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Post by chawky on Jan 1, 2022 23:35:31 GMT
Happy New Year.
An early start this morning to fly to Malaga from Manchester at 7.30 so missed New Year's Eve celebrations apart from fireworks at midnight waking me up.
Only about 50 of us on the Ryanair flight. I counted 80 seats taken when I checked so a number of no shows.
Quickly through passport control and covid checks and in apartment for 12.30 Spanish time. I think the flight set off a little early so just over 4 hours from take off to apartment taking the train from the airport.
A bit nippy, even though the forecast looked good. Not sure I've enough warm clothes so hope it warms up a bit! It's 2 years since I was here in January and I didn't realise most of my wardrobe is for the warmer months.
Generally quiet as not much open. but Ibensa bar was busy at 1.30 so watched the footy in the Paddy and went to Panda for food. A couple in Mallones later then back to the apartment.
Also watered the plants (they needed it) and gave the community cats some milk. They're looking well fed so being looked after.
At Malaga airport the covid docs are visually checked just after passport and passengers split into 2 queues. If you upload your vaccine docs to the Spanish locator form your QR code is labelled "FAST_CONTROL" and it looks like in busier times you get through much quicker. Although today the other queue wasn't busy so no real timesaving for me but could be a factor in busier periods.
I hope to keep you posted while I'm here. Glad to be back after October trip fell through.
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Post by rosebush on Jan 2, 2022 10:23:21 GMT
Morning Chawky, Happy New Year  Lovely to read a Benal Report so early in the year, and that your trip over there was quick and easy, we have 8wks to wait, so hoping Covid doesn't stop flights again! Hopefully today more venues will be open and more folks around, i can see from weather cams its still dull, but folks are sitting out at tables having a coffee so that will do me, and a good long walk along the paseo  I'm not looking forward to the extra paperwork, although to get into Spain i believe its just the locator form and vaccine certs, and maybe by end of May the need for a Covid test to come back to UK may have been dropped  with so many folks tripled vaxxed and loads more staying in, how on earth we are still getting thousands of new cases per day is beyond me! Looking forward to your daily report on all what's happening out there..and fingers crossed the sun's back soon. Enjoy your day. xx |
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Post by robert on Jan 2, 2022 20:24:05 GMT
Nice one Chawky. Happy New Year and enjoy your trip.
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Post by chawky on Jan 3, 2022 16:33:22 GMT
The sun came out today at 1pm for all afternoon so had a walk along the paseo to La Carihuela. It's still my favourite walk!
Yesterday was similar but not as nice. I spent the afternoon reading on the terrace.
Haircut and shopping in Arroyo this morning. 50/50 mask wearing there and less than 1 in 10 on the paseo.
The bars on the paseo that were open were doing very well and even some hardy souls on the beach.
Will probably watch even more footy tonight. I used to be able to use the Virgin TVGO to watch UK channels but it no longer works following Brexit I guess. Seems a bit churlish by the TV providers to block it.
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Post by rosebush on Jan 3, 2022 17:44:55 GMT
So pleased the sun came out Chawky  Our favourite walk is also Benal to La Carihuela, lunch & a vino then on to Torre, although i find it hard going now using the San Mig steps, some visits i use the lift We have Sky Go not sure if that will still work, our apt owner has a black box (?) that gets UK channels or it did, will find out next month hopefully Great to hear there are enough folks out and about using the bars along the paseo, does it seem 'very' quiet for the time of year, i know you mentioned lots of no shows for your flight.... I find it hard wearing the masks indoors, so not to pleased i will have to wear one outdoors in the fresh air, but will do as its law, would hate to be stopped by the Guardia  If you are in Gamonal at anytime could you check if El Rincon de Mary (next Sq passed Domando's) has re opened yet, the owner was supposed to be taking charge again after Maria left in November, its a lovely sun trap there. Enjoy the footie, hope suns out again tomorrow..xx |
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Post by btereniaf on Jan 4, 2022 8:11:51 GMT
Great to read your posts Chawky! So nice to know that you are back in Benal and enjoying your time there. We don't have TV in our apartment which I didn't miss until husband was confined to barracks last September with Covid! We gave up with TV when so many channels disappeared sometimes overnight. Lots of books and CD's however!
