Christmas Dinner in Nerja

Hola , hope you all had a lovely Christmas and you
got what you wanted.

We decided to have our Christmas dinner in our house, being our first Christmas in Nerja together.

A couple of friends of ours had their dinner in the White Truffle Restaurant - they booked a couple of weeks in advance. They told me that the White Truffle Restaurant was busy but the staff made you feel welcome. The tables were complete with a small gifts on them a great idea. The resturant is situated on 12 Manuel Marin Nerja, just off Calle Granada.

The menu that my friends decided on was Chestnut soup or Ham Hauck for starters, followed with traditional turkey for main course with all the trimings. Then for desert they decided on Christmas pudding. After that they also got a glass of Port and a fabulous cheese board.

All of which, they informed me, was extremely tasty. With an excellent selection on the menu and smashing atmosphere, they liked it so much that they are going to book for next Feliz Navidad.

Well done to the staff at White Truffel Restaurant - a real success.

If anyone else has been to the White Truffle Restaurant let me know what they thought.

I hope this information useful and enjoyable.

Adios Amigos.

Christmas in Nerja - Poinsettias

Hello everyone . And a merry Christmas (Feliz Navadad). When walking about Nerja you will notice an of abunience of red plants known as the Poinsettias. An alternative name for the Pointettas is the Mexican Flame, Christmas Star, Winter Rose, Noche Buena.

The word Poinsettias means most beatiful and is named in honour of Joel R Poinsett of Greenville South Carolina who during his tenure at the united states Amassador to Mexico, introduced the plant in 1825.

So what is the Poinsettia to do with christmas ? The plant is said to be a symbol of Bethlehem, the heavinely body that led the 3 wise men , to the place where christ was born.

I think that everyone will agree that the Pointettia it is a lovely and festive plant.

I hope everyone found this information interesting.
Bye for now.

La Fonda Del Budha Nerja

Hello . Buenos dias everyone

On Saturday we thought that we would try La Fonda Del Budha in Nerja and try some tapas. The exterior of the building stands out from all the rest with it’s huge satutes and very modern facade. The interior was much the same very modern but very classy with it with dark wood and lovely chunky tables.

The tapas that we decided was the Gambis and pasta bolognese both excellent and very fresh with the 2 drinks and the 2 tapas it only came to 4 euros 10 which I thought was very good and well for the money. With very stylish and comfortable surround

La Fonda Del Budha is situated on Calle Gloria, 13 across the road from Redondo tapas bar.

Bye for now.

Information on Nerja at Christmas and Nerja fiesta's

Hello. I am going to mention about Feliz Navidad In Spain.
The holiday season is full of the usual festivities, but one tradition, not at all common elsewhere. Named "Hogueras" (bonfires), this tradition originated long before Navidad itself. It is the observance of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and the beginning of winter. It is characterized by people jumping over fires as a symbolic protection against illness. This fire-jumping can be seen primarily in Granada and Jaen.
The more common traditions include incredibly elaborate "Nacimiento" (nativity scenes), Christmas trees, and remarkable Navidad markets scattered among villages and cities with piles of fruits, flowers, marzipan and other sweets, candles, decorations and hand-made gifts. Often, as the Christmas Eve stars appear in the heavens, tiny oil lamps are lighted, warming village windows. The crowds at the Christmas market thin as shoppers return to prepare for the coming meal. The Christmas Eve gaiety is interrupted at midnight be the ringing of bells calling the families to "La Misa Del Gallo" (The Mass of the Rooster). The most beautiful of these candlelight services is held at the monastery of Montserrat, high in the mountain near Barcelona, which is highlighted by a boy's choir describes as performing the Mass in "one pure voice."

Navidad in Spain is far less commercial than in the UK. The streets will hang out lights but only the larger stores will go to any great effort to decorate their windows with festive trees and reindeer. Families do not put out lights outside their homes as they do in the UK, the whole thing is far less “twinkly.” If you hate the commercial side of Christmas in the UK then spending Navidad in Spain is a exceptional choice.

Information on Los Reyes Magos and Nerja Fiesta's

If you're in Nerja over the festive period be warned that bars and restaurants will most likely close early on Christmas Eve but Christmas Day will be a normal opening for them. The big event over this period is the evening of January 5th when the Reyes Magos (Three Wise Men) arrive in town to give gifts to the children.

Here is a list of information on Nerja's on annual festivals but do check with Nerja Tourist Information.

