Sunny Spain

We'd been hoping to go to our favourite restaurant in Almuñecar, where we have previously had the best ever Valentine-themed lunch. But they are closed on Tuesdays, and they weren't about to make an exception for my birthday. Shame on them.

Instead we took the bus to Nerja for lunch at Oliva, I think I was the first person to review this restaurant on Trip Advisor, in 2011; it's now very well established as a top-end restaurant. We had the tasting menu again; initially we were slightly disappointed because we'd had all the aperitifs and starters before, but it was more than redeemed by a fabulous fish course of monkfish with shellfish sauce and a divine cauliflower and cumin puree, followed by perfectly cooked venison with the kind of intense sauce that only professional chefs can do. The cappuccino themed dessert was very good too. So we felt very satisfied as we dawdled back to the bus stop. Chilling at home for the evening -- a bottle of fizz may well be cracked open later.

Blip: the weather in Nerja. We didn't bother with the beach.