Author Archives: Louise Hazleden

Caminito del Rey

El Caminito del Rey is located in the Desfiladero de Los Gaitanes Natural Park, crossing the municipalities of Álora, Ardales and Antequera. Once regarded as a highly dangerous walkway, it is now one of Spain´s most popular tourist attractions. An Ariel trail 3 km in width and approximately 1 metre wide. One of the most photographed and nerve wracking parts of the trail being the hanging walkway which suspends 100 metres above the river.

The original structure dates back to 1901. Built for the workers on the hydroelectric power plants at Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls, to pass materials to and fro. In 1921 King Alfonso XIII traveled to the sight and walked a small bridge for the inauguration of the Conde del Guadalhorce dam. Since this historic day the path was named Caminito del Rey, The King´s Little Path. Over the years the path deteriorated and eventually closed as deemed unsafe. The site continued to be used by ambitious rock climbers. at their own peril.

Hanging walkway above the Guadalhorce river

With the agreement on shared funding by the regional government of Andalusia and the local government of Málaga, Camino del Rey was completely renovated and reopened in 2015. Today it offers visitors a delightful walk with breathtaking views, tracing the Falls along the river Guadalhorce. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Sierra de Ronda and Antequera, the spectacular 7.7 km linear nature walk takes approximately 2.5 hours, with areas to stop and take in the scenes.

We highly recommend this activity to discover the beauty of Andalucia. Tickets are on sale on the Caminito Del Rey´s official website: https://www.caminitodelrey.info/en. Entrance fees start at 10€. The activity is not suitable for children under 8 years of age. The new tourist centre is to open imminently which will offer parking, bus transfers and restaurant facilities.

7 Top tips for selling your property on the Costa del Sol

The Real Estate market is a competitive business. If you have a property to sell you need to stand out from the crowd. First impressions count, and creating a wow factor in those early moments is paramount. Whether your buyer is pulling up by the front gate, entering through a front garden or drive way, or walking directly through the front door, those early moments need to spark joy. Buyers get a feeling as soon as they enter a property, you need your property to omit the good vibe feelings. Here we discuss 7 proven steps to help you achieve it.

Declutter

One of the first visual impacts will be the brightness and the space available. By removing unnecessary pieces of furniture and small decoration you maximize the potential of these aspects: light and space. Minimalism is popular in interior design and this style can go a long way, it will help your potential buyer envisage living in the property. Cluttered shelves and busy walls can detract the buyers from appreciating the size of the rooms and views. Give each room a clear purpose, if there is a room where you tend to store everything turn it into an office or study.

Decorating & Fix Up

Walls that are marked and wobbly door handles, leaking taps or dripping toilets. We can get complacent with small imperfections. Those little jobs that you may have been putting off need to get fixed. A fresh lick of paint can help brighten up a room. Make sure all the lights are working – replace light bulbs where necessary. All these details avoids that your buyer is counting what needs to be done around the property. If you have a terrace: keep on top of the weeding. If your property has a garden: be sure that it too is neat and tidy. Fixing small DIY problems can avoid that the buyers conclude that it is a tired or an old property. A property needing too much work can put buyers off.

Home Staging

Want a show home effect; well this is what you can achieve with some professional home staging. Whether it is moving around existing furniture and changing small details to give the property a fresher look. Or setting a workable budget and purchasing furniture and decoration to update the properties overall feel . A home stager will guide you on up to date trends attractive to buyers.

Spick and Span

When a prospective buyer walks into your property you want to be sure that there is a freshness in the air, that makes them want to stay. Have regular deep cleans and ventilate the property as best as possible, especially during the winter months. Marble floors can look tried and dull, turn them around with professionally floor polish company that can bring back the shine. Think about having the upholstery cleaned to give it a new lease of life.

Professional Realtor

Entrusting a professional Real Estate agent is paramount to the success of selling your home. With their knowledge and experience of the local property market your Real Estate agent can guide you on the correct price to market your property. Real estate agents can provide professional photography and strategically market your property to a local and international market. Furthermore when your Real Estate agent has a viewing at your property they will arrive in advance, open up the property, ensure the best presentation, be informative and ready to answer any questions.

Electrical Appliances

If the boiler is not working well or the electricity trips when you overload the system, it is worth having these issues resolved. These costs might add up, if you can demonstrate to the buyer you just invested in a new appliance it can only add value in the mind of the buyer. You don’t want to sell something that is broken in parts. Having a property that is fully functioning is as important as how the property looks. Don’t hide any flaws. When you have an interested buyer they would likely come back, or ask their agent, to revise that everything is in good working order.

