007 Travel story: Málaga (SPAIN) 2018

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3 August 2018

Today´s Bond locations:

The sky above Torremolinos

Bar Flor

Plaza de Toros La Malagueta

Traveling by car

From: Marbella (Spain)
To: Málaga (Spain)

We continued driving along the Costa del Sol towards Málaga. Did you know that even though the helicopter aerial battle of “You Only Live Twice” (1967) was mainly shot in Japan, there were some scenes also filmed in and around of the town and above the skies of Torremolinos. Reason for that was because the film crew was not allowed the shoot the scenes that included explosives, in Japan – where they filmed above the nature reserve area – so some shots of gyrocopter Little Nellie and other helicopters involved, was shot in Spain.

As we approached Málaga, there started to be quite long queues and we had to return our rental car on time. We did not have enough time to fill the tank of the car before returning it, so there came some extra cost. So, time for one travel tip: Check the location of the gas station close to where you return your rental car and save enough time for possible queues! Hopefully we learned the lesson after this 🙂

After we returned our car, we checked in to our last hotel on this journey.

Accommodation during 03-04 August 2018

Hotel: Hotel Ilunion Málaga **** (550m from centre)
Address: Paseo Marítimo Antonio Machado, 10, Malaga Centro, 29002 Málaga, Spain
Booked: Via Hotel’s own pages
Price:  142,12 EUR / 1 night (Early booking 30 days before)
Breakfast: Included (14 €/person)
Wi-Fi: Free
Parking: 11 €/day, private parking
Check-in: From 14.00 
Check-out: Until 12.00
Room type: Triple room (31m2)

Málaga

Málaga is a municipality, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 571,026 in 2018, it is the second-most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth-largest in Spain. It lies on the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) of the Mediterranean, about 100 kilometers (62.14 miles) east of the Strait of Gibraltar and about 130 km (80.78 mi) north of Africa. (Wikipedia)

In Málaga we took a taxi and headed to a Bond place called Cafeteria Bar Flor, where 007 visited in Raymond Benson‘s Bond novel “DoubleShot” (2000). Address of the bar is Calle Cervantes, 4.

“They killed time in Bar Flor, the sidewalk café directly across the street from Málaga’s Plaza de Toros La Malagueta. Bond sat with Heidi at one of the sidewalk tables, while Hedy, wearing the red wig, a scarf and sunglasses, sat inside the cafeteria, apart from them. She could hear their conversation by means of an earpiece and a small microphone attached to a button on Heidi’s blouse.”

Raymond Benson: “DoubleShot” (2000)

After we had taken some snacks in Bar Flor, we walked to Plaza de Toros La Malagueta, which was really close to Bar Flor. Unfortunately the place was closed, so we were able to take only some pictures outside.

“It was a busy little place, crowded with anxious spectators waiting for the doors of the bullring to open. The two slot machines made a tremendous racket, and the air was buzzing with patrons’ exuberance. These were people who loved bullfighting, and bullfighting is as widely discussed there as football is debated in Britain.”

Raymond Benson: “DoubleShot” (2000)

Then we walked to the La Malagueta beach where people were playing beach volley and having a good time.

In the evening we still had some time to enjoy our hotel’s pool and eat some Spanish food. Once again the most enjoyable vacation in Spain! But now it was time to say goodbye. We will be back next time!

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