Competa Summer
 

Hi Everyone,
Well that is my summer over , boo hoo. :( I am back to school on Monday , but no children until Wednesday, so a relatively quiet start.
Summer in Competa was brilliant, it always is, it is home from home but with a lot more things going for it, undoubtedly the weather. :thumbsup: I always know it is going to be hot but you forget just how hot, it is very hard to describe heat and boy was it hot!
I love the sun but even I had to relent to 4 sunbroll:thumbup: ies on my terrace, it was like living under a toadstool, just too hot to lay out comfortably after 9 in the morning until 6 in the evening, but the pool at the balcon de competa ( we have a new municipal one now too, although only open for August as not enough money to finish it yet!) was brilliant and the warmest sea I have known, no oooooh!! factor at all.:D
The moment I arrived my social life kicked off, a party the first night, a spanish wedding the second. Oh and after OH being out a month before to rewire the ground floor the dust etc had had time to settle even though he had cleaned, so I spent a whole day blitzing the house, in that heat I was knackered but well worth it once it was done. I seem to recall an extremely large bacardi and coke followed! :beer: Once house was clean, flowers nurtured , my neighbour gives them tlc when I am not there, I was ready to holiday.It is so different to holidays before Competa as it is now like living , not holidaying. I never feel as if I have been away , but isn't it strange as soon as you meet up with someone the first thing they ask is " how long are you here for"? or " when are you going home?" are they trying to tell me something!! :confused: Anyway time was taken up with the normal, never going to bed on the same day you get up, unless for a siesta of course, many of those due to extreme heat, often around 40 when having meal on terrace about 8 in evening. I have never spent so many nights sleeping on the terrace as I did this year. Brilliant, to lay there and see such fantastic stars filling the sky. Sorry guys if this is a long one but as requested am sharing my spanish life, if only for a few months a year. I have to mention the bullfight, I know a dodgy area with some, but I had the chance to go , it was in the next village, Canillas, Bigbudda, you may well have been to the feria, anyway, decided to go, wanted to see for myself, I don't feel you can make judgements unless you see for yourself, as in foxhunting, but I won't go there, because spent a lot of my younger years doing just that! It was an wonderful experience, not what I had in mind, and I kept myself very detached from saying, aaarrrgh poor bully etc, anyway they got their own back a few times. So an experience, and I have my views others have theirs. Noche del vino in competa was a day and night of the usual, free wine, culture, Migas, free food, but have had that a few times now, that I go to the local stalls and get chorizo and morcilla baguettes, far more tasty!
The nightime is always a bit of older ladies and wailing music, but there was a slight difference this year, a younger fella, well not that young, but the singing was passable, and a really good flamenco dancer, who danced with a jazz style, very good and different. So once that was over, it wasn't long before Malaga started its 10 day festivities, so a day In Malaga it had to be, again brilliant, the spanish certaily know how to party. I really can't go into details of everything but this summer was turning out again to be wonderful. OH was out by this time, he arrived a week before Noche del Vino so he had the longest time in Competa that he has had. So with the trips to Casa la mina, hotel in mountains, alway extremely quiet with views to die for, swimming and lunching there with friends, taking in the atmosphere of Competa and surroundings and not forgetting the opening of the new night club of Pepe from Museo , great night, late night and drink flowing. .
We visited friends who live in Fuente de Piedra, near Antequerra, funny little town but they love it. That is how I have got to know the donkey sanctuary there over the years and have adopted donkeys and so have half the family, even if they are not as lucky as me to get to see them, if any of you have the chance do go for a visit, you will fall in love with them, and give Monty a hug from me if you go!. www.elrefugiodelburrito.com if you want to visit site. There are many donkey sanctuaries but this one is run so well and if anyone is from Mijas, these are the people that began the donkey taxi liscencing. There is a santuary in Nerja but they have slightly different values like allowing all and sundry to feed them, I don't like that idea, as I grew up and my children did with ponies around we know only too well what these animals get like if they expect food and you do not have some for them, a bit like naughty children so a nip here and there is what many a visitor may well get, not seriousluy I hope. Anyway my donks, are relly well loved, some very sad cases, funny ones too like getting arrested for smuggling , by the british army in Bosnia, so that was how one arrivesd, I could go on but I am sure you are all loosing the will to live so I will shut up in a mo.
All I can say is that my summer in Competa has been brilliant, it is home from home, the people are lovely , I have many firends and aquaintances and the the spanish put up with me using my spanish on them, one day I shall manage it, I feel confident until I talk to a true competano and then it all goes to pot! So you can see that I am passionate about the place and am now counting down the 6 weeks until I go back, only 47 sleeps!!
Thank you for reading this if you have managed to get to the end, I am not looking through rose tinted specs as I know there are negative things to spainish life, like the new mayor who as nice as he is has made his stamp on the town and some very strange things he has implemented too , but thats life, sure good will come of it.
So on that note I shall leave you all to resuscitate yourselves and say ta ta for now. and I look forward to Hugo winning the doggy votes,!!!!!!
Luv Eve
xxx:thumbup:www.elrefugiodelburrito.com

