I love Torremolinos. You should too. Don't believe what they write, it's mostly lies. OK, on the surface of it the town center is a bit grim, despite best efforts in recent years by the new mayor to clean things up a bit. But this weird and wonderful town - Torroles - was once a truly chic destination. True story.
When I walk around the town centre today I see past the empty shop units, the ugly tower blocks and the scruffy discount shops selling tat. Torremolinos is like a slowly rotting onion. Each period of the town's colourful past is still present where ever you look, as if its history is represented by a thick crust of paint which is peeling off layer by layer revealing years of past events.
The town is usually written off as a tacky town, devoid of charm, a victim of mass tourism, a concrete monstrosity. Malaga airport is just a short drive away, so unless you're heading to the city or west toward Nerja you're gonna pass it. Yet most guide books warn travellers to "keep moving" to keep driving, "nothing to see here" - as if it was a crime scene. For those of us who still remember the past, it deserves to be remembered in its entirety. From the chic 50s, the bohemian 60s, the disco 70s and package holiday 80s.
My name is Alfredo Bloy-Dawson, I started this blog in 2012after leaving my job as a editor of an English language newspaper here on the Costa del Sol. In 2013 my first daughter, Violet, was born followed rapidly by my second girl, Zoe. Although this has taken most of my attention away from the blog, thankfully it seems to have gained a life of its one with many fantastic memories being added on a regular basis.
In 2017 this blog's most active contributor Bob Reed aka 42inblue kindly accepted to co-author it, to help keep the memories coming.
We invite you to submit your memories, stories or adventures as well as old photographs related to Torremolinos which you are happy to share with me and others, and are willing to let me use those memories for a piece I will eventually compile into a written feature or perhaps a book of sorts.
We want to hear your stories and see your pictures.
You can leave a comment on any of the sections or email me.
If you read or see anything which is not accurate, please let us know, we want it to be right.
Let's record our memories of Torremolinos before they disappear entirely.
Enjoy!
Alfredo Bloy Dawson & Bob Reed
