Flor y mariposa.

Today a new security gate to the complex was fitted. I never liked (nor saw the point of) the previous one, especially as it adjoined the guest bedroom wall and clanged loudly when used. The rationale behind it is to prevent undesirables from using the pool, and burglars from stealing valuable stuff from the terraces in the long months when there is no-one in residence. I've never seen anyone suspicious prowling around, and the "undesirables" notion comes from an incident years ago when a group of Spanish teenagers decided to have a late-night pool party, making a lot of noise and leaving litter. They have not been back since, either because they found a better pool (or the nearby sea) or have simply grown up and had kids of their own. The complex has 3 security gates now, one guarding a second entrance to the pool area and two entry to part of the complex, which stretches down a small hill (I'm at the top). At the bottom of the hill where the steps begin, there is no gate and anyone can enter, wander around and find further steps down to the main pool area. The old gate, though annoying (juggling shopping bags/luggage while searching for the key) at least had some aesthetic value, being a metal archway with narrow bars. The new one (see extra) is an uncompromising slab of metal reminiscent of a jail cell with a food hatch. This is right next to my apartment and my heart sinks every time I see it. In fact as I write this (3 days later) I have only been through it once, for a hospital appointment, prefering instead to lurk indoors. Sorry the pic is upside-down; it was originally sideways, being made on the phone, but my attempt to rotate it without photoshop failed. It seemed right to leave it as it is though, a Satanic symbol like the inverted cross....

Here is an emergency flower blip with added butterflyage.