2013 - Day 1

Here we are again in Spain. Almost a year after our last visit and this year we are staying in Torrenueva near Mijas Costa.

We stayed in this resort a few times before and have always enjoyed the quiet and calm.

The resort has very little in the way of amenities and that is pretty much okay with us. How it actually scores 3* on the RCI site I have no idea. 

This year we have apartment 510 overlooking the pool area. We have stayed more often in the 700 block a little further around.

Our flight over with Norwegian was pretty good, arriving Malaga about 15 minutes ahead of schedule. 

Once we had retrieved the big case we were off in search of the car hire rep. 

A couple of laps of the exit area and we eventually found her. A short walk to a minibus and a very short drive off-airport and we picked up a Toyota Aygo.

A little tin box with four doors and a boot area that would be a tight fit for a chihuahua. The big case went on the back seat.

As it was barely 2pm,  I set the TomTom for Torrenueva but we diverted into Fuengirola for lunch.

Boquerones and calamari and a salad went down the right holes. And this will be the first of many seafood lunches I imagine!

It was here that we found the lock/unlock buttons on the car's single key didn't work. Locking the car requires ye anciente method pressing down of the door button and shutting it with the outer handle lifted. I emailed Malagacar straight away. No reply. 

I suppose we can live with it?

The car is quite new with only 6k on the clock. But you would have to be desperate or a Toyota fan to buy one. Tinny and not that nice to drive. Still, with full insurance (that ironically doesn't cover the key - hence the immediate email) for about £15 a day.

Once lunched we headed to Hipercor in the El Corte Inglès mall to stock up on essentials

Apartment 510 is well situated. Parking outside at the back.

It was very hot all day and the balcony was in full sun until about 7pm. It has air conditioning, but no remote to turn it on. I later found that if you want it you have to pay extra for the loan of the control and the use of the electricity....   The panel on the unit was masked so you couldn't reach up and do it! This I feel is a bit of a rip-off.

In fact, the usual "how it works" folder that RCI resorts usually have is missing as well.

Sadly, reception is closed on Sunday! So I am hoping for cooler weather tomorrow!!

For dinner we ate in. Pasta and albondigas washed down with a couple of tiny bottles of San Miguel.

Then an early night. We were up about 4am to drive to the airport and so the long day, heat and beer have taken their toll....

Zzzzzzzz!