Days 297-303, 5-11 Apr '15, Home to Fuengirola & Malaga Day Trip. We finished up our two week sit in Alhaurin el Grande on Wednesday 8 April and headed back down to the coast for a housesitters holiday. The equivalent of an out-of-work actor "resting". Quite blissful actually - in an inexpensive studio apartment with ocean views, less than 5 minutes walk to the beach and a stroll to the centre of town and all our favourite restaurants and tapas bars. We'd had some rain and cool weather up in the hills but it was only when we went for an evening walk on our first night on the coast that we saw the wild and woolly weather up close - lightening cutting the sky in half and crashing surf eating up the beach. I introduced James to one of my favourite Chinese restaurants and we splurged on the €6/head 3 course "Menu del Dia". Yummo. Even had a hail storm during our evening out. All go here. We've been burning up the shoe leather with twice daily long walks along the promenade and due to the teensy nature of our little kitchen, daily small shops at the supermarket. Saturday was the big day out of the week - the friends we spent six weeks housesitting for are now back in town and took us for a jaunt to Malaga - the nearest "big smoke". What a day! We left at midday and didn't hit the sack til midnight. We arrived in time to visit Malaga's indoor fruit and vege market - stunning seafood and fresh food - even saw a lady of the Traveller/Gypsy persuasion outside the market selling very, very fresh snails. Periodically one would try and climb out of the box - so she was keeping a strict eye on them. We strolled from the market to a pumping coffee shop/pintxos bar and from there we meandered through the old town. There's a stunning Roman amphitheatre tucked just beneath the Alcazaba walls and we enjoyed that immensely - it's been too long between ruins. We stopped for a couple of rejuvenating Manzanillas (fino sherry - lovely stuff) and then back in the car to go to the beach. Interesting section of town - lots of old fishermens cottages and each has a small restaurant out the front with the ubiquitous sand-in-a-boat with olive wood BBQ. James enjoyed some freshly grilled on a spit sardines and I had boquerones with lemon - little fish, filleted and fried. Too. Yummy. Back to town and up a hill to the Parador Hotel - stunning spot to look out over the city sprawl and we even saw the bull ring. Back into the old part of the city and sitting down to dinner at about 9.30 pm. So very Spanish. We were thoroughly tuckered out after our 12 hour outing but certainly enjoyed seeing Malaga for the first time. Fingers crossed we get a nice housesit, close to the fresh market. Might have to buy some gypsy snails and get the garlic butter smoking!