Archive for Things To Do
Scuba Diving Season has Started! (Video)
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s a short video I took as I spotted some clients taking scuba diving lessons in the main pool here at Sunset Beach Club; it was a little overcast so they had the pool to themselves!
Scuba diving season has officially started and we are lucky enough here at Sunset Beach Club to have our very own dive centre on site! Run by Scuba Tours, one of the longest running dive organisations on the Costa del Sol, the team of qualifies instructors are available to answer guest queries about their fantastic selection of excursions and PADI courses.
Apart from initial lessons in our pool, guests who sign up for an excursion can experience an entry level dive at a site that is within a few steps of the hotel. Those who are looking for a little more adventure can choose from 15 different dive sites situated along the Coast, including reefs, wrecks and caverns!
There’s something for everyone. Guests can choose from the following:
- Day Excursions (Beginners and advanced)
- PADI Courses (From beginner to professional level)
- Special Kids Programmes (from 8 years of age)
For more information about Scuba diving lessons and excursions, pop into the “dive shack” located by the pool at Sunset Beach Club or visit the Scuba Tours website on www.divinginspain.com . Alternatively, just ask at our Leisure Desk.
La Noche en Blanco de Malaga 2011: A Unique Cultural Event
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Next Saturday the 14th May, the city of Malaga will organise the fourth edition of “La Noche en Blanco” (literally translated as The White Night), a unique cultural event in which citizens and visitors can enjoy art exhibitions, stage shows, live music and audiovisuals in more than 100 points around the city. The great news is that all these events will have FREE admission!
This year, social networks (Facebook, Twitter and Youtube) take center stage as many of the projects being developed for “La Noche en Blanco” this year are the result of the numerous ideas and proposals made by the the citizens of Málaga through these Social Media channels. In addition, following the event via Twitter and Facebook will allow you to know which places have the longest queues – so that they can be avoided – and which ones have less affluence.
This fourth edition of The White Night promises to be the most spectacular to date.This year there will be 130 free activities – compared to 111 last year – which will take place in 100 locations. More than 60 institutions and organizations (public and private) supported the event last year, attracting 153.546 people; this year the authorities expect to surpass this figure. Read More→
Fuengirola Celebrates its “Feria Internacional de Los Pueblos”
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La Feria Internacional de Los Pueblos
Our neighbouring town of Fuengirola is getting ready to celebrate its “Feria Internacional de Los Pueblos” (International Peoples Fair). This unique event dates back to 1994 and was started as a way to showcase the different customs, folklore, gastronomy and cultural, historic and tourist attractions of the inhabitants of this multicultural town.
As from next Friday the 29th April and up until the 2nd May, visitors and locals alike can head down to the local fair ground in Fuengirola and enjoy the multitude of stands; there are more than 30 different countries represented at the fair!
Visiting the Feria Internacional de Los Pueblos is like travelling around the world in just 4 days! All five senses will be at work as you experience the following:
- The sounds of the traditional music of each culture, played by authentic groups which, in many cases, have actually flown in from their country of origin.
- The amazing smells and aromas from the different food posts where visitors can taste traditional argentinian “parilladas” (barbecues), delicious Moroccan pastries, exotic Asian dishes and traditional foods from around Spain.
- Traditional dances with their typical colourful costumes.
At each stand, visitors to the fair will have the chance to purchase typical products from each represented country and even obtain specific tourist information about the country or area being promoted.
Entrance to the “Feria” is free and we thoroughly recommend you take a trip down to this fascinating fair and enjoy a fun- multicultural- day of music, dancing and delicious food!
Semana Santa (Holy Week): An Experience Not to be Missed!
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This weekend sees the official start of Semana Santa (Holy Week); Towns and cities all over the country – especially in Andalucia – celebrate this Easter week with a profound devotion and passion. If you’ve never attended one of the amazing processions, I highly recommend you make an effort to experience it – at least once – you won’t regret it!
What Exactly Happens in Holy Week?
Good question. We won’t go into the intricate details and history of these religious festivities here; what I will tell you is that it’s a time where Christians show extreme devotion to their faith.
The highlight of Semana Santa is the processions. In Andalucia, most towns and cities will have a series of processions which take place throughout the week; starting on Palm Sunday and continuing until Resurrection Sunday.
If you really want to experience the traditional Semana Santa, we recommend you visit Málaga: thousands of locals and tourists line the streets to watch the different “cofradías” (brotherhoods) parade their impressive “Tronos” (Thrones) through the city. Some of these impressive structures weigh up to 5000 kilos and need 200+ men to carry them! Routes can last up to eight hours with each man carrying an equivalent of 25 or 30 kilos on their shoulders during this time: that’s devotion! Read More→
National Fire Fighter’s Festivity in Benalmádena: A Fun Day Out for All the Family
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The well known Tivoli World amusement park in Benalmadena will be the venue for the III National Fire Fighter’s Festivity to be held tomorrow (Saturday 2nd April 2011). Organizers are hoping to attract more than 10,000 visitors to this unique event which promises to be a fun and educational day out for all the family.
This event has become one of the most important on the national calendar as it also includes the III National Fire Fighter’s Challenge of Benalmadena. Attracting fire fighters from all over Spain, the challenge determines the “top” Fire Fighting unit of the country. Should be fun to watch!
The event organisers have made a big effort to provide a wide range of educational activities which will allow visitors the opportunity to learn about the difficult and commendable job that fire fighters undertake on a daily basis.
The doors to Tivoli World will open at 10:30 am tomorrow morning for a fun packed day which will end at 8:00 pm in the evening. Here’s a list of some of the activities planned throughout the day:
- Live music
- Presentations and demonstrations
- Thermal vision demonstrations (I’ve got to try that!)
