Marbella to Tarifa

Tarifa is such a great place.  Its just over an hour away yet you feel a million miles.  We went today and wish we to go every weekend, simply because you really feel you are on holiday.  Because believe it or not, when you live here, work etc, you need to get away and have that holiday feeling.

You can get very complacent, having people over all the time (which I do love), sitting by the pool, cooking, tidying, cleaning and the weekends should feel like weekends, especially for my OH who works very hard Monday to Friday and weekends is family time.

We went along with friends today and both made packed lunches so it was going to be cheapish day....but....we got there about 11ish and it was rather chilly and cloudy and we were all a bit....down.  It didnt look or feel very nice the weather.  We were sitting there with towels around us shivering (well us girls).  So as you do, in moments like these,  you reach for the food and we all polished of our lunch by about 11.30am this morning!  Cheese, ham, chorizo sandwiches, cous cous, fruit, biscuits.

By about 2.30 all hungry again and went up to the chiringuito for our second lunch of the day.  Food was ok but did seem rather alot for what we ate. 103€ for 4 adults 3 kids and only had 1 course each and an ice cream but you are sitting on a fantastic beach.

It was a bit windy today although the guys and kids did get to do their body boarding for a few hours.  Lots of kite surfers and Life Guards around too which is good to see.

Absolutely knackered and I didnt really do much other than pack, sit and sunbath, talk and then unpack.  Got very very red nose....do make sure you reapply your cream every hour or so!

Love Tarifa, so cool and relaxed

The Oak Benamara - The Oak Restaurant Marbella

Last night we met up with some friends from the UK.  They have a 3 year old boy and a baby and also my little girl. 

I was trying to think of Child Friendly Restaurants in Marbella and was told about The Oak which was originally Streets of London.

As we arrived staff very friendly and took us to our table outside undercover and highchair was already in place which I thought was lovely.  Theres a big grass area with mini golf and some of the kids were playing.  Not too sure if these were their own clubs and balls or not as there are some reviews of The Oak saying there is mini golf but no balls!

The 3 year old boy was happy running around free and safe, there was loads of room for the pushchair too. 

It was "Happy Hour" so told that any drinks ordered get another round free afterwards which was nice.  Menu is pretty varied, salads, chicken, steak, burgers etc.  All priced up but you can get 2 courses for 12€uros too which is good value.

There are kids meals at 7.50 which come with a scoop of icecream afterwards.  Portions were big for the kids.

Between us we had the breads with hummus and olives to start, beers, jug of sangria, 2 x pil pil, fish cake, 2 x burgers, chicken kiev, rib eye steak, kids fish & chips, extra chips and onion rings, water, 1 dessert, a few more drinks and the bill was about 50€uros per couple.

Its pub food, not the best but certainly not the worst.  Big portions and was stuffed.  The waitresses are lovely girls and nothing was too much trouble.  It was funny that when looking at dessert menu we were already warned that "The Brownie does contain nuts" incase of you have a nut allergy....thats when we knew we were in a real "english" place!  Great!

The service is basic, the waitresses dont have uniforms or carry glasses or drinks on trays but they got the job done. 

Would I go back for the food alone?  Probably not.  Would I go back if I was with other families with kids and wanted somewhere cheap and a place for the kids to roam around....yes...definately!

Road Signs on N340

I drove up towards Casares direction today along the N340 to spend the day with a friend.  I dont normally drive there...my OH always drives, but he was working and it was time for me to be a big girl and drive there all by myself...all 40 minutes.  I dont mind driving, but I do find past 20 minutes I get a bit bored.

As I mentioned the other day, the speeding amounts have been reduced and now Im even more careful than ever.  I dont want to get any more fines.  So I start taking note of the signs...

Signs Signs and more bloody signs.

Its ridiculous....all these signs and changes are going to cause a crash

80    120      70    60   40   80    120   70   60   40

you are just always keeping track of the speed and the amount of signs that have gone up is just ludicrous.

Im home and feel absolutely shattered just from all the concentrating.


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Earth Wind & Fire Marbella - Where to buy tickets for Earth Wind & Fire

Theres still time to get your tickets for Earth Wind & Fire that are playing at Puente Romano on August 13th.

Tickets are available from 30€uros upwards.  Ours were about 48€ in El Corte Ingles.  Puente Romano is a great location and pretty small so you can see from most places really. 

Im sure its going to be a really good night!

Zen Review, Nueva Andalucia

A few weeks ago whilst we had free babysitters here, otherwise known as family, we went to Zen Restaurant in Nueva Andalucia for the first time ever.

In all our years of living here, we dont know why we have never been.  Parking was easy as they have their own parking area.  Service straight away was great. We sat outside as did everyone else, it was a beautiful evening.  Lovely setting, and whilst you are on the main road, with the flowers and sound of the water fountains, its nicely hidden.

Service throughout was great, never had to catch someones eye or get up out of your seat.  The only thing for me was there was too much choice.  3 Menus, Thai, Chinese and Japanese, there was alot to choose from.

We went for the mixed starter and then both of us went for the Thai Green and Thai Red Curry.  Both very very nice, not too hot but had a lovely tasty flavour.

Its been a while since we went but had a couple of beers, water, mixed starter & 2 mains.  Bill was about 60€uros, so not the cheapest but food was very good and service was very good.

Would we go back?  Yes!

Driving Speed Marbella Roads 120, 110 or 80???

Its hard keeping track of whats legal and whats not at the moment when it comes to driving around Spain.

For a couple of months the speed on the motorways were reduced from 120 to 110 kmph.  Then they put it back up.  So much man power to change all those signs, not once but twice.

Now I hear the the coast road is reduced to 80kph and there are speed cameras too.

I was driving along there today and it definately said 80kph...or maybe it always was.  Definately feels alot slower.

If you know where the cameras are do leave a comment

Customer is always right? Except in Marbella

Im really upset as the other night we went out to one of our favourite restaurants for a quick bite to eat.  When we arrived greated with kisses as usual etc etc.  We sat down and the plants were being sprayed.  I felt spray blowing onto me as the wind was catching it.

It wasnt till we got home that I noticed white spots on my brand new purple dress.  But I thought maybe specks of food or something, until my husband noticed bleach marks on his new shorts.

Looking closer to my dress you can see where the liquid has hit it, but luckily enough with the style and the way it hangs at the front its not too noticeable to someone else.

I gave them a call yesterday to explain what must have happened and maybe be careful as obviously this product has some kind of bleach or liquid that lightens things.    There are often babies in prams and small children sitting in the area.

But when I called, suddenly didnt understand english, didnt remember the family that they see every week and greet wonderfully, and certainly dont use any spray on the plants, just water.

Should I have expected anything else?  No not really.

Kiko Make Up - Kiko La Cañada

A new brand of Make Up has opened up in La Cañada.  I saw this shop a while ago in Malaga where it has opened a number of stores.

Its really nice, pretty cheap and so far having used the Nail Varnishes...I have to say Im really impressed.

Normally nail varnish on my hands lasts 5 minutes, but this lasts a good couple of days, which when doing yourself and free, you dont mind doing.

For 10€uros you can also get your make up tutorial which looks good too.

Jo Malone El Corte Ingles - Jo Malone in Marbella

A couple of times in the past since blogging I have been asked if you can buy Jo Malone Products here.  Well now you can!  Jo Malone has opened up in El Corte Ingles on the ground floor on the back wall near Khiels.

Its a beautiful display with what looks like a really good range of products.