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Today's adventure was to a cool market and the beautiful Mijas. The Fuengirola Market was a reasonable drive away after breakfast. Donna and Mike joined us. This was the first day I met the tour guide named XXXX. I missed her on the Gibralfaro and Malaga tour.
Donna brought her walker which the driver parked in the huge storage hold under the bus. Donna tried to get onto the bus at the back. I think that was not a good idea. It's crazy steep for everyone. I hope her hips and knees are ok.
The Fuengirola Market was soon upon us. We had 1.5 hours to explorer. It was very huge. I later learned from a vender she travels around Spain to 5 markets. Fuengirola Market is done on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The market was massive with 2 huge rows of venders selling all kinds of random stuff. Clothes, shoes, leather goods, toys, spices, nuts/seeds, oh my. Michelle was hunting for a few presents for family and a replacement wallet. I found some salted cashews. We completed both sides of the main market but completely missed the row of food vendors. Almost back at the beginning, Michelle found a second really nice wallet for 25 Euros. The vendor was unwilling to negotiate, actually criticizing Canadians for doing so. I don't think it's good for sales to insult your customers. Michelle had another wallet and toy in mind so we returned from the beginning to seek them out. She raced ahead of me and I lost sight of her. This was good. At several points in the long sides of this market are placec to switch over. I was at the first switchover where I noticed the food vendor space began. Sadly we were getting close to departure time. Michlle had in the meantime found and purchased her wallet and made a point of ensuring our rude sales dude was aware of her purchase as she walked by. Mike and Donna were taking a cold drink 15 minutes before our bus load. They found some shoes and other cool deals.
Up onto the bus we were towards Mihas on time. Enroute we learned tourists coming to the area were really attracted years ago to the workers using donkeys to mine limestone from the hills. Wise Spanish people monetized the Donkeys for tourist rides in Mijas. Thankfully the work they do is highly regulated so the Donkeys are not worked too hard. The bathrooms are often the first stop arriving in any city. As the hills here are immense, Donna and Mike held back for a Donkey tour avoiding the hills and our eventual Tapas higher in the city. Our tour guide explained the decision makers of Mihas refused to allow expansion from tourism which had already drastically changed other cities. Limits were placed on its growth and at first it was a financial detriment. Now 65 years later, it's very highly visited and a top tourist attraction. Wise they were. Today's city planners are still thanking those mindful citizens for this forward thinking.
It really is beautiful and old with history and pride of ownership everywhere. Tapas and a drink were soon enjoyed at a nice restaurant. For us Tapas were a nice cheese, a potato like latke wedge and a few small crackers. I like Tapas. A perfect snack.
An included glass of red wine with the warm sun made nap time seem plausible. Thankfully we were foot bound soon with a little free time. Mike and Donna enjoyed their donkey ride and exploring the lower part of the city. It was not too long before we were homeward bound and enjoying Happy Hour and dinner.
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