We have just postponed our January trip for family reasons but hopefully will be there in February. Chawky, I'm sure Rosebush would appreciate an update on the plot of land between OK restaurant and CB's if you happen to pass it!
Enjoy your holiday!
Fond regards,
BT.
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Post by chawky on Jan 4, 2022 17:10:32 GMT
Warmer today, in fact very warm early afternoon. I had lunch in Fountain Sq which was especially great with the sun beaming down. Many others had the same idea as the square was almost full.
@ Rosebush - I passed El Rincon de Mary twice this afternoon and it wasn't open. The frontage is clean and looks cared for so I'll keep an eye open. Domandos and the Mediterranean bar were also open, but I stopped for coffee at Ardisson, which was doing well for customers ( the service is so very friendly so it's a joy to go)
I usually go to CBs when I'm here so I'll check out progress next door.
I usually don't watch TV over here but sometimes nice to have in the colder months. I'm on my third book already.
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Post by rosebush on Jan 6, 2022 13:36:30 GMT
Hi Chawky, i see suns out again today, folks saying winds a bit chilly so hope its warmed up now, as i looked out my window snow was falling, looked at Fuengirola web cams and folks sun bathing behind wind breakers Thanks for checking out El Rincon, the bar terrace is a great suntrap, but not when windy as it soon becomes a wind tunnel  the bar does well for clients so hope the owner takes over soon.. We love Ardission as well, Ati is lovely and her hubby makes a great fresh pizza, red wine also very nice there, so are brandy coffee's..  Saw more pic's of Fountain Sq yesterday, and it looked like all bars there were doing well Fingers crossed with PCR's dropped now more folks will travel, if we all follow the rules, wear mask, keep distance, and get jabbed, hopefully some normality will prevail, but expect things will get worse this month with more new cases! How long are you out for this visit is it 2weeks, if so hope temps start to rise soon so you can sit out more, that's what we miss during Jan & Feb, just to blooming cold here to walk even with 10 layers of clothing on  Enjoy your day..x |
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Post by chawky on Jan 6, 2022 21:09:21 GMT
It has been warm in the afternoons. Quiz and bingo at the Paddy this afternoon.
Yes, good news about pre-departure tests and the change to LFTs on arrival.
Not booked my return yet so not sure how long I'll be staying...I'll keep an eye on flights.
The bars around Ibensa Sq which get the sun in the afternoon were very busy today.
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Post by chawky on Jan 7, 2022 17:02:13 GMT
Sunshine from the off today and warmer, shorts for me in the afternoon.
I gave my bike its annual service today, which really means pumping up the tyres and giving it a spray with WD40.
I took a short ride around Arroyo, mainly to test my joints as much as the bike. I'll gradually build up for a further trek.
El Rincon wasn't open but a man was painting the metal work around the windows, so looking promising Rosebush. To be fair it already looks smarter from the outside than most of the bars!
More footy tonight and the temp doesn't half drop by 6pm.
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Post by rosebush on Jan 8, 2022 11:58:21 GMT
Chawky thanks for checking out El Rincon, nice to hear painting being done, so could be opening again soon, Maria always used to paint the metal work around this time of year, but on her closing day which was Monday.. I can see from weather cams sun is out again and a few folks even sunbathing! i guess it will shorts again for you today as you speed around Arroyo i can just about do a quick walk now, and knowing the erratic way the Spanish drive, its hats off to you for taking a bike ride We have 4 friends who would normally be out next month for 12weeks, but have cancelled as worried about flights, all think planes would be the breeding ground for Covid, so I'm more anxious now  hoping i will feel better if Covid figures start to drop, i know they are higher in Spain, but we know once we arrive we will be outside for walks food and drink, and we are triple jabbed. Anyone else travelling this month or next?? Chawky have a lovely weekend, let us know if you feel there are more folks around, according to the media, flight bookings have shot up. xx |
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Post by chawky on Jan 8, 2022 20:33:01 GMT
Got warm before noon today. Made my way to Paloma Park and stayed a few hours to finish my book. Quite busy as it is weekend and then took your recommendation Rosebush and had a pizza at Ardisson...thank you I enjoyed it. Again quite a few sat outside. Only downside is those big trees hide the sun...ok in Summer but not so good in Winter! It's difficult to tell if it is getting any busier but the bars that are sun traps do well in the afternoon.
