The Happy Hippie Bus takes off

This is the project I've been working on all last week, in addition to starting some paintings. This bus is a Burner Bus, but I like to call it the Happy Hippie Bus. a very 60s~70s decor, with all the cliches I can think of. I started with the undercarriage and floor, added the stairs, the front panel, the rug, the back panel, then the steering wheel and dashboard, and the small stair wall. Next was the sides and the roof sections. What takes so long is waiting for the paint and glue to dry before moving on!

The rug was originally two orange washclothes I picked up after Halloween on clearance. The roof sections are lined with Japanese washi paper. The undercarriage is solid black. I will add in the doors (non-opening) and then paint murals on the sides and rear. Although I may put on the front and back bumpers first! I've already begun cabinets for the interior, and I have some furniture and "stuff". I need to make all the Burnery things, poi, hula hoops, stilts ... I even have a one inch scale ice chest!

The Bus will be joined by an Airstream-style trailer later.

Leaving Spain

I guess I should finish this trip, Hmmm?

We got up very early to depart; our flight was the first of the morning. Driving to the airport and dropping off the car was a breeze that early in the morning. I was touched by the janitors who were giving juice boxes to the few homeless guys camped in the lobby.

There was a large group of kids on a field trip waiting for our flight. Boys engaged in a candy fight, giggling girls. Unattended baggage "in line" for check in. There were several announcements made, and the women and her two teens sitting behind us studiously avoided hearing them. When it was time to check in, she and the kids rushed up, a man who'd been waiting had stepped up. She bitched at him and grabbed her bags, and shoved in front with her kids. But the flight attendants made everyone wait until they had every child and chaperone on board. She had the nerve to complain, and was told (in English) that the welfare of the children came first and she would simply have to wait. Whatta toolette.

Good thing I gave us plenty of time between flights. The international terminal is a hike and a half to Terminal One ... you have to get the boarding passes on one level, then go find security. Yikes, my feet hurt. We did buy wine, sanwiches and pastries for a quick bite. If you have Euros to spend, do not buy perfume or booze; buy chocolate at the duty free shop. You can take the chocolate through security.

The flight was unremarkable. Atlanta sucks. Immigration wasn't so bad, nor customs. They're very official. Mostly concerned about ham and sausages. Immigration would have been quicker if the tourists hadn't gotten into the citizen lines. We found our waiting area. My feet hurt. Larry fetched food. Then we had to go to another terminal; our flight changed gates. That involved taking the tram again. Our flight was delayed and delayed. It was very full, I was sitting back by the toilets on the aisle. Worst. Seat. Ever. One poor woman got sick, they had to close off the toilet, she'd made such a mess. Poor thing almost passed out in the back, they had her on the floor. They called for a doctor, there were several on board! We almost landed in Denver; but by the time a decision was made, Salt Lake was closer. Yay for us. Many people had already missed their connecting flight anyway. The poor woman was traveling with teenage boys, I felt really bad for the family. We all had to wait to deplane until the paramedics came and took the lady away. Poor thing.

We got home and I was very, very glad. My feet hurt.

Wednesday: Malaga

(Apologies for the delay, I've not felt like writing)

Complete album at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2007106&id=1192536713&l=570b0

We got up not so early on Wednesday, and gorged on a big breakfast trying to consume the groceries we'd purchased. As we drove to Malaga, Larry spotted the street fair. Wow! Even bigger on Wednesday! We bought a black bag, the twin to mine, for Larry. He really likes the way he can wear it across his chest. I saw tiles I liked, and again, did not buy one. Silly me! Five Euros isn't that much! I did get a coin hip scarf and wristlets; that vendor was not there on Saturday. we spent more time there than we'd planned, but I enjoyed it.

Parking in Malaga is not impossible, but finding the entrance to the underground lot was a hassle. We got turned around, came back through less savory parts of town; grumbled at each other, eventually finding the lot and a spot fairly easily once we were in. First stop, a potty in Macdonald's. Their coffee is strong and the desserts fantastic! Fortified, we headed over to the Tourist Info Pavilion. They circled the Picasso Museum for us on a map, as well as his home.

The weather was crisp and windy. We strolled past the vast Catherdral, undergoing renovations. I took a few pictures but we did not go in. I'm sure I would have liked it, but my feet were already bothering me. Too much walking on cobblestones the day before.

The Picasso Museum is sleek, in a renovated and updated old home. I had to check my camera. The works were interesting, a lot of early pieces and rarely seen paitnings, as well as pottery. Worth a visit if you're a fan, not so much if you're not a devotee of modern art. We skipped walking up to his childhood home.

The gal at the resort recommended a bodega near the museum as a great place to try tapas. El Pimpi's Bodega is accessed through a series of courtyards bedecked with tile artwork and potted plants hanging from the walls. You walk through a smoky bar, into a covered courtyard, back into a great room. There's yet another courtyard too if you want to graze outdoors. The walls are lined with oak barrels signed by celebrities and giant bullfight posters, very Art Nouveau. Simply dripping with atmosphere. We were deciphering the Spanish menu when the waiter brought us one in English. Gracias! The choices were many and varied, from the traditional meat platters to the crunchy little slips of bread topped with salt cod or chopped olives, cold veggie dip, endive with Roquefort and sticky raisins, olives in oil... and on and on. Delicious! We drank Manzanilla Sherry, sweet and wonderful. I thought I did not like sherry, but I guess I simply don't like cheap American sherry. Oh, cash only! The waiter gave me a postcard as a souvenir. Nice surprise, the prices were very affordable.

Next we walked up toward the Alcazaba ... yes, they have one in Malaga also. We passed the Roman Theater, which was fenced off. They're excavating it as it has been buried under modern buildings for decades. Or centuries. There is a multi-lingual display above the digs with pictures showing how tthe city sat on the ruins. The park leading into the theater was locked, a man was feeding fish heads and guts to the feral cats. The kitties had dry food and pans of fresh water, but he was feeding them anyway. Each cat would slip between the bars of the fence to get a piece of fish, the man would then gently lift them up and set them back in through the bars. Such care!

We bought tickets for the Cazaba, but not for the castle above. My feet were bothering me a great deal by now. The grounds were almost empty, we climbed on the walls for the view, yes, you're allowed to climb up! The Roman marble was fascinating, worked into the Moorish and Christian additions. The place has been heavily looted and vandalized over the centuries, but the city is doing a fine job of restoring much of the interior. There's gardens and fountains and a museum. I loved it! The back half was closed off, I was sad, I wanted to see the dungeons. This was a far more relaxed and personal visit than the Alhambra; very onteresting to see the similarities and the differences. Oh yes, more cobblestones.