A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 10
DiVoran was not feeling any better this morning, and I was beginning to worry that she might have something more serious than ‘Montezuma’s Revenge.’ I made arrangements for a local doctor (approved by the tour company) to visit her at the Bajondillo as soon as possible. We were to go on a day trip today, and she said she wanted me to go on the tour, as she would rather stay in and see the doctor. So, after breakfast, the ones of our group who wanted to, boarded the bus for the 45-minute trip to visit the town of Ojen, which is located in the Mirador de las Águilas (mountains).
This community has been famous, over the years, for its production of anisette, which is a favorite addition to the morning coffee of many Spaniards. We were given a tour of the facility and the age-old local processing procedure was explained to us. It was fascinating. They had a small museum room that was used to display various antique artifacts that were used over the years, by the family, in their processing operations.
The group was then led on a walking tour of Ojen where we were free to purchase local wines or hand-made souvenirs from any of the many small shops along the narrow, up and down streets. When we passed the Solis Restaurante, and my nose got a whiff of the aroma coming out of their door, my stomach asked me if it was time for some lunch. Our Program Director said we would have to do with a snack, as we had another town to visit before lunch. So, a snack it was (can’t remember exactly what kind of snack it was).
Most of us were glad when it was time to get back on the bus. That was quite an exercise, walking the streets of Ojen. Once we were back on the bus, we headed south only about 15 or so minutes for a visit to the town of Marbella. This town turned out to be a haven for the rich and famous and those from all over Europe, who can afford to live richly for a week or two on the famous Costa del Sol. Situated at the foothills of the Sierra Blanca mountains, Marbella’s beautiful Mediterranean beaches are lined with elegant hotels and lavish villas for ten miles in both directions.
Just west of Marbella, the area is known as ‘The Golden Mile’ with its prestigious nightclubs and coastal estates. It made me think of Beverly Hills in California, and all the glamor that goes with that slice of American society. Our bus tour
thru the streets of Marbella (with points of interest explained by our Program Director) was very interesting. When we drove past a beautiful hotel patio where people were eating, I asked about lunch again, but was told not to worry, that our lunch would be waiting for us back at the Bajondillo in Torremolinos. I told my stomach to be quiet, as it wouldn’t be long now before it would be satisfied. Of course, that didn’t work.
We arrived back in Torremolinos in plenty of time for our lunch, but the first thing I wanted to do was to check on how DiVoran was doing. She told me that she was feeling better, and that the doctor was very nice, and had given her something for her condition. She told me how she had used a Spanish dictionary to ask the maids for another pillow, and they had been generous. She said she thought she actually felt well enough to join me for a little something for lunch.
After lunch we had a nap and by then she said she thought she could manage to go with me for a short stroll on the beach. That turned out to be a lot of fun, as the sea air seemed to do wonders for her spirits. Every day a new set of ‘artists’ would work their wonders with the sand at low tide, and some of their renderings were amazing. Our short stroll on the beach ended up being longer than we had planned, as we worked our way back down the beach to the Bajondillo. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the courtyard getting acquainted with couples from our tour group until it was time for dinner.
Photo Credit: https://www.robertharding.com/sculptures-sand-costa-del-sol/
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 
I’m glad that doctor got me well.
For Dwayne
This is the easy way to comment. You’ll get used to whatever you’d like to do.
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