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Monday 2 March 2009

Spain Part 1.....

As my regular readers will know we spent a week in southern Spain recently, we had a wonderful time. We shared an apartment with our good friends K&T, though they stayed on for another week (lucky so and so’s!).

Our flights with Easyjet from Liverpool were, as always, stress free and we arrived at Malaga airport approximately 7.30 p.m. local time. There is a superb train service from Malaga airport straight through to Fuengirola so, after collecting our baggage, we hotfooted over to the station and caught the train to our destination of Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmadena, from where our apartment was literally a five minute walk and as it cost only 7.5 Euro for four of us, compared to 30 Euro for a taxi, it had to be a good deal.
It was 9 p.m. when we reached the apartment so we quickly unpacked and descended on K&T’s favourite restaurant, JJ’s, where we were assured of a delicious, substantial, reasonably priced meal. K&T have many friends in Arroyo, as they have been staying there for many years, so we had many introductions on the first night.

We awoke the following day to bright sunshine but when we looked out of the window everyone was wearing coats, scarves and gloves! Undeterred we clad ourselves in cropped pants and t–shirts with a cardi (Just in case) and set off for the supermarket to get some supplies. Thankfully the kind owner of the apartment had left us a carton of milk, teabags, sugar, a loaf of bread and some spread so we could have some breakfast. Once we’d dropped off the supplies we set off walking along the coast in the sunshine. It was a little windy but we honestly only needed our cardis.


We walked quite a long way then stopped for a sandwich and a drink overlooking the sea, where we were serenaded by ‘Dos Amigos’, a couple of guys playing guitars and singing who were, surprisingly, quite good!



After a leisurely lunch we set off again along the prom to the marina at Benalmadena



There are lots of boats here (obviously because it’s a harbour) and lovely little shops and many apartments overlooking the marina. After a walk round we headed up the hill to catch the little Tivoli train that runs through the resorts back to Arroyo, unfortunately the train wasn’t running so we hopped in a taxi instead. 




Once back in Arroyo we went and arranged hire of a car for Wednesday and Thursday, as T had offered to drive and we wanted to visit Ronda and Nerja whilst we were there.  

We decided to go to the Chinese Restaurant for dinner, which was really lovely, then called in a couple of bars for a drink on the way back, which somehow turned into quite a few and it was 2 a.m. before we got back to the apartment!



Spain Part 2 coming soon.

36 comments:

Thom - - Dr. John said...

I was wondering when we would get to enjoy some of your vacation. Thanks for starting us off on the adventure.

Dumdad said...

Sounds brill.

Flowerpot said...

cor am I envious! Sounds wonderful... and that SUN!!!

Deb said...

Ah, I have been waiting for this - my virtual vacation to Spain! So far it seems as if it were the perfect vacation - good friends, lots of sun, plenty of food and drinks. Keep those pictures coming!
Glad you made it home safely. :)

Dr.John said...

One of the things I like about blogging is tours like this one. In pictures and words you took me out of my little world all the way to Spain. You did such a good job I almost felt like I was there.
Thanky you for sharing.

CrystalChick said...

Looks and sounds like a positively marvelous time! Glad you enjoyed the trip!

CG said...

Ohthis sounds like a great start to the holiday! thanks for sharing it :)

Finding Pam said...

I am glad that you had a lovely vacation. What is a cardis? I assume it must be a jacket or something similar.

I imagine the sunshine felt so good. I don't know how you stay out so late. Looking forward to part two.

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff... said...

Isn't it just beautiful there. My brother in law lives in Spain and we hope to visit again later this year in the summertime. Great snapshots and hope you had a blast :)

Steady On
Reggie Girl

buffalodick said...

Cracks you up when cold weather people can wear half as many clothes as the locals, and be comfortable! Looked beautiful to me!

Gledwood said...

it looks really horrible, Ake ~ I'm so glad I didn't go
;->...

Julia Phillips Smith said...

*sigh* I love travelling with you. Thanks for taking us!

Nessa said...

Beautiful pictures. So much blue.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i got to go there once but it was on a cruise and we only got a tour and back on the ship so i feel like i didn't really see much. it was really lovely though. you are seeing it the right way!!!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Akelamalu said...

