Mini Vacation: Mijas Pueblo and the Costa del Sol

So I heard about Mijas from afar. Its a traditional small white village in the mountains with the most precious views of the sea. I also heard that they continued the tradition of Donkey Taxis, so I was psyched to go and check it out. I wanted to take a donkey taxi!!!!!

We went this weekend (the start of our 11 day vacation-- Semana Santa-- Easter week, we are teachers so we have off). What we found was beauty, natural beauty all around us, it was precious!

BUT when after spending a night in Mijas, we got up early to take a ride on the Donkeys and we found them in horrible condition, tied very close to poles and walls. Spanish guy and I decided that we didn't want to support this tradition unless they gave more freedom to the Donkeys, so we didn't ride them. But we documented the situation!

Burro (Donkey in Spanish) taxis:

Here are some pictures of Mijas (and us in Mijas):

Then we went down to the coast for some fun in the sun, haha. Spanish guy was learning how to Rollerblade and it was so funny because everyone had something to say about it, so we wound up talking to so many people along the miles and miles of beach! We had lunch in a great Chiringuito (beach side restaurant) with spectacular views, and then at night we ended up in one of my favorite places, Cafe de Sol, its like one of the most sought after places to go! Very trendy, great music, right on the beach, with a lounge inside outside on the sand straight down to the sea. Its great!

i cut my hair!!

AND ITS GOING TO KEEP GETTING SHORTER OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, YIPPIE!!

starting to write my book

I started writing my book today. It makes me sick to my stomach to remember and write about some things from my past, but I think its a story that people should hear.

Empenzé a escribir mi libro hoy, me pone mala para recordar y escribir algunas cosas de mi pasado, pero creo que es una historia que la gente debería leer.

Mr. & Ms. FUNK-- a bit of everything--YA ESTA

It's so fun to dress up, I love it! I love wearing different colors, styling my hair with accessories, and most of all, I love birthday parties! I had the extreme pleasure of going to an Austrian birthday party in the old part of Málaga center on Saturday night, in the birthday boys house (then out on the town). He lives in a charming traditional Spanish piso. It was FABULOUS!

Me and Spanish guy, AKA Mr Funk, rocked it out all night with some of my closest friends. It was truly an international night, Americans, Italians, Austrians, Spanish... hmm... yeah, I think that's all. ha.




Anyway, here's a tid-bit of information, do you know that Germans and Austrians sing happy birthday in English? There's no translation. Interesting, no? I thought so.

So... I titled this blog Mr. & Ms. Funk cause Spanish guy and I rocked it out like everyone should to celebrate Spring in amazing brilliant colors full of happiness, and good cheer.

PS: Sometimes I write about random things and I theme hop, but I'm sure you already know that.

a result of running

Two days ago, as I was scrambling to get dressed in the morning, one eye still closed and wishing that my body was still nicely cradled in my warm bed, I slid on a pair of jeans and easily maneuvered the chrome button through the matching slit. As the button closed and the zipper went up I realized I had just put on my "skinny jeans"-- you know, those jeans that fit you centuries ago that you always saved because... one day you will loose enough weight to fit into them!!! You are SURE OF IT!! well... those-- I was shocked!

Of course I have been training, running six days a week, but I have also been eating and partying, which I thought would even it out, but no, I lost inches without even realizing it. I don't have a full length mirror or a scale to weigh myself, so it just kind of jumped up on me.

The next day (yesterday) I decided to try on my size 2 skirt that I bought when I lived in Ireland 4 years ago and was at my peak, ZIPPPPPPPPPPPP... on it went with no problem, TOMA!!!

I'm back to my "skinny" self and love it. The good thing is, I was satisfied with myself and my size before, so no matter if I stay this size or get back to my comfortable weight, I will be okay with myself. But its nice to see my body become stronger, especially after all the work I have been doing for the marathon.

ZIPPPPPPPP--
Mendoza

Hot like FIE-YA

I ran 11 miles today in the hot sun, it burned my legs and arms it was so strong. Then I took an ice-bath for ten minutes to relax my muscles, it was so freezing that my skin felt like it was burning. Then I made a huge lasagna and the top layer burned. Hmmm... theme???

Brooklyn ICON

Giving some love to Biggie on the anniversary of his death, I remember where I was, what I was doing and who I was with when I found out the news, I was torn up!!! I think I was only 14 years old. CRaZy.

"SPREAD LOVE IS THE BROOKLYN WAY!"
-juicy

xo.

now THIS is talent

showing off my supa dupa skills.

Spanish guy is on a video kick, he is recording every stupid thing I do!

feeling the burn-- a runners world

So after my Spanish class this morning, I was hyped up on two cups of coffee, caffeine is a god send! I laced up my running kicks and banged the pavement. I ran ran ran, and it was sunny today after a million days of rain for the last 4 months! I actually felt the heat on my skin instead of rain and shocking wind-- it sucks to run in the rain because everything gets wet and heavy and it feels like you are carrying rocks in your shoes and a baby on your back while trying to rip through a storm!-- okay, back on track-- because the weather agreed with me, it felt so much easier to run, and lucky me, today was the day I scheduled for my long run, 14 kilometers, or 8 miles more or less plus ab and shoulder repetitions.

