Arte Sano / Chispa Festival 2009

We went to the annual Chispa festival again this year and this time the venue was on the beachfront in San Pedro, had a great time

Stage setting with the sea as a background, very nice...

The guy sounded like Manu Chao

Indian traditional dance

Children's play area right on the beach, brilliant for the kids!

Love the eucalyptus trees in the sand. Apparently they don't mind salt water.

And in the meantime the Marbella life continues in the background

Groovy Reggae Rap

Tucking in to a very nice kebab made by Alon from Israel.

Some of the crowd, Phil Speirs on the left and Richard on the right.

Goat in a bag, a new trend?

This is what you look like if you're the organizer of a party like this

Willow behind the bar making delicious fruit smoothies

View from the beach. By the way, if you want a dome in you back yard go and visit Geodesic Domes

brilliant! let the party begin...

Chambao Concert in Málaga last night

GERMAN BEERFEST in FUENGIROLA

Can you imagine it? A German 'Oktoberfest' in July in Fuengirola, Spain?

Well, it was here and Gretes Angels had to check it out...

The venue was 'El Castillo de Sohail' in Fuengirola.

Marisa looking pretty in the evening sun

The party was in full swing when we arrived up at the castle, a 'Marilyn Monroe' lookalike got everyone in the mood...

The german sized glasses and Annette's beer sunglasses got us even more in the mood!

Prosit!

So... everyone took their turn to wear these 'must-haves': Marisa

Me...

She didn't need them: looked German enough

Margaretha...

We got bored with the beer and went for Mango Mojitos outside the castle where they had a nice open air lounge overlooking the coast

Although our only German ex-colleague Annette sticked to beer. Well it was a Beerfest wasn't it?

'granddaughter' II

Lisa Jane relaxing on the beach at 'El Rosario'

The 3 girls ready to go out hit the town of Coín.

They came back at 05.30 am so I guess they had a good time...

'granddaughter'

Chris's granddaughter Lisa Jane (in the middle) came over for a week with 2 friends, Puck & Eva. They enjoyed the pool...

Midnight swim and they were a bit squeamish about going in the water in the dark

Eva was the bravest to go first

So the two others had to follow

actually, once you're in it isn't that bad...

sometimes you can get some unannounced creepy visitors in the 'campo' in Spain...

DUTCH DIVAS I

I haven't told you about the Dutch Diva's yet I think...

It's a group of Dutch women living mostly inland in the province of Málaga (although diva's from outside the province are more than welcome as well) that get together every first Wednesday of the month to catch up, help each other out, give or ask advise, network and just have a good time...

This time it was at the house of one of the ladies, Margreet. During the summer we need to meet at a place with a pool; the kids are all on holiday and you can't leave the poor little ones at home while you're having a good time.

Floortje baked some delicious cakes to go with the coffee.

And everyone else brought some snacks and wine for the end of the meeting...

Diva's catching up in the shade

Kids having a perfect time in the pool

(look at the view over the valley by the way: amazing!)

I think it's time to get the wine out...

Our one and only swimming diva

no comment...

THIS IS IT... R.I.P. MJ

Gretes Angels

I still get together regularly with my old colleagues of Gretes Holiday Rentals for an evening of tapas and drinks. This time it was at Matahambre in Los Boliches on the coast. Good food for a very good price!

Here from left to right, Margaretha (Norwegian), Marisa (Spanish) and me

Me, Linda (Swedish) and Ia (Finnish)

Caroline (UK) and Marisa

Margaretha and me

Anette (Norwegian), Karolina (Polish) and Annette (German)

Last but not least, Marisa and Sandra (Dutch)

Together we speak a mix of Spanish and English