All About Mijas
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19 Sponsored by: ll about A ijas Vol. 10 Issue 237M www.theolivepress.es April 13th - April 26th 2016 A lot can change in 12 months Shine but Mijas is still the the most polished jewel in bright the Costa del Sol crown, writes Iona like a Napier diamond Photo by Iona Napier by Photo ANCIENT: Ermita de la Virgen de la Pena EISTY flamenco in the street, mian artists and writers in the 1950s on a saddle, €15 in a carriage) to the lunch in a secluded walled gar- and ‘60s, it was immortalised in Ron- white stallions bearing Cinderella-style den, crashing a back-street bistro ald Fraser’s 1973 book, The Pueblo, carriages. birthday party and, most embar- and continues to cast a spell on visitors Set just up above the square, Tuk-Tuk Frassingly, getting trapped in a multi- today. Spain is coming to the end of its first storey car park at 2am after repeatedly Mijas is coming on in leaps and bounds year and has been a major draw for jamming my business card (rather than – and it’s not just about the famous thrill-seekers and anyone lacking the my ticket) in the machine! donkey taxis, colourful tuk-tuks and stamina to scale hilly Mijas. These are some of my overriding mem- zippy Segway-mounted police. From the burro stables you can see ories of Mijas. The latest news is the enormous, €4.7 what looks like a massive boulder to But there’s no time to dwell on past million renovation in the town centre most newbies. The Ermita de la Virgen visits with the spring weather upon us which is seeing the main square trans- de la Pena is, in fact, an endearingly and an Andalucian treasure trove to formed beyond recognition, with 70% unpretentious little chapel. rediscover. coming direct from the European kitty. Forget the checked tiles of Notre Dame The classic hilltop town of Mijas, known While change unfolds before your eyes or the Sagrada Familia’s spiky, bejew- from Chelsea to China for its chocolate in Plaza Virgen de la Pena, it’s business elled interior. The hermitage was hol- box charm, nails the quaint-small-town as usual for most, and tourists are still lowed out by a single Carmelite monk vibe at just a stone’s throw from the guaranteed a fabulous visit. in the 17th century. coast. The ways to get around are myriad, Outside, a stone gargoyle spouts water PICTURE PERFECT: Photogenic Mijas Pueblo Discovered by the globe’s more bohe- from the two dozen burro-taxis (€10 Continues Page 20 Property specialist for both buyer and aseller seller As featured on Rightmove Overseas and Propertyguides.com www.smartcurrencyexchange.com La Cala del Sol, Local No. 17, Cala de Mijas, 29649, Malaga tel: +34 951 401 921 2020 the Olive Press November 14th - 25th 2016 www.theolivepress.es All about Mijas From Page 19 into a grand font. Inside, the candle light, bumpy floor, six ornate gold benches, fresh flowers and a small exhibition are a real treat. Hilltop Leaving the chapel, I see a pair of pale-skinned Japanese tourists sitting on a bench hol- lowed out of the rock using an umbrella to shade themselves from the early-April sunshine. harmony Al fresco dining has been up and running in the hilltop town for several weeks, with not a CHARMING: Bilingual shoe-seller Celia table free near the Mirador del Compas, where you can dine ic and sociable affair. intriguing miniatures museum, to the musical swoosh of wa- “The biggest reason Mijas squeezed into a conspicuous ter - provided by the charming draws people in is because we yellow caravan, as well as the fountain, not Handel! are close to the biggest Costa handsome town hall and even “It may be busy today but Mijas towns yet a typical Andalucian the popular Mayan Monkey Mi- is popular all year round, like pueblo blanco which people jas chocolate factory. diamonds,” confides Francis- love, complete with donkeys Rest your weary legs in the co, a nut seller who has lived in and mountains,” explains Car- tranquil Plaza de los Siete Ca- the town all his life. men. nos and poke a nose inside Rightly, he is capitalising on Get a free town walking the eighteenth-century Er- the buzz to flog his delicious map that emcompasses mita de Nuestra Senora candied almonds the key sites in a lei- de los Remedios be- which give me surely two hour stroll fore wending back renewed – providing you don’t to central Plaza strength HILLTOP TOWN: Whitewashed Mijas Pueblo tucked beneath the mountain make too many wa- de la Libertad via to hit the tering hole stops. Calle Larga del Pal- vending t-shirts, maps and a measly €3. Plus free