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We decided to stop at a campsite just outside Marbella as this would be a good base to visit Gibraltar and the Costa del Sol. The campsite was very good and even though it was on top of a main road, it was peaceful. That was until the Bank Holiday weekend when every pitch was taken by shouting, passionate, music playing, trumpet playing Spanish. Still, we can't complain, it is their country after all. Oh yes I can, they are just too loud!

A nice site

We visited an inland town called Ronda after a nail biting (for Debbie) drive through the mountains. Ronda is a wonderful place with spectacular views of the old bridge and surrounding countryside. The children enjoyed the 2 museums we visited however Hazel decided to sit out the second one on torture instruments of the 13th century after seeing the engravings, I am not sure why, James loved it. I had Paella and we had chocolate cakes and coffee in a Pasterillia, a great day.

Another fantastic place is Gibraltar. We loved it; 369 photos, 13 hours, kilometres of walking, all in a day trip. We drove and walked to the top of the rock, saw the apes (actually they are tail-less monkeys) who mated at every opportunity, walked in the siege caves, ate fish and chips, spoke English without feeling as though we should be trying to learn another language and soaked up the history of the place. One day we shall return to Gib (as we locals call it).

So all is well with this area of Spain, oh dear reader I am afraid not. I was told that Marbella is a playground for playboys' and you have to be rich to live here. Well rich maybe, but as for having any taste, I am afraid not. If you like living on top of your neighbour in an ugly complex, if you like risking life and limb on the motorway just to get to the shops, if you like wearing a football shirt sitting at a bar and swearing at a telly, if you like not being able to access the beach due to all the ugly private condominiums, if you like not being able to park, if you like bad humoured shop assistants, if you like estate agents: lots of them, if you like spending all your time on a motorway, if you like billboards, everywhere, if you like golf rammed down your throat, if you like your cars to look like they have been accessorised by someone with an unlimited Halfords account, if you like being in the shadow of a high rise hotel all the time, if you like paying to sit on the beach; packed in like a sardine, if you like places like "Dave's Bar", "Andy's Beach" and "Bob's Sports Bar" then Marbella and the Costa del Sol is for you. But its not for us.

For me the area is summarised by the people who sell to passing traffic at the roadside. In Portugal they sell fresh oranges, strawberries and lemons. On the Costa del Sol they sell golf balls.

Ronda bridge