Salobrena -a home from home !

Posted by:

Mark Clifton

Chairman

www.icsalobrena.com

Salobreña is quite special. It’s almost a secret. Having said that, there is plenty of information already available online if you begin looking for it. So here is a little from my own personal perspective. I’m someone who came to find Salobreña when I was looking for a change of lifestyle and a bit of adventure.

I nearly didn’t find it myself. Everyone is so familiar with Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, Costa Del Sol. But Costa Tropical? Maybe not so much. That’s really quite surprising when you know it as it is a little gem. For a start it is served by three airports! The nearest is Granada, but there’s also Malaga and Almeria with 75 minutes.

I always say it’s in the Goldilocks’ zone of the Spanish coast. It is on the gorgeous Mediterranean but normally it’s not ‘too’ hot in summer and it’s mild in winter. It’s the climate that puts the “Tropical” into Costa Tropical Spain. It’s perfect for the more exotic produce that just can’t flourish so well in other parts of Spain, not to mention a lot of Europe. You can see why if you journey down to Salobreña from Northern Spain passing the Costa Brava and Costa Blanca. Coming from Almeria you pass a browner, arid landscape which opens to lush, verdant greens as you get closer to Salobreña and the Costa Tropical.

Classic andalusian fried fish with lemon

” …I like Spanish dishes in restaurants, free tapas in bars, flamenco at fiestas and traditions kept alive by friends and neighbours in the community, whether it’s the gravity of processions in Semana Santa, the fun of San Juan which heralds the joys of summer, or the highlight of approaching autumn with Romeria. There is not really a “Low season”……”

One of the first things you realise about Salobreña is that another of its particularly unique benefits of location is being on the beautiful Mediterranean coast yet less than an hour from the awesome Sierra Nevada. Famously you can go skiing in the morning in the Sierra and then pop down to Salobreña to soak up the sun on the coast and maybe enjoy a barbecue! Okay, I’m not a skier myself, so that wasn’t a particular influence for myself, but I do love to look out towards the North and the Beautiful Sierra and in Winter and Spring to see the crisp white snow caps on the mountains – it’s quite magical.

But its’ not just location that makes Salobreña special. Even though it’s a beautiful coastal village, it really is a slice of traditional Spain. Of course, people up and down the coast of Spain all claim their favourite place is too, everyone has their own ideal. 

Costa Tropical exotic fruits produced

Salobrena valley and white town

When I approached Salobreña for the first time it was with hope of an adventure and a change of life. I wasn’t disappointed. Salobreña is now my home – es mi barrio! Whether you are looking for a holiday or even something a bit more permanent. It has so much to offer.It is hard to capture everything Salobreña has come to mean to me in a few paragraphs, but I couldn’t close without mentioning another aspect of life here that has become very special to me. Whilst I totally embrace the flavour and culture of Spain, Salobreña has a thriving community for anyone, who, like me comes from outside of Spain. It has it’s very own International Club – The International Club of Salobreña which is now a group of over 200 visitors to the Costa Tropical area who come from all corners of the globe but now spend some, if not all of their time here in the beautiful part of Southern Spain.

Meeting weekly at Hotel Salobreña Suites, it’s members can get together for a coffee, a chat, take part in activities like quizzes, book swaps, Mah Jong. We even have our very own ukulele group! There’s also informative talks, presentations and coach trips to places of interest in our area (and there’s lots to choose from!). I have the honour of being our current Chairperson and would encourage anyone who is looking to make the most of their time here in Costa Tropical to look us up – you can find our website at www.icsalobrena.com and of course we are on Facebook too.

“…The International Club of Salobreña which is now a group of over 200 visitors to the Costa Tropical area who come from all corners of the globe but now spend some, if not all of their time here in the beautiful part of Southern Spain”…

Pictures.  1. Rosary Pilgrimage Salobrena, October. 2. Lantana camara flowers. 3. Salobrena valley and white town. 4. Salobrena old town square.

“..It’s the climate that puts the “Tropical” into Costa Tropical. It’s perfect for the more exotic produce that just can’t flourish so well in other parts of Spain, not to mention a lot of Europe…”