Arrived in Marbella

[LisaH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LisaH]

Angela,

If you are going to to take the tour at Playa Andelusia, you may want to take a side trip to Casares, the most beautiful white village that we had seen on our trip to Costa del Sol. It's just a little bit inland from Estepona, where the Marriott Playa Andelusia is located. Here is a Google map for it:

Casares, Spain - Google Maps

By the way, how come you are online all the time? As I remember, the internet access was not that convenient at Marriott Marbella. We had to go to the business center and pay an hourly fee for it. Has that changed?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Thanks Lisa....We are going to Playa Andelusia, tomorrow afternoon. We will try and make our way over to Casares.

Angela,

If you are going to to take the tour at Playa Andelusia, you may want to take a side trip to Casares, the most beautiful white village that we had seen on our trip to Costa del Sol. It's just a little bit inland from Estepona, where the Marriott Playa Andelusia is located. Here is a Google map for it:

Casares, Spain - Google Maps

By the way, how come you are online all the time? As I remember, the internet access was not that convenient at Marriott Marbella. We had to go to the business center and pay an hourly fee for it. Has that changed?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I'm getting more and more sold on Spain... thanks angela, enjoy and keep posting if you have time. Sounds GREAT.
BTw -- Funny about the Choos.

shaggy

I have never been to Spain or anywhere in Europe. I'm getting interested in both. I've always been afraid to drive on the wrong side of the road, language barriers, money, etc. So much to see in the US. I wish I could win the lotto!! I'd travel everywhere!! shaggy

You guys should definetly put Spain on your list. It's a great country, with super people. We are having a fantastic time here. There is everything you could ask for.......Beach, tons of restaurants, shops, and, many historical towns, and sites to see. I would return, in a heart beat.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Angela if you like red wine Spain has been putting out some good wines. Look into it.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Lawren,

Yep, this has turned out to be a great trip. I'm so glad that we decided to come here. I think you would love it here, too. Not much to dislike!

This trip sounds fabulous. I'm glad you are giving us a quick summary when you can. Spain has been on my list for quite some time now.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Frank,

The wine here seems to be very good, and it is plentiful. Very inexpensive compared to other locations.

I don't really know too much about wine, but we havn't gotten a bad bottle yet.

Angela if you like red wine Spain has been putting out some good wines. Look into it.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Today, we visited Fuengirola, and a small coastal town called Mijas. In Mijas, they try to draw in tourist by giving away free tapas with every beer. So, by 12 0’clock, most of the people in town, were already looped. I don’t even drink beer, yet we found ourselves sitting at an outdoor café, ordering beer, and tapas. When in Rome.........

You have to admire the lifestyle of the Spaniards. They really seem to know how to live, and are an extremely laid-back, group of people. No ‘A type’ personalities here. LOL. Most stores don’t open until 11 AM, then they all shut down again from 2-4, so the people can rest. We keep forgetting, and only remember when we try to get into a place that’s closed. Even the concierge, here at the Marriott, closes down between 2-4.

We finally got to the beach today. We got back to the hotel a little after 2. We ate lunch,(Our 3rd meal of the day. We started our day by eating breakfast in Orange Square, in Marbella) and headed to t he beach, for a couple of hours. Plenty of Palapas to choose from. We got the front row, no problem.

The beaches here are nice, but they are not like the Carribean, or even Florida beaches. The sand is brownish in color, and has a harder feel to it, then what we are used to. The water is very clean, but not that crystal clear, Carribbean blue color. Still, they are very pretty, and plentiful. Also, the weather her is fantastic!!! Every day, it's around 80 degrees, without a cloud in the sky, and no humidty.

BTW....We are totally hooked on the coffee, espresso, cappuccino maker in our room. As soon as we get home, we’re getting one.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

You guys should definetly put Spain on your list. It's a great country, with super people. We are having a fantastic time here. There is everything you could ask for.......Beach, tons of restaurants, shops, and, many historical towns, and sites to see. I would return, in a heart beat.

Many people turn their noses up when you mention the Costa del Sol. They think it is all English beer and all day breakfasts. Sure you can get that, but as Ang is already discovering, you can find the real Spain even in tourist resorts like Marbella. Just a couple of hundred yards back from the beach you are in amongst the twisting, narrow streets of old town. 15 minutes by car and you are deep into rural Spain. Donkeys used as everyday transport etc.
Wonderful people, wonderful food, wonderful scenery. Do you get the idea that I like Spain??

