Lunch at El Tintero: A Fun Dining Experience in Málaga

Restaurante El Tintero in Malaga

"El Tintero" - On the beachfront in El Palo

There are plenty of amazing restaurants and beach bars up and down theCosta del Solwhere you can sample some of the most amazing fish dishes; however, today I am going to tell you about a famous restaurant on the beaches of El Palo, just to the East of Málaga: El Tintero.

The El Tintero Restaurant has become somewhat of a landmark in Málaga. It looks like your everyday “chiringuito” offering a wide range of delicious fresh fish; however, after you’ve spent a few minutes at your table – with a bit of luck, overlooking thebayofMálaga– you’ll realise that El Tintero offers a “different” and refreshing eating experience… (more…)

The Malaga Village of Júzcar gets Painted Blue for Movie Premiere

Júzcar pintado de azulJúzcar, a traditional white village situated near the famous town of Ronda, has been chosen by Sony Pictures as the setting for the premiere of their new film “The Smurfs 3D” this Thursday 16th June.

This wont be your run-of-the-mill premiere, Sony’s PR experts have come up with an innovative idea to gain publicity for the launch: Paint the whole town blue! No kidding, they have managed to convince the town’s inhabitants to paint their houses “smurf” blue…

A team of 20 painters – 11 of which are villagers who were unemployed – has been hard at work painting every single building in the village (See photo).

So why did Sony choose this small – previously – white village in the hills near Ronda for their world premiere? Apart from the incredible climate, it seems that Júzcar is also popular for its promotion of sustainable tourism; they have special walking routes and also organise mycological events and, as we all know, mushrooms are the Smurfs favourite food 🙂

All the media exposure has had a very positive effect on the village’s coffers as tourists flock to take pictures of the famous Smurf Village. Business is booming, so much so, that they are considering keeping their new colour indefinitely!

For the moment, they have voted to remain “Smurf” Blue until September, at which point they will review the situation and decide on whether to paint all buildings white again – incidentally, the cost of painting the village white will be taken care of by Sony as part of the agreement.

So if you’re planning on visiting Ronda this summer, make sure you pop into Júzcar. Apparently, the village will be organising a special “Smurf Tour” which will include a free hat and t-shirt… think about it, you’ll be able to tell all your friends that you visited the original Smurf Village and you’ll have the t-shirt to prove it!

 

Malaga’s New Automobile Museum: A Car Lover’s Paradise!

Malaga Car MuseumAs from the end of last summer, Malaga city has a new museum: The “Museo Automovilístico de Málaga” (Malaga Automobile Museum). Located in the Tabacalera building, the old tobacco factory, this modern installation has 6000 m2 dedicated to one of the most important car collections in Europe. This is more than a regular trip to a museum, it’s an experience that will provide fun, entertainment, art and culture to all visitors.

The museum is divided into various themed areas which exhibit a collection of more than 90 cars like the Toyota Harrier Singapore, all restored to incredibly high standards (the collection actually has 120 models; however, only 90 are available for the public to view). These themed areas transport visitors on a trip through time – 3 centuries – showing and illustrating the evolution of the automotive industry, both aesthetically and mechanically. (more…)

The Museum of Glass and Crystal: One of Malaga’s Hidden Treasures

Museo de Vidrio y Cristal de Malaga

Like most large cities that attract a steady flow of tourists, Málaga has its fair share of museums; the Picasso Museum is probably the most popular and famous of them all. However, there is a little museum hidden in the back streets of Málaga’s old town which is creating a lot of positive buzz on travel sites such as Tripadvisor; I’m referring to the Museum of Glass and Crystal in Málaga.

Located in a restored 18th century palace, this unique museum contains a private collection with some of the most beautiful and artistic glass and crystal pieces.

Visitors to the museum will be able to view 3000 pieces of glass and crystal from a variety of different cultures and time periods. 1000 of these works of art are fixed in exhibition and the others are in rotation. The Palace’s exquisite decoration and furniture – which correspond to the specific time period from which the exhibits derive – make this museum experience all the more special. (more…)