Encouraged by family , we did spend a whole four days actually on the beach ; and thoroughly enjoyed the tranquility it brings . With eyes closed listening to the lapping of the waves and children's excited laughter is just good for the soul . New Years resolution ( in August ? ) ; will do this more often . (Avoiding too much exposure to the sun and threat of skim cancer. )
So to extend the possibility of meeting that resolution , we have travelled down to southern Spain to increase the chances compliance. Here the weather is ( now ) sunny , the wind just a breeze ..oh and the alcohol abundant . Perfect for enjoying that bed by the sea. Liberal doses of Cuba Libre ( Rum and coke ) aid the ambiance . Being October and close to Atlantic currents, the sea is somewhat cooler than August in Argeles . Still after the oppressive heat of this summer , it is wonderful to have a chill in the air . Even a dip in a sea at 17/18 C is a joy . ( really )
Another difference is the Estapona approach to beach cleaning : which is to send the gigantic tractors stirring up the sand in the middle of the day …just when the few us summer stragglers are trying to enjoy a pre midday siesta. A frankly absurd timing .
Argeles tries , somewhat vainly , to present itself with a veneer of floral beauty . It has manage to increase its flower award from two to three rosettes . I’am not sure the visitors have noticed the floral improvement . They will have experienced a shock in the withdrawal of beach showers . These were eliminated as an eco step ; whist ignoring the vast quantities of water added to struggling grassed areas. They ( the Mayor that is ) should visit Estapona old town . Every street , wall and spare space has been given over to a profusion of trees and flowers . All ( I mean incredible all ) house wall have flower pots affixed complete with bursting floral abundance . It is worth a visit just to admire this competitor to Chelsea flower show . If that’s not enough , there is the rivalry to paint the buildings with murals of the first order . Banksy, eat your heart out !!
Why is that religious institutes have to compete on size and opulence of the places of worship . Cathedrals represent a phenomenal consumption of economic resource , especially considering most are centuries old , and built at a time when parishioners were lucky to have more that one room accommodation . On the journey south we stopped at Valencia and dutifully visited the increasing ornate monuments to religious opulence . The interiors are a riot of gothic extravagance . At the start of the civil war , the poor , fed up with the power of the church , proceeded to try and burn down these temples to wealth ( of the church that is ) . One had repeated visitations from fire bombers . The civil war was won by the wealth acquirers; so the temples have been rebuilt with restoration still proceeding . It would seem that the fundamental purpose of religion has still not been recognised .
This musing is getting far too deep . So back to that bed !
The height of street art
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