By The Seaside, By The Beautiful Sea

The downed palm tree in the plaza has been cut up, chipped and hauled away. It was a huge, noisy job that lasted about eight hours. And it was performed overnight! Understandably, with the narrow one-way streets, there's no way to bring in a truck and do a job like that during business hours. But I think, between us, San Geraldo and I may have logged 47 minutes of sleep.

ERODING CHRISTMAS SAND SCULPTURE ON SOON-TO-BE OUR BEACH IN FUENGIROLA.
... OR MAYBE IT'S THE REMAINS OF OUR APARTMENT IN SEVILLA.

Given the possibility that a plumber might be arriving late this morning to, again possibly, do some repairs in the apartment, we gave up on sleep and showered earlier than usual. In the past month, no plumber has ever arrived before 11:30. Plenty of time for breakfast.

DRAMATIC SKIES AS SEEN FROM OUR HOTEL TERRACE TUESDAY EVENING IN FUENGIROLA.
LOOKING EAST IN THE DIRECTION OF MÁLAGA.

New plumber today. He's an early riser and arrived at 9:15.  One of us has to be here at all times and I'm the one that speaks. So, I sent San Geraldo off to Los Niños Del Flor for a quiet breakfast with the International Herald Tribune. He returned with a tostada and café con leche for me.

 A WINTER WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ON THE BEACH.

No word on the oft-promised, never-delivered "tecnico," the expert who's supposed to inspect/fix/replace the water heater and the thermostat in the hall.

EXCELLENT ENGLISH FISH & CHIPS (AND MUSHY PEAS, BLECH! I HAD SALAD) IN FUENGIROLA.
SERVED BY AN ENGLISH WAITRESS. SAN GERALDO SPOKE IN SPANISH!

I now have a 13-page log of events, both in English and in Spanish, since the initial flooding before Christmas. San Geraldo has a letter (in English and Spanish) laying out the rules for "F" (we leave with no penalty payment; he pays, as promised, all our recent expenses — or — our lawyer will be contacting him). San Geraldo also included two documents from two Spanish government health organizations detailing the dangers of mold.

THE SUN RISING THURSDAY MORNING OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.
SOON TO BE OUR VIEW.

After spending more than an hour knocking two new holes in the walls, Danny the Plumber, is off buying parts. In his absence, Dudo and Moose are inspecting his work. Dudo just gave me a thumbs-up. Well, I think that's what he meant. He might have been giving me "the finger." Hard to tell.

NO THUMBS.