Saturday 29th January 2011

We collected the car on Thursday, a small Peugeot, but it has five doors and goes really well! The car hire company collected us from the campsite and drove us to their office a few minutes away and we can just drop the keys off at the camp reception when we’ve finished with it, really easy. We used the car to go and do a larger shop at Lidl’s, so we’re stocked up for a few days especially with wine (average 2euros max), which was getting a little low! Rainy morning but nice and sunny in the afternoon, suddenly everyone was out and about catching up on jobs!

Friday was still rainy but had blue patches of sky, so we decided to change our plans and head for Gibraltar. Easy drive to Gibraltar, which took just over an hour. Nothing on the road signs until we were there, funny that! Still you couldn’t miss it, as we came around a bend there in the distance was this huge rock! The town you have to go through to get onto Gibraltar is whichever way you look at it, a dump. We queued for about a mile in a zig zag route, like Disney queues and finally went through the border, cursory check, before queuing again as we had to wait for the plane to land. The road onto Gib crosses the runway!
Gibraltar is crowded with cars etc so you are constantly in a queue going somewhere. Most people have mopeds which they ride down the middle of the road, in and out the traffic, they must have loads of accidents with them. We found a parking space (in short supply) and went for a walk. We had English fish and chips in “Smiths” where the owner (a Yorkshire man) who has been there for 40 yrs was only too happy to have a chat and tell us about the “Rock”. It seems they have been running out of space for housing so have reclaimed some land and are building flats there. They had a Dutch company in to dredge up the sand and move it to the new building site, but forgot to warn them the dredging area was a munitions dumping ground!

Spent the afternoon dodging showers and having a wander around, before queuing to get off again. General conclusion was that it had some interesting historical places, but wouldn’t make a special trip to return.

Wednesday 26th January 2011

The last few days have been wet and windy! The whole of the south of Spain has had bad weather; I think we have been lucky here on the coast as it’s just been cold and rainy, whereas not far inland has had snow! The winds whipped up the sea, we managed a walk down to the beach and watched the waves crashing in. The obligatory “Mad” windsurfers were out in force! The better ones managed to get out over the large waves coming in and then went right out to sea jumping off the wave tops, one or two were so far out you could only just see them! The less experienced ones had trouble getting over the continual waves and spent their time no further than 25m out and being washed further down the beach! They then had to trudge their boards back up along the beach to start again. We had a walk around the marina which was being battered by the waves with some coming over the top defensive wall. Reports in the papers said the fishing fleet had stayed in port due to the high winds!

We’ve managed a few short walks but spent a lot of time in the van which has been really comfortable! More scrabble and cards with Lynn winning the scrabble and Sarah the cards! Last night we had pizza’s in the site bar and they were just as good as the pasta!

With the weather poor all along the coast we have decide to stay here for a few more days. The next campsite is on grass and probably not as sheltered so we are concerned how wet it would be! It also means we get a discount for staying here another week, which we are using to pay for a hire car which we can use to explore the area better. There is a traditional white washed town about an hour away which we want to have a look at and of course Gibraltar. We’ve heard mixed things about Gibraltar so it will be interesting to see for ourselves.

Saturday 22nd January 2011

The weather this week has been better than forcast but still a little mixed. We've managed to grab some walks when the sun did come out, we found a small park just down the road, which followed a stream and when you came out at the top you were in a very nice and expensive housing estate. It even had a security guard on the entrance and barriers. They seem to build new developments with a small shopping complex near the entrance so each one is self sufficient. During one of our walks we came across a bar that had sky and shows the football on Sat afternoons, might be able to catch a game!

Yesterday was sunny so we caught the bus into Marbella and walked along the beach/promenade to Puerto Banus, which was around 5 k. We past very expensive hotels with gardens coming down to the beach and private areas of beach. Two were advertising a buffet lunch, one was 75 euros pp, the other 65! Still it was all you could eat and didn't specify how long you had, for that price I'd want to be there a couple of days!

The marina at Puerto Banus was fairly large and had lots of very big motoryachts, average cost around 1.5 - 2 million, a birth in the harbour another 100k, let alone the house! Lynn was dissappointed that even with a lottery win she couldn't afford her favourite house and yacht! I didn't like to point out a bigger problem was we don't do the lottery!!

The marina is surrounded by designer shops and restaurants. Pair of wornout ripped jeans for 250e anyone! Managed to get the girls past the shops and stopped for a drink in a bar overlooking the marina. As we were admiring the view, in walked James Hewitt (you know Prince Harry's dad) looking as shifty as ever! He joined a couple of Indian businessmen and another British businessman for a bite to eat, but made him pay for his own, maybe they weren't as daft as I thought!

Today is overcast and chilly! The ford van conversion opposite us went today on the low loader. But it did start first time and he drove it up onto the ramp! Hadn't been started in two years, moved in four, front tyres had huge flat spots, but it did go. Unbelievable!

