A WARM & SUNNY MALAGA AND SUNNY MANILVA - OVER TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY 23^rd/24^th APRIL 2019.

TUESDAY;

We were up very early on Tuesday morning and after freshening up and packing we shot off across to Malaga, along the coast road, past a stormy Mediterranean, as we reached the outskirts of Malaga, the heavens opened, making the road conditions even more treacherous, we parked in the large underground car park, next to the entrance to ‘Calle Larios’ and then made our way along to the ‘Atanazanas Boutique Hotel’ – on our way getting soaked to the skin!

After dropping off our bags, to check in later, we met Jane & David and popped along to a local Bar/Cafe next to the hotel for our breakfast of coffee& tostado, it then started to brighten up and the ‘ wet-stuff’ stopped, the sky cleared and was blue, as a light breeze blew in, we then set off, stopping for our first glass of ‘Cava’ of the day, next we had ‘ Bengimes of Brut Freixenet Cava’ in the world famous ‘ Cafe Central’ in the ‘ Plaza de la Constitucion’ – before going along to our favourite ‘ Cerveceria Los Gatos ‘ for lunch, more ‘Cava’ flowed including a glass on the house, we had a small selection of ‘Tapas’ including the ‘ Carved ‘ Jamon Iberico’ – followed by a large platter of Grilled Mixed Meats and a platter of Grilled Sea Bass, see the pictures above.

After a very enjoyable lunch we then headed to the ‘ AC Hotel Malaga Palacio’ – a luxury ‘ Marriott ‘ hotel and shot up to the 15^th floor to the Terrace& Patio Pool Bar’ where we had a excellent bottle of ‘Mumm Brut Champagne’ – thanks David! As we took in the sights of Malaga from the roof-top terrace, showing Malaga and the Port at it’s best, the residential cruise liner “ The World’ was berthed below.

See the pictures above;

It was then time to go back to the hotel and check-in, by taxi, and have a little ‘ Siesta’ before going out later in the evening, they up-graded us to large room, on the first floor overlooking the famous ‘ Atanazanas Market’ with the largest bathroom, as you can see in the pictures below.

To start the evening off we jumped into a taxi and returned to the ‘AC Hotel Malaga Palacio’ for our evening ‘ Cocktails’ on the roof terrace, as the sun set! We then ended up at a restaurant that we have wanted to try, off Calle Larios’ – ‘Retaurante El Trillo ‘ – we settled and had a nice drink while we waited for a table, David’ ordered a fine bottle ‘Vino Blanco’ – another one followed later, see us below.

We had decided to have a ‘ Steak Night’ – Jane had a excellent ‘ Beef Stroganoff ’ – Brenda had for a change , her favourite ‘Steak Tartare ‘ – which the young lady who made it, came and asked how it was?! David had the ‘Grilled Fillet of Veal’ and I ordered the ‘ Angus Entrecote Steak ‘ – both ‘Med-Rare’ – all came with the ‘ House Frits’  - a ‘shot’ on the house of the local firewater followed! We then made our way back to the hotel, feeling no pain!

WEDNESDAY;

After a nice lie in we met up for breakfast of the usual tostado & coffee, before crossing over to the ‘ Atanazanas Market’ for a quick walk around, we then parted our ways, to meet up with Jane & David again in the not too distant future, on the way to the car Brenda spotted a pair of sandals in the corner shop!

See the ‘ Market’ below;

This morning as we set off back to sunny Manilva the sky went overcast with dark clouds, there was as stiff breeze blowing and the threat of the ‘ wet-stuff’ back in the air, at the moment it’s dry, tomorrow is the same, then from Friday onwards and over the weekend the sun is back in sunny Manilva, hovering in the low ‘teens’ – next week is looking the same, getting warmer as the week goes on, reaching 23/24 degs+ Watch this space.

This evening we are having ‘ Grilled Gammon Steaks’ topped with seared Pineapple Rings and ‘ Campo’ Fried Eggs, with fresh, local Garden Peas, from the market in Malaga, with of course twice-cooked ‘ Chips.

This evening after supper we will be watching the ‘ Derby Game’ as Manchester Utd, welcome Manchester City in the ‘Premiere League’

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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A STILL VERY ' CRISP' & SUNNY MANILVA ON WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY 5^th/ DECEMBER 2017.   “ CONSITUTION DAY  “

I was up early this morning to welcome back ‘ Chico’ – he’s with us for six days, until Monday lunchtime, he shot upstairs and had a little lie in with us as the village is very quiet this morning, more than normal, as it’s a ‘ Bank Holiday ‘ here in Spain – “ Consitution Day “ – celebrating the founding of the democracy in 1978.

