On Sunday the 22nd, the Salobreña Blue Zones came into operation – the day passed without the predicted rape, pillage or hamster lynching.

There was plenty of parking spaces available along the front, for a change, so tourists didn’t have any trouble parking next to their favourite, seafront restaurant or bar, and those that wanted to pass the morning or afternoon on the beach could park their cars a dozen metres or so from were they chose to set down their beach towel, for the price of three euros for five hours.

The meter maids were out but with instructions to be merciful and restrict their actions to merely warning those that had parked without a ticket – that will change on the 1st of July, of course.

Parking was more difficult to find – but findable, nevertheless – on the parallel return road, for those who had other plans for their three euros.

So it all went without a hitch – I admit I’m quite disappointed, mind…