Temperatures in October are still at about 25’C. This coupled with bright blue skies and little wind make it the perfect climate to enjoy outdoor pursuits in Duquesa. Today was the day i decided to dust of my running shoes and hit the promenade. Manilva is such a fantastic location to run as the beach and miles of promenade make it the ideal place to either enjoy a long run or to start out on the road to getting fit. With views like these it just makes running even more pleasurable.
Entrance to Duquesa Port
Castillo, Duquesa
Castillo, Duquesa
Promenade by El Castillo
Duquesa Beach at this time of year is the ultimate place to relax. The beaches are almost deserted, they are immaculately maintained and the sea can be lovely and calm.
My halfway point in my run at the moment is the beautiful El Castillo Castle in El Castillo Village. This stunning castle in just above the beach and is a popular venue for weddings, art exhibitions and local music and charity events.
This stretch of the promenade is also great to appreciate some of the most luxurious developments in Duquesa including Los Granados and Marina del Castillo. The new campsite of Bella Vista Camping is one of the most prestigious camping sites in the Costa del Sol. This also enjoys a frontline beach location on Duquesa promenade.
Does anyone have any fitness or exercise events they want to promote ? Whats the best running route in Manilva ? I would love to know your thoughts. Leave a comment below.
Manilva Feria is in full swing and there are still two nights left if you want a fun night out whilst staying in the La Duquesa area.
The atmosphere is electric with children and adults of all ages having a great night out.
If you are crazy enough and enjoy losing your stomach and being bounced around, the Super Saltamonte is one of the most popular rides at Manilva Fair.
If you have a head for heights and love speed then this high rocking boat gets the adrenaline going.
When I was younger the health and safety laws where I lived didn’t allow you to bump into each other in the bumper cars and you had to “dodgem”. Not the case here in Manilva and they seem to go faster than ever before. Be careful you dont get whiplash and keep your hands and legs inside the car! Fantastic fun though.
Why spend thousands going to Florida in America when Disney World is right here in Manilva!
This crazy man in a dress and his train is at Manilva Feria every year. Does anyone know if he has ever misjudged the tunnel and been knocked off?
This dancing bull ride is great fun and popular with the kids. Can you stay on?
The kids also love dancing in this ride and trying to stay upright.
There are still two nights left of the fair including the following events:
Saturday 10th August 2013
7.30 pm Grand parade through the streets of El Castillo de La Duquesa and Sabinillas accompanied by the “Chi Chi Pom” marching band. It leaves the Castle in El Castillo de La Duquesa at 7.30 pm and La Noria in Sabinillas around 8 pm (timings approximate).
10 pm Clown performance in the children’s zone of the main pavillion.
11 pm Performance by comedian Tony Rodríguez.
Midnight Music and dance in the main pavillion to the sounds of “Costa Pop”. This is followed by resident DJ and hits from the 80s, 90s and modern day.
Sunday 11th August 2013
10 pm Magic show in the children’s zone of the main pavillion.
11 pm Performance by comedian Jesús Tapia.
Concert by Hombres G tribute band followed by the latest sounds from the resident DJ.
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If you are considering buying a property in Spain to use as a holiday home or to live in, www.barringtonhomes.eu have a large selection of apartments, townhouses and villas for sale in the Manilva, La Duquesa, Sabinillas, Casares and Estepona areas. Please contact info@barringtonhomes.eu for more information.
If you have a property in the Manilva, La Duquesa, Sabinillas, Casares and Estepona areas and are thinking of selling or renting it out for holidays, please contact info@barringtonhomes.eu to discuss your options.
La Duquesa improves every year and has become a fantastic place to go out to for the evening with street entertainers, markets and a wonderful selection of excellent restaurants to choose from.
There is a great atmosphere at La Duquesa Marina with different generations of families enjoying an evening out together. The place is bustling with people browsing the market stalls or watching their children on the carousel or rides.
There is a wonderful new “pedal powered” carousel at Puerto de La Duquesa marina ridden by Carlos who delights the little kids by passing them sweets as they spin around.
At El Castillo de La Duquesa there is a Medieval Market with a wonderful variety of stalls offering a wide range of goods from hand made leather items to silicon iphone covers.
The Medieval Market at El Castillo de La Duquesa, Manilva, Costa del Sol, Spain
Along the promenade there is a big inflatable “Bart Simpson”bouncy castle, slide and trampolines and a basketball area for the children.
