Review: Mister Noodles — Oriental temptations on the Costa del Sol

What started as a small restaurant with a few tables is now about to grow into a group of tasty food venues on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain. 

The local Fuengirola branch of Mister Noodles opened some years ago, and has always been popular with both local residents and holidaymakers. 

This branch has since doubled in size, and further branches are soon to be opened in Riviera del Sol in Calahonda and also in Arroyo de la Miel, thus extending the range of this popular and delicious cuisine...  

Read the full article and see all that lovely food at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/348167

Photo essay: Fuengirola, Spain — A springtime beachfront stroll

Spring officially sprang (or is that sprung?) around a month ago, but it was hard to know it. With endless rain, cold winds and chilly nights, it seemed to have gone forever. But now, it seems spring is officially back!

Read more and view photos at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/347445

Bioparc Fuengirola, Spain revisited (video)

After months of wintry weather, spring has arrived on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain. The spring weather tempted the writer to take a stroll to the Bioparc Fuengirola to catch up with the residents there.

As spring gradually creeps in, along with quite a few tourists, and with Semana Santa (Saint Week) holidays leading up to the Easter weekend, the writer decided to sneak out of the office today.

Bioparc Fuengirola is literally just around the corner, and it has been a while since the last visit to the former Fuengirola Zoo.
The first thing this writer noticed was that expansion work is going on with some of the animal enclosures, and it was quite strange to actually see the surrounding apartment blocks from within the Bioparc. 

These are normally hidden by walls and trees to keep the feeling of being in a jungle environment. Apparently the construction work will be concluded soon however.

Besides the work going on, the animals appear to be happy and healthy. A visit to the chimpanzees caused much amusement, as this fellow sat on a rock and blew "raspberries" at the surrounding audience, interspersed with huge toothy grins.

A visit to the orangutans from Borneo was surprising. Dad wasn't there. It seems the father orangutan has moved along to another Bioparc in the country, and a youngster has turned up in his place.

Mother and daughter are still doing fine, and it looks like the new addition is a young male. Possibly the Bioparc is thinking ahead to breeding with the young female who is a couple of years old now.

There was an addition of a rope climbing set up in the orangutans' enclosure, and as can be seen in the photo and video above, they were taking full advantage of it, swinging and climbing around.

These Northern Talapoin monkeys appeared to be a new addition, shown here with a baby Colobus monkey in the background:

The buff-cheeked gibbons were a little more outgoing - they have always been very shy, but last year had a baby, who is now an adult:

If you are planning a spring or early summer trip to southern Spain, Fuengirola and its lovely Bioparc are well worth the visit. However, if you prefer not to stay over in this seaside city, there are many lovely villages in the surrounding countryside where you could spend the night in a charming bed & breakfast.

Bear in mind that the weather will be pleasant for the next two to three months before the crazy summer heat sets in.

Read more and see more photos at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/346037

A little bit of Christmas in Fuengirola, Spain - Photo essay.

While we bask in unseasonably warm sunshine, Fuengirola is getting ready for Christmas, with lights and decorations galore, and everyone is going shopping, shopping, shopping.

Just past the winter solstice, today is unbelievably warm. 21 degrees Celsius, with warm sunshine, clear blue skies and no wind at all. The tourists are in heaven, and we don't mind either!

In the run up to the Christmas festivities, the shops are busy and while people are probably buying less, and cheaper, business does seem to be booming. Supermarkets have many special offers going, which helps with preparations for the festivities.

© Anne Sewell

One thing that is always noticeable at this time of year is that people smile a bit more readily, and greet you as you walk along. Even the normally grouchy ones, who will no doubt be back to normal once 2013 is here!

© Anne Sewell

The Christmas lights here in Fuengirola, are, I think a bit boring this year. What happens is that the street lights, and the main Christmas tree in the plaza are shared with other surrounding pueblos, to keep them varied. This year, I think, Fuengirola pulled the short stick.

While some streets look colorful, for the most part it's a very monochromatic Christmas. Especially the main decor in front of the town hall, in the Plaza de España.

© Anne Sewell

And sometimes reflections of the lights can be better than the real thing:

© Anne Sewell

From different angles, with the lights on the olive trees in the plaza, it can make for an interesting view:

© Anne Sewell

Just for fun and comparison, I am including views of previous Christmases, which I think were better. Especially when taken in the rain.

