Marbella is not mere a tourist paradise for its sightseeing guarded with a splendid Mediterranean weather; the resort town of Costa de Sol also offers all kinds of food choices. From traditional Andalucían to Spanish special to a variety of international cuisine, you will find almost all to go well with your gastronomic interest.

Being a sea front place, fish occupies an essential part in Marbella food. In fact, the town itself doesn’t have any specialities in terms of cuisine but it serves typical Spanish favourites with a greater inclination towards seafood. However, at every corner of the city you will find some of the finest multi-cuisine restaurants on account of the growing cosmopolitan nature.

The city has a wealth of restaurants…there is Italian, Indian, Chinese and special Thai eateries lined up close to all the famous tourist spots. However, going by the nature of Spain, you will find some interesting options and one can even arrange a special culinary tour in and around Marbella.

Some of the most popular Spanish dishes those are well and frequently served in Marbella are: the Tapas, a snack served with alcoholic drink throughout; Paella, gregarious rice dish available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian; fried fish etc. You can even taste some typical hams, available in a variety of flavour; these are key components in Spanish cuisine.

Going by the preparation of any Spanish food item, food in Marbella is spicy and richly flavoured. Primarily, tomatoes, potatoes, chilli, citrus fruit and beans are widely used in most of the popular dishes. Locals and visitors also love to have some superbly prepared chicken and shellfish delicacies along with some other which include: Bacalao (salted cod), Butifarra (white sausage) and Chorizo (sausage).

But, the best way to taste some great cookery is to travel to any Andalucían village. In fact, the distinctive aroma of Spanish dishes lies in rural regions, especially inside Costa del Sol. Being once a fishing village, you will have a great variety of fish and seafood dishes prepared in a wooden woven releasing a flavour of its own.

Another principal and widely recognised food item of Spain, and so in Marbella, is Paella. Pronounced as paeya, it’s a delicious mixed rice dish which constitutes a variety of ingredients and recipe, including different types of meat and seafood. Although its origin is linked to the Valencia region, it can be found pretty much everywhere in Spain. And again, Paella in Marbella means applying the seafood formula with fish and rice in the pan.

However, over the years, the food in Marbella is greatly influenced by its own growth from a seaside village town to a flourishing cosmopolitan city. The thriving international business community and the growth of tourism as a major industry have encouraged the establishment of restaurants with some delicate Thai and Italian dishes.

The average Spaniard spends far more time in cafes and bars during the week than their counterparts in the UK. It’s not just because the coffee and the food and drinks are cheaper and definitely nicer, but also because it’s altogether a friendlier home from home experience.

It’s no big deal going out for a coffee or coke at your local bar it’s just like popping into the neighbours or another family member’s house. Friendship and warmth are guaranteed and if you want to sit in a corner nursing one solitary drink you will be treated with respect and certainly not moved on! Oh dear where does England go wrong?

Spanish men start off in the cafes before breakfast, at about half past seven if they are manual workers and a bit later if they are white collar workers. There’s just time for a coffee and a chat before heading off to work. And Spain being Spain, this is often accompanied by the odd cigarette or two! (Remember bars only have to have a no-smoking area if they have over 100 square metres of floor and this rules out most local top-of-the-road type bars).

Breakfast in Spain on a working day is at ten o’clock on the dot. In every city, town and village you can see hordes of people leaving the workplace and heading for their favourite bar. This time its coffee and a tostado, the latter often served with olive oil, tomatoes and garlic or with zurrapa (red or white lard with bits of meat in it-quite tasty actually). Bars are very busy until 10.30, so service can be a bit slow for the tourists! Not that you will be unwelcome you just have to bide your time.

At lunchtime, from two o’clock onwards, bars are very busy again. If home is nearby people will go home but the delicious and very cheap “menu del dia “attracts a lot of workers, especially construction workers who need feeding up. Tables will be preset and each group of guys from one site or another has their own table. Hands are washed first but working clothes are acceptable! Before the return to work in the afternoon bars are again full of the noise of the expresso machines as people top up on their caffeine to last them until early evening.

Work over, everyone hits the bars again with their workmates to have another coffee, or this time, a beer and a tapas. The noise level is phenomenal as people relax and look forward to the evening ahead and go over the day’s activity. Yet again, after supper lots of men wander up to their local café for yet another coffee or beer. Have you got the idea yet? The cafes are a major social institution!

Well what about the non working part of society? Where do they fit in? Old men are the backbone of café society; they head up to a favourite bar often before breakfast and quite often can be seen still sitting in the same seat at 8 o’clock at night. Not drinking very much you understand but chatting with friends ,playing dominoes or cards and watching the world go by. It’s a much livelier alternative to the OAP day centre! No-one disturbs them and often not a word will be said by a group of old men for hours –they have said it all.

Young mothers too, are regulars in cafes and bars, meeting with groups of friends when the children are at school. Older retired ladies are not often seen in bars but certainly don’t miss out on the frequent family Sunday lunches at local restaurants or during ferias and fiestas!
It’s a home from home-get familiar with your local bar!

