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During the last 7 years, Marbella has changed – now instead of that one bar at the bottom of the hill in Elviria, you can find another 6 or 7 just like it. We have designer boutiques, English hairdressers, a Waitrose supermarket, fancy restaurants – so many things that I could never have imagined would be on my doorstep.
And yet, I fear it will soon all change. Maybe not for the worse, but change is definitely on the horizon.
With the reduction in the number of Spanish property buyers and British tourists to the area, coupled with the mass exodus of the pseudo-wealthy expat population that dominated the real estate market at its peak, shopkeepers and restaurateurs on the Costa del Sol are in a state of panic.Many real estate businesses have already given up and closed their doors, and many more commercial units are following suit. In the last few months alone, we have witnessed the demise of the Costa del Sol´s biggest gymnasium, furniture retailers, countless bars and restaurants, and only last week, a leading British-based hairdressers shut up shop in Puerto Banus.
It´s tragic…and yet I guess it´s just one of life´s natural cycles. I said to a friend the other night that I reckon that the Costa del Sol will soon become just like it was back in 2001 – there may be fewer shops and services for us to enjoy, but this will allow people to begin to enjoy the things that brought me here 7 years ago – the relaxed, simple Spanish lifestyle, the best weather in Europe, and a safe and secure environment.
All the other things will come again.
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