The Road from Santiago

  We are walking along the seafront without a care in our hearts.  I have just remembered that I meant to mention the world’s worst attempt at pick pocketing, which occurred in Malaga. Picture the scene, a mum, a dad and boy - sitting on his father’s shoulders.  We are crossing the river when someone brushes by.  I say someone brushes by because it feels more like a grab.  Now, while I have the legs of a god, and not one of those strange half animal ones, they were disguised well by a pair of combatish trousers with velcroed pockets so I felt this wasn’t someone over come with less than well placed desire. I shifted, they were unsuccessful. I registered the failed pickpocket.  Never mind hey. Time to move on.  OK, turn back and change direction.  A minute later they tried again with the same totally lack in skill or artistry.  This time herself got out her phone and went to take pictures and they fled the scene. To fail badly once can be seen...

    We are going to wander along the seafront of Torremolinos. It is why people come here, that and the associated cafes et al.  We will sample them as we go. First to Eden Chiringuito. It has a pride flag and a black and white photo by it.  It says it is LGTBQI+ friendly.  https://edentorremolinos.com/   The key words are beach 246, hammock, 47, deckchairs 34, LGBTQ 19, Gay 16, sun beds 16.  A couple of picks. Beach - Mimo five months ago. Fun beach club, mostly attracting a gay/queer crowd and with vibes going from more chill to more party-like towards the evening (at least on the weekend). Food was also quite nice and the staff mostly very friendly and helpful. Hammock - Roy Very posh.  Lots of sexy men.  A bit disappointed that staff didn’t come to check in to see if I wanted a beer or something to eat.  Left me me feeling a bit unimportant to the staff.  Very comfortable hamacas . Beautiful posh private beach area   Very...

  My father in law declared I was the only Englishman never to have been to Spain. The Spain all the others had gone to could be represented by Torremolinos. So we will put that wrong right. A place so famous it appeared in a Monty Python sketch. Repeat after me - in an Eric Idle sort of way, ‘Torremolinos! Torremolinos!’ The windmills which gave the town its name were built about 1300 - and the defensive tower came from the same time. This was a bit useful as North African raiders continued to bother the area till the 18th century, when the Anglo-Dutch took over and almost completely destroyed the place. Apparently British visitors started turning up from 1928. In the 50s the celebs joined them. Just people as Ava Gardener, Orson Welles and Frank Sinatra could be found as could, from 1959, the Art Deco Hotel Pez Espada. The 60s saw the growth of mass tourism, worthy of a Python reference. The housing stock is an odd mix of the new and the now, oldish. We will pass a Burger Kin...