LA ANTILLA

JUNE 5-22

We arrived at the Seville airport promptly at 10am to return our rental car and there we met Francesco Toscana and his wife, Yolanda.  In short order Francesco handed over the keys to his BMW and we followed he and Yolanda out of the airport and on to the freeway heading for La Antilla.  We will be staying in Francesco’s beach house in La Antilla for the next two weeks.

La Antilla is a small resort town on the beach in the extreme southwest of Spain.  The town is made up mostly of condo complexes, which are second homes for many Spaniards.  Our condo is the penthouse of the complex, with 3 bedrooms and two baths.  We have two very large decks for al fresco meals or relaxing in the cool of the evening.  The complex has a large central courtyard with pool.  Our unit is very light and airy and modern.

After arriving and being shown around the condo and provided with information about where to shop, eat, etc. we all sat down on the deck and shared some wine and snacks while we chatted and got to know each other.  Don showed his slide show of selected trip photos and then they were off and we settled in to veg for a while.

Saturday and Sunday the swimming pool in the courtyard was very busy with teenagers and children enjoying the day.  Sunday, also, there was a motorcycle event sponsored by a local taverna.  The motorcyclists roared in to town all night Saturday night, until about 4 AM.  And then on Sunday their event seemed to be a polizia escorted lap around the town and beer at the taverna.  Sunday afternoon they all gathered on the main street, which was cordoned off, and gunned their motors for about an hour before taking another escorted lap around the town and roaring away.  Well, different strokes….

Once the weekend people left the town was very quiet.  We spent the next week doing very laid-back activities.  We strolled down the long beach, examining the numerous seashells, and admiring the catch of the local fishermen.  We visited the local marketplace to see the famous hams hanging in the stalls and check out the produce for which this area is noted.  I sat on the deck and read books and Don worked on his photos.  The weather has been beautiful, not too hot, and not too cool.

A few important current events:  The news is full of the 60th anniversary of D-Day.  There are many ceremonies being held, and Bush is in France for the ceremony with Chirac.  He is also trying to improve the relationship between the two countries.

Ronald Reagan, 40th president of the United States, died on June 5 after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer's Disease.  There were ceremonies and remembrances of him for a whole week, with his casket being flown to the nation's capitol where head's of state and prominent international politicians came to pay their respects.

Also, on June 10th Ray Charles died from cancer.

After a few days of catching up we decided to venture out on an excursion.  We first went to the large town of Huelva to look for new sandals for Don.  The pair he brought along on the trip broke before we got off the cruise and the replacement pair he bought in Barbados were now broken too.  We lucked out on the trip and were able to drive right to a parking garage and find the shopping area without too much city driving.  Don got a good new pair of sandals.