We then had our regular breakfast of ‘ Weetabix’ toast & tea before sorting out the shopping list for tomorrow morning, I’m going down on the local bus, to Sabinillas, on my travels, as it’s another ’Bank Holiday’ on Friday, this time a very religious celebration of the ‘ Immaculate Conception ‘ – the local buses don’t run on the Bank Holidays!

Brenda has just taken ‘ Chico’ for a short walk, ‘ Chispa’ came calling and joined them, the gas-bottle delivery man was due to call in, even though it’s a ‘Bank Holiday’ he was still working.


See below ' Chico ' in his bed ! 

We have another very ‘ crisp’ & cold, in the shade, day here in sunny Manilva, there is a light breeze but the sun is out and the sky has cleared, it will reach 16/17 degs by lunchtime, the rest of the week and over the weekend is staying the same but going a little warmer, 19/20 degs, just in time for the first annual ‘ Manilva Food & Wine Festival’ – next week is starting to settle down with just a little threat of some of the wet stuff, on Monday, watch this space.

See below an update picture, taken this morning, of the progressing work of the ‘ Contractors ‘ along ‘ Calle Mar ‘ – the water/drain pipes etc, have arrived.

For our supper this evening we are having ‘Pan-Seared Calves Liver ‘ – dusted in seasoned flour, with grilled ‘English’ Pork Sausages & Crispy ‘Spanish’ Smoked Bacon, accompanied with a sauceboat of ‘Red Wine Onion’ Gravy, glazed Carrot Batons with Turnips & diamond-cut Green Beans and Parsley New Potatoes. On Thursday evening it’s going to be ‘ Grilled Chicken Wings’ with a baked Potato.

‘  MALAGA NEW UPDATE ‘ – ‘ TUESDAY EVENING ‘ 

We were first on the bus, yesterday afternoon, as our names were on the top of list, I booked the seats on the day it was advertised, there were three bus loads of locals being picked up, from the village and Sabinillas, we were dropped off in the centre of Malaga, just a short walk from ‘Calle Larios’ –  to be picked up later at 11-00 pm-ish, there was no breeze so it was not as cold or ‘crisp’ – in fact by later in the evening it was ‘ mild’!

Our first port of call was the only ‘Cafe’ on the main street, which is always very busy with local & visitors, we had a nice glass of chilled ‘ Cava’ as we sat and waited for the ‘ Son et Lumiere’ light & music show to start at 6-30 pm, as you can see in the pictures above.

We then moved on to the ‘Plaza de La Constitution ‘  at the top of ‘ Calle Larios ‘ to the famous ‘ Cafe Central ‘  to take in the sights & sounds in front of the Xmas Tree, one of many in the centre of the city, where we had ‘ Benjamin’s’ ( Mini-bottles!) of their excellent Cava, the cafe is famous for serving over 50 different types of Malaga coffee, Churros & Hot Chocolate, open sandwiches & local pastries and ‘Tapas’!

Our next stop was at the “ AC Hotel Malaga Palacio ‘ ( Marriott Hotels ) where we went up to the 15th floor Roof Top Terrace – Pool Side -  ‘Cocktail Bar’ – we had spotted it on another visit to Malaga last year, when we ended up on the Big Wheel at night!

After a little ‘ Lift’ difficulty, you have to find the express lift, which is unmarked with no buttons! As you can see in the pictures above it has a spectacular view over the city and the port/marina. We then ordered our ‘cocktails’ – ‘Bombay Sapphire’ Gin & Tonic for Brenda and for me an excellent ‘ Caipirinha ‘ – Brazil’s national cocktail made with Cachaca, sugar & lime juice.

It was then time to find a restaurant for our ‘Wedding Anniversary  Supper ‘ –  we were next to the Cathedral and chose ‘Meson Lo Gueno ‘ in a side street, were we had an excellent meal of their ‘House Chicken Croquettes’ ( made with ‘Bechamel’ sauce not potato )  followed by a ‘ Confit of Duck Leg ‘ for Brenda, one of her favourite dishes and for me a very juicy/tasty large ‘ T-Bone Steak ‘ cooked on the open char-grill ‘ Med-Rare ‘ – both served with the house ‘Skin-on Frits’! The ‘ house’ White & Red wines, by the glass, were very good and I had a very friendly Bacardi & Coke!

See the pictures below of the ‘ Happy Couple’!!

Finally we walked back along the very busy streets to catch our bus back to a very sleepy Manilva, where we arrived back at 12-45 am feeling no pain!!  

This evening after supper we will be watching the next exciting episode of the excellent ‘ Peaky Blinders ‘

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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