© Anne Sewell

And in the early evening, with the children playing:

© Anne Sewell

The side streets have some more colorful decor, with the Camino de Coin displaying poinsettias:

© Anne Sewell

There were Christmas carols in the Plaza de España yesterday evening, and while the weekend will be relatively quiet, on Monday, Christmas Eve, the Spanish will be celebrating with their families and lots of good food and English and South African residents will be overeating on Christmas Day, as per usual.

And while those other than the Spanish will enjoy their gifts on the 25th, the Spanish children get to wait for January 6, when the Three Kings come to visit, with the festival of "Los Tres Reyes Magos."

The Plaza de la Constitución is always pretty - here is a view from a couple of years ago, with the church in the background, and an attractive deer in the foreground (which is lit at night).

© Anne Sewell

Let's take this opportunity of wishing everyone, everywhere in the world a wonderful Festive Season, whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, or other local festivities, from everyone here in Fuengirola, Spain.

© Anne Sewell

© Anne Sewell

And of course, a very happy and hopefully prosperous New Year in 2013:

© Anne Sewell

Other photo essays on Fuengirola, Spain:

Photo Essay: 'PictoParque' — Art in the park in Fuengirola, Spain

Photo Essay: Dog and cat friends in Fuengirola, Spain
Photo Essay: Changing moods of the Mediterranean

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/339626

Art in the Park in Fuengirola Spain - PictoParque

The Councillor for Culture in Fuengirola, Rodrigo Romero, has come up with a great idea. Artists will be able to display their work and discuss art in the Parque de España every Sunday, at no charge.

Not only will artists display their work, the park will become a meeting place for artists and fans of the world of art. Discussions and exchanges of ideas will also take place. And also, not only is this great for local artists, they figure it also helps to make Fuengirola more interesting for tourists. 

For a rather nice change, there is absolutely no charge for the use of a section of the park to display your wares. The premiere of this cultural project was December 16.

Read more and see many more photos at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/339172

Photo essay: Changing moods of the Mediterranean

Most people imagine the Mediterranean sea as a calm blue ocean and dream of warm, sunny beach holidays. But the Med is much more than a calm blue pond.

While in spring, summer and autumn, you can mostly count on relatively calm seas, warm temperatures and an endless stretch of sandy beach, winter brings some quite different moods to the Costa del Sol. In this article we are visiting Fuengirola, on the south coast of Spain, and exploring some changes which were made in the last couple of years to the fishing and leisure port in the seaside town...  Read more and see more photos

Op-Ed: Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen: A special event in Fuengirola

Monday is a public holiday on the south coast of Spain, for a very good reason. The annual Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen is on the agenda.

The Virgen del Carmen is the patron saint of fishermen.

On the evening of July 16, the fishing villages and towns up and down the southern coast of Spain, celebrate a special event, where the fishermen pay tribute to their saint, and also take her for a spin out to sea... read more and view photos.

Op-Ed: Sunday travel ― 'Life's a beach' in Fuengirola, Spain

Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol is famous for its 5 km stretch of sandy, well-kept beaches, running from the Sohail Castle all the way through to Torreblanca.

Relatively empty out of season but packed in summer, the beaches curve along the coastline with many restaurants, bars and chiringuitos (beach cafes) to choose from.

A beach promenade (Paseo Maritimo Rey de España) runs the full length, giving opportunities for strolling, jogging, power walking or just for simply walking the dogs in the fresh sea air... read full article.

Semana Santa - Easter holy week in southern Spain

1 April 2012 sees the start of Semana Santa, or Holy Week, in Spain.

A week of events with solemn parades and fascinating costumes parading through the Spanish streets.

Semana Santa or Holy Week is celebrated every year on different dates, as it is based on an astronomical event.

With the lovely spring weather, its well worth a visit to Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol!

