Sunday - we get a few miles in

Fortunately for me, after last night's excitement, Eunice read the time off the wrong clock this morning and we got another hour in bed (she thought it was 7am when it was actually 8am) and we finally got down to breakfast at 9:30.


The morning was spent wandering around the old town and we called in at the Incarnation Church in Church Square.  

It's a really typical Spanish catholic church with plenty of gilding and lots of nice period pieces too like the door handles shown here.


It's where I took the "hand of god" photo last year.  




By the way, last year's blog is still available if you didn't get to see it at www.marbellaspring2014.blogspot.com 



After that we called in at the Cafe Bar Central in Orange Tree Square for our morning coffee, and were sat there minding our own business when this little guy flew past, did a u-turn and plopped straight into my coffee.  Fortunately it landed flat on it's back and I was able to fish it out with my spoon but it's wings were soaked and they stuck to my fingers as I prised it off the spoon.  

A few moments later though, after blowing gently across them they released themselves and then flicked up into normal butterfly posture. It did mange a flutter or two as I tried to move it off the table (I didn't want it to get squashed by the next occupants after we'd left), but it couldn't get off the ground.  I moved it on to a flower pot next to the table and hoped for the best.  We did pop back later for some lunch and it was nowhere to be seen, so I like to think it soaked up a bit of sun, gained some strength and flew off.



Further on we came across this guy, fast asleep on one of the tiled seats that line the Parque de Alemeda, shoes neatly laid out in front.  I had to refrain Eunice from going over a putting 5 euros in one of his shoes as she reckoned he was homeless.  I think it was more likely that he just  couldn't get  any peace and quiet back home and came to get away from it all.  After all, what homeless person would leave such a valuable asset as a decent pair of shoes unattended!



After calling back at the hotel to get a change of clothes (it was getting a bit hot) we set off eastbound along the front in search of an arts, crafts and secondhand market which is advertised as being held in Marbella Port every Sunday between 12 noon and 4pm.  


On the way we passed the hospital shown on the right.  It has an accident and emergency unit as well and the reception room for that lies immediately behind the glass windows on the ground floor facing the seafront .  I can't see many complaining about long waiting times with the view that they have here.

As for the market, well it seems that it isn't on every Sunday at all, as it was nowhere to be seen today.  However, it did give us the opportunity to have a look around.  

This harbour (as opposed to that near our hotel), is still a working port for fishing and lobster boats, although a good portion of it has now been taken over as mooring for pleasure craft.  

It is good to see, though, that the old fishing cottages have been retained and not gobbled up by expensive waterfront developments, which have been set back behind the cottages.  You might just be able to make out the cottages nestled at the feet of the new tower blocks in the photo opposite .

Portrait of children on fishing boat

 The trip back and our afternoon stroll up the "golden mile" towards Puerto Benus produced some photo opportunities, a few of which are shown below.

Small fishing boats Puerto Marbella

Sea defences Spanish style

Ship sculptures in central reserve

Paving seemingly inspired by Bridget Riley

Modern Church Stained glass

Buy your paper from the attached shop and have something to read during the summon!

Marbella Old Town

Gibraltar on the skyline

Every picture tells a story- looks like quite a few in this one

One for Mr and Mrs Fish