OUTINGS

The seaside resort of Torre del Mar is a half-hour drive from villa Zafarraya and has one of the longest and most wheelchair-friendly beaches in Spain.

Relaxed and quiet atmosphere
It is a beach that is nothing like the crowded beaches of Torremolinos or Marbella in the summer. Here the Spaniards are still in the majority and live the beach life as they have done so for decades; quietly enjoying the sun, talking to each other and relaxing while eating fish in one of the many 'chirinquitos' on the beach.

It is especially nice on Sundays, because the Spaniards like to spend that day here as a family, all dressed up and strolling on the beach and the boulevard.

This beautiful boulevard is no less than 5 kilometers long and easily accessible. There are small children's playgrounds in a number of places and in the summer there is a 'sea play park' in the water. Also during the summer months there is a cozy and atmospheric night market almost every evening.

Wheelchair Accessibility
There are sufficient and large parking spaces close to the beach and a large number of disabled parking spaces. From the boulevard there are exits every few hundred meters through which you can access the beach in a wheelchair. From the exits you come to a long platform on which you can go a little further to the beach. At the end of the decking you will find a few meters wide strip where the sand is firmly packed and over which you can travel for a few kilometers in a wheelchair. Along the way you will come across dozens of places where you can stop for coffee, lunch or a drink.

There are adapted toilets and adapted showers along the entire boulevard.

During the months of June to September there are four 'help stations' where a large number of resources are available. Ranging from crutches to push wheelchairs and beach buggies. The aids can be borrowed for free, you do not need to make a reservation and the staff is friendly and very helpful. One of the largest aid stations is at the Playa los Pescadores beach area.

Another large one is near the Playa de Levante car park.

If you want to go into the sea after a ride on the boulevard or the beach, the specially trained members of the lifeguard teams will be happy to help you with this in the summer months!

Food & Drink
The ‘chiringuitos’ range from basic to trendy beach bars. It is wonderful to sit on the terrace and watch the Spanish beach life pass by. Don't forget to try the local specialty, the grilled sardines. Our favorite beach bar (which also has an adapted toilet) is Bahia Beach Jazba, but you have a wide choice of nice places for food and drinks. You can park your car at the very right end of the beach and walk for miles to the left after the beach restaurant 'Bere Bere'

EL BALCÓN DE EUROPA
From the parking lot with the same name, you can reach the beautiful viewpoint of 'El Balcón de Europa' within a few minutes wandering through the busy and narrow streets. It's a wonderful place. There is almost always a nice sea breeze blowing and to the left and right of the 'balcony' you can see small beaches below full of multi-colored parasols. The name is said to have been made up by King Alfonso XII when he visited the area after a serious earthquake. He is said to have been impressed by the view of the cliffs and called it the 'Balcony of Europe'. At the end of the balcony, two rusty cannons remind us of its function in the 19th century as a defense line.

IGLESIA EL SALVADOR
On the edge of the balcony of Europe lies the picturesque 17th century church 'Iglesia El Salvador' (Church of the Savior). In the simple church you can admire a number of beautiful frescoes and a painting by Francisco Hernández. You can drop by and visit the white church if there is no wedding mass going on, because the romantic church is a popular place in Andalusia to say “yes!”.

About 5 minutes away is a well-kept secret: 'Mena Garden'. This café restaurant is open all year round from 9am to 12pm. Inside, the interior is nice and well cared for, but if the weather is suitable you should go further inside. Behind the building is a colorful, beautifully maintained flower garden full of oleanders and hibiscus. A wonderful place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Disabled toilet available.
Calle El Barrio 15

If you want to have a 'fancy' dinner out, restaurant 'Oliva' is a good choice. Excellent food at Plaza Espana 2. 'Oliva' is located less than 20 meters from the large underground parking garage. You can take the elevator up from there. The restaurant is easily accessible, serves international and Mediterranean cuisine and has a beautiful and fully equipped toilet.