The Spanish are a sports mad race and cycling plays a very close second to football in a lot of men’s mind. Yes, it’s still a men’s thing really –you very rarely see groups of women all dressed up road racing!

Cycling is avidly watched on the TV and every town has its cycling club –some which are so elite they have a waiting list and an approval period of membership.

Spain has produced some world champion cyclists over the years and in the Tour de France several winners-notably Miguel Indurain. He acquired the famous yellow jersey and managed to be the overall winner in the years 1991 right through to 1995.

He also won the Giro de Italia in 92 and 93 and obtained various medals in the world championships in 91, 93 and 95. He retired after a wonderful career in the late nineties and was an inspiration for hundreds of thousands of little boys who are still dedicated cyclists today. Cycling gets you like that!

However the one major championship that, bizarrely, he didn’t win WAS the Vuelta a España. This prestigious race started in 1935 and with its 14 stages covers over 3000 kilometres of some of the most demanding territory.

Despite several hiccups during the Civil and Second World War the race now attracts the worlds top cyclists. Spain won between 2000 and 2004 (with Roberto Heras and Angel Casero) but Germany has had several successful years. The race starts in a different area each year and last year Malaga had the honour.

However last years race was marred by the inevitable drug scandals, right at the end, with unfortunate wrangling about who was the real winner!

Other recent tragedies in Spanish Cycling include the recent ghastly accident of Isaac Galvez who died after falling- following a collision with another rider in a race in Belgium. Galvez was a 33 year old Catalan and held a current World Championship title.

Cycling safety is however, taken very seriously in Spain. Children are taken through their cycling and road safety at school in “educación vial” lessons run by the Police –very similar to our Cycling proficiency. Helmets must be worn on all main roads and inter-urban roads and cyclists are not allowed on the motorways-in theory that is as you still see the odd few nutters battling it out with the lorries travelling past them at 100 kpm!

The amounts of dedicated cycle tracks are increasing constantly and most coastal towns have cycle tracks along their Paseo Maritimo. One very long and beautiful track to be opened very shortly will run from Sotogrande on the coast over the mountains to Castellar and along the river valley to San Roque. This will be about 40 kilometres of fantastic safe cycling and so will be suitable for children and novices as well!

Spain is ideal for cycling holidays and tours. Most regional trains, including those from the Malaga and Algeciras ends of the coast will take bikes and buses have no problem with them as long as there is room! Cheap hostels and hotels abound around here-very good for the budget cycle tourist and of course the weather in spring and autumn is ideal for cycling.

Many organised cycling holidays exist where your bike is moved on for you ready for the next’s day’s cycle and you don’t have to organise anything.

Finally, as previously mentioned, every small town has a cycle club and club house and local and regional competitions abound. Often these are very well attended by the public and roads are shut of for the occasion and a party atmosphere prevails-in true Spanish style.

Traveling through Spain with your English/Spanish pocket phrase book and dictionary is more than adequate to get around. However, when you are a foreigner living in Spain it is necessary to have a basic grasp of the Spanish language. In the larger cities you will always be able to find someone who speaks English but that is not the case in small villages.

In some towns, aside from the ex-pats, there may not be anyone who speaks English in stores, service companies or government facilities. This can be frustrating and many times embarrassing. Even if you do have a modest grasp of Spanish, you may find in such places as Andalucia that you can’t understand a word since the Spaniards there have a very regional accent that is often hard to decipher. So, a brush up on Spanish may be helpful for this reason.

One of the best ways to learn Spanish with a good foundation in grammar and pronunciation is to attend a language school. A good course will give you the foundation you need to boost your confidence when speaking Spanish in “real life”. Language centers provide audiovisual aids, written exercises, experienced teachers and specific methods to help you learn Spanish. You will, most likel, be taught Castilian Spanish in a language school but you will no doubt be introduced to the local dialect where you are attending school.

Not only will you learn Spanish, you will surely study many aspects of the colourful Spanish lifestyle, history and rich culture. This will help you understand more about the local people and their customs, which, of course, is all intertwined with the language and how it is used. Usually, trips to historical landmarks, local theatres and festivals are incorporated into the course. This is not only a wonderful way to become immersed in the fascinating world of Spain, but it is also an excellent way to meet new, likeminded friends from around the world.

Classes at language schools are typically offered all year round to students of all ages. Spanish classes are taught at all levels (beginner to intermediate and conversation) in group, one-to-one or intensive courses. For people who are here to start a new job, special business Spanish courses are offered. Accommodation can often be arranged by the language center, in the form of living with a selected Spanish family, or, if the center is linked to a local university, perhaps in nearby residence halls.

With just a few useful phrases, you will begin to feel more involved in Spanish life. You will also feel a great satisfaction in being able to travel more freely and be able to communicate, even when you are in towns and villages way off the beaten track. The Spanish people are so friendly and open that it would be a shame to miss out chatting with them at the local tapas bar or just sitting in the plaza. The local Spaniards have so much to offer – great local legends or simply a recommendation to the best place in town to eat. Since so many foreign visitors and residents often speak no Spanish at all, they are always delighted when you make the effort.