The thing about visiting the same place on an annual basis is that you stop taking photos of your surroundings. Most of this last week's snaps are of the people that enhanced my holiday...and they choose, for some reason, not to be pasted all over my blog. I don't get it either...they all look fab in hot sweaty summer temperatures and tight spandex type swimmers.
Vista Alegre, Torrevieja
So I've recorded some maginifcent flora, some wonderful architectural additions to our usual holiday haunts and the odd bit of whimsey. Honestly, I think Mr Dunnit has more pictures on his phone than I do on my camera!
Loved this!
I did record some of the ex-pat and holiday maker British enjoying a garden party (because we went to it - it wasn't a 'through the railings shot, honest!) and real sunshine to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. It was heart-warming and slightly unnerving at the same time. Mr Dunnit felt that it was a bit jingo-istic....but I figure the Spanish will celebrate King Juan Carlos' jubilee's as they arrive, so perhaps they understood. It was held in a public Park and remained open for everyone to enjoy, so at least in that sense it didn't suffer from that British 'exclusive-ness' that drives me nuts.
Spot the Brit
Our holiday home is on a large development, and the English permanent residents have of course established a Resident's Committee for the road, set some stupid rules and worse, done that frightfully english thing of throwing up locking gates to stop other people from using the communal pool etc. Makes me so cross to have to carry a set of keys 50 yards to have a swim. And not to be able to hang my towel over the balcony railing afterwards for fear of 'street untidiness'. The gates, I should tell you, are 3ft high. So if you forget your key and are in any way fit, you can vault over them. So they aren't keeping anyone out. And the towels? I hang em out anyway...gives the Chairman a reason to come and say hello!
Liked the bit of modern communal architecture. At first glance I thought it was Valencia as there is something very similar ;) Lovely sunshine too ;) xoxo Sioux P.S. I'd hang my towel out too!!! LOL
hee hee this made me chuckle xx great pics and soo true i have a serious prob with going abroard and then doing all british stuff, i didnt sit on a plane for3 hrs to have a full english n sit in a brit pub ha ha
That's kind of why we chose to buy a villa in a village and not on an urbanisation. But soak up the sun and forget the rules. Just enjoy being there. We had a small 'jubilee' lunch with our Wednesday sewing group, but nothing as grand as a garden party! Kate x
There are times when you wonder about us Brits, aren't there? Glad you're hanging your towel out. It's your towel and your balcony and why shouldn't you!
As a former security guard at a couple of "gated communities", which means absolutely nothing. It only keeps out the sales people and lookie loos. Anyway the homeowners make the rules and are always the first to break them. I was continally reminding them of THEIR rules and why I could or would not do as requested. Love the pics. Are you traveled out yet? LOL
Ah, Julia, you're a bit of an anarchist at heart :) Can just see you greeting the Chairman of the Residents' Committee with, 'I see you got my invitation!' Love the photographs and clearly you enjoyed the holiday despite the seemingly petty regulations. Elizabeth x
That was a blast from the past Julia. We stayed in Torrevieja some 20+ years ago, in a villa owned by a wine merchant who used to sell to the bosses where I worked at the time. I do remember the Englishness of it, but mainly the sound of the steel tips on our friend Alan's shoes clanking on the tiled floor. Drove us mad, especially as he was up most of the night, didn't have any slippers and refused to walk around in his socks. Thanks for popping into Doodly Bird land. Lynn x x
You are such a rebel! Once when we were looking for a new apartment, I checked out this one company that has apartments all over town (small complexes that look well-maintained). For whatever reason I ended up looking over a copy of the lease. And we ran, ran away. Who agrees to these things?! The lease said (among over things) that you agreed to inspect inside your closets and cupboards every day and that you would leave all these doors open for airing for X hours a day. There was a no towels or rugs on the railings rule too. You agreed to wipe down shower walls after every use! There was a rule about not leaving a bag of trash in any porch, sidewalk, doorway or hallway! No kidding. I couldn't leave a bag a trash inside my own door in my own hall for hubby to take out! The lease also said they reserved the right to come inside and inspect for compliance AT ANY TIME. Oh, hell no!
