TRAVELS AND TRIBULATIONS # 321

May 3, 2022

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!! (that’s 13 exclamation points, one for each year).

And now for the news.

No matter what she tells you, it was a dummy.  Period.

We took an excursion today to the old town of Malaga, Marbella, and to the playground of the which of which there is no whicher, Puerto Banus.  Our only complaint was that our tour guide should have had a microphone and we should have had head sets for the parts of the tour where she was leading the group.  The free-time, wandering  around on our own time was good.

In the old town we saw a very small church, the Church of Saint John of God.  It was probably 20 feet wide and maybe 3 times that long, but in a building which seemed larger.  The church was not open for visitors – you had to look through iron bars.  

At Puerto Banus we saw a Masserati, a Bentley, and a Lamborgini (for expensive cars, speeling does not count).  And some big yachts.  As I said, the which of which there is no whicher.

One member of the crew went with us – Nicole – and when we got back, we saw her browsing in a candy shop inside the port.  She started to walk on and we told her to pick out what she liked, our treat.  Watching her choose was perhaps the best part of the tour.

And we saw a cannon for Mac.

And a motorcycle for The Bro.

And as Forrest Gump would say, "That's my boat!"

Back onboard we went to the Bistro for a half bowl of soup and a half sandwich each and then a well-deserved nap.  I don’t know what to do with myself, not having a talk tomorrow to rehearse.  So I will read while Mom blogs.

TTFN

Love,

Dad/Pappy/David

* * * * *

Well, let me start earlier in the morning!!! As you know my watch cannot link with my phone for time changes so my phone has the time it is at home. So in the night I awoke and added 6 hours to my watch and got 15. Wow it is 5 and almost time to get up and I was awake so I waited and in a while he should be getting up and then when he got up to potty I said it is almost 5:30 and we were getting up at 6. He looked at his phone (which has the correct time) and said it is 3:30. UGGGH!!! When I added I forgot 15 was 3 hours after midnight. So I was up way too early. I finally managed to go back to sleep about 4:30 and then we got up at 5:45. Needless to say I was tired today.

We showered, dressed and went for some breakfast. I didn’t eat much, not really hungry. We left the windjammer and headed to our room to collect our stuff. By this time it was after 7:30 and we had to be in the theater by 8:00. So we gathered sea pass card, passport, vaccination card, mask, money and an umbrella. Headed to the theater and got our sticker number 5. We were riding bus 5, it was a red bus. You had to wear your mask when you were riding on the bus, no exception. By a little after 8 we were on the bus and headed to Marbella. It was supposed to be a 40 minute ride but with city traffic it took over an hour. When we arrived the guide informed all these 54 old people there were no public toilets. You had to visit a café or bar and buy a drink to use the bathroom. Really!!  We walked through a nice city garden and into the old city were the streets were just wide enough for 3 people to walk down . There were squares and corners where there were cafes ( a lot not open because it was still early) and many shops to look into. The guide talked to us for about 20 minutes then we had about 30 minutes to shop, etc. We were all to find our way back to the bus at the grocery store where the bus had dropped us.

After our time there we headed off to the next stop which was a port where the very rich had the yachts docked. There were very expensive cars also. While riding on the bus we passed one of the myriads of apartment complexes ( and regardless of what he says) there was a totally naked woman standing on the balcony using the phone. She was well endowed! 

When we got to the town at the harbor we walked for a while with the guide then had about 45 minutes to look around. There were several gelato shops and we stopped and indulged our want for some. I had chocolate and strawberry cheesecake. VERY GOOD!!!  After the stop we met up with the bus at the petrol station (gas is about $8 a gallon) and headed back. About 45 minutes back. We got back at the ship about 1:30. We put our stuff in the room, headed to the 270 bistro and then went to our room and collapsed. I was exhausted. I slept till 5. We dressed and went to supper. Crispy fried shrimp appetizer, chicken schnitzel with fried potatoes, carrots and shaved cabbage. My dessert was a lemon panna cotte with a strawberry sauce, sugar free. Everything was good. 

Since there were no shows tonight except an R-rated comedy show at 10 we went to the windjammer and played a game of cards. The score is now tied.  Then, we fixed a drink and he got a coffee and a got him a bottle of water for tomorrow and  off to the room. Now we will read, etc for a while and then off to bed. We have the same time schedule tomorrow. We will be in Cartagena. The tour is about the same length. Only difference is the rain that threatened today but it turned out to be sunny and beautiful is scheduled again. So we will take our umbrellas. And it is to be colder. 

Well, Mac hoped your birthday was a lot of fun. Glad our first birthday greeting of a song was your first even though you were still in bed. Glad you liked your presents. Amy said Tate thinks his birthday is tomorrow but he has to wait till the 13th. 

Well time to send this off. Love you all. Mom, Granny and Bonnie

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