October 19, 2023, Málaga, Spain, NAO Studio, Plaza Los Flores

It’s been five weeks since I had a manicure and pedicure. That’s not usually a problem but with all the luggage toting and hill climbing, I’ve broken four fingernails, and my toes and feet were ready for some pampering. 

As usual, it was Erik that found just the right place for me to be pampered. NAO Studio.  It happens to be a thirty second walk from our apartment in Plaza Los Flores. 

We saw the salon the first day we were in Málaga.  They, smartly, had a beautiful display of orchids on the street just outside of the entry along with their service menus in both Spanish and English.  See photo below.

Erik, the ‘un valient’ (brave one), walked in and said. “Mi esposa necesita manicura y pedicura.”  With that, my appointment was scheduled for Thursday at noon.

We walked past the salon over the next three days, and Erik would stick his head in the door and say “Hola.  See you Thursday.” The last time we walked by he said, “Cava or Rioja Tinto when we come back?” They responded, “Rioja Tinto” with a fervor. It was settled.  I like champagne and they like red wine, so we could bring both to my appointment.

So today when I arrived at the salon, I was not a stranger.  Erik went with me to get me settled and then left to retrieve the red wine and champagne. The two women in the salon were laughing and smiling as he asked them to take care of his precious wife (Cuida a mi preciosa esposa) and that he would be back soon with the vino.

I was the only customer in the salon which gave me a chance to practice my poor Spanish and use Google Translate to convert full sentences so that we could have a conversation.  When Erik arrived with the vino and cava, and poured a glass for the three of us, he said, “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”  I translated this with Google translate and they both laughed and said “Salud!”. 

For the next three hours, Vanessa, my nail technician, and Anais, the salon owner and I talked about our lives and the places Erik and I should visit while we are in Andalusia.   Despite my horrible grasp of Spanish, I started to understand what they were expressing, and they started to understand me (thank goodness for Google translate that helped with my jokes). 

The three of us were bonded by the cava and rioja and sneaked our sips as people walked by the salon and peaked in the window.  We were like teenagers hiding behind the barn drinking.

About halfway through my manicure, a big man came into the salon for his pedicure appointment with Mariel, one of the other technicians who had just arrived to take care of his appointment.  He was wearing a navy and white striped shirt and looked like he might have come directly from one of the mega yachts moored down in the port. See photo below for one of those beauties moored there.

He was a bit arrogant and short when he walked in, but Mariel was patient and kind. He answered a phone call and, although my Spanish is poor, I understood the word ‘El presidente’ as he dressed down the person on the other end of the call.   Wow! Vanessa and I raised our eyebrows at the same time and the facial expressions between the two of us were in alliance! 

After he left, I typed into Google translate, ‘that sailor wasn’t very nice.’  We laughed and had another sip of wine. 

When it was time to leave, Anais, came up to me and said: “You are welcome in our house always.”  Then she hugged me and kissed me on both cheeks as most Spaniards do with friends.  

I said the following with my horrible Spanish pronunciation: “Te vere de neuvo en dos semaneas.”  That means, I’ll see you in two weeks. More hugs and cheek kisses between me and Vanessa and Mariel. 

Today I hung out with three kind, generous Malagueña women.  I will go back and see them again. I’ll update the post with a picture of all four of us. Rita, Vanessa, Mariel and Anais.

You are welcome in our house always.   What a gift.       

P.S.  If you are traveling to Malaga and need a mani/pedi, stop into NAO Studio.  Tell them Rita sent you!

Make sure you take a bottle of red wine to share though. It will make your appointment more fun! https://naostudio.mytreatwell.es/