“The Simpsons” inflatable fun zone on the promenade between La Duquesa Marina and La Duquesa Castle
If you are planning an evening out in La Duquesa I would suggest perhaps you park in the car park near La Duquesa Castle and walk along the promenade to the Marina for a meal or even try one of the restaurants in the village of El Castillo de La Duquesa itself.
Where is your favourite place to go out to in the evening with your family and why?
If you haven’t booked your summer holiday yet and would like to visit La Duquesa, www.barringtonholidays.com have some wonderful new properties on their books available to rent.
The first week in January is a great time to visit Manilva. The blue skies and sunshine will boost your spirits and you can recharge your batteries after the madness of Christmas and New Year.
It’s normally perfect weather for outdoor activities such as golf, tennis, cycling and horse-riding and it is the time when The Three Kings visit Manilva.
We arrived back from spending Christmas in England on Thursday night and spent Friday washing our clothes and unpacking while the kids played outside with their friends. This left the weekend free to do the things we enjoy.
On Saturday morning we went to La Duquesa Golf Club where the girls played tennis while the boys played golf.
Tennis lessons at La Duquesa Golf Club, Manilva, Spain
Boys learning to play Golf at La Duquesa Golf Club, Manilva, Spain
Then after lunch we went horse and bike riding in the beautiful Manilva countryside.
It was great to be back out in the sunshine and seeing blue skies again.
We got home in time to get ready and go out again for 6 o clock to see The Three Kings.
The Three Kings aka Los Reyes Magos
In Spain the Christmas festivities are not over until the 3 Kings have paid their visit and delivered their presents.
Epiphany is celebrated on the 6th January and is the day that the 3 Wise men or Kings (Los Reyes Magos) from a far off country (now believed to be from Andalucia!) arrived at Bethlehem and gave baby Jesus their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrhh.
For many Spanish children this is the day they have been waiting for to receive their presents as they don’t celebrate Christmas Day quite like we do in the United Kingdom.
My children are lucky as they get presents from Father Christmas and Los Reyes!
In Manilva the festivities begin on January 4th when the 3 Kings visit the churches in Manilva to collect the childrens’ letters.
The celebrations continue on the 5th January with the traditional Three Kings Cavalcade or procession ( Los Reyes Magos Cabalgata).
The procession usually starts at 18:00 at El Castillo de La Duquesa and the Kings take a tour round this pretty little fishing village throwing 100s of the 2000 kilograms of sweets out to the children. The kids (and adults) love it, all excitedly scrabbling to collect as many sweets as they can.
The Three Kings Cavalcade in El Castillo de La Duquesa, Manilva, Spain
Spongebob Squarepants and friends at the Three Kings Procession
At about 19:00 the procession winds its way round the streets of Sabinillas and then at about 20:00 it arrives in the white village of Manilva where the atmosphere is full of excitement.
This year we found a tapas bar to sit at and enjoyed some bacon and pork montaditos and a few drinks while we waited.
Our table was on the pavement so when the procession went past we were so close that the sweets were like plastic bullets bombarding us.
The sweets went everywhere – even in our drinks, and the kids and adults were grabbing the sweets from all directions. It was a fun, mad and crazy evening enjoyed by us all and an event on the calendar which has become part of our family tradition too.
If you are thinking about visiting Manilva there are 11 other dates during the year that Manilva celebrates with a fiesta (party) and are well worth experiencing:
Important Fiesta Dates in Manilva, Spain
Los Reyes or Three Kings (4-6 January)
Carnavales or Carnival (February)
Semana Santa or Easter (March/April)
Romeria or Pilgrimage to the Roman Baths (27th June)
El noche de San Juan (23 June)
Nuestra Sra del Carmen The Fishermans Patron (16 July)
Santa Ana (26 July)
Fiest Luna Llena or Full Moon Party (3rd August)
Feria Grand or Big fair (2nd week August)
Dia del Turista or Day of the Tourist (15 August)
Verbena de San Luis – Patron Saint of Sabinillas (25 August)
La Vendimia or Wine Harvest (1st September)
I have been to and will be going to most of these and will blog about them in the coming months.
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The trip to San Lucar de Barrameda was such as success that another one is planned for next spring and 30 people have already put their names down for it.
A total of 52 people enjoyed this trip on the 17th November 2012, during which they visited the winery Museum Barbadillo, toured the city with a guide and also had some free time for lunch and shopping. In the afternoon they visited the factory of Christmas sweets La Rondeña, where people bought their polvorones etc.
Anyone interested in registering for the next trip in the Spring can call the Foreigners department on 952893548 or pop into their office at El Castillo de la Duquesa.
