Messing About in Boats!

These photogenic boats are in Estepona Port. You would have to know their owners if you wanted to go for a sail. However there are boats for hire.

And you can go fishing!

Big Boys Toys and Glamour for Girls at Banus!

Instead of spending a day in the country, visit a haunt of the seriously wealthy! See their 'playground' at Puerto Banus. Most guys I know love to walk along by the harbour to look at the boats, and decide which one they'd like to own. The cars parked all along the harbour are gorgeous too! Watch out for these low slung snarling beasts!

Most women I know are more interested in window shopping there. All the big fashion names have a shop in Banus! Most of the clothes, shoes and jewelery are very beautiful, with very expensive price tags! But there are some reasonable places!

In between the shops there are restaurants and ice cream places. Relax and enjoy!

Everything Changed!

In 1492 Christopher Columbus set off to discover the New World, which led to more profound world changes than the Apollo programme and landing on the moon 500 years later. Columbus believed he could reach India by sailing west. He discussed the possibility with two monks at the La Rabida monastery. One was an astronomer, who thought the idea was feasible. The other monk was the Confessor to Queen Isabella, and able to present her with the idea and enlisted her help. She provided three caravels the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Before setting sail, Columbus left his ten year old son under the care of the monks, as it was uncertain whether he would return from his dangerous mission! The rest, as they say, is history.

Visit La Rabida monastery, near Huelva, where the plans were made. Go to the little harbour at La Rabida (near Huelva, close to the Portuguese border) where there is a little harbour with replicas of the caravels. You can explore them. See for yourself how uncomfortable life was on board then! It is extraordinary what risks people are willing to take!

As the journey from my place is about 7 or 8 hours, make a mini-holiday of it, and see other places on the way. It's worth taking several days over the trip. Take time to see magnificent Sevilla and Jerez en route. BUT avoid going in summer when the weather is unbearably hot!

Dolphin Delight!

When my family visited me, we hired a little yellow inflatable boat from Estepona beach. We were shown how to start it and steered it ourselves! We followed a tall young man. He stood up in his boat as he headed out to sea. He was searching for dolphin.

When he sighted them, he waved to show us where to steer. Suddenly the dolphin were all around us! But by the time my camera clicked the dolphin had often disappeared! But I did get lucky! These are striped and bottle-nosed dolphin!

Boat hire costs 40€ per person for two hours.