The Mijas Surprise

MIJAS, SPAIN. Coming from Bajondillo beach in Torremolinos, we travelled for 30 minutes up to the town of Mijas. Mijas took us by surprise. First because we did not know that the town is situated up in the mountains and close with the clouds; second, because we were not aware that we will be seeing a piece of Santorini (or what I imagine Santorini to be as I have not been to Santorini yet) in Spain. The road nor the trees we saw during the drive did not give any clue either of what we will be seeing and honestly it had been a good thing really as expectations can sometimes dim an experience or encourage some filter made up with preconceived notions allowing us to not fully experience an experience. What appealed to me most is the fact that there is such a place like Mijas; that it has numerous vendors of caramelized almonds that I got addicted to; that I can ride a carriage powered by a donkey or donkeys if I got tired walking; that I can have a drink or snack on the streets with my friends without having to hurry and without worrying that cars might run us over; that the walls of the houses are painted white while the roofs are in the same shade of brown; that even though the alleys are narrow, cars can still fit in those (and mind you, they drive fast and furious!); that the place is quiet but not the eerie kind of quiet; that blue-colored flower pots abound the place; that it has the best chocolate I've ever tasted and I bet it is the best in the whole wide world, and I am not kidding; that I can tour around the whole town for a day or so because it is that small and cozy; that I can restaurant hop just because there's a lot in the area and just because I feel like it; that the streets are either tiled or cobbled; and so much more. Funny how I can ramble on and on about Mijas as the list that I have here of why I love it is never ending and yet I was only able to experience the place for a day. I guess that love at first sight is true, not in its purest sense maybe, but it seems true. I can say that this place sums up everything that I look for in a town or a city. The peace, the slight peeking from the sun, the laidback life, the chocolate, the feeling it gives; the colors; the simplicity; the amazing view: it has all I ever wanted! Told you, I still cannot stop rambling! I could not wait to go back for you, mi amor!