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/321116#ixzz1p0YZUCRF

Save the Costa del Sol, Spain

On the 23 December 2010 in Cabinet, The Secretariat of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment in Spain, gave approval for Repsol to prospect for natural gas and hydrocarbons in Malaga. This was approved and licenses were authorised to five companies to partake of a hydrocarbon investigation in the territory and on the Spanish coast. Among the companies who are authorised are CNWL Oil Spain, of the Canadian international Sherrit Corporation, and Shuepbach Energy/Vancast Exploration. These licenses authorise the mentioned companies to look for petroleum or gas in six areas of the Andalusian coast, denominated "Chinook - A, B, C and D" and "Tesorillo and Ruedalabola". These new licenses to explore the hydrocarbon potential on the Andalusian coast between Cadiz and Almeria are to look for active gas wells. Also other projects of investigation in search of hydrocarbons.
... read more by clicking below.... and please sign the petition...
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-malaga-coast-spain/

African dancing in Bioparc Fuengirola, Spain

Bioparc Fuengirola (previously known as Fuengirola Zoo) offers a little extra during the summer months. In July and August each year, the zoo is open until midnight, giving people a chance to walk through the leafy and authentic environments and view the animals in the cooler time of the day. They also offer an animal exhibition in the "forest clearing", which involves various animals from the zoo strolling into the exhibition area - they have been well trained to come out and look for the treats left for them by their carers.

We were privileged to see a porcupine, a couple of bush pigs, a tiny little anteater, a sloth, a civet cat and other animals enjoying their evening treat. All accompanied by an owl and a hawk, swooping between two handlers, over the heads of the guests! Totally fascinating and so very well done.

The exhibition ends with dancing and drumming by a troupe of Senegalese performers - really entertaining and also gave the very real feel of being in the African bush (which, having lived in Africa most of my life, I totally enjoyed of course!).

Please enjoy a video of the performance below...

For more information about Fuengirola and a range of photo galleries, visit All Spain Accommodation.

Fuengirola Zoo - An Oasis of Calm in the Centre of Town - Costa del Sol, Spain

When visiting the Costa del Sol in Andalucia, Southern Spain, a must-see destination is the Zoo in Fuengirola


Located right in the centre of town, the zoo is a beautiful and calm place, beautifully designed to give its residents space and realistic natural habitats to live in, grow and produce their young.


History of the Zoo


The zoo originally opened in the 1970's, as a typical zoo, with awful cages and fenced enclosures for the animals. Living conditions were unspeakable and left a lot to be desired. In December 1998, Rain Forest took over the contract to operate the zoo and completely redesigned the property using the latest “full immersion zoo” concept. The property is actually relatively small, so they chose to use a “tropical forest” ecosystem for the whole of the property- very suitable with the sub-tropical vegetation in the area.


They set out to create an environment embracing the tropical rainforests of Madagascar, Southeast Asia and Equatorial Africa, including rivers and waterfalls, caves, valleys, trees and rocks. As the property is small, subterranean stables were built for the animals to sleep and also raised gardens were erected around the property to block off the nearby buildings - making the zoo a different world within the busy seaside city.


Breeding of endangered species


Once everything was in place, the animals were introduced to their wonderful new habitat. Breeding of endangered species now successfully occurred - particularly with the chimpanzees.. Although the zoo had been breeding chimps from the outset, in the past there was a great deal of infanticide, as conditions were so unnatural. For the first time they could walk on grass, touch plants, run, play hide-and-seek… for the first time they could behave like chimpanzees.


With the introduction of the new zoo, many of the animals are now successfully breeding - not only the chimps, but also the Bornean Orang-utans, the Sumatran Tigers, the lemurs from Madagascar, Pygmy Hippopotamus and the Blue Duiker are all examples of animals that now successfully breed their young in this new environment.


It is truly wonderful to see the baby animals, and their parents so happy and proud. Although I am normally against zoos as a whole, seeing endangered species flourishing is truly a heart warming experience.


A stroll around the zoo

As you enter the zoo, staff will take your photo, as a memento of your visit. You will then calmly stroll around the shady environment, with tropical sounds appropriate to each section playing through the trees. It is easy to imagine that you are actually in the tropical jungles of Africa or Asia!


There are aviaries of beautiful birds, waterholes with various buck and birds including beautiful flamingos and their young, sharing the space, and of course the more famous animals in the zoo - the Gorilla, the Sumatran Tigers and leopards! Also worth a visit are the Orang-utans - they have recently produced a cute youngster, and the mother endlessly shows off her baby to visitors, and also delights in posing for you - she definitely has a great sense of humour, and I have managed to take some amazing shots of her!


The chimps are also enchanting to watch, and currently have youngsters too. The golden cheeked gibbons are also beautiful - the male of the species being black and the female a beautiful golden colour. Currently their baby is also golden, but as it is a male, it will eventually turn black like Dad.