- Children’s Fireman fancy dress competition
- The National Fire Fighter’s Challenge (Fire fighter’s from all over Spain taking part)
- Rolling simulator – visitors will be able to experience a car rolling (I’ll give that one a miss!)
- Canine rescue demonstration
- Children’s Fireman Challenge
- Vehicle exhibit
- Red Cross catastrophe demonstration
I’m definitely going to go….how about you?
From this Thursday – 17th March – and until Sunday, visitors to Benalmadena Marina will be able to enjoy the 3rd “Feria del Marisco (Shellfish Festival). For the 3rd year running, the Town hall’s tourism office together with the Benalmadena Port Authority have organised this popular event with the aim of promoting the towns extensive gastronomic offering.
Throughout the 4 days of the festival, anyone who visits the Port can sample some of the best shellfish at spectacular prices. Just to give you an idea, these are the prices of some of the portions – or “raciones” as we refer to them here –
Boiled Prawns – €3
“Concha Fina” (a type of clam) – €3
Grilled Prawns – €8
Steamed Mussels – €3
Clams – €5
This is just a sample of the delicacies that you’ll be able to try; the restaurants that are taking part in the festival are planning to offer more than 20 different types of shellfish and dishes whose main ingredient is shellfish.
Anyone wanting to enjoy some of the best shellfish at “recession” prices can do so as from Thursday at the following participating restaurants in the Marina: El Arrecife, Carretero, El Trasmallo, Alborada, Calamar, Ventorillo La Perra, El Rincón Asturiano, El Faro, La Taberna Marinera de Juan y Pepi, Los Mellizos y El Mero.
So what do you think, are you up for it?
A Fun Day Out at the Races: The Winter Season Starts at the Mijas Racecourse
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The Mijas Racecourse will be opening for its 2011 winter season next month (February), having been closed for its annual break.
Horse racing enthusiasts will be happy to know that the winter programme includes 6 race days between February and April (see programme below). Entrance are only €5 per race or a season ticket can be purchased for €20; children and teenagers under 18 are allowed free entry.
The Mijas Racecourse has fantastic facilities which cater for all the family. There are bars and restaurants for the adults as well as a wide range of activities for children, including bouncing castles! Races during the winter months start at 11am and the Racecourse has free parking available for all visitors.
The Race programme for this winter is as follows:
Sunday 13th February – 11am
Sunday 20th February – 11am
Friday 25th February – 4pm
Sunday 27th February – 11am
Sunday 6th March – 11am
Friday 22nd April – 4pm
Enjoy the races! Make sure you don’t bet too much on the horses! 
The Arab Baths in Benalmadena: A Treat for the Senses
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Stressed out and in need of some R&R? Staying here at Sunset should help; however, if you need a little boost, I highly recommend a quick visit to the “Agua de Oriente” Arab baths in Benalmádena.
The Arab Baths are located in the centre of Benalmadena (just next to the Marina) and a mere 20 minute walk from Sunset Beach Club. Inspired by the Nazari architecture of XI century Granada, this impressive “Oasis” of relaxation is a real treat to the senses. I think the following phrase on the “Agua de Oriente” website describes the experience perfectly:
“A journey into the past, to discover a world of sensasions”
The traditional word for this type of Arab Bath is “Hammam” and in the next few paragraphs, I’ll provide you with a brief explanation of what you can expect on your visit – just in case you’ve never been before.
The “Hammam” Experience
As you can see by the photos, lighting and architecture are key components of the Hammam experience. When you enter the baths you are, literally, transported into another time period. Read More→
Night Skiing in Sierra Nevada: Fun in the Snow Under a Starlit Sky
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The "El Río" Run: Ready for Night Skiing!
Sierra Nevada Ski Resort is enjoying a great season with more than 100km of runs open to the public. For ski lovers who live locally, it’s a required stop during the winter months. As the resort is a mere 2 hour drive away from the Costa del Sol, many visitors and tourists make the most of this short distance to drive up for the day and enjoy a fun packed skiing experience.
What many people don’t know is that Sierra Nevada was one of the pioneers in the discipline of night skiing. Skiing beneath the stars with the lights of the Alhambra Palace and Granada in the distance is a unique experience which all visitors to the Resort can enjoy during the months of January and February.
Every Saturday (until the end of February) the El Río run, with its 3,258km and 500m of slope, will switch on its flood lights between 7pm and 9:30pm, allowing ski lovers the opportunity to enjoy their favourite sport after sunset.
The “El Río” run wasn’t designed for professionals, hence the reason for it being labelled a blue run; it’s not apt for the complete novice either! The idea is to provide an enjoyable experience to all those who want to try something different and that have, at least a little, skiing knowledge.
There’s just one problem: The normal daytime ski pass – and the season ticket – cannot be used for this night run…..you need to purchase a separate pass!
Let’s end on a positive note. As well as the daily treatment the snow throughout the station receives, the “El Río” run receives an extra dose of snow plough magic between 5pm and 7pm, before the night runs begin. You might have to pay extra for the privilege, but at least you’re guaranteed great snow conditions! 
Glide Your Way Around Benalmadena on a Segway Tour
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Gliding through La Paloma Park in Benalmadena
You’ve probably seem them gliding through the streets of your local town or at least on television but, do you know what they are? The Segway personal transporter is actually the first ever self-balancing, electric-powered transportation device. It may look like a simple two wheeled electric scooter but, it is much more than that!
The Segway works through a concept called Dynamic Stabilization which enables it to work seamlessly with the body’s movements. So how on earth does it do that? Well, the Segway has built in gyroscopes and tilt sensors which monitor a rider’s gravity at about 100 times a second. This means that when the rider leans slightly forward, the Segway moves forward; likewise, when they lean back, it moves backwards. Pretty simple isn’t it? Read More→
