The villa is a massive white stucco spanish style house with an orange ceramic roof. There are three balconies, one on each wing of the house over looking the patio and pool, and the arched doorways and windows outlined in dark wood give a traditional Spanish feel. We walk on rustic sandy-orange colored tiles both inside and outside the the villa and the cicadas lend a constant background vibration. From my small standing balcony, I can see the ocean in the distance, the rocky hills that slope down to the coastline, and the few sailboats by the harbor. We are only a short 15 minute walk to the beach, cutting through a small forest - but in the first two days that we were here, the in-ground pool out through the french doors was our oasis. It’s big, with varying heights to stand or swim or sit, the water is clear and clean, and the blue tiling on the bottom gives the appearance that the entire rectangle is a sparkling and shimmering aquamarine jewel. And it gets even better at night when the underwater lights illuminate the water and the sky is black with a million stars twinkling. This place is an unbelievable retreat.
This morning after breakfast, I was laying in the pool on a lilo - apparently that is the proper word for what we Americans call a raft or floaty. Helen was on one too, and we were two bronzing beauties gently gliding along as the wind blew us. Spanish instrumental music was playing through the Bose speakers, the cicadas joining in, and no other sound. I looked up to see where the four boys were - it was so silent. And there they were - all of them, laying out on sun chairs, but under the massive patio umbrella in the shade, absorbed in their respective books. It was priceless. Four grown men reading their novels while the two chicks played in the pool.
This afternoon we pulled out the barbecue and the coals and the boys had chorizo while the ladies had veggie burgers and roasted peppers with herbed cheese. Salad and cherries also made it on the table. It’s been fun to have a kitchen to prepare meals, to spend the day, lazily, at the villa...and then in the evening, as the sun is setting and the heat dying down just enough, to make our way to the beach for a lovely night dinner on the cliffs overlooking the water. We found this great open-air ‘chill-out’ bar on the beach as well, also sitting elevated above the sand. It has couches, chaises, cushioned chairs, and hip music with funky lights - and some of the best Sangria I’ve ever had! One might wish to be advised, however, that after enjoying a few pitchers of Sangria - you should refrain from thinking it’s a good idea to swim in the ocean...unless you don’t mind trekking home in a wet dress.
Tonight a tapas bar is on the menu as is the World Cup final. How exciting to be in Spain, while the home team plays for the championship! We’re hoping that the beach area will have a huge screen up so we can sip our cocktails and cheer them on, without crowding around a small television in a stuffy bar. I’m certain that wherever we find ourselves tonight - we will be watching the game island-style. There are no pubs, no crowded streets. Just a whole lot of beauty and sun and heat and six good friends having a truly spectacular holiday together.
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