flamen- Several museums mar and Calle San ground co in the main square every run- guides after trading hours. and plazas are Sebastian. Welcome to the future, I chuck- Wednesday and Saturday at worth a look-in, in The latter is ‘officially’ ning. noon, weather permitting, rival- Mijas le. particular, the oval- Mijas’ prettiest street And yet the human reception is ling any you’ll see at Sevilla’s shaped bullring built and houses much of is de- tobacco factory or in Granada’s signed second to none. Carmen in the in 1900 and the main Canadian businessman Tourist Office, who hails from celebrated caves. folk museum adorned Thomas Weller’s res- for its Let’s not forget the country- multicul- Valencia, gives me the inside with speciality esparto taurant empire, includ- track on just about everything side. There are beautiful hiking products and some ing Aroma Café & Secret tural tour- trails waiting to be explored. ist scene in immaculate English. In fact fabulous photos. Garden, Meguinez, and she offers maps and info in an Sign up for ‘senderismo’ at the Here you will also find the Mariposa shop (Bana – with around tourist office for any one (or all) 20,000 foreign incredible 16 languages! the room where the Bana and Latitud 36 are There is a fabulous Picasso, of three weekly routes. ‘mole of Mijas’ lived elsewhere). residents and many, Multilingual guides lead groups many more visitors. Signs ap- Dali and Miro exhibition run- (see panel oppo- Softly-spoken ning at the Centro de Arte until of up to 30 around paths of site). Weller can of- pear in English and there is varying difficulty – an energet- even an impressive machine June 1 and well worth a visit for ORNATE: Sculptures On top of this is the ten be seen Between sea and mountain... excellent food, memorable evenings and great entertainment · View our Summer program 2016 · Many special live events Top quality cuisine Entertainment Celebrations Opening Hours Mon-Sat: evenings from 7.30pm Sun: winter months lunch only, summer months evenings only Carretera de Fuengirola a Mijas (A386) Km 14 29650 Mijas, Malaga, Spain Reservations: (+34) 952 485 975 (+34) 952 485 996 www.valparaisomijas.com Email: [email protected] 21 21 TELF: 952 494 560 April 13th - April 26th 2016 [email protected] WWW.VINOTECAPURACEPA.COM BOULEVARD DE LA CALA, EDIF. ELENA, LOCAL 2, LA CALA DE MIJAS, COSTA DEL SOL MIJAS MAN: Antonio while (left) the oval bulllring tearing between his numerous establishments. Bana Bana won Mijas’ top tapas award last year for the second year running, thanks to head chef THE MOLE Txelo’s daffy duck confit and truffle milhojas with lemon ice cream! There are tapas haunts and res- OF MIJAS taurants to suit every taste and budget in Mijas, while the T is one of the most remark- open air auditorium becomes a able stories to emerge from great concert venue, often host- the Franco era. ing tribute acts in the summer. Now best known as ‘The Mole Every local I meet seems to Iof Mijas’, Manuel Cortes Quero have lived here their whole (right) was the last Republi- life: sun-shrivelled Antonio, can mayor of the pueblo, from who cannot remember his own March to November of 1936. age, clutches my arm enthusi- However, when the town fell it was loose and then I would astically to lead me to the art to dictator Franco’s nationalist yank it out with my fingers, museum while telling me about troops during the Spanish Civil without any pliers or tongs. I how the town has changed. War he was forced to abandon pulled out nine or ten teeth this We pass boutiques, delis and a his wife and newborn daughter way.” baking dynasty that has been and flee the town under the In 1960, after 21 years of hid- going since 1904, with grand- cover of darkness. ing, Cortes’ daughter Maria got son Francisco now in charge. However he returned in 1939, married. It’s easy to fall in love with this willing to sacrifice his freedom “I had to make do watching her enchanting pueblo. At a zapate- in exchange for living under the come out of church through a ria, fresh-faced shoe-seller Ce- same roof as his family, making little hole above,” he said. lia recalls how her Liverpudlian himself a prisoner in his own “The wedding procession left mother met an Andalucian in home. the house and after the cer- Ibiza in the 60s, married him, For 30 years the Mole stayed emony Maria scurried away to moved to Mijas and never left. hidden, tucked in a cramped come to my room and kiss me, Shoe fetishist Nikki who has a space under the stairs behind just as we had planned.” pair of alpargatas (espadrilles) a false wall.