Manilva Puerto de la Duquesa - up and coming

Today we are at  La Duquesa, a newer area of the coast  which has undergone considerable development over the last 3 years.  If you are driving towards Gibraltar, La Duquesa is on your way between Estepona and Sotogrande. It is probably the final major holiday resort location in the Malaga region before you enter Cadiz.  Within the area you will find  port of Duquesa, with its international restaurants and boutiques.

The port provides a full marina service for enthusiastic sailors, not to mention plenty of alternatives for those who prefer to admire the boats from the safety of one of the wide variety of restaurants, intimate bars and small cafes dotted around the port.

Roads leading away from the port take you to the hills of Duquesa and its golf course, the Duquesa Golf and Country Club. At a first glance it holds that stereotypical appeal to Brits that you find in most of the coastal areas with its British influenced pubs and choice of international cuisine.

However, before you get snobby and turn your nose up at the thought of cliched Brits downing pints in the sun, let me tell you a thing or two about La Duquesa or should I say the Duchess. Without a monstrous tower block in sight the majority of residents enjoy a view of some kind whether it be sea, mountain or golf course. However those same residents are more likely to be distracted by the pot holed roads and unfinished areas that affect their daily lives.It is difficult to imagine whilst tucking into your biryani that you are never more than a ten minute walk away from the farmers picking their grapes in the surrounding vineyards, preparing to make the famous Manilva wine.

Likewise, whilst some are enjoying a morning round of golf, five minutes away, others are just returning with their daily catch or are already repairing their nets ready to do the same again tomorrow.

Blink and you will miss it but the tiny village boasts a castle soon to become a local museum featuring local artefacts depicting traditional local life. On the subject of village life most Duquesa tourists wonÌt even contemplate venturing up the hill to the  white washed village of Manilva to sample a taste of the ÎrealÌ Spain. And if they do, they arenÌt likely to understand a word of local conversation about the recent corruption scandal. In fact, the Duchess herself will only hear it translated through the expat grapevine.

You see, despite living right next door to its very Spanish neighbours, Duquesa manages to retain a very British feel. It appeals to the British buyer seeking British facilities without the hustle and bustle of Marbella and the like.

Well this is all for today, join us next tuesday when Candice will be back and talking about the many advantages of not learning spanish...

Text:  Susan Pedalino
from www.eyeonspain.com

	Manners in Spain When you are feeling rebellious you can go out and behave in a way that feels downright aggressive...		Are British hopeless relocators? Relocating to Spain? Do you want to integrate with the Spanish successfully?
	La Duquesa - Manilva At a first glance it holds that stereotypical appeal to Brits that you find in most of the coastal areas...		Puerto Banus The prime party spot on the Costa del Sol. has become the place to come for stag and hen weekends...
	Friends in Spain Making friends plays such a major part in adapting to your new life in Spain...		Spanish friends When you think of the Spanish you think of warm, good natured, open, approachable people....
	Customer service in Spain In Spain the customer is always wrong! In fact, here you are bottom...		Expat drinking to excess A regular indulgence with many people easily polishing off a bottle or two a night...