Living La Vida Loca.

When you've got a very ambient and available swimming pool at the very bottom of your apartment steps with free towels and pool noodles akimbo ..........

...... well, it would be rude not to avail oneself every morning before breakfast and again in the evening when you've just got in from a day of sightseeing or goodwill hunting!

Naturally, Eric has taken the plunge, diving in head first with his usual great gusto ........

...... while the ever fragrant one has delicately dipped her toe and sat half in, half out on the steps, giving young Eric a playful splash while sipping on a cheeky Shirley Temple (of that, more later), from their excited descriptions, it all sounds very (Paul) Hollywood.

And the weather? Well, we shouldn't really mention that considering what we're getting here, but it's balmy, very balmy, with the locals telling Eric and Alice that they are experiencing perfect humidity. Eric and Alice have divested themselves of their heavy duty, winter type garments and thrown on their light and airy t-shirts and shorts and are still too hot!  According to Alice it's all quite glorious.

As such, Eric is already laying down so many visual memories of their American adventure .....

....... and gazing up at palm trees, while floating nonchalantly on his back on his aforesaid pool noodle will, he says, stay with him for a lifetime  as well as keeping him warm throughout this coming winter.  What is he like?