Get the Price Right

If your property is priced too high with comparable properties, you will miss out on property viewings. Property buyers are well researched on the market having access to hundreds of pages of property listings on the web. The price factor can make or break your selling opportunity especially in a seasonal market where buyers are not consistent. Your experienced Property Consultant can guide you best on the current real estate market.

Everyone loves a Chiringuito.

It’s lunch time on a sunny day in Marbella, what better way to enjoy the afternoon than to head down to your favorite Chiringuito. For those that haven’t heard the word Chiringuito or are not sure what exactly it means; Chiringuito means a place to rest in the shade. Chiringuitos are establishments located on the beach and can typically be of a modest structure where you can drink and eat.

Along the 30km stretch of Marbella´s beaches there are over 70 chiringuitos. The ambiance of a Chiringuito can vary from one to another; some in keeping with a traditional rustic style or even as basic as plastic chairs and tables : where the focus is on quality food at realistic prices in a simple setting on the beach. At the other end of the spectrum there are fine establishments that have created a hip and happening atmosphere with trendy interior design, live music or DJ sessions, where the music tempo increases as the day hots up then cools back down for sunset.

**Fish cooked over coal at Guayaba beach, Linda Vista Playa, San Pedro**

Being a prime beach location the principal cuisine revolves around tasty fish dishes, however a good selection of meat is often available too. The most authentic and most popular dishes at a Chiringuito are fried fish dishes, typical to southern Spain and originating in Cadiz. Such as Calamari Fritos and Boquerón’s al Limon. Another fish dish to look out for is the Malagueña, which is a plate of mixed fish fried – definitely a dish to share. A good old classic is Gambas al Pil Pil (sizzling garlic prawns). Many types of shell fish such as Almejas o Coquinas (small clams in an oil and garlic sauce). There is the catch of the day from wild Sea bream or Sea Bass to seasonal fish caught locally such as Rosada which is similar to cod. You will often see the fish being cooked ´La Moraga´ which is cooked over coal in a small boat, check out the Sardines al Espeto. The best time to eat Sardines is from May to August. You will find traditional Andalusian dishes such as Paella, a rice dish cooked with shell fish and white fish or meat. The Spanish way is sharing several plates; such as Ensalada de Tomato or Roasted Pepper Salad. Tomatoes are a prominent food in Andalucia and a traditional summer soup is Gazpacho – served cold with garnish. If you have any room left ask about the delicious range of deserts preferably those that are Casero (homemade) such as Arroz con Leche – a cold rice pudding, chocolate mousse or almond cake. Of course if you prefer a plate of seasonal fruit or ice-cream these are regularly on the menu.

**Classic dishes for sharing at Restaurante Las Flores, Playa Alicate**

Everyone has their favourite Chiringuito and one of ours is on the east side of Marbella in Las Chapas; Restaurante Las Flores. A family friendly Chiringuito situated right on the golden sandy beach and next to protected dunes. We are never disappointed with the food and value for money. Las Sardinales, Los Monteros Playa, is another firm favorite. The Belgium owned Restaurante Casanis Plage a little further along (Playa de Las Chapas is a popular Chiringuito with chic décor creating a fine ambiance with a live DJ sets. The food is splendid and the menu has some popular Belgium dishes too. More expensive than your average Chiringuito this is a prefect option for a splurge and special occasions.

**Catch of the day: Lubina, served at Restaurante Casanis Plage**

West Marbella a family favourite is Guayaba beach in San Pedro Alcantara, this venue is always buzzing, the tables are on the sand so leave your cares behind and get sand in your toes for chilled atmosphere and good food. Chiringuito Sol Beach in Guadalmina is a hidden gem, traditional and ideal if you fancy a quiet dinner with focus on the food. Central Marbella La Red is a popular place with the perfect location if you are town, always a good atmosphere and quality food. We also enjoy El Chiringuito which is by the sports harbor, good for large groups with children, it ticks all the boxes value for money, good food and a relaxed atmosphere.

Chiringuitos are open for lunch and most for dinner, during the high season it is highly recommended to reserve your table in advance. Not all Chiringuitos are open throughout the year and they usually close for up to a month during the winter.

