A chiringuito and shop is to be built on the famous Mónsul beach in the Cabo de Gata

The regional government has authorised the installation of a beach bar (chiringuito) and shop on the iconic virgin beach of Mónsul, deep within the Cabo de Gata nature park. But ecologists, residents and the local council are all opposed to the plan, which was never put out to consultation. The beach is one of the most unspoilt coastal areas in this region of Spain. The Mayor of Níjar, Esperanza Pérez, spoke out against the plan, Continue reading A chiringuito and shop is to be built on the famous Mónsul beach in the Cabo de Gata

The El Ejido chiringuito experiment – yep, it was a failure (as we all said all along)

A few years ago, when Spain was rolling in money, politicians were getting rich and builders even richer off the wealth of the happy foresteros flocking in from the UK and Germany, and it seemed as if the good times would never end, Spain decided to try out a law that had been on the statue books for two decades but never implemented, the Ley de Costas. This basically meant that the only reason people Continue reading The El Ejido chiringuito experiment – yep, it was a failure (as we all said all along)

IU warns more study needed before reclassifying Mojacars chiniguitos as “music bars”

Mojacar townhall has (very quiet) plans to reclassify many of Mojacars chiringuitos into “music bars”. Ostensibly, this is to allow these places to stay open throughout the year, put them on a proper legal footing, remove problems with Costas, etc. It’s one of these things that will likely be presented as a fait accompli at some point in the near future. The IU in Mojacar, possibly having spotted an election point, say that re branding Continue reading IU warns more study needed before reclassifying Mojacars chiniguitos as “music bars”

Luciano Alonso witters on about tourism (you’d almost think it was his job)

There is an incredibly boring, yet long, article in today’s La Voz de Almería by Luciano Alonso Alonso, Andalucian Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Sport, in which he manages to quote Shakespeare, Washington Irving and Darwin whilst reflecting on the importance of tourism for Andalucia. All of them, of course, great exponents of tourism. It seems that today is the World Day of Tourism (sadly, I missed the fireworks and free paella). Tourism, as Luciano Continue reading Luciano Alonso witters on about tourism (you’d almost think it was his job)

Mojacar’s tourism future – quality or quantity?

There is currently a debate raging about the future of Mojácar’s tourism. To understand the debate, you must understand that Spain attempts to quantify tourism into neat little socio-economical blocks, which academics can then pigeonhole into whatever half assed plan the politicos come up with. So we have many different types of “theoretical” types of tourism, such as turismo rural, where people go and stay in a rural hotel; turismo gastronomico, which are tourists attracted Continue reading Mojacar’s tourism future – quality or quantity?

Neptuno beach restaurant, Mojacar Beach

Mojacar’s beach bars are an institution with which I have a love hate relationship. On the one hand, I love visiting them, eating there, having a few drinks, maybe bopping to the live music and in general having a great afternoon. On the other, it’s a long way to get there (from Turre) when the traffic is heavy, there is always a large police presence making their greasy little fingers felt on your wallet (via Continue reading Neptuno beach restaurant, Mojacar Beach

Turismo promises to protect the Chiringuito (before admitting he can’t)

The Minister for Tourism, Industry & Commerce of the Junta de Andalucia, Mr Luciano Alonso, stood up in the Regional Parliment yesterday to reply to concerns that the Junta is “anti” chiringuito (beach bars). He admitted that while many of them were disappearing from our coasts, they “were an integral part of singular form of tourism practised in Andalucia” and that Tuismo was determined to preserve them “within confines of the law, respect of the Continue reading Turismo promises to protect the Chiringuito (before admitting he can’t)

Blue Lagoon Mojacar Playa

The Blue Lagoon – under newish management, I’m told – is a large, long, fairly typical bar, restaurant and quasi chiringuito on Mojacar Playa. Chef is, the adverts assure us, one Dean Hill. Just past the Hotel Indalo. Large blue awning. Now, I’ve never eaten there, or even tarried for long, but I did have my curiosity piqued by their now infamous “Credit Crunch Lunch”. Adverts in all good decent local press. From 10am – Continue reading Blue Lagoon Mojacar Playa

Mandala Complex, Mojacar Playa

Mandala is the old Pascha disco on Mojacar Playa, just before Playa El Cantal. It was brought last year by a company from Aguadulce that own a few discos, and they spent quite a bit of money doing it up. I usually don’t believe people when they say a million euros (it’s an easy figure to trot out), but in this case I can believe it. The interior is fantastic. We’d been there a few Continue reading Mandala Complex, Mojacar Playa

Chiringuito Espigon (Garrucha)

Chiringuito Espigon (Garrucha restaurant) For a quick business lunch, we popped by Chiringuito Espigon in Garrucha for fish. It’s the first one on the beach in front of the castle as you enter from Mojacar. Espigon Restaurant has been around for a while now. Funny story – the owner once commented to the old Meus Pater that it was cheaper for him to leave the whole edifice standing over the winter and pay the fine to Continue reading Chiringuito Espigon (Garrucha)