Monica and Barbara are joined by some hairy oaf. Feeding time! 

Food at Birras: (from left to right) Monica, Paola and Barbara hold a couple of lovely pizzas. 

Don't touch the electrics with wet hands. 

Hasta Luego Kirsty

Kirsty and Joanna went back to the UK with Fraser today. Kirsty and Joanna have been here for about five weeks and it felt as if they were living here. There have been a fair few boozey evenings/mornings and some good chuckles.

Be good K! Take care and see you very soon!

Drinkers at Birras. Kirsty and Fraser enjoy their final evening in Nerja with Bekie. 

Las chicas. From left to right; Paola, Margherita and Barbara. Monica is missing from this photo. These super ladies own Birras where I work.

Joanna with her funky t-shirt. 

The Festival of San Juan

Last night Spain celebrated the festival of San Juan. On every beach in Nerja people danced the night away and drank plenty of booze. There was live music, large bonfires, fireworks etc - it was quite a do! I started work at 10pm and finshed just before 6am. Bekie, Kirsty, Joanna and Fraser all visited the Birras Bar for drinks and grooved as DJ Al's sounds pumped through the night. Unfortunately I forgot to put the camera in my bag so there are no pictures of the event. Whoops. These things happen.

Granada

Bekie and I caught a bus to Granada on Tuesday to visit Saira with whom I used to work. Saira is currently working in a hostel named Maktub which is based in the Morrocan quarter next to Plaza Nueva and the Alhambra. We spent all afternoon chatting in the hostel's lounge area and watching Saira making her water melon punch and trying to speak some Spanish. We also met Jose, Authur, Dillon and Francois -all really nice guys. The temperature outside was 40 degrees centigrade so everybody who could do found some sort of shade.

Saira was in good form and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying her time in Granada. We parted to travel back to Nerja on Wednesday lunchtime. The bus station is about 3km from the centre of town and Bekie and I walked it briskly in the heat only to find an enormous queue for tickets. We consequently missed our 1Pm bus and had to wait for the 4pm bus. However we consoled ourselves by stuffing our faces in Burger King. Smashing.

The word "Maktub" in Arabic.

Saira prepares a punch containing lots of water melon, vodka, orange juice and other tasty treats. We spent most of the afternoon in the lounge area and chatted away. 

Bex busy reading in the lounge area of the Maktub hostel. 

Granada on Wednesday afternoon at 13:20 just after we'd missed the bus. Phew what a scorcher! Fortunately the massive baps at Burger King were only around the corner.

Bull on the Run

A bull has escaped from the bullring in the city of Malaga. The incident happened whilst a bullfight was taking place but no-one has yet confirmed how it happened. The police in the state of Malaga have issued a warning to residents to be watchful and not to approach the bull should it be sighted.

The police have also issued this photo-fit picture and offered a financial reward for anyone who can help catch the beast.

This animal is wild and extremely dangerous. Do not approach it especially if you are wearing red dungarees. 

El Sol Vive en Nerja

It seems that the heat is finally starting to hit the Costa del Sol. The last few days have been in the low 30C's. What I have been warned about is the humidity in July and August. In Madrid it will be stinking-hot this summer but the heat will be very dry - easier to sleep in. In Nerja it will be very hot and sticky with it. That said there should be some decent thunderstorms to offset our discomfort.

Exploding Toads

I was reading one of the local expat papers yesterday. Apparently ecologists are concerned about a species of toad in this region of Spain whose numbers are dwindling due to their tendency to explode when threatened by predators. Owls are being held chiefly accountable for this.

If you have had problems with owls or exploding toads in the past please feel free to leave a comment under this article.

If you would like to know more toads click on the link on the left pane of this site.

Jon Creasy and Big Al. Taken in Blue Med on Burriana beach at about 1:30am Saturday morning. 

Weekend - Eye of a Needle

Bekie and I have enjoyed a nice weekend together. We didn't do too much on Saturday due to my need for close proximity to a toilet. I worked on Saturday night and Bekie visited the bar for beers and tapas. Then Kirsty, Bekie and I went to Iguana's for a late drink.

Sunday has been spent on the beach. I am working tonight and Bekie is having a quiet one.

Nerja Facts

Nerja's population is now more than 20,000. Of the 20,027 registered here 2009 are Brits, 628 are Argentineans, 414 are German and there are 300 Swedes. Great eh?!

Bekie enjoying a comfortable drink served by the Lord in Birras. Bekie managed to stay until I closed up at 2am and showed her phenomenal drinking prowess. She was joined by Kirsty, Big Al and familly later in the evening. 

Work and Bikinis

Hello all. Both Bekie and I worked over the weekend. Bekie worked on Saturday night in the Smugglers' Inn whilst the karaoke was taking place. I worked happy hour then 10 until close Saturday and 8pm until close Sunday. There seem to be a few more people around now but our respective work-places still aren't particularly busy.

We enjoyed a fabulous Sunday roast on Sunday afternoon at Sloanes. As neither of us had had a square meal for a while we felt justified eating posh nosh. Beef, chicken, pork, potatoes, carrots, broccoli and stuffing with apple pie and custard for afters. All for 10 euros.

My stint working happy hour on Saturday was made more entertaining by three tall, young, female American students wearing bikinis sitting at the bar ordering tapas and drinks. They were from Misouri but were studying in Italy just outside Milan and were keen to know where to go out in Nerja on Saturday night. They were very pleasant and I was very professional.

This is where the tapas is kept on the bar at Birras. You get some tapas with each drinks order. Looooveely! 

Martin getting his leg over in Birras - with assistance from Sarah. These guys work in the bar next to Birras - the Black Horse. Martin also works with Bekie in the Smugglers' Inn and helped me get my job in Birras.

The bar at Birras where I am working. You can see the Cruzcampo and Tinto Verano taps in the corner of the picture. 

Job Update

I started working last night at Bar Birras on the Burriana beach-front. I am working behind the bar and serving tapas and stuff - 6 days a week - every evening from 6pm/8pm until the last person goes home. It was enjoyable last night but not very busy and the time dragged. I am working with three great Italian ladies; Monica, Margarita & Barbara. Once I am fully-trained they will be leaving me on my own from 10pm every night to finish the evening off and lock up. Fortunately I am able to play my own tunes on the stereo so I will be making up some CDs today to keep myself dancing/moving.