You make me chuckle so much at your rebelliousness... go girl - I so admire that you are in no way a stuck up Mary that would rather rebel the rules than go looking for people who have broken them - imagine - those people can't really be happy, well rounded and content individuals can they... they must have so many sleepless nights about wet towels and stray flip flops etc. I do kind of fins it a bit ironic that people who choose to leave Britain to live abroad then flaunt their Britishness and indeed, partake in the ultimate British of celebrations!!! I'd love to be behind you in the orderly queue to taunt, I mean attract the attention of the Chairman to exchange pleasantries....
Shes a rebel and she will never ever do what she should
just because she doesn't do what every body else does,
remember that song, come on you do, it is pumping in my head now and it sprang to mind as soon as I read that you wanted to do it your way just because. LOL
Love the story, especially the swimming sign.
Eliza (please use this link when replying if you do) http://queenartoypia.blogspot.com.au/
WELCOME back home - I just returned from our house in Provence, France, Europe just in time to watch an entire day on Danish television celebrating Queen E's jubilee. And to my horror when opening my pc I saw I lost all my readers and therefor feared I could find your blog again. TG for the WOYWW - I googled - and here I am. Hard to be back home - cold wet and horrible here. But then - I have my indoor hobby and it gives me more time. =0)
Liked the bit of modern communal architecture. At first glance I thought it was Valencia as there is something very similar ;)
ReplyDeleteLovely sunshine too ;)
xoxo Sioux
P.S. I'd hang my towel out too!!! LOL
Fabulous piccies Julia. I just love your stories and they always bring a smile to my face. Looks as if you got some R & R anyway. Hugs Rita xx
ReplyDeleteLove your take on it and go you rebel you :0)
ReplyDeleteSmile. Sorry I miss WOYWW yesterday, I do enjoy it so.
ReplyDeleteLove to hear all about you being a rebel :-) Thanks for the chuckle.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
A x
Now why am I not surprised to read you don't follow the rules! Lol Fab post and great pics too. Zo xx
ReplyDeleteRules are made to be broken..... Love the picture of the Vista, and the shadows too. Glad you had a good time and got to celebrate in a way too.
ReplyDeletehee hee this made me chuckle xx great pics and soo true i have a serious prob with going abroard and then doing all british stuff, i didnt sit on a plane for3 hrs to have a full english n sit in a brit pub ha ha
ReplyDeleteNice to see the rebel in you coming out lol
ReplyDeleteLooks lovely and so jealous you got sun. Can you bring some back with you the next time you go please
Nice to see the rebel in you coming out lol
ReplyDeleteLooks lovely and so jealous you got sun. Can you bring some back with you the next time you go please
Good for you re towel over railings. Isn't it silly. Lovely photos
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of why we chose to buy a villa in a village and not on an urbanisation. But soak up the sun and forget the rules. Just enjoy being there. We had a small 'jubilee' lunch with our Wednesday sewing group, but nothing as grand as a garden party!
ReplyDeleteKate x
There are times when you wonder about us Brits, aren't there? Glad you're hanging your towel out. It's your towel and your balcony and why shouldn't you!
ReplyDeletecheers,
rachel
Great to read that you are as rebelious as ever ....and glad you had a great break.
