Remember last August when my friend Manolo offered me the use of his lovely apartment in Málaga? Nog and I spent a fabulous week there and I really fell in love with the city. I’ve been wanting to go back ever since and was especially hoping to make it there during the Christmas season as I hear they really do it up nicely in Málaga – I’m a total Christmas fool and lover of pretty fairy lights and all such festive sparkliness. But it turns out that Manolo, who lives in Seville, has been using his Málaga apartment a lot more of late and so it isn’t as available for friends as it once was. But then it turned out that there is another option …
For the past few years I’ve been helping Manolo rent out one of his family’s holiday apartments in Marbella. And a couple of weeks ago Manolo called me and said that, because of The Crisis, and that the place has been empty most of this season, that I should feel free to use it anytime I wanted. It’s a small one-bedroom place not far from the centre of Marbella, right on the beach … but you know, it’s in Marbella. Meh.
When Jessica was over for dinner the weekend before last we were talking about this chance of going away for the four-day long weekend (December 5-8th), since a free apartment was available. At the time I was saying how this would be difficult if not impossible because I couldn’t leave Sunny alone that long, even if Nieves from next door came over once a day to check up on him. And so Jessica offered to come and stay over here for those four days. She’s not very comfortable where she is living right now (with a very “couply” couple), so this would’ve also given her a bit of a holiday before she goes home to France … she could hang out here, watch dvd’s, cook to her heart’s content and have a cat to cuddle (weirdly her cat at home, Chloe, is almost the spitting image of Azar! but with smaller ears…). And even though Sunny is gone now, I’d feel much more comfortable knowing someone was staying with Azar.
And so … wondering what to do. Okay, if I had my druthers I’d be getting on a plane to Marrakesh or London. I’ve been to Marbella a couple of times before and didn’t really like it, though it does have a pretty old town centre. But hey, it’s a free holiday other than busfare and tapas, and I think it would be nice to get away for a few days, especially as I have someone who is happy to come and stay with Azar. Bonus points for Marbella are that a Marks & Spencer has recently opened there (mince pies!!!) and it’s just a short bus ride to Málaga, so I should also be able to spend at least one day there.
Given that my next PET scan is in January, and who knows what will turn up with that, I think I should go for it. I mean, isn’t that what credit cards are for?
What do you think?
casa azahar 
I’d say go for it, but then, I always do!
My grandmother gave me one piece of excellent advice when she said that the only things she ever really regretted were the things she DIDN’T do in her life.
🙂
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Go girl, go! Do that M&S thing and get mince pied out. Just wish I could come with you. Am gearing up to silly season at the cafe so going nowhere (except Brighton this weekend actually so should be happy and grateful, even if its not Spain with my dear friend). Have a lovely, lovely time. Big hug. xxx
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Dear me – Marbella vs. London?? With the weather as it is surely there isn’t a question there?
Marbella of course! Say hi to the mince pies for me.
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Well, London isn’t actually an option because of airfare and accommodation costs. And in fact, after today the weather forecast looks about the same for here and London for the next week – brrr! It’s also supposed to RAIN here for several days, so looks like I’ll finally have to start wearing shoes.
I guess that’s another factor though. If it’s going to be rainy and cold in Marbella the weekend after next then we’ll probably just stay home. There’ll be another chance to go over the Christmas holidays, but we wouldn’t have a live-in cat sitter then as Jessica is going back to France until February.
When the weather is nice long beach walks in winter are even better than in summer – fewer people. Though I wouldn’t be dipping my toes in the Mediterranean this time…
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Ah, crud, I always say Go For It, too. Here’s the thing: You get to spend a day in Malaga, even if you don’t really care about Marbella, and it’s almost a freebie! Don’t eat out for every meal, how much can it cost?
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Tru dat. With an apartment I reckon maybe one meal out a day. We mostly did that in Málaga last August until the last 2-3 days when I was suddenly told about a bunch of fab tapas bars via Twitter and really wanted to check them out.
Apparently there are no fab tapas bars in Marbella, though there are a few good restaurants. So it would be brekky “at home”, then one meal out (either lunch or dinner) and otherwise just snacks. Bread & cheese & wine … and whatever great M&S treats we find.
Shame we can’t stay in Málaga…
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It’s a no brainer… Marrakesh!
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Oh, I wish! Unfortunately that would include airfare and hotel costs that I seriously cannot afford. Even with just having to pay for bus tickets and food for the weekend in Marbella I’ll be having to justify using my credit card (which I always think I should save for emergencies).
But one day…
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You will make the right decision, and if the weather is going to be awful maybe you would be happier staying at home. There will be another cat sitter available when you need one.
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Now I’m reconsidering and – if the apartment is still available – might prefer to go down for a couple of days during the week between Christmas and New Year. I think it would be okay just getting a neighbour to check in on Azar once a day, to make sure he’s got fresh water and scoop out the litter box. And yes, a lot of it will depend on the weather. If it’s cold and rainy I’d just as soon be at home.
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Really. What is the point of being at the beach if it is cold and rainy?
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Update. Turns out that Jessica is interested in coming with us – AND she has a driving license – so that means we could rent a car between the three of us, which would end up cheaper and much more convenient than taking trains/buses. So I’m going to check out rental prices and then it will mostly depend on the weather. I’ve checked with my next door neighbour Nieves and she is going to be in town that weekend and says she wouldn’t mind checking in on Azar while we’re away. I think he’ll be okay on his own, especially as Nog and I are the only people he’ll allow near him, so he’ll probably just sleep a lot. And if anything happens we’re just a couple of hours away.
So this is kind of exciting. There is actually a lot to see near Marbella, little villages and what not, but you really need a car to get around there. And of course Málaga is just a short drive away. It will be a totally different holiday with Jessica and having our own transportation – make for a nice change, I think.
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