Cycling to and from Istan

Cycling in Spain is superb, for numerous reasons, great climate, great scenery, loads of space, great uncrowded roads and miles and miles of scenic on and off road routes.

Here in Marbella, the Istan Road is a superb spot for road cycling.  The road from Marbella to Istan is hugely popular with road cyclists, who climb around 400m on the 14km route from Marbella up to the small whitewashed village of Istan, before heading back down. 

Apart from two fairly severe climbs, unfortunately one immediately after the other, about 3km into the ride as the road goes under the A7 Toll Road, the rest of the road is a long and gentle winding climb with the odd gentle down hill thrown in.  The last 1km is downhill into the village. 

The pretty village of Istan itself has a few bars and restaurants to enjoy a pit stop once there!

But the highlight of the ride has to be the stunning views over the La Conception reservoir, the Mediterranean, Gibralter and the north coast of Africa as you make your way up the road, and the superb tight turns for the speed freaks as you make your way down the hill at speed! 

But a note of caution, in humid conditions the road can get wet even if there has been no rain for days, close to the mountain side.  But you see this on the way up at a slower pace!

How do I get to the Istan Road?

Istan is signposted from the main road through Marbella (Buliva del Principe Alfonso von Hohenloe), weswt of the centre in between Marbella and Puerto Banus, just west of the Puente Romano Hotel. The Lat Long is - 35 30 07 N 4 55 52 W.

From here you simply follow the Istan signposts. Green KM marker signs at the sides of the road let you know your progress. The village of Istan is just after the 14KM mark!

Where can I hire a bike in Marbella?

Try any of these operators who offer cycling in Marbella.

28km is a bit short!

If you ride through the top of the village, taking a steep road up past the sports ground, you can ride further north on a quiet and very scenic road up the back of Istan. This road is surfaced for about 3.5km before the road becomes 'off road'. If you are on a mountain bike and have legs of steel you can carry on a further 90km or more to Monda, Tollox and as far as Ronda!

What else is there to do in Istan?

There are loads of great things to do in Istan, including lots of fun activities on the reservoir and amazing mountain biking and hiking.

Anyone looking for a silly and fun day trip from Marbella? Júzcar the Smurf Village is the place for you.  A great place for the family, especially those with kids, or just as much fun for anyone with an appreciation for silliness and wanting a lift, Juzcar is a small village in the mountains near Ronda.

It was a typical small Spanish white washed village (Pueblo Blanco) until 2011, when the village's residents and council struck up a rather unique deal with the Sony Corporation to have the whole town painted Smurf Blue to help promote the newly released Smurf 3D film of the time.  Some 9000kg of blue paint was used, to paint pretty much every one of the 250 plus houses and buildings, incuding the town hall and church, Smurf Blue!

Its a great sight, and you cannot help but giggle to yourself and feel good as you walk around, at how funny and ridiculous it all is - just really great silly fun in the ever too serious world we live in!

However, as well as benefiting from the Sony agreement the 'Smurfing' of Juzcar had an incredible effect on this sleepy little village.  Tourism rocketed with corresponding positive effects on employment in the village.  As a result, at the end of the agreement, when the town was due to be put back to its 'white village' status, the villagers had a vote - Blue or White!

And the result of the vote on December 18th was a great victory for World Wide Silliness - a resounding LETS STAY BLUE!

Sure there is the odd one or two Grumpy Smurf houses but these do not taint the effect!  Get along and witness the Worlds First Smurf Village - or Pitufos as they are called in Spanish!

How to get there

Its about a hours drive, depending upon what and who you get stuck behind on the Ronda road!  Take the main road up to Ronda from San Pedro.  After cresting the pass, one the way down to Ronda, just after the leather outlet and petrol station you take a left turn signposted Cartajima.  Follow this road until you reach Juzcar.

Have fun! 

Any motorsports fans in Marbella in spring next year should take a trip up the Circuito Jerez de la Frontera, about 90 minutes drive from Marbella and watch the fastest F1 drivers and motorcycle racers in the world as they clash for the first time in the 2012 pre season tests.

The Jerez Racing circuit is pretty spectacular and has a wide range of high and low speed corners.  The dates for the Jerez Pre Season Tests are as follows:

7th - 9th February 2012 - F1 Pre season tests

How will ex world champion Kimi Raikkonen do on his return to F1?, will Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull still be dominant?, has McLaren got anything new in the cars of Button and Hamilton back to get them back to the front on a regular basis!  This will be the first opportunity to see!   

23rd - 25th March 2012 - MotoGP Pre season tests

The first opportunity to see the totally new for 2012 1000cc machines is race ready trim.  Has Ducati managed to find front end grip for Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden?, will the new Honda 1000's continue their 2011 dominance?, how will the Spanish top guys Lorenzo and Pedrosa go? can Cal Crutchlow get to grips better with the 1000cc than he was doing on the 800?   The end of season tests at Valencia looked good for Cal! Enjoy the first opportunity to see the 1000cc MotoGP bikes and the new CRT teams out on track together! 

