Ah Marbella, a British tourist’s paradise, whose desire to soak up the sun and bathe in blue tranquil waters, is a dream come true in the sun-happy Costa Del Sol town of Marbella, Spain. Here in Marbella, where the weather on average is 24°C in July, the sun stretches out its warm golden hand and lures you into a world of Vitamin D, where happiness is infectious and for a moment in time you too are happy, leaving behind the miserable office worker that you entered Marbella as. Experience the cultural hodge podge of the old vs new world, with remmants of its Moorish past seen clearly through the ‘Moorish Old Quarter’ glaring in open distaste at the modern world that surrounds it, cloaking it in its guise of ‘newness’. But you feel alive in the ‘Andalusian charm’ of the historic quarter as you wander around the remains of a ninth century Arab fortress, where through time travel you can hear the soldiers battle cries once more. You smile as you realize that your interpretation of ‘Marbella’ as a ‘party hotspot’ couldn’t be further from the truth and you are relieved to be holidaying in a land where sun, sea and culture meld into one delightful fantasy that has you begging for more.
You can smell the fragrant orange trees, ripe and plump, squirting orange juice all over your waiting hands. And when you have grabbed as many oranges as you possibly could, laughing and giggling along the way, you sink into the silky golden sands of La Fontanilla, as wave after wave of happiness induced delirium has you drifting into a dreamland sleep, where you eat Ajoblanco, mopped with rustic crusty bread. Then you wake, startled, as you realize that you fell asleep at your desk, here in England, and that Marbella was nothing but a very vivid dream. Or was it? You look around hoping that noone caught you ‘unawares’ but the office drones are frozen in time, eyes glazed over as they are controlled by the superiority of their computer masters. But you will not be another office drone, for you are in charge of your own destiny and as you purchase a one way ticket to Marbella out of the blue, you realize something vital. For once you followed your heart, and noone, not even your boss can stop you from living out your dreams.
The plane touches down in Malaga, the closest airport to your stunning villa in Marbella, on the Mijas border, named Cabo Royale. Eventually the taxi drops you off at your villa for the week and you stand transfixed at the beauty that lies before you. White stonewashed walls overlook a private swimming pool, whose open blue waters glisten under the light of the golden sun, while the small of orange blossom is ever present as you walk through the villa for the very first time. You thank Alta Vista for bringing you such a stunning slice of paradise, pleased that their promise to help you holiday in Marbella in a calm and tranquil environment had come true. As part of the Marbella ‘Green Zone’ a private swimming pool isn’t the only charming feature of your holiday property; manicured lush green gardens await your presence, overlooking the jewel that is the Mediterranean ocean. You envision sinking into the blue waters and you feel relieved when you plunge into its soothing depths, a balm to your already pink skin. The hours pass and you grow hungry, so you walk to the Marina of Cabopino, booking in a scuba diving trip for tomorrow, before entering the commercial centre of Calahonda with its abundance of shops, bars , supermarkets and other local amenities.
You are thankful to learn that there are vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Marbella such as Loving Hut and La Casa Del Hummus who serve cult ‘Marbella Classics’ like Gazpacho soup, a delectable blend of tomatoes, peppers, garlic, cucumber, bread, olive oil, water and garlic and the unique sun dried tomato toast (with vegan cheese, olives and chives), best eaten with a chilled glass of vino, that you sip delicately as you watch the sun go down. The sky fades into darkness and you trudge back to your villa in Mijas, until you sink into a beautiful sleep, where rainbow unicorns trot along the pastel horizon and the fairies sprinkle happy glitter from above. You awake feeling refreshed, the sun high in the sky as you prepare for your first scuba diving lesson at the marina, marveling at the secret underground world of the sea, where a school of fish weave playfully in and out of the coral coaxing you into their marine lair. Sated by the world below, you rejoin humanity as you explore Old Town, Marbella, a labyrinth of pedestrian streets that are laid with red tiles , where terracotta roofs are wrapped in colourful bougainvillea flowers, an Instagrammer’s paradise. And the whitewashed houses with baskets of flowers outside are just as beautiful, a vibrant oasis in a colourless world.
You have enough photos to last you a lifetime but your curiosity has not been quenched just yet; as an animal lover you want to see the beautiful wildlife who live on the Costa Del Sol, the true animals that lurk in the mountains and roam freely like a bird. You steer past the ‘zoos ‘ and animal attraction parks, and head instead for the wildlife reserves, which are committed to ensuring that both animals and the environment can live without fear, while educating tourists on how we should ‘boycott animal cruelty’and learn how to treat animals with respect and consideration. You stand in awe as you learn about the lions and tigers behind the hills of Estepona, beautiful, majestic creatures that govern their domain with pride, the leaders of the pack. And the birds are just as inspiring, beautiful beings, large and small that swoop through the trees, as though they are playing ‘peekaboo’ with the humans below. Satisfied you head back to the villa, spending the rest of the day swimming around on giant inflatable swans, until again the sun sets and you dream a dreamless dream. The rest of the week goes by in a blur, a delicious mix of breathtaking beaches, where you transform into a fantastical mermaid, followed by historic tours at the Vega del mar Basilica, a paleochristian site, built by the Romans that was once a Roman necropolis. And when the last day comes and you have to part with your beloved villa, you promise Alta Vista that you will be back some day very soon…
Have You Ever Been To Marbella Before?
*Disclaimer
Please note this is a collaborative post but all thoughts are my own and are not affected by monetary compensation.
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