El Mercadillo Organic Food Market – shopping with a natural feel good factor.

Living in Andalucía we are fortunate to embrace a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits and vegetables and with the blessed climate of southern Spain a huge variety of products can be locally sourced, meaning not picked before ripened and travelling thousands of miles to land in our shopping basket. Unfortunately there is a tendency to shop in the large supermarkets for our fruit and veg as these stores provide a convenient “one-stop-shop” yet in doing so we miss out on the advantages of local food shopping.

Organic fruits and vegetables Guadalhorce valley, Malaga province — Mediterranean diet rich in fruits and vegetables

Guadalhorce Valley, North of Malaga is considered to be one of the most fertile valleys in Spain. In 2008 a group of organic farmers and consumers from the local towns of the region came together and formed El Mercadillo, Guadalhorce ecológico. This non-profit organization comes to different towns along the coast at set weekends of the month and simply brings the producers to the consumers while supporting the production, transformation, marketing and consumption of organic products from agriculture and livestock.

El Mercadillo organic market offers a real feel good factor level of food shopping. Not only are you provided with the best quality organic product, free from artificial substances, locally grown in an artisan way meaning true to flavor and taste. It is indeed part of the experience to be meeting the local farmers, producers, bread makers, bee keepers et al whose skills have been passed down from generation to generation.

It is worth taking a note in your agenda and saving the date to make a trip to the El Mercadillo organic market when it comes to a town near you. You can find the dates detailed on their website below. The variety on offer is outstanding plus nothing beats supporting local businesses. The market makes for a pleasant mornings shopping in a friendly atmosphere with an organic coffee stall and delicious cakes on offer too. Check out www.guadalhorceecologico.org for their agenda and other relative information.

Marbella a Luxury Destination

After visiting several hot spots of the Mediterranean Sea over the past months, this beautiful sleek yacht has been anchored off the bay of Marbella for a good number of days now. It is a Super Yacht that is hard to miss due to its sheer dimensions, actually one of the biggest private yachts in the world. Equally it is hard to not let your imagine run wild with questions like; who could own such a magnificent yacht and how could it look inside? What is easy to imagine are the reasons why such a marvel would choose Marbella as a destination of choice? We have our ideas about why Marbella is a top destination for the Super Rich, such as the owner of Ocean Victory.

Ocean Victory Yacht — When delivered to its owner in 2014, the Ocean Victory (140 meters long, 28 meters wide, 14 guest cabins and 28 crew cabins costing $300 million) was recorded as the 10th largest yacht in the world.

So why might Ocean Victory anchor at this spot in the Mediterranean off the Marbella Bay. Here are our Top 5 reasons; Straight in at No. 1: The Weather: Autumn is often referred to as one of the best loved seasons in Marbella, with mild temperatures blissfully clear blue skies and calm waters. A little bit fresher in the mornings and when the sun goes down, sit under the blazing sun through the best part of the day though and you feel like its summer all over again.

Number 2: Shopping. Marbella is renowned for being a first class shopping destination. In Puerto Banus you will find luxury stores from fashion giants such as Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, to the trendy boutiques of Maje, Sandro and Essentially Antwerp to name a few. Furthermore over the years El Corte Ingles has certainly acquired a position as a shopping haven for luxury lovers with their recent restyling of the store now showcasing a superb selection of couture designers and offering services such as luxury personal styling. Want to arrive on your helicopter Mr. Ocean Victory no problem your Xquisit personal shopper will greet you on the helipad.

Xquisit shopping at El Corte Ingles Puerto Banus in Marbella

Number 3: Golfing. Maybe it´s a spot of golf takes that their fancy, that´s fine as we are not short of prestigious golf courses. Nueva Andalucia is known as the golf Valley with Las Brisas, Aloha, Los Naranjos and La Quinta Golf Clubs offering first class facilities and within a square mile of each other. A little further down the coast the golden triangle of prestigious golf courses await you; Valderama, San Roque and Almenara Golf.

Coming in at number 4: Dining and Wining. The lucky people on Ocean Victory can choose from the numerous Michelin Starred restaurants in Marbella, such as El Lago, Messina, Skina or perhaps the restaurant Dani Garcia. Then enjoy a cocktail at one of the numerous Marbella bars to before before heading back to the yacht.

Finally at number 5: Peace of Mind. Marbella is a safe place to be where VIPs can visit without disturbances. There are no dangerous areas and the police forces are always present.

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