Malaga

Overlooking the port in Malaga is the centurys old Alcazaba, some of which dates back as far the 8th century. The larger part though dates from the 11th century. As you enter the gateway to the Alcazaba you first come across the Roman amphitheatre ruins which are now under restoration.
From here the pathway winds its way up and round the landscaped gardens to the various levels decorated with water features and also bringing you to the Archaeological Museum which used to be one of the grand palaces within the fortress.

Frigiliana

A few kilometres from the large city of Malaga is one of the best kept villages you are ever likely to see. This is one of the typical white villages seen in this part of Spain. Frigiliana is usually the first stop on the daily excursions to the world famous Nerja Caves. If you decide to book an excursion here, the tour bus will drop you off here for a while to explore the village before taking you on to visit the caves, after which the next stop will be on the coast at Nerja where you can see fantastic views of the coast and mountains.
This trip is a must if your visiting the Costa del Sol!

A Day in Ronda

One of the most visited areas in Andalucia is the ancient city of Ronda. Many excursion company's run day trips to Ronda at a cost of €30-€40 depending on your pick-up point.
To save a few euro's while the exchange rate is very low for us Brits it is very easy to do the trip by ordinary service bus from the resorts along the coast. From Benalmadena the present cost for the journey is just €8.56 (one way) The bus leaves here at 10.30am and take 2hrs & 15 mins.
The bus first travels down to Marbella then turns inland to start its climb up through the mountains from where you have breathtaking views all around you for the duration of your journey. On clear days you can see Gibralter and North Africa!

A good tip as you arrive at Ronda bus station is to book your seat for the return journey as places are limited. A good time to return would be 16.30.
Leaving the bus station look to the right of the roundabout in front of you and you will see a small cafe/bar on the corner of Calle San Jose, walking down this street will bring you to the historic town centre near the bull ring and the tourist information office where you can get free maps and advice on the best route to take around Ronda.

Snow Covered Sierras

After recent bad weather on the Costa del Sol, today was much better with some warm sunshine. Although as you can see from the photo, the sunbeds are out on the beach in Benalmadena but still remain empty. Maybe the snow on the Sierras had something to do with it, as when the wind blows down from the snow covered mountains it still feels quite cold.

(click on the photo to enlarge it for a better view of the snow)

Puerto Banus

Some of the most exclusive yachts in the world can be seen in the stunning marina at Puerto Banus. The one featured here is 'Shaf' which was owned by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia until his death in 2005. I should think now it has been passed down to one of his sons. This is the most impressive yacht here in the marina and is a very popular tourist attraction. To read more about the impact the wealth of the Kings family has had in Marbella and Puerto Banus - CLICK HERE

Benalmadena Restaurants

The El Mero Restaurant in the marina at Benalmadena has one of the best view points to be found in this area. Here you can sit out on the long terrace which overlooks the expensive yachts and classy apartments in the marina. The restaurants speciality is seafood, but they are also highly recommended for their steaks and rice dishes.