Muy Bonito Marbella!

My visit to Marbella was a very pleasant surprise! Located on the Costa Del Sol, I must admit that I’d expected the city to be full of tourists and lacking in character. I’m pleased to confirm that this is not the case at all!

I arrived in the evening and was delighted to find the sun still shining. The taxi ride from the bus station to the school provided a ‘mini’ city tour, and after depositing my luggage in one of the on-site apartments, I set out eager to explore.

The school is located just five minutes’ walk from the beach, and I soon found myself strolling along the promenade in the evening sunshine. The seafront is lined with bars, restaurants and ice cream parlours (yum!), and I was in good company as I meandered along the shore. Holidaymakers and locals young and old were also taking advantage of the pleasant evening, and the place buzzed. Even though I was alone, it was impossible to feel lonely! The hum of conversation and the aroma of fresh fish being barbecued on the beach made this one of my favourite places to relax during my time in Marbella.

The next morning, my journey from the shared apartment to the school took less than three minutes (ideal if you’ve made the most of Marbella’s clubs and bars the night before!). Housed in a modern building, the school boasts light and airy classrooms and a large Internet area, which students can use free of charge. Everyone was incredibly friendly and the staff were on hand to answer any questions and provide information and maps of the city.

Following morning classes, I had an afternoon to spend at leisure. I was lucky enough to be in Marbella during the Feria, a colourful festival of music, flamenco dancing, food and drink. At around 2 o’clock in the afternoon there were people dancing in the streets, singing, chatting, and enjoying delicious paella and other traditional foods available from the specially constructed stalls.

After soaking up the atmosphere, I decided to take a bus to Puerto Banus. A return ticket was a little over 2 Euros, and the journey only took approximately 15 minutes. Renowned as being a playground for the rich and richer, I quickly donned my oversized sunglasses and tried to saunter in an aloof manner. Unfortunately I somewhat ruined the illusion by taking snapshots of the huge yachts and drooling in front of the windows of the designer stores!

On my return to Marbella I spent the rest of the afternoon sun worshipping on the pristine beach, before heading out for the evening. I’d briefly walked through the historic centre during the day but had decided to save a proper visit until the evening. I was utterly charmed by the narrow twisting streets, white houses adorned with colourful flowers, and large open squares accommodating pavement cafes. One of my favourite things about the Spanish way of life is the siesta, and the fact that the shops are open later as a result! It was lovely to casually wander, popping in and out of shops selling a wide variety of goods.

Unfortunately, my visit to Marbella was only a short one but I tried to pack in as much as I possibly could. There was so much that I didn’t get to see, and I’m very much looking forward to visiting again in the future. Its proximity to Malaga also makes it a convenient location to travel to. My pre-conceptions were totally disproved – with its white sandy beaches, sunny climate, beautiful historic centre and great nightlife, Marbella has much to offer.

Amber