I bumped with an ex co-worker yesterday in a company where I will be working next week and we just couldn't contain ourselves from laughing as we saw our managers from previous work applying for the same job!

"Marbella Is incest, it truly is!" Miss X she said with her thick American accent.  She told me how everytime she applies for a job she would always see former officemates, friends and acquaintances who would eventually become co-workers again, for the nth time.

Miss X's metaphor was a bit strong for my taste although it was right on target.  Marbella is a small world in itself and if you've lived here for more than 10 years, chances are you would know everyone by their first names, the companies they have worked for, even the people they slept with. With the influx of people around the world who choose to live here every year, job competition becomes tougher and the chances to find a truthfully good and legal one is almost impossible. Last week, a seemingly clean and decent man asked me for a euro on the street.  He said his back was aching from his overweight backpack and was looking for job.  He was here a couple of weeks from England and obviously ran out of  money thinking that finding a bar job would be a walk in the park. I felt bad for him but on the other hand, I thought he was stupid enough to pack his bag and come here without any definite plan on how to survive.The coast thrives on tourism as we all know and although the summer is a great opportunity to earn some dough, there are just so much people, not a lot of job and tourists would rather go to Turkey, Bulgaria or Disneyland where they can experience value for their money.

 Anyway.

 I would rather compare Marbella's current job hunting atmosphere to a one night stand rather than incest.  You get a job, everything is well and lovely until you wake up the next day the office was already closed down, or raided by the police or your employer flees the country without a trace, with all your hard earned money and commissions. Then you find another one to bed with err...to work with and then you realize your boss is a total a-hole and would fire you for the next gorgeous man/woman that comes along. Too bad, you don't have a contract, secial security or even a contract to slap his face with, you don't have any options but to leave your love den with some souvenirs from him---perhaps a post-it, a pen and if your lucky, you can steal his stapler or calculator. awww.

But don't lose hope. There is always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You might just be lucky to have a good, legal, permanent job after your 10th ONS.  By then, you will meet the company you will spend your life with and live happily ever after.

As for me, I have found something that I am very keen on doing---I've just landed a writing job for a new  magazine. Still hush hush but I will definitely keep you posted!  They found me through my blog which was by the way featured for the third time in fabsugar.com ( a US website for fashion , style etc.) as a must read for the weekend. (hahaha. shameless self-advertising, I know. Sorry.)

So..so..so..I have been away for a couple of weeks here in yourmarbella and thanks to the some great people I met on this site who e-mail me now and then to ask how I am.  The truth is, I really enjoyed my sabbatical month (yeah it's been one whole month I was out of the ratrace) even though my bank account wasn't too happy about it. 

I did some things I think all of us should try at least once while we are here in this country---to travel and know a little more about culture.  The experience was exhilirating and I recommend to escape the hustle and bustle of Marbella even just for a weekend to see what the the other parts the region especially the countryside has to offer.

First stop:  Antequera.

Twenty-two miles north of the city of Malaga, Antequera which is known as the heart of Andalucia, is a perfect getaway place if you  want some serenity in your life even just for a day.  About one and a half hour by car, my friend and I visited the quaint, and picturesque town which is famous as well for it's bullfighting.  The  road to this place is breathtaking with acres and acres of olive plantations and dramatic rocky mountains. 

A friend and I had lunch in the famous bullring restaurant..yes, inside the bullring itself and is called...what else? Restaurante Plaza de Toro.  The restaurant was built in the beginning of the 19th century and boasts not only of its history but of course, the very best of Spanish Gastronomy. Famous bullfighters dine here after their "corrida" and is a favorite hang out to well-known flamenco singers. 

The interiors of the restaurant is breathtaking, you would be transported back to the grandeur of olden Spain. It is located in underneath the bullring itself which makes it intimate and achingly romantic, perfect if you are with a special someone.

The food obviously is worth of a Michelin star and they have a massive wine collection from all over the country. Believe me, I would even exaggerate the superlatives to rave about the restaurant.  You have to try it.

After lunch, we walked around town to see the churches and basically to observe the town whose pace even if much slower than of the coast, still celebrates their heritage, culture the good old fashion laid back lifestyle reminding me  why we are all here for in this part of the world, to begin with.

(to be continued) 

 Next on Marbellastyle the blog..Barcelona and Granada!