On Monday mornings there is the weekly market in Torrox Costa, sandwiched between the main road, the beach and the huge Iberostar hotel. With your back to the beach you have a beautiful view of the mountains inland. The nice thing about the market is that city residents and tourists meet there. The goods on offer range from fruit and vegetables to underwear, shoes and leather belts to sun hats and multi-coloured ceramics. The atmosphere is pleasant.

After an hour of strolling you can walk in a few minutes to the boulevard full of cafes and restaurants for a cup of coffee or an early lunch.In the sun you look out over the swaying palms and the rolling waves. In a number of places you will find easy access to the beach and you can go further onto the beach via wooden decking. In short, a nice outing for a morning at the beginning of the week!

Competa is the largest town on your route through the white villages. It is a bit busier, but this center is also compact. The heart of the village is the picturesque Plaza Almijara, the central square, with a number of cafes and terraces and dominated by a beautiful church. The best thing to do is to drop the wheelchair user off on the square, park the car further away in the parking lot and walk back for five minutes. On the square there is an easily accessible toilet at La Taperia, one of the restaurants.

Casa Paco has the most authentic – and tastiest! - tapas. (The staff is happy to help the wheelchair user over the threshold to the toilet). There is a lot to see on the square in front of the church: beautiful tile scenes and a famous statue of a Spanish dancing couple. Competa is a nice, lively place in contrast to the other quiet villages along the way.

Málaga was one of the first cities to embrace the idea of 'costa and culture' and went all out by building two very special museums. The Picasso Museum is easily accessible and well worth a visit. It is located in a beautiful villa with a courtyard and contains a selection of works by the Spanish master.

Ask one of the attendants about the elevator and they will be happy to show you the way.

The other major museum is a branch of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. It is located in a special and very accessible building. You can recognize it from afar by a large colored cube on the grounds of the old port. Once inside you can marvel at a very special collection of modern art. You'll find some parts beautiful, some ugly, but almost everything in the international display is fascinating.

For a large city full of traffic, Málaga is remarkably wheelchair friendly. The city is as flat as a pancake, the pavement is well maintained and many establishments have good wheelchair facilities. We like to share some of our favorite restaurants with you. All addresses mentioned below are easily wheelchair accessible and have an adapted toilet that we have inspected ourselves.

Bodega Antigua Casa de Guardia from 1840 is Málaga's oldest and most visited wine bar. Nice to peek through the door at the dozens of wine barrels. When the weather is nice, it is usually full of wine-drinking guests on the doorstep and in the side street. No accessible toilet. Alameda Principal 18 (at Metro station Atarazanas) tel +34 952 21 46 80.

Los Patios de Beatas A vinoteca/restaurant with an incredibly extensive collection of wines in the center of the city. But not only the wine collection is special. You can enjoy your wine under a colorful and beautiful stained glass roof that creates a very special ambiance. Calle Beatas 43/tel+34 952 21 03 50.

El Balnearo Spacious restaurant in a former bathhouse on the coast with a large terrace. There is often a nice breeze in the summer and you have a beautiful view of the sea and the adjacent beaches of Málaga. Especially warmly recommended on Sunday afternoons when large Spanish families sit down for an hours-long lunch during which the previous week and life in general are discussed. Calle Bolivia 26/ tel +34 951 90 55 78.

Tapasbar Casa Lola Lola is a household name in Málaga. The original, very first branch has one of the most beautiful facades in the city full of beautiful tile panels with old-fashioned advertisements on them. It also looks fantastic and attractive inside. Calle Granada 46/ tel +34 952 22 38 14.

Restaurant Cambara Cambara is a trendy place with a special interior and large terrace on the old harbor. Simple food and tasty cocktails. P.o del Muelle Uno, Local 65/ tel +34 669 00 98 48

Descorche Cervantes Small, intimate and very good restaurant in the center. Reservations recommended. Calle Álamos 8/ tel +34 951 53 90 44.