Hoping to see some football this afternoon and we're having a go at making some Tapas this evening! This could be interesting!

Unable to download any pics, sorry!

Monday 17th January 2011

We spent Sunday around the van and having a walk around Cabopino, which is has small apartment complex's and very large houses along the beach, as well as a small marina surrounded by very nice restaurants. The apartments are expensive with small 2 bed ones advertised for 295,000 and 3 bed 395,000 euros! The houses are set behind high walls and some have CCTV around them, not sure how much they would cost! The marina has some great looking motorboats in it, not mega ones, but very nice all the same! We each selected which one we would like and then agreed we could probably only afford the small speedboat in the corner!

Today we all went for a walk along the beach towards Fuengirola, it was lovely and quiet, apart from the odd small fishing boat out at sea and the police chopper patrolling the coastline. Sat in the sun listening to the waves and admiring the views. Lynn phoned her mum to wish her happy birthday, sounded like she was having a nice day. Happy Birthday Doreen.

Saturday 15th January 2011

Another sunny day, so we caught the bus into Marbella. The bus stops about 2mins walk from the campsite and runs every half hour. We got off near the historic “Old Town” and set off to explore. This old part of Marbella is small but very picturesque with narrow alleys and small shops and cafes. Some of these had pictures of Michelle Obama walking around this area recently!
We came across a shop selling handmade shoes, handbags etc, I bought a new belt and managed to escape without buying anything else, a real achievement! We came across a lovely square filled with restaurants and orange trees, where we decided to stop for lunch. We ordered drinks and a selection of tapas which were very tasty, Sarah even played with her food getting the red wine sauce everywhere! I was impressed how she managed to avoid her white trousers and Lynn!

Afterwards we went for a walk down to the sea and strolled along the promenade towards Puerto Banus, this is lined with cafes and restaurants, some of which are actually on the beach, which looked like a great place for lunch! The further we walked along the slightly more upmarket things got, with a few posy people out for stroll in the sun. We came across a beachside restaurant advertising a 1lt jug of sangria for 9euros, couldn’t resist so spent an hour watching the world go by sipping sangria. This was a real suntrap and without the sea breeze would have been too hot!

Caught the bus back to the camp but got off a couple of stops too early, oops, it all looks the same! As it was only a few minutes’ to the camp we decided to walk rather than wait for the next bus. But this final walk tired Lynn out so we had to have dinner in the camp bar as she was too tired to cook! Lynn and I had pasta dishes and Sarah a pizza, the food was exceptionally good and reasonably priced for round here, around 22 euros for the three dishes. I suspect we will be back!

Friday 14th January 2011

Sitting outside in shorts and Tshirt writing this, we keep forgetting it’s only January!
Another neighbour has a ford van conversion which doesn’t look like its moved in years, which tends to stand out in amongst all the large new German vans in our row. We over heard the woman saying they are moving on after four years, but I’m not convinced the van will start let alone move an inch! Last night they were practising the bongo drums, Lynn and Sarah really got into the rhythm!

After lunch we went for a walk down to the beach which is just a couple of minutes away, it has a natural park behind it and is obviously popular with sunbathers and walkers. After strolling along the beach for a while Lynn spotted a guy standing in the dunes (he was at least 500m away) just off the beach, “Has he got any clothes on?” said Lynn. I had trouble seeing the guy let alone what he was wearing! As we got closer it was obvious he sunbathing in his birthday suit and as we walked along he wasn’t alone! Strangely they were all male and some as was pointed out, obviously worked out a lot! What I couldn’t understand is why you would sit in the sun wearing a Tshirt but no bloody trunks? I ask you! Anyway the beach was lovely and we came across a beachside restaurant we may try later.

PS my email account with wanadoo is playing up again, can't access it at all at the moment!

Thursday 13th January 2011

As we don’t have that far to go we had a more leisurely morning than usual on travelling days. Getting the van out of the pitch was very tight but with a little shunting we managed it OK, said our goodbyes and set off. With a quick stop for fuel, we arrived at the new site at midday, booked in and found a pitch which looked level and got some sun, it was a little tighter than we expected but we managed to fit Bella in! Soon set up and sat outside having lunch, temperature around 18/19!
One of our new neighbours came over to say hello and chat about their travels, They have done our trip in reverse, having been to Italy, where the roads are full of pot holes and really poorly maintained, not good for the van! Then they had driven across Spain to Portugal and down to here. They had stopped at Barcelona which they liked but the husband had his wallet stolen whilst walking around.When they went to the Police station they joined a queue of similar victims! I guess we were lucky!

