Sunday July 1.

I am actually writing to you on Tuesday the 3rd so there is a wee bit to catch up on, but I have been pretty stationary and my Iphoto is still not working so might bring my camera to this internet point in Marbella tomorrow to upload some.

Trying to remember back to Sunday, difficult as I have just had tapas and bread and a Sangria down at the beach.

On Sunday (now I remember) I stayed at Jose´s house all day. I was tired and slightly overwhelmed about  being in a beautiful place staying with someone I only ever knew in New Zealand. He lives in a stunning two-bedroom wooden cottage on a hill in the countryside outside the little town of Monda. he has a vege garden and views overlooking the surrounding hills and township of Monday. All the houses are white and the sky is always blue. The hills are lush and green and it is quite idyllic in many ways. He owns quite a bit of land around the house and we took his dog for a walk today up into the hills. The washing line is up the hill slightly, as is the compost. It really is the kind of place people, including myself, dream of living in. We have put up a hammock on the edge of the area is house is situated on between two pine trees so you can lie on it and look out right across the landscape to Monda and beyond. Quite a few people have pools in the area so you can spot these across the landscape as well.

I lay there for a long time just relaxing and even went to sleep for a short time. I never do that!

Jose´s mum came for lunch and I made a pasta (typ-a-bloody-cal) and salad and we sat outside. His mum is in a wheelchair and talks non-stop. She is gorgeous and I really warmed to her but I understand virtually nothing she says. Nonetheless I managed to start directing the conversation somewhat after a while so that we could both understand eachother better. It was a nice relaxing day that was follwed by a trip into town where we watched Spain vs Italy in the footy. People were out on the streets is Monda and there were screens on the outside of the bars. It was totally cool. Flags, colour and passion everywhere but still nice and intimate. All the houses are white, like in Greece, and the evenings are so warm. it can´t feel more like summer and more like a holiday place. People were bursting out of their skin as Spain took out Italy in the final; 4-0... mamma mia! I was happy for Spain and watching the sad faces of Italians I felt sorry for them, sort of, but I realised I wanted Spain to win and I no longer really have the same attachment to Italy.

Monday was a lazy day too... I am taking time out... went into Marbella, near Monda in the afternoon though and spent a short time on the beach and strolled the streets. It is too beautiful. i will attach photos when I can. We had a gelato. I had my typical Lemon, and an apple on and we did a supermarket shop. OH MY GOD - food is super cheap here! Beers for 1 euro, water for 15 cents for a big bottle,10 tomatoes for 80 cents, a big tub of icecream for 2 euro... it just goes on. I think things are half to one third the price in NZ. I just went out for garlic mushrooms and prawn tapas with bread, olives and a sangria. The restaurant overlooked the sea and it all cost 4.50 euro. That´s less than 8 dollars at the moment. Talking about food again! Yeah so that was yesterday and today I got up and ate and then went to the busstop in Monda to catch the bus to Marbella for the day. In the end a guy picked me and another guy up, apparently this is very normal. The money I save though, I gave to the guy who shared a ride with me as he said he had no money and he looked poor and dishevelled. Jose said I should have and that people ´tienen cara´, ie have a face, and that he will come back and ask me for another euro and then I will see him in a bar drinking a beer. I know that people lie and cheat but I think soetimes it nice to give to strangers without thinking about what there real story is. Sometimes it is nice to be generous and non-judgmental. We all have to rely on each other to a certain extent. Anyway, I didn´t let the aging man leave until I´d told him that I hoped he was using the money for what he said he was. I am sure he is still thinking about that conversation with  me. Hahaha. An life goes on....

So, been at the beach and to eat and now I am going to buy sunscreen and go back to the beach for an hour...

Love to you all xox