Make sure you visit the Nile crocodiles - scary looking creatures, but luckily the viewing glass is very thick!


The highlight of the visit, in my opinion, is the Madagascar enclosure - habitat of the lemurs, where every 30 minutes you can take a tour to visit these gorgeous and friendly creatures. Entrance to the enclosure is through a very realistic baobab tree - created for the zoo - you can really imagine that you are in Africa when you step inside this hollow tree on the way to the lemurs!


Another highlight is the regular Forest Clearing Exhibitions, where you can enjoy a commentary on various animals in the zoo, and see exhibits. In summer, during July and August, try and visit the zoo at night for an amazing experience as the animals come to life after sleeping in the heat of the day - concluding with a dinner in the heart of the jungle! Currently they are running a special African evening, with African dancing and a tasty meal.


In conclusion:

All in all, Fuengirola zoo is a zoo in continuous evolution and it is difficult to include everything about this wonderful place in one article. However, it is important to know that the zoo is involved in 35 European endangered species breeding programmes and also collaborates on a variety of international projects to save, in situ, the planet's endangered forest zones. Please give generously to the various projects as you visit the zoo and have a wonderful visit! You will be back (I've visited 4 times and I LIVE in Fuengirola!


About the Author:


Anne Sewell is involved in travel on the internet with several websites, including All World Vacation Station - a global travel guide with worldwide accommodation options.

16th Annual European HOG Rally - Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, Spain

Fuengirola, on the Costa del Sol in Andalucia, Spain has rocked and throbbed to the sound of 15000 Harleys for the past few days. Its the 16th Annual European HOG Rally, and they are all here! A wonderful array of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles from all over the world is collected in the Fuengirola Fairgrounds. On Saturday morning, there was a parade through town and along the beach front - amazing sight and sound! Our multi-cultural town became even MORE multi-cultural for just a few days.. running from 21 June 2007 to 24 June 2007.

Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol in Southern Spain by Anne Sewell

You might have already visited Fuengirola in summer - too many people, burning summer heat? Time to replan your Spanish holiday!

The ideal time to visit this vibrant coastal city is during autumn and spring. Mild and pleasant temperatures, glorious sunshine, and quieter streets and beaches make for a really enjoyable holiday! You will find people smile just that little bit easier, shopping and dining are an absolute pleasure, and you can enjoy all the attractions this city has to offer in comfort.

Wonderful sandy beaches, relatively empty out of season, stretch along the coast with many restaurants, bars and chiringuitos (beach cafes) to choose from. Plenty of good shops including fashion, food, shoes, etc. and some excellent new shopping centres have opened up on the border of Fuengirola and Mijas.

Fuengirola is very convenient to Malaga airport - a short drive or train ride away, and is also close to Marbella and other attractions on the Costa del Sol (also known as the Costa del Golf for golfing fans!)

Other major attractions in Fuengirola include:

The Fuengirola Zoo:

Right in the middle of town is an oasis of calm, a world class zoo with wonderful animals in very natural enclosures. Appropriate regional sounds play as you walk around the various areas of the zoo. Of particular interest are the Sumatra Tigers, the gorillas, and also the Lemur enclosure, with many of these fascinating creatures from Magagascar. This enclosure is open with a tour guide at certain times of the day - ask when you arrive at the zoo for a close up experience with magical lemurs. Best time to visit is either early morning (zoo opens at 10 am) or late afternoon.

The Sohail Castle:

On a hilltop, close to the centre of town is the Sohail Castle. Makes a pleasant stroll (if a bit uphill), with wonderful sea views from the top.

Fuengirola Port:

The port of Fuengirola consists of two sections:

1. A working fishing port where it is fascinating to watch the fishermen offloading their catches from the boats - you can also take a pleasant stroll around the port from this point and look at the many boats moored in the port, and also magnificent mountain views.

2. A leisure boat marina, with many attractive yachts and other boats. In this area are several pubs and restaurants, and also enjoyable boat trips are on offer, including sailing boats and glass bottomed boats for viewing the dolphins.

So come and visit Fuengirola and enjoy our city in the so called "off season"! You won't regret it, and will have a wonderful holiday!

About the Author

Anne Sewell is involved in web based accommodation reservations and advertising in Fuengirola, Spain. Visit All Spain Accommodation
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