There's plenty more to come Jeff :)

It was Dumdad :)

Oh yes Flowerpot the SUN was the best part. :)

Definitely more picture to come Deb, I'm so pleased you enjoy my trips. x

That's one of the things I love most about blogging too Dr. John you get to see the world!

We did have a great time Crystalchick :)

Yes that's just the start CG ;)

Oh sorry Pam cardi is short for cardigan (you probably call them sweaters). I have to say when we stay up so late we suffer the next day now we're older! :0

Oh luck you Reggie Girl having relatives in Spain - I'd be over there every few months!

It definitely cracked the locals up Buff, they thought we were mad! LOL

Yeah, yeah I bet you do Gleds! (wink, wink)

I'm so pleased you enjoy my travelling Julia. x

Oh yes blue sky, blue sea Nessa, wonderful. :)

Shrinky said...

Ah, there is nothing like seeing a foreign country with someone who actually KNOWS the terrain, it can make a heap of difference, can't it? Sounds you had a wonderful start to your vacation, I look forward to reading more of your adventures..!

Maggie May said...

Looks a lovely place & you probably had better weather than we did.

g-man said...

AKE?????
A Chinese restaurant in Spain???
Arrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhh.........

Anonymous said...

i think you and mwm are lucky so n so's, too! :) sounds like a great trip...everything looked so bright & pretty. can't wait to see part 2.

Ron said...

Oh my god...HOW BEAUTIFUL!!

For some reason, I had not thought Spain would look as tropical as it does, but then I realized you were in the SOUTH.

It looks a lot like Palm Beach, Florida. I know how much you enjoy the feel of the tropics, so I've not doubt you were in HEAVEN!

Great shots, Akelamalu!

Can't wait to see and hear more!

Spiky Zora Jones said...

OH MY...Chica...madre de dios, I want to go to Spain now...I just added it to my list of places I have to go.

My Spanish will come in handy too...woo

I love the pics...wonderful.

ciao sweetie.

Robin said...

i'm glad you're back and i'm glad you had a great time. i'm jealous, of course, but still glad!

Linda said...

Your pictures are gorgeous and it sounds a wonderful trip so far. Of course, I'm sitting here laughing about the fact that you were going out for Chinese food while visiting Spain!

Casdok said...

Looks wonderful!! :)

snowelf said...

I love going on adventures with good friends...they have brought me some of my best memories--that's for sure. It sounds like you guys had a great time.
It's so funny living over here as compared to Europe because in a couple of hours we're just in a different state and a couple hours for you sometimes is a whole other country!

--snow

tony said...

Oh that part of Spain is beautiful.Glad you had a relaxing time.....Nice to see some sun (albeit via blog!!!)

bettygram said...

You got some beautiful pictures to remember the trip, and share with us.

Akelamalu said...

What a shame you didn't see more of it Bee, maybe one day eh?

We have been to Arroyo before Shrinky but it was a long time ago, but being with people who go regularly makes it easier.

The weather was just fantastic for February Maggie :)

I know G-man but it's so cosmopolitan there you can eat anything you like!


Oh yes, Ciara we are very lucky. :)


It is a lovely place Ron and even nicer when it's hotter!!


Oh you clever girl Spiky you can speak Spanish! You will love it there m'dear.


Aw thanks Robin xx


LOL I suppose it does sound strange eating chinese whilst in spain Linda :)


It was/is Casdok :)


Yes I know what you mean Snowy, your states are as big as our countries in Europe.


You've been there Tony? Where did you stay?


And there's more to come Bettygram :)

Dianne said...

looks like a lovely place to being your adventure

Akelamalu said...

It was Dianne :)

cheshire wife said...

You are making me jealous.

I tried to read this post earlier in the week but your butterfles wouldn't let me. Seems OK now.

~ej said...

sounds ideal...i would so love to visit spain...and palm trees too :)

Akelamalu said...

Sorry you had trouble with the butterfly Cheshire Wife I think it turns into a gremlin sometimes!

Oh yes Spain has palm tree and organge trees in the streets Elena!

Marshall Family said...

you lucky lil thing you! Wow spain how lovely! I can feel the warm sun right now! Gorrjus!

Travis Cody said...

Beautiful area. And it sounds like you got off to a good start for your holiday.

Akelamalu said...

We were lucky to get away, especially with reasonably priced flights Emmie :)

It is a beautiful are Trav :)