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
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ReplyDelete"tat" would be known as "junk" in the USA Bob,its an old english saying
ReplyDeleteHi,I Went to Torremolinos in 1970 it was lovely, nice town nice beach.we stayed in a hotel called the Azor which I've been told its now called the Royal Costa hotel. I'm planning to go back for the memories.Thankyou
ReplyDeleteSteve walsh
https://www.traveler.es/viajeros/articulos/guia-historia-de-torremolinos-turismo-de-libertad-y-playa-que-hacer/13070/amp?__twitter_impression=true
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ReplyDeletePlease, do us all a favor and when you post your stories, put your name at the end. I know the site allows you to post as "anonymous" but that doesn't allow any of us who maybe knew you to fill in the context. Thanks. Bob Reed
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember James Michener arriving in Torremolinos April 1968 to research all the local activities and colorful citizens in town. He hung out in Bar Central almost daily. The end result was The Drifters. Our names were changed when the book went to press…
ReplyDeleteI read that book as a teen (growing up in South Africa) and that was the first time I'd heard of Torremolinos. Fast forward 45+ years, I now live in Valencia, Spain, but am actually writing this comment on my second night in Torre. My first visit here and I rather like this town. It's not perfect, but it feels real and there's a sense of freedom here.
DeleteI lived in Carihuela in ‘69-‘70. Lived in an apartment above the Argentine restaurant El Cacique. Initially roomed with Mike who worked at I wanna say the Smugglers Saloon but was maybe called Figaros run by the infamous John Mitchell. I remember quite the cadre of characters including Jock Stern crippled and in pain accompanied by a young attractive companion who would inject him with morphine occasionally. I worked making leather goods in a boutique run by a ex-nazi soldier who had served time as a prisoner of war in the states. Later I became friends with 3 Dutch guys and we started a profitable leather business supplying our wears to the boutiques up and down the coast. At the time I thought I was living in heaven. Had VW bus a Triumph motorcycle and lived on the beach. Great memories great times.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Smugglers summer of 69. The Argentine restaurant opened that year right upstairs. I thought the owner was an French Canadian named Danny
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