I didn't go to the paseo today but will probably go for a bike ride next week and not at the weekend...I don't want to run anyone over!
I'm triple jabbed so flew on basis that if I was unlucky enough to catch it on the plane, the law of averages suggest the effects are mild. A bit of a lottery I know and I brought a box of tests with me.... I'm ok so far. I had a bad cold before Christmas...I was sure it was Covid but my tests were negative.
Tomorrow I'm going to watch Malaga so fingers crossed for a home win. Makes a change from watching football on telly.
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Post by btereniaf on Jan 9, 2022 10:05:25 GMT
Thanks again Chawky for a good read! I note you have a healthy number of followers!
I trust you are not one of those cyclists who think they have precedence on the Paseo!!! We enjoy our walks in Paloma Park and we have seen it develop from a patch of wilderness into a bright and beautiful place of peace. When the cacti were first planted we said "They won't survive!" Now look at them!
Enjoy the footie and keep the posts coming please.
Fond regards,
BT.
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Post by rosebush on Jan 10, 2022 15:57:41 GMT
Chawky hope the sun is warm today, i did hear someone mention very high winds there early morning, but on cams now lots of folk sunbathing Hope you enjoyed the match bet it was tense getting a draw with 3 mins to go Pleased you enjoyed the Ardisson pizza, i like the very thin crust and the fact its made fresh, hubby enjoys their burgers i know the trees are not good in Winter, but in Summer they are great think all the bars that get the sun on their terrace through to April, get the customers, its just so nice to sit out in the fresh air with the sun on your back. We too enjoy the tranquility of Paloma for a 2hour book read, then coffee brandy in the cafe there, we try to alternate between the park bars, just to share the euro's around.. We are triple jabbed but still unsure about our flight next month, will ponder over things this week, we know we will be out walking and will eat/drink outside, but its just the airport wait and the 3hr flight just checked our flight out and 6 more seats booked in last 2 days, but still only 25 on flight, coming back same day 34 seats booked, so it may be a viable flight for jet2 ?... If you had a bike ride today hope you enjoyed it..xx P.S will Mrs C be able to join you this visit..x |
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Post by chawky on Jan 10, 2022 17:28:43 GMT
A late equaliser sent the Malaga fans home happy. A good game and I was wrapped up so not too cold.
It has been very windy today I can still hear it. It is quite a warm wind so that chill when out of the sun wasn't around. In fact on my terrace it was really warm as it is sheltered from the Northerly wind.
@bt some of the pedestrians on the paseo overtake me, I'm no Bradley Wiggins.
I had a short cycle ride around Arroyo again avoiding cycling into the wind. Tomorrow I'll go further afield.
Good news Rosebush. When I rode past El Rincon de Mary, the door was open so I called in. They were doing a bit of painting and told me they are opening on Friday. Another reason to add to your list for making the trip.
Mrs C didn't fancy the trip this time, she is probably glad to be having some peace at home.
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with so many folks tripled vaxxed and loads more staying in, how on earth we are still getting thousands of new cases per day is beyond me!
Our favourite walk is also Benal to La Carihuela, lunch & a vino then on to Torre, although i find it hard going now using the San Mig steps, some visits i use the lift 
the bar does well for clients so hope the owner takes over soon..
hoping i will feel better if Covid figures start to drop, i know they are higher in Spain, but we know once we arrive we will be outside for walks food and drink, and we are triple jabbed.