Wednesday 12th January 2011

Before taking the car back we had a quick (I should be so lucky!) visit to the shopping mall as Lynn wanted a pair of jeans. The hire car had to be back at 1pm and we arrived with two minutes to spare! We caught the bus back to the camp, where we sorted the van out ready to go tomorrow. It seems strange leaving but we’re looking forward to moving on.

Tuesday 11th January 2011

Got up early, well about 7.30am, still dark! Set off for Granada and the Alhambra, which is a Palace built by the Moors when they occupied southern Spain. The journey took us on a dual carriageway from Malaga, north into the hills and then east to Granada. As we climbed the temperature dropped and the weather changed to grey cloudy skies and drizzle. At times we were driving through the clouds which were low. It was strange driving on a major road  which constantly changed direction, you were either going up, down or round a bend. Sometimes they combined them both, so after a long steep downhill section you had a sharp bend before climbing back up, you certainly don’t get bored! Once at the top of the hills it was a vast area of gently undulating land covered in olive trees and farms. The road is obviously a major route as large truck stop areas had built up with hotels and restaurants.

The Alhambra was well signposted and we followed the ringroad around Granada straight to it. As a backdrop you had the snow covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada. The tickets cover morning or afternoon and give you a time for entry to the main palace, before and afterwards you can visit the other buildings and the gardens or “Generalife” as they are called. The Palace was great, the detail in the plaster and ceilings was incredible, it had a wonderful feel to it with courtyards, gardens and fountains everywhere. The design and layout was very impressive, with spectacular views of the city and mountains. But at the same time you could imagine people living here and enjoying it, although it was a bit chilly!
We had a great day and the sun came out in the afternoon whilst we were walking around the gardens which made it  warmer. We agreed it would be great to come back in the spring when its slightly warmer but still not too busy.

Monday 10th January 2011

Whilst waiting for the bus the campsite manager came past and stopped with a slightly bemused look, we explained why we weren’t leaving today and asked to stay another three nights! Pavlo as usual was very relaxed about it and gave us a lift into El Grande. We found the hire car place which was part of a car sales garage and arranged collection for 1pm. Had lunch in the sunshine, sitting in a small park area overlooking the town and with views across the valley.

Collected our Renault Megane and decided to make use of it this afternoon, so set off to

check out the next campsite near Marbella. Nice easy journey along dual carriageways, the road runs right along the coast with all the hotels etc on our right and the beach on our left, with footbridges connecting them. The site was fairly large and busy with terraced pitches some of which you couldn’t get onto due to the drop from the road. The facilities look good, clean toilets, bar/restaurant and an indoor pool. We noticed it was warmer here than at the present site and people were sitting outside sunbathing! We agreed this would do!

Saturday 8th January 2011

Yesterday it rained all day, so we had a lazy day in the van with the odd glass of something! Lynn and Sarah adopted the Spanish way of life and had a siesta in the afternoon.

Today was a sunny and warm day so we caught the bus inland to Alhaurin El Grande, which dates back to pre Roman times. The views from the bus were great as we climbed up into the hills. The town had a nice atmosphere with a typical Saturday buzz about it. We spent the day ambling around the renovated back streets with smart apartment buildings, café hopping and watching the world go by, much like the locals who obviously enjoy meeting up with friends and family at the cafes. During our walk we passed a shoe shop selling lots of Spanish style boots, which made it a criminal offence to walk past without having a look! Once inside this Aladdin’s cave of female foot wear, Sarah found a “Cute” pair of boots which would look so good with……… I need say no more!

Spent the evening looking at maps and discussing our routes and places we wanted to see. It was soon obvious we were not going to be able to reach the south of France for Easter when Emma & Nick are coming out, Barcelona is looking favourite. We realised it will take us ten days just to drive from Portugal’s coast to Spain’s if we don’t want to rush. Working back it meant there was no way we could come back via Granada to see the Alhambra. Not wanting to miss this we decided we would go there whilst we were in the area, but with the temperatures still low in Granada we opted to hire a car and drive there for the day. Lynn & Sarah remembered seeing a car hire sign in El Grande which is easy to get to.

Thursday 6th January 2011

Woke up to a sunny morning and spent the day doing a few jobs around the van, as well as sitting in the sun! In the evening we walked up to the local bar/restaurant where we had a drink and a lovely meal of rabbit stew (sorry Em!), all for 13 euros. The only downside was the three loud drunk Englishmen at the bar, all from the camp and all old enough to be grandparents! It really is no wonder we have such a poor reputation abroad.

Wednesday 5th January 2011

We made it back to Spain and “Bella” without any problems, taxi arrived on time (0530hrs) despite the ridiculous time! Planes, trains & buses all left on time, so we arrived back at the campsite around 3pm on a sunny afternoon. We had a really great time at home, it was lovely to see the guys and those of you we managed to. We’re sorry we couldn’t get to see everyone but we hope you had a great xmas and wish you all a happy 2011.