January 16 -17 San Anton
February 1st 2nd and 3rd Carnaval
March/April Holy Week (Semana Santa)
May 3 Cruces de Mayo
May 15 San Isidro
June 23 San Juan
July 16 Virgen del Carmen
July Festival de la Cueva
September 7 - 9 Maro Fair
October 8 - 12 Feria de Nerja

The Three Kings Los Reyes Magos

This is the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem. Those lucky Spanish children not only receive a couple of gifts from Santa but also wake up on the sixth to find even more presents from Los Reyes (the Kings). Surprisingly, in the popularity stakes the Kings far outshine the man in the red suit as can be seen at the processions in every Spanish town on the 5th.
The Kings parade on huge, decorated floats throwing sweets for the children waiting excitedly for their arrival. You would think that having indulged in the famous turron and polverones over Christmas, the Spanish would need a break. On the contrary, this particular festival satisfies the sweetest of tooth with rosco de reyes, a large donut-shaped cake filled with cream.

I hope this information was useful and enjoyable .

Bella Roma Nerja

Hello everyone . Went out for a meal on Saturday night, forgot that most of the resturantes were closed until the middle of December . We eventually found Bella Roma, which is situated behind the Sol bank, anyone who knows the area will know that there is lots of resturantes in that area but the Bella Roma was the only one open.

Inside the Bella Roma you will notice that it is it is tastefully decorated. When we arrived it was busy on Saturday but the sevice was still excellent. Soon as we sat down the waitress, who was cheerful and pleasant, came over to take our order. My wife and I decided to have the Minestrone soup for starters, if you are used to Minestrone soup from a supermarket then you will be surprised, first of all you notice that it is not red and secondly it is thick with vegtables (superb)

For the main course my wife had Pesto Genovese which she informed me was the best that she had tried, I had Lasagna which was really tasty.

For the 2 meals it was only 32 euros which I thought was great value for money with professional and cheery staff.

Well worth a vist, let me know what you think.

Bye for now.

Eating out in Nerja

Hello everyone , you have probarly noticed that Nerja's Blog has news on excellent eating out in the local restaurants and tapas bars but this time I am going talk about a tapas bar that really was not good and in my opinion you should avoid.

The bar in question is called the La Biznaga on the Plaza del Europa down beside the church at the square. We orderd some tapas and drinks , after having to wait almost 30 mins to place our order we than had to wait another 30 mins for the tapas we but we only got half of what we orderd . I mentioned it to the waiter several times that the order was wrong , evetually he did bring the right order by this time we were both ravenous but to my astonishment some were STONE COLD!
To finish it all the food that was warm was bland and tasteless it looked quite edible but sadly that is as far as it goes.

If anyone else has been to the Biznaga latlely please let me know what they thought. It could have been they were having a off day that day for it is a lovely place to sit with a coffee or beer and watch the world go by.

Bye for now.

New and inmproved Bar Uno

Hello everone , just back from a visit to not so sunny Sotland it was absoulotely baltic it got to – 4 0c at nights forgot to pack my long johns.

We had planned to gon to George square to watch the christmas lights getting switched on but we found out that it was all partitioned off and had to buy a ticket
So we decided to go for a drink in Glasgow in instesd the prices had rocketed could not believe the rise
.

It was nice seeing friends and family and old haunts but great to back to Costa Del Sol .When I got off the plane it was at 18 0c( smashing)

When we left the owners of Bar Uno (Roy and Louse) and to close the bar to get sound proofing put in and decided to decorate aswell . A job like that in Britain you would probarly think would take a week or so but over here you have to add on at least a couple of weeks.

We decided to pop round to find how they were getting on.To our amazment it was all finished and decorated and looking Fantastic . Anyone how has been in Bar Uno will appreciate how much work they have done. They painted the bar a lovely a deep wine colour with new light fitings and new plasma sreens and comfy sofas to ralax in

Bar Uno is on Calle los huertos which is about 5 mins from the Balcon de Europa.
Anytime you are in you need to try there geat selection of hand made cakes and superb coffee. And a good selection of beers and wines .

Roy and louise are always happy and cheery and always make you feal at home.

If you have been to the new and improve Bar Uno or planning on going let me know what you think.


Bye for now.

Balcon de Europa

Balcon de Europa

The Balcon de Europa (Balcony of Europe) was constructed in 1487. Formerly a IX Century Castle, it is now a viewing point above the sea. At the Calahonda gap, the Paseo de Carabineros begins, a scenic path winding the way through the rocks bordering the seashore down to the Burriana Beach. To the side of the Balcón de Europa, you will find the XVII Century El Salvador Church, constructed in baroque style.

The Balcón area was originally known as La Bateria, a reference to the gun battery which existed there in a fortified tower. This emplacement and a similar tower nearby were destroyed by British led forces under Major General Blayney in 1810 to deny their use to French occupying forces during the Peninsular War.
The Balcon is a popular spot easpecially on a Sunday where local families get dressed up and head to the Balcon . There is a statue of King Alfonso which you cant resist getiing your picture beside him.



