A Fancy Frappé, Flighty Flamingos and a Face Full Of Freckles

A Fancy Frappé

Ian and I take the business of food and drink VERY seriously. We chose to holiday in Calpe partly because of the abundance of top restaurants, and we chose the hotel because of its outstanding culinary reputation. We stayed on a bed and breakfast basis because we were keen to try different places for lunch and dinner.

Some of our choices were outstanding, like Abiss and the Michelin Starred hotel Beat. Whereas some left a lot to be desired. Others were frankly rather bonkers. We took the following photographs at one of the latter; a small sports bar close to the beach.  We had a reservation later that evening in Beat, so for lunch we wanted something simple, close and in the shade. And with that in mind, we ordered a salad and a non-alcoholic drink each: frappé for me and a fresh juice cocktail for Ian.

My children are forever saying I’m “extra” but my frappé was exuberant in the extreme. I didn’t expect a cocktail stirrer and two straws. I was obviously very happy that it came styled thus.

And wait until you see the receptacle Ian’s drink was served in. How fabulous is that plastic strawberry goblet?

Not to be “out extra-d,” our salads were served in the most fabulous plastic faux lettuce-leaf bowls.

They reminded me of those Fisher Price plastic treehouses that girls of my generation grew up with. However, everything tasted delicious, (once I’d made it past the squirty cream and sprinkles), and it made us giggle more than anything else all holiday.

Flighty Flamingos

While we’re on the subject of ridiculousness, I feel I need to share the lengths I went to in my attempt to photograph some wild flamingos. Las Salinas de Calpe is a natural salt flat home to thousands of species of flora and fauna. We made the most of having the hire car and stopped off there on the way back from Guadalest.

There were no obvious vantage points by the side of the lagoon so we walked around part of the perimeter. We realised that if we made our way through the reeds, we’d be able to get close to the edge and nearer to where the birds were standing. The reeds were taller than Ian, but I led the way with mounting excitement and the camera. I don’t know what I expected- perhaps I thought the flamingos would come expectantly towards me for food, much like ducks do for bread. They didn’t. Instead they took flight in unison.

And it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I didn’t realise their pale pink wings are edged in dark pink and black. They are stunning. It was spectacular. 

They touched down in the middle of the lagoon and proceeded to sashay away from us like an army of Victoria’s Secret models, complete with magnificent plumage.

I cannot deny that I was slightly disappointed not to get a selfie with them. But I was happy to know that they haven’t become tame, that they will take flight when they perceive something, (or someone), as a threat.

I lost track of how long we stood and watched them, but we needed to go back. As always, Ian allowed me to go first, whilst warning me of a wobbly plank of wood. As is my wont, I overthought said wobble and promptly slipped off into the swamp. I managed to keep one leg on the plank but the other got stuck in the mud up to my knee (the flamingos would have been horrified at my inability to stand on one leg). I couldn’t pull it out. It took all of Ian’s strength to free me. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry because I’d scraped my shin and it hurt. Even worse was the stench. I have never smelled anything so bad in my life; I dread to think how many microbes entered my bloodstream through the graze on my leg.

However, I chose to laugh and hobbled back to the car looking utterly ridiculous.

My sandal was unsalvageable, so we bagged it up, wiped my leg took the the hire car back, me with as much insouciance as one can muster in bare-feet, smelling of swamp.

A Face Full Of Freckles.

So to anyone who might mistakenly think that I live a cool and glamorous life. I don’t. At least not all of the time 😉 I’m hapless, over-excitable and I have a face full of freckles.