It looks like the summer is finally here on the Costa del Sol, and there are a vast range of things to see and do in the sunshine.

As we have friends staying from the UK for a week, we decided to take them to Puerto Banus last Saturday, as they had heard so much about the ´Spanish St. Tropez´ but never had never visited the Costa del Sol before.

After stopping in Marbella en route, to take a look around Orange Square and the Paseo, we then decided on the spur of the moment to enjoy a boat trip to Puerto Banus on board the Fly Blue Catamaran. Leaving Puerto Deportivo, Marbella around every 30 minutes, the trip costs just €8 per person or €15 return, and takes you right into the heart of the Puerto Banus Marina.

Arriving in Puerto Banus by boat (even if it´s not your own luxury yacht), was a wonderful way for our friends to see the port and Marbella from the sea. The trip takes around 20 minutes, and we decided to have lunch in Banus once we arrived.

Being a bank holiday, the port was busy but not too over-crowded. Much to our friends delight, the usual Puerto Banus posers didn´t let us down, and a convoy of Bentleys, Rolls Royce Cabriolets and even a gold Lotus inched their way around the Marina at a snail´s pace, just to make sure everyone had seen them.

We did the usual tourist trip, and walked around the marina, along to the end where the biggest boats are moored, and stopped off for a drink in Sinatra Bar. This place is legendary in Puerto Banus, and it is busy from morning to night. Situated near to the entrance of Puerto Banus (petrol station end), this iconic bar is a favourite with stars and celebrities, and it´s a great meeting place on the front line of Puerto Banus.

The Hard Rock Café Puerto Banus
After a few glasses of sangria, we strolled along to the Hard Rock Café just in front of El Corté Ingles department store, as it had been recommended to us by friends. And wow – what great food. On entering the café you are met by friendly waitresses who enquire whether you are planning to eat, drink or both, and then escorted to one of the comfortable tables in or outside on the terrace.

The Hard Rock Café is spacious, clean and well designed, and the staff are attentive and friendly (yes really!). We ordered a couple of cocktails to start, including strawberry mojitos and piña coladas, while we perused the extensive menu.

There is so much to choose from that you will be spoilt for choice at the Hard Rock, and favourite dishes include New York Strip Steak, home made 10oz burgers with bacon, cheese, pickles and home made coleslaw, and some of the most delicious chicken and rib combo dishes you will ever taste.

We plumped for the signature dish of traditional authentic burgers with monterey jack cheese, bacon and pickles, honey mustard chicken with salad bowl, onion rings and a delicious pulled pork sandwich with fries.
Being the gannets we are, we decided to go for the combo starter between four of us, which included a delicious choice of Santa Fe Spring Rolls, Hickory Smoked Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Potato Skins and Tupelo Chicken Tenders served with a choice of four different sauces – very naughty but nice!

If you still have any room left after that, try the home baked cheesecake which was the biggest dessert I have ever seen. Delicious as it was, there was enough for four people, so if you only want a taste, ask for extra spoons.
A small shop just inside the entrance to the café sells Hard Rock memorabilia, including T-shirts, badges and caps, which was ideal for our friends who wanted a souvenir of the Hard Rock Café Marbella for their kids at home in the UK.

All in all, we enjoyed a great meal, the quality of the meat dishes and burgers was exceptional and the portions are massive. We will definitely go back, and the Hard Rock is a great place for a birthday party.

Feria de los Pueblos Fuengirola
The next day we took a taxi down from Mijas Golf to the Feria de los Pueblos in Fuengirola, where we enjoyed another great day out on the Costa del Sol.

As temperatures soared to 26 degrees on Sunday, there was no lack of places to sit and enjoy the fun at this annual feria.

Different countries are represented throughout the feria, and different food, drinks and entertainment is offered in the casetas of the fairground. We enjoyed some delicious sushi in the Japanese tent, and were treated to some typical Japanese dancing. We then moved on to Thailand, where our friends enjoyed some typical Thai food including noodles, chicken satay and spring rolls.

The German Oompah band created a great atmosphere near the centre of the feria, and the bratwurst sausages went down well with the kids.

At the end of the feria ground was the Mexican tent, where we enjoyed some of the best mojitos in town, stuffed full with plenty of rum and fresh fruit.

The Feria de los Pueblos is no place for the faint-hearted, as its loud, brash party-style atmosphere is reminiscent of most ferias in Spain. We had a great time, and even joined in with a highland fling in the Scottish tent.
Surprisingly, England was not represented. The South American countries were well represented, and the dancing in the Paraguayan tent was fantastic.

Feria de los Pueblos provides a great day out for all the family, and it is held every year at Fuengirola Fair Ground, usually over the bank holiday weekend at the end of April/beginning of May, between Thursday and Sunday, and the show goes on until the early hours of the morning.

Last weekend reminded us of how lucky we are to live in this little piece of paradise in Andalucia, and now the better weather is upon us, look out for more special events and ferias on the Costa del Sol. Don´t miss the annual Marbella Feria, from 7th-12th June, 2010.