Gabriella, our local guide, said, “Porta Banus was named after Jose Banus, the property developer who envisioned a marina of luxury yachts and cars.” Indeed, our eyes were treated to the jaw-dropping yachts and cars that are not seen on a regular basis on the road. “Look, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Mercedes Benzes, Bentleys they are all parked one after another. Look at the yachts,” she pointed out to us. Even with my untrained eyes, the yachts were monstrous in size and were of premium standards, a far cry from the dinghy I was practicing on when I was trying my hand at sailing. Luxury brands litter the shops, much like Rodeo Drive. It was indeed indulgent, extravagant and an unabashed exhibition of wealth. Porta Banus definitely has European luxury written all over it.

Approximately 8 kilometers away is the old town of Marbella, where there are still the narrow alley ways of the Historical Center or the Casco Antiguo. As we were walking the alleyways, Gabriella continued, “It is also the fisherman’s village where most of the fishermen lived because of its proximity to the sea. Nowadays, because of its inherent charm, people, not necessarily fishermen, live here. Every July, the fishermen of Marbella take the image of Our Lady of Carmen out on a procession in the sea.”

It was so heartwarming to know that tradition still has a place in the heart for the people of this town. As proof, we actually witnessed a mock procession of school children as they were guided by their teachers while carrying a miniature version of a carroza mounted on their shoulders. A hand-held bell was rung when they needed to stop, and rung again when they needed to proceed.

Another staple that we were able to experience in this quaint town were the churros con chocolate. Their churros interestingly looked like snakes asleep. It was all wound up, no ridges, unlike the ones I was used to seeing back home in Manila, and is a simple puff pastry dunked in a cup of gooey chocolate. It was pure joy.