Just below the Balcon is an excelent resturante called the Ray Alfonso my wife and I were in a few months ago with my brother and siter inlaw the food is superb we had one of the best steaks that I have tried for a while. Lovely and tender with a peper sauce , mouth watering just thinking about it. The poption the you get are exelent for your money. With stunning views of the mediterrean and the staff were helpful and cheery.

Bye for now

Nerja Donkey Sanctuary

On a Sunday we go to the Nerja Donkey Sanctuary to walk the dogs. All you have to is to ask the volunteers, who are always helpful and pleased to see you. Today we had 2 playful dogs - one of the dogs loved going into the sea and just about pulled me in aswell.

The Nerja Donkey Sanctuary differs from other animal charities in that they operate a free range animal welfare policy which means you can mix, play and groom their residents - just the animals!, take dogs for walks, and also bring along apples, carrots, lettuce, pears, bread and even old stale rolls to feed them yourself.

Once the animals have been nursed back to health the sanctuary looks for new homes for them. Over the last few years they have rehoused hundreds of abandoned dogs, however, they don't have the space to cope with the numbers being left tied to their gate and are hoping to find more land for the sheer number of abandoned and maltreated animals coming into their care.

To find out more visit their website: http://www.nerjadonkeysanctuary.com/

Los Barriles and Burriana

We popped out for a drink last night .The first thing that you notice when walking around Nerja at night is that it is so quite just now. We decided to take a nice walk to Burriana but when we got there it was like a ghost town there were only 2 bars open down there which was Bakers bar and the Blue Med bar. Bakers and the Blue Med which are friendly and do smashing food at good prices. If anyone knows Burriana in the high season at 10pm it was a total contrast usually at 10pm it still busy.

We decided to head back up to the center of Nerja.
We went into Los Barriles for a drink, reportedly the oldest bar in Nerja. It is situated on the Calle Carabeo and authentic inside. If you were to go to this bar in the high season it is always busy. A word of warning though - the measure that you get in Los Barriles are huge - not that either one of us were really complaning.

Serving a good selection of wines and drinks. A great international atmosphere with a touch of Andalucia serving Competa and Frigiliana wines and Spanish Tapas specialising ‘El Chorizo al Infierno’, (sausage from hell) a Tapas you have to try! Besides Tapas served with your drinks you can order rations if you feel a bit more hungry.

Nerja, Costa Del Sol, Malaga

Hello ,

My name is Ronnie and I moved to this beautiful part of the world from Scotland, almost 12 months ago.

In Nerja's blog I hope to bring up to date news, and information on Nerja. Nerja is on the seashore some 50 kilometres from Málaga on the N340 coastal highway, and marks the eastern tip of Málaga's Costa del Sol. Once a sleepy fishing village, the town now has a population of over 12,000. With dramatic mountain range Sierra Almijara to the east of the town has managed to retain it’s traditional spanish feel , which so many other resorts have lost.
In the winter, Nerja is generally sunny and mild. It provides a wonderful escape from the freezing climates. There is the world class ski resort of Solynieve in the high Sierra Nevada range near Granada, and this is under 2 hours drive from Nerja. In fact this is one of the only places in Europe where you can sunbathe by the Mediterranean in the morning and ski.

I hope you will enjoy my next update to Nerja blog.

Dont forget Snoozing Monkey has great gift ideas just click on Snoozing Monkey merchandise.

Buy for now.

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Eating out in Nerja, Andalucia

In Nerja there is a abudance of tapas bars.

My personal favourite is the Redondo tapas bar it has a great selection of tapas which are freshly made. My favourite is the albondigas(meat balls) and a cana of cervesa (which is about a half pint of lager) for 1.50E. The atmosphere is fantastic. The Redondo is situated on the calle Gloria you cant miss it with it’s bright tiles and pictures.

My next favorite tapas bar is not too far from the Redondo it is Puliguilla. This bar is very popular with the locals. Again, here you can get a tapas and a cana cervesas for 1.50E. My favourite is the pinchos which is very tender cubes of lamb on a scewar they also have sardines, prawns and chicken. The staff are always friendly and chatty. This tapas bar gets very busy at siesta times.

Another place where I go for something bigger to eat would be La Bodeguilla. This has a fabulous selection raciones – portions of food. One of the best is a tabla of ham and cheese (jamon y queso). The ham is Serrano ham which is sliced very thinly, slices of Manchego cheese and some Tosta (toasted bread with tomato and olive oil). That just sets you for the day.

I hope you have enjoyed this information.

So now I’ve made myself hungry! Watch this space for some more suggestions…