Three ways of approaching the same place in different times

 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 as incompetent. To do so twice makes you wonder what people get taught at school these days. Mind you, they would have got away with a £10 nokia phone which made the whole thing worthwhile,

We are leaving Benalmadena and going up to the cliff tops and so back to the N-340 in its busy seaside phase.  We came here once. We had moved to the point where the son and heir was old enough to warrant a room of his own. We found a flat in one of the many, many blocks just a little back from the sea. The Playa de Torre Vigia.  On the first day we ate at Restaurante La Cala. Let us look in on it.

La Cala gets 4.4 stars from 6571 reviews. https://lacalabenalmadena.com/   Three days ago Rebeca hit on one of the key points.  ‘Spectacular views, excellent quality food, superb service, and an ideal location. Highly recommended.’  Raul, three weeks ago, thought ‘It's already February, the countdown is on to enjoy an iconic and excellent spot on the coast, where we enjoyed a great day at the beach and lunch, always recommended by our friend Gino, a true professional!’

Afterwards we found a local place that did menu del dia. I am not sure but I think it has subsequently closed.

The Playa de Torre Vigia is small and, in October, fairly empty. It is a place that you can slowly watch the sun set and twilight end about nine - when it was still warm enough to be in the sea.  It has 112 reviews and 4.3 stars. Yesterday Lee wrote it is a ‘A quiet and beautiful place’   I suspect that this is a beach for spring or autumn.  Late last summer Roberto wrote ‘The beach itself is quite poor. Almost entirely made of rocks, and the sand is coarse and dark. There was a lot of seaweed, which gave the place an unpleasant smell. To make matters worse, there's a restaurant that dominates the area and plays loud music. I'd give it a 2 for the beach itself, but the positive point is that it has a very pleasant boardwalk along the seafront.’ I don’t remember the smell or the seaweed on all three times I have been there but I think it could get crowded.

And so to the Casino Torrequebrada. It stood proud and certainly out of our price range as we headed down to the beach or the bus back in the days when we holidayed with a not so small boy. Fast forward a coach load of people, rather glad they had left Tenerife and were somewhat bemusingly heading out of Malaga and heading west.  It stopped. At the Casino Torrequebrada.  And so we ended up in rooms at 3am and both slightly giggly with ‘it’s here’ and very glad to have come to an end.

The next day was spent eating, swimming and engaged in a little mild pottering.  A few years later the two of us returned. I think it must have gone down market after Covid as we could afford it.  

We might as well bed down here.