ReplyDeleteI tend to take photos of my surroudings and then years later wish I taken shots of those with me in stead.xx
Rolling round laughing here - you little rebel! I'd be just the same, would probably add a huge pair of bloomers just for luck :) Di xx
ReplyDeleteYou go Julia.. rules what are they!! tee-hee you really did make me(LOL).. good to have you home.. Hugs May x x x
ReplyDeleteYou little rebel! Fab piccies xxx
ReplyDeleteAs a former security guard at a couple of "gated communities", which means absolutely nothing. It only keeps out the sales people and lookie loos. Anyway the homeowners make the rules and are always the first to break them. I was continally reminding them of THEIR rules and why I could or would not do as requested. Love the pics. Are you traveled out yet? LOL
ReplyDeletehave a visio of you climbing over the gates and hanging from a spike in your cosie.....lol
ReplyDeletehave emailed you thanks re the atc,x
Ah, Julia, you're a bit of an anarchist at heart :) Can just see you greeting the Chairman of the Residents' Committee with, 'I see you got my invitation!' Love the photographs and clearly you enjoyed the holiday despite the seemingly petty regulations. Elizabeth x
ReplyDeleteRebel with a cause - I love it. Love your pics too. A x
ReplyDeleteThat was a blast from the past Julia. We stayed in Torrevieja some 20+ years ago, in a villa owned by a wine merchant who used to sell to the bosses where I worked at the time.
ReplyDeleteI do remember the Englishness of it, but mainly the sound of the steel tips on our friend Alan's shoes clanking on the tiled floor. Drove us mad, especially as he was up most of the night, didn't have any slippers and refused to walk around in his socks.
Thanks for popping into Doodly Bird land.
Lynn x x
julie you made me chuckle...would have love to have seen the swimsuites though...xxps your addie please
ReplyDeleteYou being a rebel...now that does surprise me LOL
ReplyDeleteGreat pics
Toni xx
Hurrah to hanging out towels!!!! Surely the key to being British is embracing all cultures, quirkyness and of course queuing!
ReplyDeleteKyla
You are such a rebel! Once when we were looking for a new apartment, I checked out this one company that has apartments all over town (small complexes that look well-maintained). For whatever reason I ended up looking over a copy of the lease. And we ran, ran away. Who agrees to these things?! The lease said (among over things) that you agreed to inspect inside your closets and cupboards every day and that you would leave all these doors open for airing for X hours a day. There was a no towels or rugs on the railings rule too. You agreed to wipe down shower walls after every use! There was a rule about not leaving a bag of trash in any porch, sidewalk, doorway or hallway! No kidding. I couldn't leave a bag a trash inside my own door in my own hall for hubby to take out! The lease also said they reserved the right to come inside and inspect for compliance AT ANY TIME. Oh, hell no!
ReplyDeleteOh Julia
ReplyDeleteYou make me chuckle so much at your rebelliousness... go girl - I so admire that you are in no way a stuck up Mary that would rather rebel the rules than go looking for people who have broken them - imagine - those people can't really be happy, well rounded and content individuals can they... they must have so many sleepless nights about wet towels and stray flip flops etc. I do kind of fins it a bit ironic that people who choose to leave Britain to live abroad then flaunt their Britishness and indeed, partake in the ultimate British of celebrations!!! I'd love to be behind you in the orderly queue to taunt, I mean attract the attention of the Chairman to exchange pleasantries....
big hugs - glad you enjoyed anyway
Paula x x x
Shes a rebel and she will never ever be any good
ReplyDeleteShes a rebel and she will never ever do what she should
just because she doesn't do what every body else does,
remember that song, come on you do, it is pumping in my head now and it sprang to mind as soon as I read that you wanted to do it your way just because. LOL
Love the story, especially the swimming sign.
Eliza
(please use this link when replying if you do)
http://queenartoypia.blogspot.com.au/
WELCOME back home - I just returned from our house in Provence, France, Europe just in time to watch an entire day on Danish television celebrating Queen E's jubilee. And to my horror when opening my pc I saw I lost all my readers and therefor feared I could find your blog again. TG for the WOYWW - I googled - and here I am. Hard to be back home - cold wet and horrible here. But then - I have my indoor hobby and it gives me more time. =0)
ReplyDeleteLove the humour behind this post! Is your towel a Union Jack one - and do you throw it on a sunbed below?
ReplyDeleteHugs, Neet xx