Marbella, Espanha

We head off from La Línea (from where we visited Gibraltar) and head east along the Costa del Sol towards Marbella. The journey is only about 1.5hours so we choose the slower more coastal route, rather than the Autobarn. We see some magnificent coastline with lots of ships at anchor waiting to refuel in Gibraltar, or already done and steaming off across the wide blue expanse of ocean to where they fall off the end of the earth (or reach Mediterranean, African, Middle East Ports or places beyond probably)

Our first challenge today is finding a spot for morning tea but after one false start we pull off at a beach area and enjoy our coffee/coke and bikkies while looking out over said wide blue ocean.

When we arrive at our campsite just outside Marbella "Camping Cabopino" our next challenge is choosing the right pitch. It's a pretty big campground, that is terraced and rises quite steeply up the hill, we wander around looking at the options, pick one and go back down to office to confirm where we are, and get set up and have lunch. But then Bob decides he wants a shadier pitch! So we wander around again up and down terraces, and decide on one just 3 spots up from where we are - so it’s actually no hassle to move - just to trudge back down to office to confirm new spot.

Oh also, the pronunciation of "Marbella" is not how you'd think - you don't pronounce the "LL" at all - it's pronounced "Mar-bay-a". Why bother putting the two "LLs" there in the first place! Similar unusual pronunciation of "Cadiz" which is pronounced "Cad-ith" and "Jerez" is pronounced "Hr-eth". I know, - quite challenging.

We are now 5 weeks into our Portugal/Spain adventure - 8 weeks to go. That's all the good news out of the way - read on.........

OK, the next day we go to the bus stop (on a hot day) to catch the local bus to "Mar-bay-a". And today we are "stuuupid!" - we fell for a scam where a fake taxi pulled up at the bus stop and told us the buses were on strike, but he would take us to Marbella, which he did, what a nice nice chap. EXCEPT the buses aren’t on strike, he charged us €47 for a €20-25 fare (which we pay just in case he tries to kidnap us!), and according to the Tourist Office it’s been going on for years, but nothing gets done about it. I give him credit, years of practice made him very credible!

So, we both felt quite stupid afterwards, were quite annoyed - but tried not to let it ruin our day! We realised that we should have applied rule number 1, DO NOT Trust Anyone!! Mind you, once we arrived in town and were trying to find the Old Town, a mature lady with an American accent and a little puppy dog said she lived here and was going that way. She guided us to the Old Town and told us where each of the different sites were - she was really helpful. She explained that she grew up in New York but thought there was more to the world that New York so worked and lived around the world - and chose Marbella to live in her later years.

Well after we got over it (to be truthful Bob is not over it as he likes to think he is smarter than that), we had a nice few hours wandering through the tiny laneways of the Old Town - apparently this is a typical old Arabic layout.

Lovely white buildings lined with flower pots

Another flower pot lined building

Wall lined with potted flowers along Marbella lane

Tiny laneways in Marbella Old Town

Kerrie under "Marbella" sign in laneway in Old Town

Beautiful tiled seats in Marbella Park

Bob contemplating life (again) on a lovely tiled seat in Marbella Park

We saw some of the old 10th century wall, the church which started life as a mosque, and various other local landmarks including Naranja Square which is a lovely square lined with orange trees and has beautiful orange flowers in flower beds around the square, and then walked down to the promenade along the beach which literally goes for miles - its a beautiful promenade lined with trees.

Front of Church

Another entrance to Church

Inside Church that started life as a Mosque

Another part of interior of Church

Part of old 10th century wall

Another photo of old 10th century wall

Lovely Naranja (Orange) square

Naranja (Orange) Square Marbella - lined with orange trees and orange flowers

Tree lined promenade along beach front

Thatched roofed cabanas on beach

Kerrie contemplating life on Marbella Beach

However we only strolled a km or so while looking for something takeaway for lunch - but no luck with that. So we stopped in at a restaurant called "Exotica" which the friendly manager said would serve us breakfast items until 4.00pm - and indeed it did and Kerrie had avocado poached egg and smoked salmon on toast (which she really enjoyed) and Bob had a Club Sandwich with chips (ditto), so that made us both feel better about the world.

Kerrie's lunch - poached egg with avocado and smoked salmon

Later we found the bus stop (hmmm, no strike!) and caught the bus home for a mere €5.5 (bugger, bugger, bugger!!!). Tonight's dinner was home made spag bog which was delicious - plus wines!!

Adios - over and out for another day.