A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 3
After breakfast this morning, our group assembled in the conference room for an introduction orientation to the Casta del Sol by our Program Director. Once he had explained all of the details he thought we would need, to navigate around the area on our own, he gave us time for a Q & A session. All of this would be helpful in the days to come, to help us understand what was available to us in the area, during our leisure times. Then he went over the tour itinerary and discussed the ‘Optional Tours’ available, and we were given an opportunity to sign up for the ones we wanted. We had already decided which Optional Tours we wanted to go on and were glad, with all the recent worldwide confusion, that they were still available. This took up most of morning and it was lunch time before we knew it.
Photo Credit: https://favpng.com/png_view/meeting-clip-art-png/4bkPvG6q
After lunch our group was led on a walking orientation tour of Torremolinos by our Program Director, who pointed out the highlights of the city. He also showed us the various shops and some of the ‘Approved’ restaurants that the tour company had arranged for us. This was especially helpful for everyone to know, so we could enjoy the local culture and food without the fear of thinking we might come down with ‘Montezuma’s Revenge.’
There were many beautiful grand old Moorish style buildings and large villas interspaced between newer high-rise apartments buildings and condominiums along the sea-side promenade. This gave us the picture of how some of the early wealthy visitors, who came to this area, spent their time and money to enjoy the Casta del Sol.
Then we boarded a bus for the short 30-minute trip to tour Malaga, which is the main city of coastal Andalucia. An old Moorish fortress dominates the city that is made up of twisting, narrow streets, and a lovely waterfront promenade. The city gives one a taste of the new Spain, while at the same time, retains much of the look and culture of the small-town old Spain. Being the birthplace of famous painter Pablo Picasso, Malaga and the Costa del Sol are well known, but didn’t really start becoming the popular winter holiday area, for the European wealthy that it is today, until in the early 19th century,
Photo Credit: https://outofoffice.blog/malaga-spain/
As part of the Malaga tour, we visited the Perez Texeira Winery for a tour of their facilities. This was a very interesting tour, that gave us an idea of how the larger wine company’s processing operations work. Of course, we were offered a small sample of the various wines they produced. Our Program Director assured us we would have a safe trip back to Torremolinos, as the bus driver was not allowed to partake of the winery’s generous sample offers.
On the way back to Torremolinos, our Program Director explained the various points of interest as they related to the colorful history of the Costa del Sol. We got back to Torremolinos in time for dinner at the Cetus Restaurante there at the Bajondillo. As part of the ‘All Inclusive’ plan, dinner entertainment was included. This evening it was a complimentary Flamenco Cabaret show that was very entertaining for everyone. The music, the costumes, and the performers were outstanding, and it made for a beautiful finish to a wonderful day.
—–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 