Nerja, Andalusia -Regina WB
By Regina Winkle-Bryan
My first experience in Malaga was a bit of a let-down. All the fish and chips and Irish bars put me off, as did the endless housing developments. Of course, Marbella is also just down the beach from Malaga and those who love ritz and bling will adore this wealth-centered area. Famous for yachts, luxury resorts, celebrities and politicians, Marbella’s Puerto Banús caters to those who want and can afford the finer things in life.
But as a freelance writer, I cannot always afford the finer things in life, and am usually on a budget. I was back in Malaga recently, on my way to a yoga retreat in the mountains just north of the city. I had a car and decided to explore some of the tiny villages not far from Malaga, which is how I ended up in Nerja. While I can make a safe bet that Nerja is crowded with tourists in the summer months, in February it was sleepy and peaceful. There were people sunbathing on the beaches (even swimming) and locals in the cafes. Painted in chalk white and blues, Nerja is sure to inspire the photographer or artist.
Nerja, Andalusia -Beaches - Regina WB
Nerja, Andalusia - View - Regina WB
Nerja, Andalusia - Sitting in the Sun - Regina WB
Nerja, Andalusia - I could live at one of these apartments! - Regina WB
Nerja, Andalusia - House Regina WB
Nerja, Andalusia - Flores - Regina WB
Nerja, Andalusia - Balcony - Regina WB
Nerja, Andalusia - Arches - Regina WB
8 Comments
Next time you are in that area you must visit the village of Frigiliana which is about 7 km north of Nerja. It is very picturesque and typical of the Andalucian ‘white villages’ in the region. I visited many, many years ago and I know that since then Europeans have purchased many houses for holiday homes, but it seems to have kept its looks and charm.
Thanks for the travel tip Mark. Yes, much of Spain is unspoiled. So much to see and discover.
I’d go back to Andalucia in a heartbeat. Loved it there, so different from Catalonia. Reg
Those shots look great and I would certainly agree about those apartments. Something tells me they wouldn’t be cheap! I’m smack in the middle of a love affair with Andalucia but am a little cautious about the costas, as I feel they have been so overwhelmed in places by that infernal partnership between unscrupulous property developers and foreign buyers so uninterested in Spain and Spanish society, so enclosed and invasive.
That makes it great to see such a nice view of a place where one’s prejudices might have dictated that one wouldn’t even look.
You picked a good time to visit! It was unbelievably packed with very few Spanish speakers when I visited last August. One day in Nerja itself was enough.
Love the inland bits, the Sierras, the old part of Frigiliana and Acebuchal. You have to pick your time and spots.
The Balcon de Europa has some lovely views and the little coves around it much nicer than the big main beach.
Give me a shout if you´re heading southwards again. My local city is Jaén – well worth a visit!
Hey Rachel, I got the same feeling, and only about 1/2 the folks on the streets were speaking Spanish…the rest English or German. It was a bit shocking.
Hi Robin, I think you’ve summed up a lot of Malaga and the seaside of Andalucia. But, there are some hidden gems still out there. Comares and some of those mountain towns still have a lot going on. Heard a lot of English being spoken everywhere there, which is different from Catalonia. R
Had a lovely holiday in Nerja about 15 years ago. Nice feel to the place and a good choice for families.