Spain – sun, sea and stunning scenery

I have recently had a little break from work and escaped to Southern Spain for a few days. The trip was a Christmas present for my partner (I do like to buy presents that I can also enjoy myself)!

Until about 10 years ago I had a bit of a snobbish attitude towards Spain. I’m not sure whether my parents always liked to go to less developed and commercialised places and it stuck with me, but Spain was never near the top of my list. I am pleased to say that I got over this issue and have since had many a fantastic holiday in various parts of Spain, none more so than this last trip.

We stayed in Mijas Pueblo a very pretty little whitewashed village  up in the hills on the Costa Del Sol with amazing views down to the sea below. The village attracts a lot of day-trippers from the nearby busier resorts of Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos, but at night when they’ve all gone the village is a relaxing, tranquil little place where the locals come out and chat, have a drink and watch the world go by.

There were some fantastic restaurants that had a mixture of traditional Spanish cuisine plus some with a modern twist on tapas. I am happy to say I didn’t see any day-glo signs advertising English Breakfasts, fish & chips or cerveza for 1 Euro. There did seem to be quite a few ex-pats around, however they seemed to just mix in with the traditional life rather than try and turn it in to a little piece of Britain in the sun. I guess if that’s what they would have liked they would have moved to Benidorm not Mijas.

We hired a car whilst we were there and it was great to get out and about and explore the area. We visited Marbella, San Pedro, Malaga, Nerja, Coin (where the BBC flop El Dorado was filmed) and discovered some picturesque little villages such as Frigiliana and Ojen.

We also drove to the stunning Gudalahorce lakes and the forboding El Chorro gorge which took us on some hair-raising little roads. So to say we were there for only a few days we packed a lot in.

I can certainly see the attraction for people who up sticks and move to Spain. For a start there’s the weather. We had glorious hot sunshine almost all the time we were there. And then there’s the relaxed way of life. I certainly can’t see myself ending my days in grey old blighty and I think I’ve just found a place that could be a contender to spend my golden years. I think I’d better start learning the lingo.

Adios Amigos!