Last week we treated ourselves to a couple of days on the coast near Malaga City.
We were going to the February get-together of the Costa Press Club, of which I am a member, so we thought we'd make a mini-break out of it.
Tuesday
On Tuesday late morning we set off by car from Ronda to Malaga. We were headed for Torremolinos, the eastern, relatively undeveloped end. No high rise hotels full of trashy foreign tourists, great sandy beaches and a huge choice of good value chiringuitos.
In actual fact there wasn't a huge choice in mid-February, as many were closed for their winter break or were undergoing repairs and renovations.
No matter, one of our favourites, Restaurante Familiar, was open. We found a table on the back terrace facing the sea. The sun was shining brightly from a bright blue sky.
Since we were going for a gourmet meal that evening, we opted for a big house salad, a fritura malagueña and papas a lo pobre to share - it was plenty.
After a chat with a German family at the next table we drove into Malaga to our pre-booked hotel. Mr Google Maps took us straight there, to the two-star Hotel Goartin. It was basic, clean and well-priced at 59€, with an extra 9€ for a car parking space for 24 hours. We felt that was outstanding value.
After checking in and unpacking we walked to the Puerto de Malaga, where they've recently done a Liverpool, a Bristol, a Salford, by turning part of a scruffy industrial port into a recreational area with bars, restaurants, shops and a market. There's also an art gallery, the Pompidou Centre, an offshoot of the famous gallery in Paris.
We sat on the terrace in the first hostelry, opposite a three-masted, wooden sailing ship flying a Danish flag and registered in Copenhagen.
Then it was back to the hotel to get washed and togged up for dinner with other members of the Costa Press Club at the Restaurante La Alvaroteca just across the road. You can read about that event here: ImPRESSive! (eyeonspain.com)
Wednesday
After a sound night's sleep, I popped to a nearby cafe, El Parque, for an early morning coffee and a read. When I got back, Rita was already up and making herself beautiful. We checked out, got the car and drove to the port again for breakfast at a branch of one of our favourite cafes, Granier.
First of all, we popped back into the casco antiguo. Rita had her eyes on a pair of shoes. On the way back we came across a demo, one of the series of farmers' protests taking place currently throughout Europe. It was all very genial and orderly, although they were blocking the main road.
After a huge and tasty desayuno we browsed the market stalls for a while before going to the afore-mentioned Pompidou Centre to take in the temporary exhibition. With proof of our pensioner status we got in for half price, just 2.50€ each! We were glad it was cheap, as the exhibition was somewhat disappointing.
Back to the Beach
By now it was late afternoon, so we drove to Guadalmar, near the airport.
We've been there a few times. There's a delightful little bay with a great chiringuito, Mari Gutierrez. We sat at a table in the sun and enjoyed a great ensalada de la casa and "tanked" a bit of winter sun.
As we were down on the coast we popped into IKEA to check out a wardrobe we'd seen there before Christmas. It had been reduced by 20€ plus there was a further 10% off for IKEA Family cardholders, which we are. So, a veritable bargain.
Then it was back home to Ronda and the relative cold of the mountains.
We'd enjoyed our Away Days: great food, a bit of culture, meeting friends at the CPC, sunshine .....
© The Spanish Fly
Acknowledgements:
All photographs by The Spanish Fly
Tags:
Alvaroteca, Away Days, Costa Press Club, CPC, Granier, Guadalmar, Hotel Goartin, IKEA, IKEA Family, Malaga, Pompidou Centre, Puerto de Malaga, Spanish Fly, Torremolinos,