Fuengirola, SPAIN ~ Day 2

Day 2 ~ A day on the beach!


Breakfast, don swimsuits, towels, sunglasses...

The paseo (remember... our new-found word for stroll) down to the beach...

Treasure-seeking...

A thousand, "Mom! Look at this one!" and "Oh, wow! Look what I found!"

This family's perspective on life...

The solutions along the way...

As we came to the more crowded beaches along the town's beachfront, LeRoy and the children decided to play in the sand and water while I explored some shops to see if I could score myself some kind of summer clothing. Those of you who know me know that I LOVE sweater-weather -- overcast skies, drizzly, rainy, brisk but not cold -- and so when we packed our suitcases for the Costa del Sol (Coast of Sun), well, hello! I realized I'd have to go shopping... in Spain. Those of you who know me intimately know I'd rather be dirt-biking, skateboarding, and climbing mountains (or reading in a treehouse) than shopping. However, it was either suck it up and shop or wear my sweater-weather clothes in 85 - 90 degrees. (Course, I suppose we were in Spain... and most people don't see the need for clothes anyway on the beach... ew! Nevermind.) As it turns out, I had a fabulous time wandering up and down narrow alleys and streets filled with all sorts of fun shops -- such as the Flamenco costume stores.

And the Princess Paradise store which I was so glad to find! I walked straight to the counter at the back and pointed to the tiara sitting on a shelf behind her, "I'll take that one, please." I considered this my prize find of the day. Tuesday, Israel's birthday, was only a couple of days away!

And this store which made me want to have a wedding all over again! (It's all cotton and flannel for this girl!) And this store had the most lovely cotton dresses! I can totally see LeRoy and I having a beach wedding...

Eventually, I found some capris and a couple of shirts... without sleeves (weird)... and made my way back down to the beach where I arrived just in time to see pink-cheeked and glazed-eyed husband and water-babies trudging toward me through the sand. "We're ready," was all they said. And somewhere in their answer to my question of whether they had a good time, I heard "heated pool."

Washing away the grit on the way back...

Watching fish fry over the open fire...

LeRoy and I both burst out laughing when we saw this get-up. Not only had they set up a make-shift shelter complete with metal poles and tarp, but they had a table full of all kinds of yummy-looking foods. Awww... we were homesick for you, Jake and Kathy!

Later that afternoon after a full day in the warm tropical sun at the beach and then hours in the heated, (yes, emphasis on heated), swimming pool...

...dinner and dessert at Zacary's...

...with a waiter who was so excited, devoted, and animated about New York City, NY, that he kept us giggling with all his stories, impersonations, and songs throughout dinner. When we asked him if he'd ever been to New York, he told us, "Me?! No! I worked as a waiter in Florida! But I love New York! Someday I hope to go there! I don't think there's any finer place on earth!" Hm. I think that if we get the opportunity to visit New York one day, that I'll think of this jovial waiter who I met in Spain as I'm standing in Times Square!

Sun-kissed...

...and happily exhausted...

...content...

...soooo content... feeling spoiled...

We finished our second day by going back to the room, getting cozy, slathering skin with after-sun lotion, and watching the show "Born Survivor: Bear Grylls." Also known as "Man vs. Wild." (A real treat since we don't have tv at home!)

During the show, someone made the comment about Bear Grylls surviving. Isaiah immediately piped up, "He isn't surviving. He's living." Passionate and matter-of-fact.

Oh, that I might always be so intentional about LIVING!!