Jerez Pre season tests hints and tips

It is normally very cheap to get in, less than 10 euros. If this is your first visit to Jerez, and you are wanting to see the whole circuit, then I would suggest attending the final day. On the first two days of the tests there are usually only a few corners open for spectators, the final three bends. If you are simply going for the spectacle and the raw noise and power, and this does not bother you then the first two days are generally less busy!

Getting To the Jerez Circuit from Marbella

It's a great and simple drive up to the circuit from Marbella, head towards Gibraltar on the toll road, turn right before Algeciras at Los Barrios and head up the stunning scenic inland road to Jerez, then take the Sevilla motorway before you reach the town of Jerez and the Circuit is just off this road!  Jerez is a great place to stop over, take in a sherry tour and enjoy the pretty town.  Medina Sidonia is also a great place to stop on route and enjoy a drink and cake in the main square.

And do not forget to put the 27th to 29th April in the diary - the weekend of the actual MotoGP World Championship bike racing.  A great event, with an incredible mad mad Spanish fuelled atmosphere!

Good news for petrolheads - apparently planning permission has been granted for a kart track to be built and operated (just re read that - I guess its pretty obvious no one is going to want to build one without operating it!) at Plaza Major near the airport at Malaga. 

 

According to the 25 year licence the site should be developed within 20 months and a plot of almost 7,000m2 has been allocated.  The site will include the circuit, spectator gallery and pit boxes.  Not many other details at the moment, but hopefully it will be a good facility. 

 

Since the closing of the Mijas Karting Track (which was actually in the Mijas bit of Fuengirola!), local residents looking for Karting in Marbella have struggled a bit.

 

There is of course the karting track at Funny Beach which is great for visitors to the Marbella area, but with such a small track it can get a little boring for residents.  Further afield there is excellent Karting in Campilos, with a great circuit, but its a bit of a drive from Marbella, and you have Karting at Ascari Race Resort but this is a little exclusive!

 

And of course you can throw off the shackles of a track, and make Andalucia your track, getting up into the stunning surrounding mountain scenery on a Buggy Safari from Marbella.

 

Roll on the opening of a new facility - the more choice the merrier!

Only three days to go to the opening of the ski slopes at Sierra Nevada, just a few hours drive from Marbella up the mountain from Granada.  And the great news is we seem to have more snow already than the Swiss and Austrian ski resorts! 

 

And warm sun to boot!  And more great news is the two recently opened new roads (see below article in this blog) make the Sierra Nevada ski slopes nearer than ever for travellers from the western Costa del Sol!

 

So get the warm clothes out and enjoy some of the great things to do in Sierra Nevada.  Take a look here for live snow conditions on the Sierra Nevada Webcams.

 

And for those who do not want to ski all day enjoy a trip down the mountain to enjoy the many great things to do in Granada.

 

Have fun!

 

Had another great day watching the racing up at Ascari Race Resort this weekend, with Experience Box Spain, who offer a range of great driving experiences up at the circuit.  

Motoring fans visiting, or living in the Marbella area really should try and make their way up to the Ascari Race Resort, because it’s a stunning facility, especially for those with petrol running through their veins.  

Walking around the marina at Puerto Banus you would think there were plenty of speed freaks in the area – or are these machines simply for posing in the port?

How to get to the Ascari race Resort

Before going up ensure you make an appointment – it’s not an arrive and drive in for a look around type of place!

Back to Ascari, the circuit is based about 5-10km north of Ronda, on the road to Campillos.  Two other greats reason for motoring fans to visit Ascari:

(1) the drive from Marbella to Ronda is amazing.  Great fun and ever popular with driving enthusiasts, motoring journalists and fast motorcyclists alike.  Great scenery, loads of curves and in the main not too much traffic.  And don’t drive up and back the same route – that’s boring.  The back way from Ronda to the coast, through El Burgo (a nice place to stop for a bite to eat and a drink), La Alozaina, Coin, etc is just as much fun, if not more so as it attracts less traffic.

(2) There is a great karting circuit at Campillos too, so try a two centre visit and make a day of it!

The ski slopes of Sierra Nevada near Granada will this week move about 30 minutes closer to Marbella and the rest of the western Costa del Sol.  This Friday see the opening of two very significant new roads which will allow ski fanatics from the area to reach the slopes of Sierra Nevada about 30 minutes quicker.

Just like September and October in 2009 and 2010, the Spanish summer seems to be struggling to come to an end again this year (2011) with unseasonably great weather, and busy beaches, all though October so far.  In fact we have yet to have a good rain storm so far this autumn, and in the past two years the local rivers have not started flowing until late December.

I had my first go at parasailing this weekend with Adam and his crew at Smile High Parasailing in the port at Fuengirola, and what a great experience it is!  

My wife, two daughters and I all went up together as a family which made it all the more fun.  Smile High can fly up to 6 people at a time!

To the relief of my nervous wife, things have moved on a great deal from the old days - you must have all seen the “you’ve been framed” type clips, of people running (or being dragged) along the beach behind a speedboat, and later landing in the sea. Well the good news is it no longer like this!  Smile High’s special boat makes it all incredibly easy, with a graceful launch from the deck at the back of the boat, and the ability to land back on the boat as dry as you were when you stepped of land, if you wished but this would be pretty boring! 

