Days 269-275, 8-14 Mar '15, Beaches & La Balcon de Europa. We got organised on Wednesday and jumped in the car for a day trip to the Balcony of Europe (pictured). Usually photos are of the view from the balcony - this however is just along the coast, looking back at the promontory and the glassed in restaurant beneath - much more interesting perspective. I visited Nerja back in September in the peak of peak season and with 42+ degrees. Today was positively zen-like by comparison. We relied on the iPad and Google Maps (and of course Spain's stunning highway - the Autovia del Mediterraneo - 4 lanes either side!) We reached the huge public parking lot (AKA: Nerja's fairground) and decided to celebrate with a coffee at one of the posh restaurants clinging to the side of the cliff. Unlike some scenic spots around the world, a couple of coffees with a view to die for wasn't even twice the price of our usual inexpensive haunt. We cruised the Balcony and watched the brave souls taking to the crystalline waters of Playa Calahonda beneath us. Only 3 of them... as stunning as the day was, the water still features icebergs and penguins at the moment. Usually I would say "don't go back" - but I took a chance and took James to the little hole in the wall Italian joint I went to last year... Ahhhh - just as astonishing good and soooo inexpensive. We had an amazing seafood pasta with mussels, clams and prawns and the old favourite, Hawaiian pizza. The seafood in this part of Spain is so fresh it's hard to describe - I've never really enjoyed prawns for instance. Mostly wasted on me. But here, they are so big and creamy and flavoursome that James actually has some competition! Nerja was most definitely the scenic highlight of the week, but we've been enjoying some epic walks along the Fuengirola waterfront. By Friday it was time for something different and we packed up the car with chairs, brolly, towels etc and drove to the beach for lunch. Unlike most countries in the world, parking is free between 2 pm and 4.30 pm...Siesta time. So we paid for maybe one hour and stayed most of the afternoon. We spotted a new "fave" place the other day that specialises in Indian food and Roast Chicken - so we bought a Menu Pollo for €10 - A whole roast chicken, salad, freshly cooked chips and a bottle of white wine. Seemed a very economical option indeed for a beach lunch. And there was enough chicken left for dinner. Bargain. Plans for this week? Definitely another day trip - Ronda? Gibraltar? Choices, choices - less than two weeks left at this housesit - where does the time go?