Re: Competa Summer
 

A few photos of my summer.
Luv Eve
xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

Eve,
Nice post !...love to read all the news about your visit, bet it was real tough leaving..I have not been to the ferria in Canillas yet, seem to spend all my time looking for tiles....seems like it was a bit warm as well , has OH got any more work to do on the house or can you finally relax now? what's the mayor up to now ?, any new restaurants in town ? I noticed when I was last over the nice little deli at the bottom of the slope had closed, was this holidays or has it gone ? used to get some nice pastries from there.
47 nights will soon go......:zzz:

Re: Competa Summer
 

I recognise the guy in the first picture, that's young Salva...has his athlete's foot healed up yet ...:eek:
Are you on your way to El Pilon in the second one ?
Is your house in the third piccy ?
Come on more info....;)

Re: Competa Summer
 

Lovely to read about your summer in Spain and the photo's look absolutely wonderful, thank you so much for sharing.

Surely this should not be in siesta time though as not everyone visits and it would be a shame if there are only a limited number of people seeing your thread.

Rosemary

Re: Competa Summer
 

oh didn't give that a thought, how do I change it.
xx
xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

:p Oooh yuk!! Yes Pilon is ahead of me, and no house is not in piccy.
The deli you are talking about must be Borriquitos, bakers and bits below , lovely bistro type restaurant upstairs, run by English lady and german fella, lovely peole, she is a great friend and unfortuanately, he is no longer on this earth, reversed his car one night over the side of mountain!! Borriquitos is closed, downstairs is yet another property agent and upstairs still empty. Teresa has gone on to other things but is still in village and busy, a lovely person.
The mayor wants everyone to have a licence just to pick up a paintbrush, but I think he is just making a stand to try and bring back to sense to all the things and lack of mainey left from the previous one, who knows if he will be any netter. He did a ot of good for the village when he was th epriest, but who knows, seems a strange change in job direction! Who is going to be Jesus for Semana santa now!

We still have work to do but getting there slowly but surely, more rewiring and eventually a new bathroom, more mess but manana manana!
How is your place coming along?

Luv Eve

Re: Competa Summer
 

Ask a mod to do it because us lesser mortals cannot.

Rosemary

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi Eve :)

What a brilliant post :thumbsup:
I've just given you karma for it, so I won't repeat the same comments here.

It's so lovely to read about your life in Competa; and I'm sure it's particularly encouraging for people who are hoping to make it out here.
I think the more that people share their experiences of what life can be like here, the better the picture will be for others.

I love the way you've written it; your enthusiasm for the place just oozes through your words - you sound like you have a great time and a very solid base there.
Good for you :thumbup:

Unfortunately, I can't get the photos to open yet :(
I've tried twice, but my PC seems to be on a go slow today (!) so I'll try again later.

Hope you have a great first day back at school tomorrow ;)

Love Sam x

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hello lovely Mods! ;)

If you do move Eve's thread to the main Spanish forum, would you please be kind enough to do the same with the "I've just got in" thread?
A few people suggested it should be moved out of Siesta time..............what do you think?

Cheers!
Sam.

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi Eve,
I like your piece very much not to lenghty at all.
I have a fond memory of Competa. At the beginning of the year Julian and I spent a month exploring the South coast of Spain between Vera and Nerja. An estate agent recommended that we looked at the valley leading up to Compete. On the way there we stopped on a winding mountain road to look at the houses on the opposite side of the valley, as we stood there bathed in warm sunlight Julian said “This is all very well but what is it like in winter? I bet it’s really cold up here.” I replied “Have you forgotten it’s January the coldest month of the year in Europe, it is winter” “Oh! I had forgotten I thought it was July” A month of sunshine had made him think it was summer.

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi Eve I have just read your brilliant post,thanks, you will know how to live life to the full whilst you are there.It all sounds wonderful ,I cannot wait to visit very shortly,and thanks for the link to El Refugio del Burrito,I have bookmarked it and will most certainly be paying a visit at some point,I have had a quick look at the site the donkeys look gorgeous :wub:
I loved your photo's also ,it certainly gives a insight into the area and what a beautiful part of Spain it is.
Well the time will soon pass and you will be returning before you know it,at least you will have a quiet couple of days back at school to ease you in :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Competa Summer
 

:thumbsup:
Thanks guys, so glad you enjoyed reading it, yes I am very passionate about it, I realise the pitfalls and try to avoid them, so all in all, it is living up to expectations at the moment. I think life is alot of what you make it, so keep up the positive thinking! Also so glad there has not been any (YET) moans and groans about the length!
Speak soon, take care everyone,
Luv Eve
xx
PS just did the trivia quiz and know that my brain hasn't been fried with all the sun!

Re: Competa Summer
 

Moved this one, looked for yours to move but can`t find it ?

