Beach Babies and the Promenade....

As has become the routine I awake to energetic children joyfully playing above on the floor above me.  Still in my PJ's I make my way upstairs for my morning cup of tea.  Side note...I am obsessed with English Breakfast Tea (or Ordinary Tea as it is known here)  I haven't even had a cup of coffee since I have been in Spain.  I've also been warned I need to stock up before I leave England because you can't get the real stuff anywhere else.  They are serious about this because both families have offered to keep shipping it to me when I am back in the states.  Ok, back to Spain....Nathan and Talia are over the top excited today about going to the beach!  Buckets and spades are prepped and ready.  I convince them I need to eat breakfast before we go and we all need to get ready.  As it goes with most anytime you are super excited to go somewhere the prep seems to take forever to the kids and something always goes missing.  This morning was no exception....Talia's shoes were no where to be found.  This delay led to some minor melt downs but eventually we made it out the door, into the car, and onto the beach.  Success!!!

Beach Babies on wobbly ladders

The beaches in Nerja we go to have these great little play grounds on them.  There are a few different ones along the beach.  We settled in by one with a slide and got to playing.  There were Sandcastles with drawbridges (Nathan's interpretation of them of course) and quite a bit of sliding and dangling from wobbly ladders.  Also along the side is a nice wooden walkway that leads out to the beach that Nathan liked to run down shouting "Good Bye...See Ya Later!"  I really need to record the way "See Ya Later" sounds with a child's English accent....it's really great.
After a bit the slides and wobbly ladders lost their original appeal so we packed up our buckets and spades and headed down to the water to dip our toes in the Mediterranean Sea.  Ok, so I am going to admit something slightly embarrassing here....I had no idea when I arrived in Nerja, Spain that I was on the Mediterranean Sea.  Someone (who is not even in Europe) had to tell me.  Oops...Not sure even what sea I thought I was near.  I really hadn't even looked to see where I was I just knew it was on a coast. I have started looking at my geographic locations bit closer now.

Toes in the Mediterranean Sea 

        Ok, back to my toes in the sea.  Little Talia held my hand and ventured in about ankle deep saying "Ooh, it's a bit cold".  Nathan was a bit skeptical of the whole thing and hung back in the dry sand and watched.  Once Talia and I had cooled our feet enough it was time for lunch at a beach side cafe.  Ryan joined us for lunch then drove us home. It really was great spending time with just the kiddos and enjoying the beach.  It also allowed Michelle and Ryan some time to themselves.  In exchange for this time off Michelle and I left Ryan with the kids for the night and went into Old Nerja to walk along the streets and the Promenade.  Michelle has been coming here quite often since she was a child so she was able to show me some really neat spots.

Nerja Promenade Arches 

It was very much what I pictured a spanish town to be like.  Quaint shops along cobble stone streets and the cafe lifestyle.  I also love the idea of the big open promenades that everyone comes out onto in the evenings to walk and socialize.  This is what they do a lot to meet new people or catch up with old friends instead of going to pubs or bars/restaurants.  Such a fun thing to do!  I hope that at some point along my travels I am able to be a part of one of these.  Michelle and I weren't out late enough to join in here but I have been told they do this same thing in France and Italy so I still have a chance.
The night ended with fresh mussels at a beach front restaurant.  It doesn't get much better then that!
I can't believe I now only have one more full day left in spain.  Good thing I have the beginning of a good tan which I will continue to perfect tomorrow when we have another beach day...this one will be done properly in our swimming costumes. Then the next morning it's back to rainy Bath, England.

View from the Nerja promenade