array of mulletted Germans….bless. Anyway, the final tune (???) of the night was Delilah with a heavy Spanish accent. Pretty memorable in itself and all highly entertaining if, unfortunately, for the wrong reasons. Not sure I can cope with 184 more days of this….. but at least I am not having to sit watching dire rugby and cricket performances. Oh, by the way, it was raining when I arrived in Malaga. What’s that all about?

PS. Don’t start getting giddy, or worried, thinking there will be this much of a diatribe every day for the next 6 or 7 months….. this is the honeymoon period as far as the blog goes and I can’t promise that I will remain so committed. Just noticed the excessive use of brackets in the first paragraph ((((get used to it!!!!!)))).

Buenos Nochas! Yes I know! Spanish is limited to what I manage to learn from Blackadder (Series 2, Chains)….. testicolo, fuego grande etc and the odd episode of Fawlty Towers….hopefully no use at all out here. Alas, my French isn’t much better and with West Africa all but a few days away!!!???? Gilbert O’Sullivan now on the jukebox……definitely time for bed ! I only recognise him because my much older sister, Lesley, was a huge fan….him and Leo Sayer I seem to remember. Thought the permed wig a bit excessive but she was keen and our primary school were happy to let her wear it (I sense repercussions!). The PS is now longer than the main text……if this upload works I might try photos next!

26 Nov 2006

Relatively sleepless night with tap dancing German hippo, clearly wearing stilettos, prancing around for hours in the room above. Never mind, clear sunny day spent on the beach (great view of Gibraltar) and by the pool reading the Sunday papers. Afternoon in Puerto Banus looking at big posh yachts and watching Man Utd v Chelsea…..pub full of Mancs with southern accents who somehow felt they were robbed…..some things are the same the world over.

27 Nov 2006

Just got up, nearly 11 so have missed breakfast (must be jet lag). Another bright, clear day. Meet my new chums tomorrow. A few bits to organise today…… just noticed the thermarest mat that I will be using for the next 6 months is a regular when I asked for a large. Now how on earth did that happen? Made it to internet cafe..... nice to hear that nephews are getting tries galore .... curious to know where they get there athletic prowess from. If this upload works I will be amazed as the blog system is kindly displaying the screen in Spanish....grrrrr! Right lunch calls!

Map of the Route (Courtesy of the Overland Club)

The route taken is the red line on the map - although problems in the Darfur region of Sudan see us fly from Cameroon, over Chad and Sudan, to Ethiopia.