If you walk out to the furthest reaches of the Puerta del Mar beach – in front of the Eroski supermarket – you will have to cover 200 metres before reaching the water. This extensive area of beach is thanks to the parallel breakwater, and in only a few years!

Having walked out to this point, turn round again and look back towards the road and you will see something that normally people in passing boats see – an attractive coastline studded with palm trees.

I have been an often and vociferous critic of Benavides’ palm-tree craze. So many shade-providing native trees have been chopped down to make way for these often-scrawny ‘tropical appendages.’ Yet standing out there, on the widow’s peak of beach you can see what an impressive change these palms have brought about.

Therefore I have to admit here he’s done a good job of the beach in front of the Paseo del Altillo and Reina Sofía.

On a similarly appreciative note, it has to be admitted that Almuñécar still provides beach facilities at the beginning of November, whereas our two other coastal neighbours, Salobreña and Motril, packed up all their walkways and shut down their beach toilets and showers on the 15th of September.

That’s it, Benny, it’s not too bright for you in this section from here on in, I’m afraid…
[nggallery id=58]