Re: Competa Summer
 

:thumbsup:
Just realised I had been moved, thank you for whoever did it. Ta mucho,
Luv Eve
xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

:blink:
oooh now my reply looks silly, cos you have just told me what i was asking, our posts must have been racing with each other through cyberspace!
Ta Eve
xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi eve im julie lovely to read your posts about competa, we fell in love with the place. we was hoping to move there but its been put on hold because we need to be near coast for the next year, but we go there as much as possible, lucky you

Re: Competa Summer
 

:thumbsup:
Hi ya happy bunny, glad you like it too, I am suppossed to be cooking dinner but just got distracted so won't waffle much. BUT ...... what part of the coast are you heading for, have you got a job or business, sorry for being nosey, but that is me!
Will be back on later, I really must do dinner.
Luv Eve
xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

Well i havent got a job, and i need one. going to fuengirola because my daughter is starting a hair dressing course there and it will last for a year. so if i dont find work i will be up the creak without a paddle. If we dont do it now there will always be some reason why we cant. We came to competa to visit friends and fell in love with the place. Have you got a job there?

Re: Competa Summer
 

It's on page 2 of Siesta time, jdr.
Here: http://britishexpats.com/forum/forum...e=2&order=desc

Thanks ever so :thumbup:

Re: Competa Summer
 

Sorted. ;-) it didn`t show up in search ?

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi Eve, was the spanish wedding roughly in the last two weeks of July cos if it was we were there watching at the church too!

Nats xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi nat,
yes the weddin gwas on the last saturday in the evening, an extremely hot day.
Can't believe someone from here was there at the same time.
Luv Eve
xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi Eve, oooooh yes we were there, sitting outside the restaurant next to the tapas bar, with two very fidgity little boys who kept going shy when the spanish girls spoke to them both! I'll have to take another look at my piccies from that night, you might even be in one of them :thumbsup:

Nats xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

:D
Hi nats,
Have just read your other posts as I wasn't sure if you were going to spain very soon or were just beginning to think about it. As you stayed in competa have you settled on that sort of area or have you travelled about . It really is beautiful up there. I have known the Nerja area for the last 20 years and have seen some vast changes and wondered if I would get used to not being by a beach, but I have a day in nerja now and then and just can't wait to get back up my mountain, I find it is still special to me down there but I like the peace and tranquiltity away from it all. The business you have in mind will it be more suited to coastal areas or could you run it from anywhere, sorry i am nosey!!
Luv Eve

Re: Competa Summer
 

hi eve just wondered do you live in competa full time or split your time between there and essex, julie

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi Julie, no, unfortuanately I have to live in essex, or could be a snob and say essex/hertfordshire borders .... therefore I spend as much time as poss in Competa, which means about 3 months a year, not long enough for my liking!!:(
Luv Eve
xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

:rofl:
Whoops, sorry hope haven't offended you by mentioning herts, didn't know that was where you come from, have just read your threads as I was going to ask you what you had in mind and in which area, in fact I think just have oh just ignore me I have left my brain in spain which is unfortunate as I have to go back to work tomorrw. Oh well just have to wing it, sure no one will notice they think I am mad anyway!
It is very different staying just outside of Competa in the campo and having to drive in as oppossed to being in the village and being part of life there. I think they both have a lot going for them, because I am out there alot on my own I find being in the village perfect, only drawback is going uphill wherever you go, but where my house is I am fairly central and going back with the shopping or after a night out is always downhill!. Hope you find what you are looking for.
Luv Eve
xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi Eve,

We've just started our plans for going to Spain, and as lovely as Competa is, I think we will need to be more coastal costa del sol for work. I'll start a different thread me thinks, as I don't want to spoil yours! I'll see if I can work out how to do a gallery and put my Competa piccies up for you to see . . .

Nats xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

Blimey Eve, that's terrible news, I am glad your friend is finding ways to deal with her loss, those roads can be so dangerous, you don't get a second chance with the drops from the roadside up there.
I remember the priest was going for mayor now you mention it, he was always a little intense if I remember, has he given up the way of the cloth completely?, as you say a strange change, Manana indeed with the remaining work, why rush it !!.
I have forgotten about my place at the moment, too much going on here, possibly going over in a few weeks, thinking of driving down....BB :)

Re: Competa Summer
 

:D
Good morning or should I say Gid Moaning as I am off to school in a min.
Mayor is now no longer a priest, very smart looking in his business suits, yes a suit, not like other office people, bank managers etc in shirt sleeves and sometimes shorts, he is taking it all seriously and has even made the ayuntaniento workers return from their lunch and work in the afternoon, god jelp him, but then he probably will as he was once one of his flock, or it could work in reverse, God may well be P----d off and now abandonhim as he has changed to politics, but then, church, politics, where's the difference!;)

Yes roads are unforgiving, but Andreas went over the side while actually turning round his car in the drive of the house he was living in at the time, middle of the night mind you and yu know how dark it gets! anyway very sad, he was very kind to us.

Better go as don't want t be late first morning.
Take care.
Luv Eve
xx

Re: Competa Summer
 

Hi Eve no you havent offended me just because im a snob and come from hertfordshire ha ha only joking it would take a lot more than that. I live in St Albans do you know it? Might look you up next time im in the square in competa Bye julie x