What we did on our Hollybobs

 Currently being down to only seven (7!) dogs, the last of the temporary fosters having finally been adopted, we really needed a break. Mrs D's blood pressure has been spiking and in this heat that is not the best idea.

We managed to book with the same hotel in Fuengirola that we stopped at a couple of years ago just after the extreme lockdown restrictions were easing.  Hotel El Puerto if you fancy it. It has two fantastic towers, the one we stayed in is the shorter, 8 actual floors and a swimming pool on the roof, called Sancho Tower, the other one about 5 floors higher is called Quijote. I couldn't find a single windmill to explain this.

We got a room on the 8th Floor with a beautiful view over the docks and the sea with the morning sun streaming in and fantastically cool and shaded in the afternoon.

The weekend started a bit iffy as we tried to visit a shop on Benelmadena, if you want a bit of free advice here, Dont even try. Traffic there is an absolute nightmare, and parking is a complete hell. We never did find the shop and as my blood pressure was beginning to climb with frustration Mrs D sensibly said forget it and we drove straight on to Fuengirola, what a difference, parked outside the hotel, unloaded, got a key and fob for the parking, even managed to check in early. The staff couldn't have been nicer.

We decided to have a few mins rest and unpack so we could go off and explore again. We wandered down the main drag and spotted a Chinese restaurant that we ate at last time so went to have a look, still there and open and serving. Wow, superb food again, lovely to see a good survivor after the last few years. The main drag is full of typical expat eateries offering chips with everything or sunday lunch and a pint but we tend to avoid those out of principle, it is Spain after all.

After a super repast we meandered back onto the main drag  and noticed this really odd place surrounded by mismatched chunks of wood and, fancying a coffee thought lets try it.

The very nice young lady running service there (Saskia, aka Sassy) persuaded Mrs D to try their Sangria, claiming that she has never had a real one until we try hers., I had a coffee. Up here in Jaen province, Sangria is really only Tinto Verano with a chunk of some fruit in it. The Sangria here is NOT that. It is a wonderful mixture of liquors and soda with a fruit salad in it and it tastes divine.

Safari Bar Fuengirola on Facebook

As I had also now had a beer (or2) and Mrs D was on her second Sangria we decided that enough was enough and staggered back to the hotel for a siesta.To be fair that evening was a simple relax, a walk around the dock area, a bit too secure to see much but interesting all the same and trying to avoid the hucksters on the Disco bars with their 2 for 1s. Finally an early night.

Next morning just after 10 we were back at Safari Bar for one of their breakfasts each and can I just say WOWSERS.

Salmon Tostada with a poached egg and Hollandaise sauce, If there is a better way to start the day, I haven't found it in the last 70 years. Had a couple of coffees and some more sangria, by which time it was lunch time, actually a bit more like siesta time, so we did.

Several Hours later as we woke up we needed food but it had to be something simple & quick. Our first mistake, we decided on KFC, just down the road, grab a simple bucket and fries. OMG, Never again, it was so salty as to be almost inedible and then we pulled several bits apart to see undercooked chicken, Do yourself a favour if you want something quick and easy, avoid the KFC in Fuengirola. The staff couldn't care less and the food was crap.

Back to the hotel and bed.with Almax and Omoprazole.

Sunday morning we were back at Safari Bar for breakfast after checking with the hotel staff that the Austrian GP would be on the big screens outside. After breakfast and a few Sangrias and Beers and a nice walk around the back streets 

 we grabbed a good spot and watched the preshow. Suddenly Mrs D vanished leaving a jug of Mediocre sangria on the table. When she reappeared around lap 15 she had changed quite a bit, she now had beautiful braided hair
in Petronas Blue colour.  

After the farce, sorry race we decided that we were going to try a fish restaurant buried deep in the dock area, well off the tourist route. Good grief, what a find, We were the only foreigners in that night and it was packed/ Biggest piece of Swordfish I ever had (sorry I'd already had a few bites before taking the photo) and it was delish. The chef had 3 barbies running for the smaller fish and it was fantastic

If you find yourself in Fuengirola in the evening, you have to try this place, it opens directly on to the Fish market so you know its fresh and the taste tells you everything, the olive oil and garlic jue just puts the polish on it.

Unfortunately, the next day was the end of our weekend break. Mrs D gets another one down in Malaga with her daughter-in-law and DiL's mother next week but she deserves it after putting up with me for the last 16 years. My next break is in November when I'm going to UK for a weekend where my daughter by another mother and father is getting married, as my own daughter banned me from her wedding, I'm finally going to a real one.

I'll let you know how that goes, maybe.

hasta La Huego