Chapter 21: Fuengirola - Part 2

Last time on Briton in the Sun: I crossed the border into Spain, to meet my mate Ewan in Fuengirola, for the weekend. After checking into my hotel, I went out to source a bar, for us to watch the quarter final of the Rugby World Cup at. This is where we pick up the story.

Me in Fuengirola

I met Ewan and his partner Dawn in Max's bar, the nearest bar to my hotel, but chosen because it was quiet and we could get a seat near the TV. It was a lovely warm evening, and our table and the TV were outside on the pedestrianised street. We got some drinks, and Ewan gave me my bank card that he had couriered for me from the UK. Brilliant, I could now pay my hotel bill! After catching up with them both, we got down to watching the game. It was an exciting game, with both sides looking well matched.

Max's bar is located at the sign
that the red arrow is pointing to.

At half time some street sellers came by our table, selling fake football tops, fake watches, and a captain's hat. We said no thanks, but a guy came rushing out the bar opposite and asked for the captain's hat. The seller asked for 15 euros for the hat, but the guy gave him 20 euros. Ewan and I thought the guy had paid well over the odds for the hat, and we started discussing what the market value of such a product was. By this stage another seller had come by, and Ewan was determined to buy me a captain's hat for 5 euros. After quite a bit of haggling, he had moved the seller from 15 euros to 5 euros, and I was the proud owner of a captain's hat. After a photo opportunity with the captain's hat, Ewan decided he needed one himself. So I offered to try my haggling power. The seller that came by next was a tougher customer (or salesman should I say). While I got him down from 15 euros, he was keen to stick at 10 euros. I didn't have that much cash on me, so it wasn't an option I told him. He was about to move on when I said "6 euros", finding a euro coin in my pocket. I tried the strategy of putting the 6 euro in his hand, and he reluctantly accepted. At first he gave Ewan a child's size, but when we said it didn't fit, the salesman gave him a bigger one. As he left our table, Ewan and I were quite impressed with our haggling skills, and felt we had got a bargain. All we needed now was a boat!

Aye Aye Captain!

As the second half wore on, Ireland looked under pressure, with New Zealand stamping their authority on the game. This culminated with an intense period of play at the end of the match (where New Zealand defended 37 phases of Irish attacks - a bit detail for rugby fans) ending in a New Zealand victory. With Ireland dropping out of the World Cup, this silenced the Irish bars (and English bars). Dawn and Ewan needed to get back to the resort they were staying at, but I still felt a bit hungry, so I wandered down in the direction of the beach, searching for a grocery shop, or take away. I saw a MacDonald's with tables on the beach. I wouldn't normally cross a road for a MacDonald's, but the novelty of having a MacDonald's on the beach appealed to me, so I ordered a hamburger and a water, and sat at a table by the beach, watching the evening go buy. As I noticed on my night out in La Linea, there were a lot more people out and about, compared to in Gibraltar. I was also surprised that there were a lot of kids out at night, and there seemed to be far more of a family atmosphere, particularly compared to a Saturday night in the UK (which in some UK cities can be like a warzone after the sun goes down!).

MacDonald's outdoor seating, where
I enjoyed a burger, the night before.

The next morning, after a free breakfast at the hotel, I met Ewan, Dawn and their kid Hannah (who was calling herself Princess Fire). It was a lovely day for mid-October, so we headed down to the beach. The beach was quite busy with sunbathers an swimmers, and walking along a bit further we came to a boardwalk. Here there was a definite photo opportunity. A big straw heart, with a ribbon tied across it, reading Fuengirola, in a variation on the 'I Love New York' T-shirts.

We loved Fuengirola!

The boardwalk led to rocks, which people were fishing from. The rocks had formed a large pool. This was full of tiny fish, and people were catching them with nets. One girl who had been sunbathing on the rocks jumped in to try to catch one of the fish. The whole atmosphere was strangely hypnotic. Sitting there by the beach, I felt I could have stayed there forever. I guess that's what causes the famous Spanish philosophy of Manana!

Work Manana!

It was getting towards lunch time, so we started looking for somewhere to eat. We passed a shop which I noticed was selling captain hats. These were priced at 5 euros. Ewan and I had thought we got a great deal, but we only paid around the market value. The restaurant we had lunch in though was a genuine bargain. 3 courses for 10 euros. After lunch there was just time for us to explore the main square, and let Hannah (sorry Princess Fire), run about and tire herself out for her afternoon nap. Then all to quickly, it was time for me to say my goodbyes, and get back on the bus to La Linea.

The main square called Plaza de la Constitución

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