During the run, I felt my ass muscles contract with each step, my thigh and calf muscles felt the burn. My abs were tight and strong and my biceps and triceps kept me balanced. Perfect run.

Prague marathon, here I come.

Barça Barça Barça!!!

So I don't want to bore everyone with my Barcelona stories. I think the city in general was a bit hyped up for me, I expected A LOT more, but I appreciate it as a cultural center. Personally I prefer traditional Europe, not a cosmopolitan city. I come from NYC, if I want cosmopolitan I'll go back to New York and visit my family and friends while I'm at it! (sorry if I sound harsh, its that time of the month :X)

Well, enough of that. The reason why I (we) went is because this whole vacation was a Christmas present from me to Spanish guy (and I have a good friend that lives there that I wanted to see-- we wound up staying with her in her fabulous apartment). He LOVEEESSSS The Barcelona soccer team, Barça. So I got us some plane tickets and the entrances and we lived his dream out together. He never went to a game, but always watches it on TV, or we go to bars and watch it.

So I booked the trip for the weekend that they played against Malaga (the city where we live). To be honest I felt a little bad that I wasn't rooting for Malaga, I SHOULD be a fan, but I have to stay loyal to my man and his team I guess.

Here are my impressions of the game: It's NOTHING like watching a live game in the States!!! There is no music (except for the intro song), no one narrating the game, they don't get the crowd invovled AT ALL, the people don't yell and scream, they don't sell beer... I couldn't believe it! I had a better time watching it on TV, at least I had the liberty to drink and eat what I wanted and listen to the men describe the game, geezzz...

Anyway, what WAS amazing is that the stadium is HUGE! AND people make paper airplanes during the whole match and launch them in the air in an attempt to make it to the soccer field. A few were successful, my plane didn't make it 4 feet before it crashed into someones head-- I quit after that . That was my favorite part of the whole experience.
My failure at flying my super duper paper airplane:
(you can tell by my facial expression I was EXTREMELY disappointed with the outcome)

Ciao Italia-- VENICE

✈ Oh gosh, where to start... Venice was amazing. From the moment I stepped foot onto the public boat in route to the hotel, I was flipping out. As we were gliding by, I noticed something strange to my left... how could there be no sidewalks in certain places and water entering peoples house and no one even cares! In the few days I was there as I walked around the city, I found out that during high tide, certain streets are flooded and you have to wear rain boats to walk around (or walk on wooden planks they have set up around the city), if not you're soaking wet. For the people that live there its completely normal, for me, I was in shock, I couldn't believe it! So besides that initial shock and the shock of being wet for 4 days straight (no pun intended, it is the most romantic city in the world), I was delighted to eat the most delicious food in the world, gelatos, huge pizzas, spaghetti, gnocchis, and a buffet breakfast every day!!! OH MY!!! IT WAS GREAT! I knew from the start that I wanted to eat A LOT while I was there, and that's what I did, I stuffed my face for 4 days straight! For me, Italy has the best food in the world (and I'm not just saying that because I'm half Italian) The riches cheeses, sauces, pizzas, wine, the different flavors and spices, ugh, DELICIOUS!

Also, I'm not too big on sweets, but when I tried the ice cream, aka gelato, I almost fell to my knees from pleasure. I NEVER eat ice cream, i don't like it, but in Venice, its a special case, I was flabbergasted! Also, the Merengue, and white chocolate, mmm mmmm mmmm!! My mouth is watering as I type!
Oh yeah, and the Italian cappuccinos, you already know! One or two a day!
Gondola ride:
So one of the most romantic things to do in Venice is ride in a Gondula along the small old "streets" while an Italian man (never woman) rows you around the city while singing love songs to you. Spanish guy and I took a ride and at first I thought it would be a tourist trap, but I had chills throughout the whole boat ride. It was AMAZING! The sounds of the water against the paddle, the Italian man singing love songs in Italian, me and Spanish guy in a boat riding through the tiny back rivers of the city where not a soul was stationed. I was thinking of my family's older generations possibly living there before they headed to the US and how it must have been back in the day. It was a one-of-a-kind experience.
I cherished every second of it.♥
AND of course, I was thinking style, sophistication with a splash of color when I went to have all my romantic dinners at night!
VENICE (by photographer Mendoza ahemmm, me):
Basilica San Marco (it was made with real gold!).
The pigeons are quite friendly in Venice, I must say!
Attempting to take a picture together.
Along the pier.
One of the entrances to one of the most famous squares in the world: Plaza San Marco
Me and my Carino.
Typical small "street"
Leaning tower at sunset.
Typical small "streets".


My favorite view: that's where we stayed! Each time we crossed the bridge we stopped here to look at the view, amazing.
:p
Then we were off to Barcelona, ALEX, CHRISTINE BARCELONA (completely different experience, blog to follow).