Taking the Playa Challenge: Arnao or Salinas

The last couple of days I've been bouncing back and forth between Salinas and new found Arnao beach. Jose asked me which I liked better and I started to analyze the characteristics of each beach.

 

I like both, but Salinas is a little bit more of a scene. People are there to be seen. There's even a private swim club, think country club, right on the beach. You can partially see in as you walk by. They have one of those fences that lets you see what you're missing but not the whole thing. 

Arnao is a townie beach. It's filled with people who just love the beach. Most of them are surfing, fishing, swimming or just looking out across the water. It's a really serene place and has many little details like cool multicolored rocks scattered everywhere. And the bar is a family owned joint where you catch them sitting down to dinner everyday. Arnao is also a great place to sit down and paint.

The beach choice kinda makes me think of the campaigning going on in the states right now. It's really been interesting to see an American election from over here. Every night there is something about Obama or McCain on the news. Many people are very interested in the outcome over here. Especially Tio. He LOVES himself some Obama. He always asks me who I'm going to vote for and I tell him Obama, of course. He thinks he will make a very good president for the U.S. and the world. I tell Tio that when I vote the day after I get back, he'll be voting too. He loves that and smiles big.

I'm kinda embarrassed with my world leaders knowledge. I realized after getting into a political discussion with the family that I don't know much about world leaders that doesn't relate to the U.S. while they can name our entire cabinet. Something I plan to work on. 

We started talking about Spain's economic problems and recession. After seeing Europeans pour into Key West this summer spending like the U.S. was a factory outlet mall, I asked Jose - "But the Euro is so strong. Isn't that good?" He said no, because no one is buying Spain's products. 

We are all interconnected like it or not and the more I read the newspapers here, the more I see Spain having similar problems to the U.S.

The election is exciting and seeing parts of the speeches from the Democratic Convention made me get goosebumps. It's good to have hope and optimism for our future something that has been missing the last eight years. When McCain announced his running partner, Tio got animated "A woman!". I kinda grimaced.

While I think it's great that both parties have chosen groundbreaking candidates, Palin is anti-choice and pro-gun. I don't get that. It's not ok to have an abortion but you can whip out your AK 47 when they're older and open fire? It makes no sense. Plus taking away choice from people is against everything that this country is built on. Fine, you take away that and maybe the women get to vote on who gets Viagra. That seems fair.

She looks like an intelligent woman and already is speaking like more of a candidate than McCain is but the whole thing is insulting. The GOP thinking is Vagina = Votes. Don't worry if she's got enough experience or will complement McCain's skills just get a vagina in there pronto! I guess their thinking is similar to flashing a shiny object in front of a monkey.

The one thing I miss over here is Bill Maher. He's got plenty of material to work from on both sides this year. It's going to be a good show no matter what and these groundbreaking candidates will open dialogue on subjects that haven't been fully discussed. 

In the end, everyone has to decide what's right for them and vote accordingly. There are different perspectives to bring to the table and that's always a good thing. 

Just like my candidate decision, the beach decision has been a thought-provoking one. I have decided that Arnao is my favorite because the people are more real and the beach has a natural beauty to it I enjoy.

 

And I love that the best shot I got of the hilltop cafe was from a stall in the ladies bathroom.

 

Playa Arnao

A much needed beach day and what a beach! 

Tio just couldn't understand why I didn't want to go to the big fiesta day in Aviles. After Medieval madness yesterday, I was set. "I don't understand you." he says shaking his head. Yeah, we'll he's not the first.

Pretty much, I can take large groups of people in small doses. Consuelo understands as she shakes her head in agreement. I told her I don't like to be smushed in (in a non-verbal communication). She totally gets it. 

Her and I have gotten into a similar vibe and I think it helps her understand me as well. At first she thought I was nuts bouncing in and out of the house. She doesn't leave it much so this must have been foreign and I probably looked crazy. Now she asks me "Are you going to the beach?" instead of "Where are you going???". I credit this all to me secretly turning down the TV when Tio leaves the room. She can't stand the volume and when I do this little thing she smiles - it goes a LONG way. 

I was set on finding Playa Arnao, a local known beach that you have to walk to in an out of the way place. Before I left though, I told Consuelo I would have a bit of lunch. Here's the thing, unless they see me physically put food in my mouth - they think I'm not eating. I'm eating more here than ever and I've eaten more swine than I care to think of. 

I try to eek out a small lunch but as soon as I sit down, Tio and Consuelo start filling the table with more items in an attempt to get me to eat more. "Why don't you like fruit?" "Why no wine?" "How 'bout some chocolate?" "Banana yogurt?" "You need to eat some meat!!" I quickly chow down and scramble out cause if I eat too much I need to siesta and I've got plans! 

I take the bus to an area where I need to start walking. Something about the bus here amazes me. The bus driver makes change. 

Seriously, I am mesmerized every time I go on it. You put your money on this platform and he/she has a cash drawer and makes change and produces a ticket. I've even seen one of them drive, give change and hand me a ticket all at the same time. It blows my mind - such skill.

I walk along the river of rats and I understand why they are there - it stinks!! Go through some areas that look like I'm walking through someone's yard until I get to a small tunnel and walk through. The beach pic above is the first thing I saw. 

It's great. A bit like the rock lounge cove with a bit more beach. There's a local vibe here more than Salinas which I have heard is a bit snooty. As it was explained, anytime a woman is walking in heels over cobblestone you know it's a bit 'o snoot. It's still nice over there too. I hang for a bit until the tide comes in and takes over the beach.

 

There's a cool bar built into the side of the hill and when the tide takes over, I decide to hike up there. A real mom and pop place where they also serve food. It smells so good, I decide to have a little and it's not bad. I try to pay the bartender off the bat and he waves me off, my fast American ways getting in the way again.

After I eat, I go to pay at the bar and see the family getting ready to have dinner (the mid-day meal) and it has everything I have been used to seeing for ours. Soup, salad, a big loaf of bread, meat, wine and a bit of pasta. It makes me smile and then think will I be able to handle not having a five course meal when I get back to Key West?

I head back home and immediately get some yogurt.