Family Holiday

Richard and I have just returned from a week in El Morche. This trip was different from the norm as we joined Richards dad and wife, plus his middle sister and her family. Instead of just us two there were nine of us this time!

In a bid to save some money we flew to Madrid then onto Malaga and this was fairly smooth. I was a little apprehensive about losing cases etc but it all went quite well (quite as the “One World” automatic kiosks weren’t straight forward and negotiating connecting flights in Madrid Barajas for the first time was eventful!).

We did end up spending most of the first day travelling, only to arrive at the apartment at 9 pm (we left home at 9 am). We had a brief opportunity to shower before being greeted by Maria, David and the boys where we left for a walk down the prom and some dinner.

August last year was hot in Spain but it appeared to be even hotter this year. Monday was very muggy even at 10 pm the air was heavy and the sweat was pouring off us. During our stay the temperature did manage to nudge 40 degrees and didn’t go below 30.

Thankfully our days were not too packed with activities and we managed to “escape” the heat by sheltering under trees in the garden of the pool – or indeed in the pool itself.

Having the boys there enabled me to pop down to the beach shop and buy a Spongebob ball which we used to play various games in the pool – most of which ended in us as trying to hit Thomas as hard as possible! I guess that’s the price you have to pay for being the eldest of three boys (he’s 15).

Richard and I spent some time out and about, visiting our favourite haunts, doing some shopping, taking long walks along the beach and taking lots of shots with the PEN. I also managed to acquire some nice rugby tops for the winter (as I hate buying clothes in the UK as everything is so generic and bland).

I am really pleased with the photos from this trip as they I have a good mix of scenery/landscape shots, candid photos, cute Spanish boys (destined for Trunk Guy Candy!) and family portraits.

The Olympus PEN managed to cope very well in all situations and performed wonderfully under pressure. I am still very amazed at how quick the camera is. It helped me capture lots of instant shots and took exactly what I was focussing on with lots of colour and vibrancy.

David had his new Canon EOS on holiday and I will be very interested to see how his photographs have turned out. I think Richard took most of his shots on his iPhone 4 – choosing to abandon his Ixus all together.

On the first morning in the apartment I was greeted by a visitor in my shower – one that leapt on me and made me swear quite loudly! My shower intruder was a Praying Mantis which had managed to get in through the window and must have been sleeping on the shower hose! Boy it made me jump! He stuck around on our washing line for a couple of hours which gave the family the opportunity to study him close up – and for me to take plenty of close up shots!

Thankfully this was my only close encounter on the trip (although I wouldn’t have minded a close encounter with the new gardeners at the complex 😉 )

We took Tom and Harry down to the beach one morning and invested in a kite for Harry. He wasn’t sure what to do with it and didn’t have a great deal of patience to begin with but an ice cream and some confidence boosting later he was flying the kite.

On Wednesday evening Richard and I took the boys out for a meal in Nerja – this was an opportunity for Richard and I to spend some time with them and enabled Maria and Dave to have a quiet evening to themselves.

We’d found an English restaurant (of which there are many in Nerja) which we decided to pick for the boys as it ensured that there would be something on the menu that each of them would eat. And boy did they eat! Harry (age 8 ) wasn’t content with the childrens menu so ordered from the adult menu. He managed to make light work of a very big cheese bacon burger and a large portion of chips (with all the trimmings). As if that was not enough we ordered desserts and Harry managed to motor his way through the largest dessert of the night – a Banana Split the size of which have not been seen since the Titanic!

Friday night came around too quickly but we made sure we made the most of it. We all left fairly early for dinner where we enjoyed various food and drink before making our way up the prom. The meal was punctuated with a round of banana liqueur followed but several shots of hazelnut liqueur…

At the end of the prom was a Flamenco show which we managed to successfully obtain some seats for. In typical Spanish fashion it took ages to get going but once it did the show was full of traditional music and spectacle.

We had a leisurely stroll back down the prom which was illuminated by a fireworks display signifying the end of summer. It also signified the end of our holiday.