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

Many people turn their noses up when you mention the Costa del Sol. They think it is all English beer and all day breakfasts. Sure you can get that, but as Ang is already discovering, you can find the real Spain even in tourist resorts like Marbella. Just a couple of hundred yards back from the beach you are in amongst the twisting, narrow streets of old town. 15 minutes by car and you are deep into rural Spain. Donkeys used as everyday transport etc.
Wonderful people, wonderful food, wonderful scenery. Do you get the idea that I like Spain??

Me (us ) too are really enjoying ...have plans to meet up with Angela and George in next few nights ...just great here .Am amazed we only used our home resort once before ...its just great (daily room service and a full change twice weekly ).
Were in Puerto Banus today ...tomorrow for market...lets see..
G

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Wow, I'm now convinced!! Ok, don't laugh , what's a white village? All I can think of is everything is white, but I know there's got to be more to it than that. shaggy

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Shaggy....You are correct. The white villages are small villages, either built into the moutains, or near the shorline, where all the homes, shopes, etc., are white. They are very charming, and beautiful, to see. It is very mountainous here, so many times, you are looking down, onto these villages.

Wow, I'm now convinced!! Ok, don't laugh , what's a white village? All I can think of is everything is white, but I know there's got to be more to it than that. shaggy

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Wow, I'm now convinced!! Ok, don't laugh , what's a white village? All I can think of is everything is white, but I know there's got to be more to it than that. shaggy

It is hard to believe there is such a place, but take a look at these references:

Discover Spain's Premier Pueblo Blanco, Arcos de la Frontera

Rick Steves' Europe: The Route of the White Villages: Arcos de la Frontera

Pictures of White Villages


You'll find several under a "white villages" search.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Robert, I remember these white villages very well because I used to live in Spain. Late in the afternoon, these villages have a beautiful pinkish glow to them because the sun is setting. That is a great photo web page that you found on the Internet.

Angela, I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Spain and will like the rest of the other European countries too. Spain was my favorite country of all the countries I have lived in Europe because of the hours they kept and the climate which is much nicer yet than here in southern CA. It doesn't have the high humidity either like they have in Mexico in the Puerto Vallarta area.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Robert, I remember these white villages very well because I used to live in Spain. Late in the afternoon, these villages have a beautiful pinkish glow to them because the sun is setting. That is a great photo web page that you found on the Internet.

Yes, I agree, great photos!! Those villages are all over this area. We have seen a number of them, one more beautiful, then the other.

Angela, I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Spain and will like the rest of the other European countries too. Spain was my favorite country of all the countries I have lived in Europe because of the hours they kept and the climate which is much nicer yet than here in southern CA. It doesn't have the high humidity either like they have in Mexico in the Puerto Vallarta area.

The weather here has been picture perfect. Every day, it has been around 80 degress, with no humidty. We are really getting spoiled!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Today is our last full day in Spain. Tomorrow, we leave for Italy.

Tuesday, we took a tour of the Alhambra Palace....Currently, trying to be voted as one of the new 7 wonders of the world.....It was the last Moorish stronghold in Europe, and is a good example of the Moorish, design, architecture, etc. It is an enormous complex, with palaces, beautiful gardens, and a spectacular view of Granada. Very impressive, and I would recommend taking the time out to see it, if you are in this area, of Spain.

We then spent the rest of the day in Granada......At one point, this was the grandest city in Spain. Today, it seems to be a combination of Moorish/African culture. Both are very prevalent, through-out the city.

Granada’s motto.......’Life is short....Walk, don’t run.

Wednesday, we went sailing on a Catamaran. Wow, once again, the scenery was spectacular. The coastal ports, and shoreline were beautiful. Sailing into Puerto Banus was the highlight. The port with it’s huge yachts, beautiful hotels, shops, and restaurants looks even more beautiful when arriving from the sea.

Today, we are off to Nerja. We will be visiting the caves, and the ‘Balcony of Europe.’

Spain is a very beautiful country, and we will be sorry to say goodbye. The weather and people, could not have been nicer. We will return, as there is so much to see, and experience.