Against my better judgement ....... Aqua Park!!

As temperatures continue to soar along the Costa del Sol (even the dog has gone floppy and refuses to walk further than the gate), I was faced with the uneviable task of entertaining 5 kids for the day. An assorted bunch of nieces, nephews and godchildren, aged between 8 and 16 were never going to all agree on a venue so we had a show of hands and the Aqua Park (Parque Aquatico Mijas) won. I should have rigged the vote I thought as we headed off for the infamous water wonderland near Fuengirola. We went early and entered the park around 10am. The admission price was €11 each for children aged 4-12, and €16 each for older kids and adults. Not too bad when you consider that they wanted to stay all day (Groan!). Attractions included some terrifyingly named slides such as the kamikaze and the body ski, which are not for the faint- hearted, but us gentler souls were also well catered for with the wave pool and jacuzzi areas. This is the first time I have been to Aqua Park for about ten years, and vast improvements have been made since then. The staff are helpful and friendly (strange but true), and a lot of emphasis is placed on the safety and comfort of the visitors. There is also now a games arcade, mini-golf and rock climbing wall to add to the fun, plus a café-bar so you can keep refreshed throughout the day. The park obviously gets packed during the summer season, but there is still plenty of room to spread out, hire a few sunbeds and relax by the pool while the children enjoy the facilities. Do remember to pack plenty of high factor sun tan lotion. Although there are plenty of shady areas, the children will probably want to spend 90% of the time on the slides. We had a great day out, and miraculously there were no tears, no arguments and most importantly no sunburn! The park is open from 10am-7pm in July and August, and until 6pm in the Spring and Autumn. To get there from Marbella direction, exit the N-340 just after Dunnes Stores on the left. Aqua Park is here on the right hand side.

Andy´s Beach - a great place to unwind

One of the best beach bars on the Costa del Sol is Andy´s at Puerto Cabopino. Not only is the beach here protected from the wind, but the sand is white and the water is shallow – making this the ideal place for children to swim and play.
Having lived and worked in Cabopino for 6 years, I know the area well and of all the bars in and around the marina, the most popular and well established beach bar is Andy´s – which is one of only two on the beach here.
After soaking up the sun for a few hours, and perhaps taking a dip in the sea, Andy´s offers a refuge to eat, drink and be merry while still overlooking the Mediterranean and the white sands leading to the sea. We normally spend the morning wandering around the marina looking at the boats, then relax on the beach in the afternoon and go to Andy´s for late lunch or some sundowners – depending on the time of year.
Many beach bars are similar in both appearance, atmosphere and menus, but Andy´s is different. The bar opens from 9am and is the perfect place to stop for breakfast. When I lived close to Cabopino, I used to walk my dog down the beach early morning and stop at Andy´s for a coffee and tostada before work. Even at that time in the morning the staff are friendly and chatty – which can be quite a novelty in these parts.
The choice of food on the menus is incredible, and although Andy´s caters to thousands of tourists and ex-pats, it still maintains its Spanish charm, and also offers many typical Andalucian specialities such as gazpacho, a superb range of tapas and boquerones fritos.
The atmosphere is very relaxed and this place is a throw-back to the late 80´s when beach bars on the Costa del Sol were cheap, fun and relaxing – not fine dining restaurants which many of them now purport to be – and whose owners reflect it in their ever increasing prices. It is normal here for customers to sit at the bar in swimwear, enjoy a few cold beers or sit on the deck for lunch without having to dress up.
When our friends visit from the UK, their favourite place to go is Andy´s and they always receive a warm welcome. At around 11am the chilled tapas display is filled up with fresh dishes of the day, often including the superb mussels vinaigrette, seafood salad, home-made tortilla, and boquerones en vinagre, to name but a few. There is nothing better than sitting next to the beach, sharing a jug of sangria, a plate of olives or tapas, and watching the world go by.
Although very busy in July and August, when visitors come from far and wide, the service at Andy´s is always fantastic, and you never have to wait long for food and drinks. Something we find essential when visiting beach bars with my young nieces, who have no patience whatsoever.
The great music also makes it stand out from the average bar of its kind, and although the music is not intrusive, it adds to the magical atmosphere of Cabopino Beach. Sunbeds and parasols can also be hired right in front of the bar, so you never need move far all day. Water sports facilities are also available in front of the bar.
At lunchtime, the bar gets busier as families troop off the beach for snacks and refreshments. Some fabulous fish is offered including sole, large prawns, squid, rosada and almejas, which are all served with salad or potatoes. Lighter meals include a vast selection of sandwiches and toasties including the fabulous club sandwich with bacon, chicken, salad, mayonnaise and cheese, and the more refined smoked salmon and cucumber. Everything imaginable is available on the kids menu, including hot dogs, beef burgers and spaghetti bolognaise or smaller portions of the adult meals.
We are lucky that our kids enjoy most of the things we like so there is never anything left over from the seafood paella and plates of fresh clams that we normally order. A great choice of ice creams and desserts are also available for afters, and the wine list and bar menu is extensive. From fresh juices, to cocktails, to jugs of sangria and even John Smith´s bitter, Andy´s has it all.
There is no set closing time at this beach bar, and we have been known to still be here at midnight listening to live Spanish guitar music -depending on the season. What you see at Andy´s is what you get, and it has no delusions of grandeur. This is beach bar simplicity at its best. Great food, great music , great staff and an unbeatable location by the sea. Andy´s is a family run business, and has been established at Cabopino for over 20 years. Whether you are new to Cabopino or a regular visitor, you will always find a warm welcome at Andy´s Beach Bar.
How to get there: From Marbella direction take the N-340 east in the direction of Calahonda. Pass Elviria exit and carry on past Las Chapas exit. Exit the road at the sign for Cabopino. At roundabout head downhill towards the port. Take the first turn on the right over the sand dunes to the parking area. Andy´s is here.
Open from: March to November.
Telephone: 0034 95 211 3826.

A great day out in La Cala de Mijas

Having lived here a long time, sometimes I don´t see the wood for the trees, and completely ignore some of the lively resorts on the doorstep. La Cala de Mijas is one of these, and offers far more than meets the eye. I have a friend staying from the UK and as we didn´t want to drive far yesterday and I live in Mijas-Golf we ventured down the back road to La Cala. We decided to spend a few hours on the beach before lunch (yes Hurricane Bertha did blow up as soon as we hired the sunbeds) but hey, it all added to the fun. So as we lay in a sandstorm soaking up the rays, covered in sand and sun oil, we decided to hot-foot it to ´Food to Go´ just on the corner by the tower. We ordered some delicious baguettes with swedish prawns and dill mayonnaise, cheddar ploughmans and a couple of cold drinks and crisps and, with typical British grit, headed back to the beach. After erecting a makeshift wind barrier, we managed to eat our lunch in relative comfort, although the sand made it a bit gritty in parts. After a quick paddle (had to be done as my friend said you can´t go to the seaside and not have a paddle), we decided to head for home before the gathering storm clouds broke. Ok ok so maybe it did resemble Skegness on a good day, but La Cala, when the sun is out is one of the best little resorts on the coast. Honest!