After lunch they got changed then climbed into Mary’s car and headed off for the hillside village of Mijas Pueblo. Sandra sat in the back, as usual, knowing that Patti always felt nauseous in the back, and off they set. They’d tried to talk Keith into coming with them, but he’d replied that he’d been there loads of times, and Leo was coming around later for a beer. ‘Well, at least Keith’s socialising again, I’m so glad,’ Mary said as they set off.
Sandra looked out of the window, admiring the view, as Patti and Mary chatted in the front. Sometimes Patti turned and said something to her, but she was mostly content to leave them to it.
‘I can’t get over how the mountains are literally sliced through to make way for the roads,’ Patti observed. ‘And how some of the places are so remote, high on top of the hills, I wouldn’t like to live that far away from everything.’
‘Me neither, but some people like the solitude.’
‘You said this village was up the mountains?’ Patti said.
‘Yes we’re about to turn off to go up to it.’
At first the road was quite wide but the higher up they went the narrower it got. The mountain wall was on Sandra and Mary’s side but Patti was sitting in the front passenger seat, on the side of the drop, and she was getting more and more nervous.
‘Oh shit, Mary!’ she screamed, clinging onto the edges of her seat. ‘It’s a sheer drop on this side! And there’s no barriers along this bit!’
‘We’re nowhere near the edge. And holding on to your seat won’t help!’ Mary told her with a chuckle. ‘There will be barriers again in a minute.’
‘I’m going to have to shut my eyes,’ Patti squeaked. ‘Let me know when we’re there.’
She’d feel the same if she was on the side facing the drop, Sandra thought. She’d make sure that she sat behind Patti on the way back so she’d be against the mountain again.
It was a bit of a hair-raising journey, but once they’d parked up they had a great time looking around. It was such a pretty little town, with lots of little shops and restaurants. Sandra had to stop herself buying another handbag, because there was no way she could fit it in her case, so she settled instead for an elegant black beret – she’d taken to wearing them a lot now back at home. Patti bought a colourful scarf and Mary treated herself to a soft beigeleather jacket and a plaid cap for Keith. They stopped for lunch, sharing a paella with salad and garlic bread, had a wander over up to the fortress walls and beautiful gardens, stopping to look at the breathtaking view below before visiting the historic chapel of the Virgin of the Rock.
‘This is a beautiful place,’ Patti said. ‘It’s a shame it’s such a scary route up here.’
‘You’ll be okay going down, you’ll be on the mountain side, I’ll be the one with the drop on my side,’ Mary reminded her.
‘Aren’t you scared, Mary?’ Sandra asked. ‘I’m going to sit behind Patti this time. I don’t think I can handle looking down.’
‘It was a bit nerve-wracking the first couple of times we came here, but I’m used to it now.’
When they arrived back at home Keith and Leo had just returned from taking both dogs for a walk.
‘Did you have a good time?’ Keith asked.
‘It was beautiful, but you could have warned us about that mountain road!’ Patti told him.
He grinned. ‘If I had, you wouldn’t have gone and it’s well worth the visit, isn’t it?’
‘It certainly was,’ Sandra agreed.
‘Will you stop for a coffee – or a beer, Leo?’ Mary asked.
‘Acervezawould be good,gracias,’ Leo said. ‘I’ll give you a hand.’
‘I’ll give the dogs some water.’ Keith went off, the two dogs trotting behind him, to refill the water bowls and Leo followed Mary into the kitchen.
‘I wonder if he’s heard whether he can borrow the Cadillac tomorrow,’ Patti whispered, crossing her fingers.
They both returned with a tray of coffees, two bottles of beer and a bowl of crisps just as Keith came back and sat down by Patti and Sandra. ‘Well, ladies, what plans do you have for tomorrow?’ he asked cheerily.
‘I have a good day planned.’ Leo pulled out a chair and sat down, opening the beer and taking a sip before continuing. ‘My friend in Marbella, he has a vintage Cadillac and he is allowing me to borrow it tomorrow to take some friends out for a drive.’
Keith’s eyes widened. ‘A Caddy! Wow! Lucky friends.’
‘Do you think they will like it, to ride in such an old car?’ Leo asked.
‘Are you kidding! It’s a classic. Who wouldn’t want a ride in one?’
