2000 okt

After 3 week 'Dutch' Holidays in 2000, we decided to try to some sunshine anyway. Standard requirement: sunshine, pool, childfriendly. Our travel agency came up with 'Los Fuentes de Nerja' in Nerja, Andalucia, Spain.

Preparations

Some site views:

	Suncyber
	tuspain

Nerja is about 50 km west from Malaga, the airport. Five kilometres to the west of Malaga, you will find Torremolinos, the dutch enclave of loud and disorderly drunk dutch youth during the summer holidays (Sex, Drugs and Rock&Roll). Nerja is the complete opposite, it's the hibernation resort for (mostly) English elderly, who let their appartments to tourist during the summer and late summer.

The actual holidays

So, in october it usually rains for about 4 days, in total and >>never<< in a row. When we arrived at saturday (we took off on 03.00h and arrived at about 11h at our destination, Fuentes de Nerja. the weather was clouded and rainy but still had some sunshine later that day. Sunday, monday, tuesday, wednesday we had more rain, so actually we were part of an historical event: 5 days of rain in a row. I must however add that the temperature was ok, 23 C all the time and in between the rain we walked (and shopped) a lot, the plan of sitting next to the pool however was not executed. On thursday and friday we finally got the weather we paid for (grin). The water of the pool however was freezing cold, which did however not stop Marijne to swim all day.

On Food / Restaurants in Nerja

Most restaurants are tourist restaurants, serving nothing special, actually serving all the same menu. There are however a few 'real' restaurants. In addition, you will find Indian restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Italian restaurants, etc. (I didn't find a Japanese restaurant though). The pricing is very reasonable (mind the dutch understatement, actually it's cheap).

On 'Fuentes de Nerja'

Fuentas de Nerja is the name of the complex we stayed. As you may see from the pictures, the complex is not completely sold off. As a matter of facts, the most attractive appartments are not just uninhabited, they are ravaged. What happened was that by the time the appartments were delivered to their buyers, the projectgroup and the landowner got into a ownership/money-conflict. At that very moment the most attrative appartments had still to be delivered. However, at a legale dispute, further building (and delivering) has to be postponed according Spanish law. So there you are, you propably spent 150.000 Euro for an appartment, that is nearly finished but is still not yours. Things even went worse as the projectgroup (who got the money in advance from the buyers) went bankrupt. So: there is no money to pay the landowner and no money to finish the appartment, and stronger, it's not clear whether you are actually the owner as the builder went bankrupts and has not been delivered to the buyers yet while the the ownership of the appartment is unclear (the bankrupt projectgroup / landowner / ?). Salient detail is the fact the project owner is British while the landowner is Spanish (maybe some overlooked minor spanish legal items?).

On Nerja (not in the official guides)

An interesting fact was told to me by a (foreign) guy who lived in Nerja for over 15 years: most of the ground (and propably business) is owned by a gipsy family. They actually don't sell the ground, but some kind of lease it to project developers.

The town is clean and well facilitated with shops, restaurants and everything you need. One out every three shops is a appartment-reseller.

Near the beach, there are a number of Cyber-cafe's (Med Web cafe, next to Fuentes de Nerja, is very good one) in case you want to surf for weather forecast and read/send some mail.

In the forth coming years a boulevard will be build along the shore. We witnessed lots of building activity near the beach.

Some general information:

We stayed near '5' (look at the map just above here).

Tips & tricks

	Market on Tuesdaymorning near the Ecoahorra Supermarket (No. 10 on the map above). Watch out for pickpocketing (we were witness of a female thief right in front of our noses, she was caught but got away in the crowd).
	If you take the road from '12' (near the 'European Balcony' (5), to the north you will find a English/German/Dutch/French second hand bookshop, handy if you want to read something.
	If you take the road between 8/12 towards 18 (north) you will find a decent toyshop. Not much compared to Amsterdam standards, but hey, when you have 5 days of rain, you are satisfied very fast.
	As one out of every three shops is an estate agent you might be tempted to buy an apparment. Be warned, these estate agents are usually not certified and usually 'in it for the money'. As you are propably not aware of Spanish laws and other things required when buying a house, you better look for a consultant (your embassy?) to help you. See my story on 'Fuentes de Nerja'.

BANKS / HOURS OF OPENING TO THE PUBLIC

Banks / Bancos, Monday to Friday 8.30 to 14.00, Saturday (only in winter) 8.30 - 14.00. Savings Banks / Cajas de Ahorros, Monday to Friday, 8.30 to 14.00. Each bank may have different opening hours.

THE POST OFFICE / CORREOS

The Post Office in Nerja is in Calle Cristo 6, open Monday to Friday 8.30 to 14.00. Saturday 9.30 to 13.00.

PHONE NUMBERS

	Outpatients Clinic, Nerja 252313
	Police Station in Malaga 2317100
	Police Station in Torre del Mar 2542000

RESTAURANTS/BARS

	Albi, Edf. Balcon de Europa. Tel: 2521682 Jardin,
	C/. Pescia, Bus Station. Tel: 2523800 La Habana,
	Plaza Tutti Frutti. Tel: 2525271
	BAR DE TAPAS, Bodega Los Bilbainos,C/. Alejandro Bueno, 8. Tel: 2521194
	FLAMENCO, Restaurante El Colono, C/. Granada 6. Tel: 2521826

PLACES TO VISIT

	CUEVA DE NERJA , Ctra. de la Cueva, s/n. 29780 Nerja 3 Km. Open Monday -Sunday, 10.30-14.00 / 15.30-18.00. Price 500 pts. Children up to 12 years 300 pts. Tel: 2528520 Fax: 2529646. Natural archaeological cave containing the world's widest column shaped by the merge of a stalactite and a stalagmite. Guiness Record 1989.
	BALCON DE EUROPA . Once a fortress in the 9th century. Now a beautiful balcony overlooking the sea with impressive views of the coast.
	PASEO DE LOS CARABINEROS. Beautiful promenade situated in a natural rock landscape bordering the coast from the Beach of Calahonda to the Beach of Carabeillo.
	ERMITA DE LAS ANGUSTIAS . XVll century chapel with paintings of pure Granada style on the cupola.
	IGLESIA EL SALVADOR. XV11 century church of a charming Baroque-Mudejar style.
	IGLESIA SAN MIGUEL . Modern church of 1977 in popular style.
	JARDINES URB. CAPISTRANO PLAYA . Lakes and gardens of great beauty and originality descending to Burriana Beach.
	CENTRO HISTORICO DE NERJA. Old quarter of the village built in 1487 with narrow streets and white facades.
	MARO . Nice Andalucian pueblo surrounded by rich orchards, called Detunda in the Roman period.
	IGLESIA MARAVILLAS DE MARO . Small XlX century church of popular style.
	PUENTE DEL AGUILA XlX century aqueduct built to transfer water to Maro's Sugar factory.
	RAPTO DE EUROPA. Monument erected by the sculptor Aurelio Teno on the occasion of the adhesion of Spain to the EEC
	FRIGILIANA . Picturesque Andalucian village in the Sierra Almijara where you can taste the delicious vino del terreno (sweet wine) and Choto (goat kid).