Sounds bad, lets hope the plant now will be constructed without much further delays. http://www.diariosur.es/v/20120612/a...-20120612.html

kimhe. reading that I am not going to place my bets as to when it is going to be finished.

Neither am I.

As said, seems to be a never-ending story, but if it comes to threats of the beaches being closed etc hopefully they will get into action.

ashcanannie - thanks for the public transportation advice. From what I've read so far, my intinerary shouldn't require any backtracking or car rental. I will continue to research though just to be sure. This will be my first trip to Andalucia. I'm sincerely hoping all the cities/towns don't blend together into sameness.

All other posters about Nerja, thanks for all the information and warnings. As the water will be too cold for me to swim, I will find a hotel with a pool & stick to that.

I'd like to thank everyone for all the helpful information you've given me. I'll be off the airways for 17 days as I leave for Germany tomorrow. Vacation! Yahoo! Plus, the temperatures in Germany will be much better than the 100+F we're experiencing here in the US.

< I'm sincerely hoping all the cities/towns don't blend together into sameness>

Small chance for that, and large cities such as Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada and Málaga are all composed of very different districts.

In Sevilla, I recommend to explore the Triana district across the city river Guadalquivir, a vibrant part of town, a cradle of flamenco culture and "a village within the city". http://www.andalucia.com/cities/seville/triana.htm
Start the night along riverside Calle Betis in Triana: http://www.sevilla5.com/activities/goingout/betis.html

I also love the Arenal district where the Maeztransa bullring and the Maeztranza theater are major landmarks. Close to the famous and touristy Santa Cruz area, but a much more local feel and fabulous tapas bars and restaurants on almost every corner: http://www.sevillaonline.es/english/...tre/arenal.htm

You should also drop by the San Lorenzo area, a 15 min walk north of the Cathedral and close to what the sevillanos themselves call the centre. Here are also two plain fabulous tapas bars, Eslava and Dos de Mayo:
Eslava: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/2008/02/eslava/
Dos de Mayo: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...Andalucia.html

The bohemian and working-class Macarena/Alameda district is also well worth a visit. Here you can see the old city walls, the Basilica de Macarena with the city's most beloved Virgen by the same name (she's extremely important for the sevillanos) and everyday life in streets that also includes a lot of churches, convents etc. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevi...na-alameda.htm

In Granada, the old Moorsih quarter Albaicín is unlike anything else in Europe: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada/albaicin.htm

Kimhe is very fond of Nerja, but sincerely, you cannot compare it with Malaga. (I do not mean it is better or worse, just different), Nerja is a coastal town and Malaga a big capital. Hotel with pool in Malaga that I recommend: AC Malaga Palacio.

josele,
therefore my point was that they are not comparable, two completely different "things".

My apologies for not replying in quite a while. Kimhe, thank you so much for the neighborhood recommendations! Your suggestions will make for wonderful wandering. But, unfortunately, my trip to Spain has been delayed a year. I won't get there until 2014. My cousin has now decided she wants to join me (lord help me!)for a trip next summer 2013 & she wants to return to Provence. I LOVE Provence but wanted to do something different for my big birthday. Instead, I'll be playing chief, cook, tour guide, planner & executioner in France. LOL.