Andalusia, Land of the Sun

The story

Travellers: Tano and Caterina

Destination: Andalusia from 22 July to 5 August 2006

The two-week trip consisted of one week on half board at the Hotel Las Palomas in Torremolinos (booked as a package including flights) plus one week with no bookings at all (we postponed our return by a week, paying €100.00 each).

22 July 2006

We land in Malaga at 21:00. As soon as we arrive the captain tells us that the temperature on the ground is 36 °C. Once at the hotel we're told that dinner won't be served because the restaurant closes at 21:00. Not the best of starts. We decide to head down to the Torremolinos seafront, where we eat an excellent mixed paella at the restaurant La Zoca, spending €21.90.

23 July 2006

Up at 08:00, and after breakfast we leave the hotel and set off for the seafront. What surprised us a lot is that at 09:00 all the shops are closed. After getting some information at the tourist office about beaches and places to visit, we decide to go for a swim. The sun is mild and the temperature pleasant. At 15:00 we decide to move on in search of some shade and make the most of a spot with palms and lawn. Along the seafront we stop at a Heladeria for a lemon granita and a coffee cone (€4.45). After dinner, a stroll through the centre and along the seafront.

24 July 2006

Up at 08:00 (by Spanish habits that's dawn) and, after renting a car for 12 days for €250.00 (a grey Panda with A/C) at the shop on the right, about 50 metres from the Hotel Las Palomas heading down towards the seafront, and after filling up with petrol (€33.00), we set off for Seville. We arrive after two hours and forty minutes of driving. We park at an aparcamientos and walk into the centro ciudad. We visit the cathedral and the streets of the centre. We have tapas at Casa Robles, a nice, elegant little place (€17.68 for a portion of tapas, water and bread). After seeing the Plaza de España we head back to Torremolinos. At the hotel we eat terribly. Total km travelled 450

25 July 2006

After breakfast we decide to go to the sea. We're advised to try the stretch of coast between Fuengirola and Marbella. We'll go to Cabo Pino beach, with its series of dunes. In the evening, after dinner, we get ready to go to the casino in Benalmádena, which is inside a 5-star hotel (we lose €15.00). Discouraged, we go off to enjoy ourselves along the Benalmádena seafront, full of bars, clubs, discos, etc. Total km travelled 583

26 July 2006

We decide to go to the beach near Almayate, where we'll stay until the afternoon. In the evening we'll go to Benalmádena in search of a flamenco show. We're drawn to Tivoli, an amusement and entertainment park, where for €6.00 each you can watch the various shows (including the flamenco one) and use the rides. We had a great time. Total km travelled 740

27 July 2006

We fill up with petrol (€23.00) and set off for Estepona (the town after Marbella). After several hours at the sea by the Vaquero river (where we gorged ourselves on sea urchins) we head to the puerto of Estepona, where we eat tapas (halomon), paying €11.00. We set off for Marbella, where we look for accommodation for Saturday and Sunday. We find an apartamentos at Puerto de Aduares (€76.00 a day, tel 952 821 312, e-mail hoteladuares@telefonica.net). We head back to Torremolinos for the usual dreadful dinner. Total km travelled 940

28 July 2006

After arranging in Torremolinos for accommodation on 4 August, we book at the Atos at Plazamar (€80.00 a day). We go to the sea at Almayate, and after dinner we decide to head to Benalmádena. By cable car (€14.00 each) we go up to the astronomical observatory. The view is beautiful. We climbed to 800 metres and then further up along a path. An astronomer showed us the various planets. Total km travelled 1058

29 July 2006

This morning the second week of adventure begins. After putting in €20.00 of petrol we reach Marbella and Cabo Pino beach. Because of the strong wind, after about an hour we leave the beach to reach the Canada shopping centre with its 280 shops. At a typical little place we have a delicious parrillada de carne with patatas (€27.00). Having dropped our luggage at Puerte de Aduares we set off for the small town of Ronda, where we arrive after about an hour and 50 km of bends. The town is delightful. Total km travelled 1240

30 July 2006

We went to the sea by the Vaquero river. Perhaps Spaniards don't like sea urchins, because it's rare to find so many of them in just a few square metres. At 19:00 we go to see the bullfight (€35.00 each). Going to Spain and not attending a bullfight is like going to Rome and not seeing the Vatican. The bullfight ends at 21:00. Back in Marbella we wander the centre looking for a place to stay on 3 August. We book at the Hostal El Gallo (€60.00 a day, tel. 952827998). We eat at "La Pesquera", a very nice little restaurant. We have a Valencian paella for two and water (€32.10). Total km travelled 1318

31 July 2006

We set off for Tarifa. As soon as we arrive we look for accommodation for two nights. We find Casa Amerilla (€60.00 a day, tel 956 681 993 - email: info@lacasaamarilla.net). We reach the splendid beach of Colonia. We climb a 30-metre dune. We're on the ocean. The beach is very long and we take long walks interrupted by swims in the ocean. In the evening, in the centre of Tarifa, we eat an excellent entrecote with potatoes and a skewer of chicken and dates (€37.00). Total km travelled 1470

1 August 2006

We go to the sea at Vejer de la Frontera, at Barbate. The beach is beautiful. At 15:00 we set off for Jerez de la Frontera. We arrive after about an hour's drive. The town is very pretty.

2 August 2006

We set off for Gibraltar, where after crossing the border we really feel we're in England. The tour is very evocative; a shame about the long waits at the border. We phone the owner of El Gallo (tel 952 82 79 98 - mobile 615 95 12 31) to bring our stay forward and do two nights. The answer is yes. The room is beautiful; we're in the historic centre of Marbella and have a panoramic terrace. In the evening we go to Puerto Banus (the Spanish Porto Cervo). Ferraris are the norm. Total km travelled 1840

3 August 2006

Relaxing and a visit to the El Corte Ingles shopping centre. In the evening we dine at the restaurant Mena, where we have mussels in champagne and mixed paella, paying €55.00. To finish, we go to the Marbella casino, where, initially €70.00 down, with a bit of luck we manage to win our money back. Total km travelled 1927

4 August 2006

Departure for Granada. A visit to the Alhambra area is a must. We see the Generalife, the Alcazaba and the Nasrid Palaces. After a tour of Granada's historic centre too, we set off for Torremolinos, where we dine at Casa Juan. The Aptos Plazamar apartment is incredibly quiet despite being next to the Casa Juan restaurant. Total km travelled 2281

5 August 2006

We got up late and, after some final shopping and lunch at the Zoca with fried calamari and paella (€29.10), we drop off the car and take a taxi to the airport (€17.00). The flight is on time.