Landing in Malaga we got the service bus stop #19 to the bus station in Malaga 12kms away for a €1.10 (each) fare. Arrival at the bus station presents us with our biggest problem – I can’t locate it on the maps I have and while I know where we need to get to without knowing where we are it’s impossible to know which way to head. Eventually we are on our way, and it’s a good 15-20 minute walk to the hotel. We check in, head up to our room, a quick change and head out for a wander and a bite to eat. We pick a Tapas Bar where Sue has shrimps and I have fish, both with bread and beer – local fayre eaten in the local manner (i.e. without using knife and fork). A wander round the immediate vicinity before heading back to the hotel and into bed.
Sunday morning, a hearty breakfast then we are off walking. Past the harbour, following a local landmarks map we head off up to the top of the castle/fortress. The day started cool and breezy but by the time we have walked up to the top (climbed is almost apt) it’s a much warmer day and we are overheating and in need of a drink. We pay the entrance fee and go for a walk around the place, stopping at the café for a beer. Then back down to the promenade and head for a walk along the northern beaches. On the way back we stop for a pizza meal and it starts to rain while we eat, oh well!
Over lunch we decide to hire a car for Monday so we start back to the old quarter where the hotel is to enquire with reception, who point us at the railway station (next door to the bus station). But the prices are too steep (like €65 for a day) so we head back to the hotel to use the web and get a car for €38.65, but we have to pick it up from the airport which means an early start. We close the day out with a fabulous meal at a Chinese restaurant then some beers in a local bar before heading back.
Monday we are up early and down for breakfast at 7:30. That done we are off to the bus station, get the #19 to the airport, get collected by a shuttle bus and pick up a Ford Ka for the day. We head down to Marbella, where we pick up the A376 to Rhonda – 30 miles of fabulous tarmac and views. Parking in Rhonda is underground and Rhonda is lovely, picturesque and buzzing. We wander around for ages before finding a bar for lunch, then back to the car and we head off through El Burgo, Yunquera, Alozaina and Coin to Mijas, which is so pretty it deserves far longer than the ½ - ¾ hour we spend wandering around. Back on the road we head down to Benalmádena, Torremolinos and back to Malaga Airport to return the car. We’ve done 150 miles in the Ka with loads of stops for photos. Bus back to town and a beer in the bar we found last night.
Phil & Suzie in Rhonda, Andalusia
Tuesday morning, breakfast and pack. Dump the case in the Left Luggage with the hotel and we head of for the cathedral (which is closed) and the Picasso Museum (which isn’t) followed by some more promenading on the beach before some serious window shopping to keep Suzie happy. At 4pm after picking up the case we start the return journey for home.
The return journey is uneventful and Andy collects us from EMA. We’ve had a fabulous time, escaping the English Winter Blues we have walked miles (sore legs and feet will mend) and have returned with cash in our pocket, hundreds of photographs and loads of memories and stories to tell. Brilliant!
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