Mariana's apartment is extremely clean and very stylish. On our arrival, Mariana & Javier were very efficient in dealing with our 'later than expected' arrival. They had very kindly, left fresh bread & other lovely things in the fridge for us. Although there is no balcony in this apartment, the living room window opens fully, to give a feeling of a really open space. After a few days of familiarity with the area, we realised that the local amenities are very good also, such as the local café, a decent supermarket & pharmacy etc. We could walk into town in circa 10 minutes. On trying to speak some Spanish, the locals tend to respond in English, but if you persevere, they will eventually allow you to speak some Spanish. We would highly recommend Mariana's flat & as she lives nearby, it is also reassuring to know she is there if you need her - however, we didn't need to bother her again after our arrival. Do visit here, the apartment is everything that it is advertised as. Malaga is a beautiful city & if you get a chance, hire bikes from Kay Farrell (near tourist office) & cycle to El Palo - it is an easy cycle and good fun in the good weather. Have the grilled sardines with a nice glass of local plonk! Other restaurants that we liked were 'Beluga' & 'Vino Mio' - quiet expensive but great food. Thanks again to Mariana & Javier for their relaxed & professional attitude. Kind regards from Breda, Al & Joe.