After getting strapped into the strong, and comfortable harnesses, and some fun but good safety advice, we were strapped to the sail and gently lifted into the air. 

Once underway we were all surprised at just how smooth it all was, rising gently to an incredible 600ft or so!  The sea was by no means flat, but up above it was incredibly smooth.  The views were stunning, as we made our way along the coast, looking down on the hotel roofs, sea, boats and birds below. 

After a great time, soaring high above the coast, we were gently winched down and ended our flight with a gentle dunking to the knees -. this is optional and you can choose you depth – ankles, knees, etc!

Once back on board we could enjoy the boat trip and the music, and have fun watching the others on our trip, a group of 5 guys and girls from Gibraltar in our case.  This team made the fatal mistake of splitting up into Boys and Girls to two separate flights!  Well you can probably guess what happened next! With the girls up in the air, when it came to dunking time the boys on the boat eagerly gave the captain the orders for depth!  But they were up next!  So the dunk depth for the boys, who flew last, was just as eagerly set by the girls!  Revenge was deep!

And then a fun high speed roller coaster ride back to the port.  An excellent experience and one which was real good fun.  Adam and his crew do their job very well!  Doing my job, I am lucky to try many great experiences, and this crew really knew how to provide fun.  They joined in, livened things up, had some great fun tunes and overall left the guests with the impression that this was the first trip of summer, not their millionth so far this year!  

Considering we were flying in September, towards the end of a busy summer season, this is a great credit to them.  Well done Adam and the team!  

Highly recommended!

For those that say the Costa del Sol is not the 'real Spain' I invite you to visit Fuengirola Feria, which runs from the 6th to the 12th October, and then repeat that statement ;-)  Fuengirola Feria is a Spanish as Paella, Killing Bulls, Throwing Donkeys of Towers, Olive Oil, Chorizo and Sardines on the beach! 

It's an amazing event, one which the folk of Fuengirola look forward to eagerly like children waiting for Christmas.  There is a buzz about the place already as the people of Fuengirola prepare for the biggest party of the year in the town.

Where is Fuengirola Feria?

The feria ground is near the centre of town, on your left about 400m east of the train station and main bus station on the main street (Avenida de Jesus Santos Rein).  Lat Long for you techies is 36 32 54.00 N and 4 37 09.90 W

How do I get to Fuengirola Feria?

From the West (Marbella end).  Take a bus to Fuengirola (these start in Marbella and stop off at numerous locations along the main N340 road) and then follow the above directions.

From the East (Malaga end).  Take the train to Fuengirola (these start at Malaga and stop at all of the main conurbations on route) and get off at last stop before Fuengirola (Los Boliches) and you will be able to see the Feria ground.

What can you expect to see? 

Real Spain!  People of all ages having a great time!  There is a fun fair with rides for all ages at the front of the feria ground, popular day and night.  To the rear and sides of the feria ground are the casitas (bar/restaurants).  All of the major clubs in the town (the polical parties, motor cycle clubs, social clubs, etc) have a casita.  Within these, which you are generally welcome to freely visit, the magic happens!  Live music, dancing (Flamenco of course), singing, eating and drinking will be top of the menu each day into the early hours!  And lets not forget the horses!  Hundreds and hundreds of them!  During the afternoon and early evening the town's folk ride their horses, some with splendid carriages, into town.  Immaculately turned out they look stunning outside all of the casitas, with their riders and carriage drivers enjoying a drink, in the warm autumn sun.  Fairy Lights - the feria always takes place under a carpet of spectacular lights.  The Feria really is a spanish sight to treasure.  Note if you are wanting to see the horses these have to leave before dusk!   

Use this link to see more images of Fuengirola Feria

When to visit Fuengirola feria?

Between the 6th and 12th of October is the sarcastic answer!  But to see the life I would suggest between 2 and 5pm, and for the night time action any time from 9:30pm until 5am.

Other Fuengirola Feria Tips!

Drinks to try - Rebujitos (a refreshing long drink made by mixing the dry cold white fino sherry with sprite), Fino (the cold dry white sherry) or Tinto Verano (which translates as summer red wine - red wine and sprite).

Smart dress!  Most of the Spanish, and even their horses, will be turned out immaculately in traditional dress.  The ladies in the tight fitting Gitanos (Flamenco Dresses) and the men looking a little like bull fighters in their smart outfits.  While I am not suggesting you turn up in a dinner suit (you would look a bit of a dick!), you may also feel uncomfortable if you turn up in shorts and a T shirt!

Buying food and drinks in the bar - they casitas tend to be cashless.  In order to buys drinks at the bar you will need vouchers which will be sold at one till in the place.  You buy say 10 euros worth of vouchers (paper tickets) and then use these to buy your drinks.  To be honest its a bit of a bloody pain! 

Go do it!

Get along and enjoy the feria - I would suggest an afternoon visit to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the sights and sounds of the horses.  Then go again on an evening and get into the casitas to join in the dancing, drinking and merry making!