Category Archives: trips

made it!

08 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, holidays, Malaga, travel, trips

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

But I almost didn’t! I mean, just look at this little guy…

That was Azar last night. He clearly knew this wasn’t just laundry being sorted and that I was getting ready to GO AWAY. And with his continuing health issues (this past weekend was a bit dodgy) I seriously considered postponing until at least Tuesday. But in the end I decided to go this morning because the real issue wasn’t that he’d be okay today and tomorrow, but for the rest of the week. I had to leave at 10.15 to catch my train and – bless that little sweetheart – at 10 o’clock Azar went to the box and had a very healthy looking BM, which made me almost weep with joy and relief. And so I was able to leave with a light heart and feeling very optimistic that Azar is going to be just fine this week, under the care of Nog and vet Yolanda.

As usual I was a nervous wreck about packing and leaving, and not just because of Azar. Personally, I think I need to travel more so I get over this “leaving anxiety” thing. And if I did travel more often I’d have a selection of small travel toiletries and whatnots always ready to go, so that I didn’t have to ransack the bathroom and then still end up having to buy stuff when I arrived.

The other thing about staying at Manolo’s is that I always bring my own sheets and towels, which really fills up a suitcase! So even though I’m only going to be gone for four nights, it looks like I’m going away for a month. Anyhow, Nog came to the train station with me this morning and saw me off. The plan was that Manolo had left a set of keys inside the apartment and I was to ask the doorman to let me in, but Manolo warned me that he might be gone for lunch when I arrived. Well, the train got in at 1.35 and I got to the apartment just before 2 o’clock, so thought I would surely catch the doorman before I left. No such luck. Turns out his break is from 1-5pm! So I went upstairs and luckily the neighbours were in and were happy to look after my luggage while I went out for lunch.

After that I had quite a long wait at this total dive of a place on the beach, as you can see…

La Moraga 

Afterwards I stopped at the supermarket for a few supplies, got the doorman to let me in, picked up my bags from next door…and got settled in! Made the bed, hung up my clothes, got my kitchen stuff organised, took a shower, set up my “office”, and I have been happily ensconced here ever since. Feet up, sea breeze blowing in through the balcony doors and windows, listening to music on my “travel iPod deck”. And dammit, I feel happy. I really really really needed to do this.

More mañana. Manolo’s place looks amazing! It’s been renovated since last time I was here and is so light and fresh looking. Not sure what I’ll do this evening, though I’m thinking I’ll just stay in and have an early night as I only got about 3 hours sleep last night worrying about Azar. Oh, and that massive mofo cockroach that Loki cornered at 3am also didn’t do any wonders for the ol’ sleep department. Really looking forward to falling asleep to the sound of the waves tonight, which is the next best sound to a cat purring…

malaga mascot?

07 Sunday Aug 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, health & happiness, Malaga, summer, travel, trips

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, ,

Ever since I found out I’d be going to Málaga (I leave tomorrow morning and come back on Friday) I’ve been a nervous wreck about Azar’s health. For much the past couple of months he’s been up and down, and the past week he’s needed daily doses of a mild oral laxative as well as an enema every 2-3 days. I had decided that it was time to take him in for a check-up and blood test after talking to my vet Yolanda on the phone several times, but then this trip was looming and I doubted Nog’s ability to give Azar an enema. In the end we agreed it would be best if Nog takes Azar in to see Yolanda next Wednesday (half-way through my trip) and get everything done at once, which would not only save on taxi fare but also on STRESS. This seemed like a sensible plan until I was woken up by the sound of Azar throwing up in the wee hours and so I lay there for ages cuddling him and wondering what to do and I thought … why not bring him with me?

Continue reading →

travelling companion

03 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Malaga, travel, trips, work

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

, ,

I am so excited!

After sorting out Azar health issues with my vet Yolanda this afternoon I felt secure enough to go out and buy my train ticket for Málaga. I’ll be spending Monday to Friday there next week mostly working, but also with some time off to dip my toes in the Mediterranean.

Once again I’ll be staying at my friend Manolo’s apartment, which I am told has undergone a total makeover since my last visit – stay tuned for new photos! And I’ve organised a vineyard visit with some very cool and interesting people – more on that later.

And so after getting the train ticket I went to the Corte Inglés to get some “old geezer” cat food for Azar (this will tide him over until his blood test results come back) and on the way out I spotted these adorable 2-3 cup bodum french press coffee makers… and well, how could I spend almost a week in Málaga without decent coffee? It was ON SPECIAL OFFER too! Because I always takes sheets and towels with me when I stay at Manolo’s there’s never any question of travelling light. I’ll also have the laptop with me and a few groceries from home, so what’s an extra coffee maker? Last time I was forced to drink instant coffee… never again!

What can’t you live without when you travel?

hotels & holiday apts

12 Tuesday Jul 2011

Posted by in sevilla, spain, travel, trips, work

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , ,

I’ve been quite busy this past week or so trying to get the hotel page finished for azahar-sevilla.com, hoping that I would soon be able to generate some income from the nifty new Booking.com affiliate widget I now have on the site.

Then I realised that there are actually quite a few very nice holiday apartments in town that I hadn’t thought of including, and so this past weekend Nog & I went out and did some research, resulting in the new holiday apts page.

Let me know what you think!

Where To Stay

the windy wind & the wavy waves

04 Monday Jul 2011

Posted by in summer, travel, trips, video

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, ,

I took this short video yesterday morning around 10am at a chiringuito (beach bar) next to where I’d had breakfast. I had meant to do my usual seaside walk and get my toes wet, but it was so darned windy that I didn’t dare get to close to the water lest I got swept in…

Just look at how those beach umbrellas are flapping away! It was actually a gorgeous morning to sit out there, and the cool “poniente” wind was a welcome change after several weeks of HEAT in Sevilla, but I’m afraid you won’t be able to hear anything I was saying (just as well) or the nice Paco de Lucía music playing in the background (pity).

Got back home at mid-day to a slightly cooler Sevilla (the poniente reached this far!). But this is all going to change tomorrow as we get back to sweltering summer temps. Anyhow, got unpacked and showered and snibbled the kittehs like mad, then some grocery shopping and lunch. And after that a trip to the hospital to see my oncologist. Am now waiting for Jessica to return from Germany … tapas await us.

How was your weekend?