The Sun Never Sets

6 July: arrive Malaga airport, T1, from Montreal. Meet the Mrs 11:30 approx, arrived from Glasgow. Walk to train station and catch renfe to Fuengirola at the end of the line, 2 euros each from ticket machine. Search for Hotel Agur close to trains and buses. Supermarket shopping adapted to Brits - baked beans, digestive biscuits, Birds custard etc. Dinner at Center King: Divina Salad 4.60, Calamari a la Romana 5.80, Lasagna Verde 4.60, Red Wine, bottled water. Total 17.00 euros. Nothing to write home about. Stroll to waterfront, then Cafeteria Costa del Sol: Copa Fresa 1 bola (strawberry ice cream) 2.25 euros, Sangria Copa 3.95 euros.
July 7: Rationed breakfast (portion control) at Casa McGurgle. Caught the 9:18 train from Fuengirola to Malaga; 8.20 euros for two, round trip. We see the renfe trains arriving from Seville; they are also building a line to Cordoba. C-2 Circular bus, 1.10 euros each to the Paseo del Parque. Climbed the hill to Castillo de Gibralfaro, delighted to see small kiosk for drinks up top, back down the hill to the Alcazaba, 6.90 each for entry to both on combo ticket. We spot a replica galleon in the harbour but cannot get close. Lunch in a bar in the Alameda Principal, good value at 16 euros plus tip. We walked back to the station to join the scrum waiting to get on the train. Note: a sight-seeing bus tour would have cost 40 euros per person.
July 8: On the 9:15 bus from Fuengirola to Mijas, 1.20 euros each. Free Wi-fi at tourist information in this hilltop town. Post cards 0.15 versus 0.40 cents in Fuengirola. Enjoying the cafe life while watching the donkey taxis. Splendid seafood tapas sampler at Cafe Bar Porras in the Plaza de la Libertad, 15 euros for two, plenty to share, 30.76 euros total including Rioja. Brits bellowing for burgers and toasties. Evening promenade around Fuengirola, we try "Churros y chocolat." African peddlers are a thorough nuisance at the table. Anything but relaxing. Fuengirola has seen better days and other resorts are preferable.
July 9: Laundry and Daily Mail (printed in Spain, 2.20 Euros). L2 bus to Los Boliches. Walk along seafront-a cut above Fuengirola - Fools and Horses bar, Uppa Crust sandwich bar, second-hand bookshop with a biography of Cilla Black! Dodging the dotto train we lunch at Bar Barista, Los Boliches; prawn salad 6.50 euros each, good. Dinner al fresco at La Campesina in Fuengirola avoiding panhandlers. Man selling lotto tickets, with wig, doing good trade on the corner. Dinner 29.50 euros with wine and digestifs.
July 10: Catch 12:30 bus to La Linea via Marbella, San Pedro, and Estepona. Arrive at La Linea bus station. No signs for Gibraltar. Walk through frontier and catch local bus to Hotel Eliott, 60p each. Short rest watching Tour de France from Andorra, then evening walk past naval dockyards to Rosia Road. Distant views across the drink of the dark continent. Number 4 bus back to town. Fish and chip supper at the Gibraltar Arms, recommended. You can still smoke in the bar! Gib is a throwback, where the sun never sets on the British Empire.