Fuengirola is so well known that I wasn’t sure what I could usefully add to all the information available on the net! So these brief notes are about what Fuengirola means to me.
I live about 12 kms inland near Mijas pueblo and Fuengi (yes a lot of Brits do call it that). We have an English speaking private doctor there (360 Euros PA for the family and as many visits to the surgery as you need), an exceptional English speaking dentist, Bookworld España (less important now that www.Amazon.com exists but still useful and we love the book signings by famous authors including Eddie Richardson of torture game fame, Martina Cole and Xaviera Hollander, the 'Happy Hooker'), English breakfast on the sea front, buying English language magazines in the news agents and so on…..
A lot of people who move to Spain and other countries want to integrate, want to belong to their new culture. That is admirable but you can’t change who you are. Instead of giving up everything from where you came from, moving should add something to your life! Yes we all enjoy olive oil on our toast and a gitano roll for breakfast but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also enjoy bacon and eggs from time to time! More choice, more experiences is what it is all about.
OK, getting off my soap box and back to Fuengirola. The town has an excellent choice of restaurants of every type and at every price point so when the novelty of an all-day English breakfast has worn off there are Chinese, Greek, Dutch and German restaurants as well as excellent Spanish and “international” establishments, buffets and of course a couple of fish and chip shops to go with the superb local sea food served in the beach chiringuitos. To get a real feel of the choice take a walk down Fish Alley” and see what is on offer. Talking of alley's you won't see the name up anywhere but the photo of my son skating was taken in "Sin Alley". No explanation needed!
The shopping in the town, on the front and in the new shopping centers out on the ring road is good but the most popular place to go is the enormous Tuesday market. Almost as popular is the Saturday morning carboot sale which brings out the characters as well as the bargain sellers and hunters. Unmissable for people watching as much as anything else.
The main attraction of the town are the beaches which are superb but they are well enough known to need no further mention. Less well known is the Salon Verities amateur theatre in the centre of town. I’ve seen some wonderful shows there and some less wonderful but it’s always a great night out and the standard is good.
Finally there is the Castle, scene of a famous Polish victory over the British in the early 19th Century. Not as dramatic as some further inland but a nice place to visit for all of that.
Fuengirola has it’s detractors. It’s not the 'Real Spain' to be sure but it is a comfortable, friendly, entertaining place to live where you will never be bored. And don’t tell the locals they aren’t part of the 'Real Spain' because they take their Easter Parades, Feria and Romaria as seriously as anywhere in the country.
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