Hola! I’m so happy that you found this blog about my hometown, Fuengirola.
My name is Johanna, but many of my friends call me Jo. Born in Helsinki and raised in Fuengirola, my family moved here in 1990. This means that I’ve now spent most of my life here—aside from a few years in London during my early twenties.
(In fact, it was standing on a rainy DLR platform in Canary Wharf one day that made me realise I HAD to get back to Spain where I’d spent all those amazing, sun-kissed years as a teen. Now, almost fifty, here I still am.)
Why this website?
I want to show you the Fuengirola I know and love. It amuses, baffles and sometimes annoys me when visitors spend only a few days here—and then complain about one aspect of their holiday and make it out like that one negative factor sums up the whole town (or even all of Spain). Like the guy on Tripadvisor who felt the waves in the sea were “too big” and gave Fuengirola’s beaches a 1-star review.
Sure, Fuengirola has its less attractive qualities and spots, like most destinations. But there’s so much more to this town than the half square mile of hotels and bars by the port. This blog is my way of showing you the best bits that Fuengirola has to offer.
Focus on the positive
Working in marketing, I can’t avoid social media. But sometimes the bickering makes my head hurt. So I wanted to create good vibes and appreciation for this town. Inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s positive corner of the internet, I hope I can create a similar space for my home town, Fuengirola—even if it’s a tiny sliver of the web.
My story
I’m from Finland, from a town called Kilo. Yes, it’s a funny name for a place!
While I don’t miss the winters there, I do miss my family and fly back every couple of years for my fix of lakes, liquorice and Nordic calm.
Aside from my Nordic childhood and a few years spent living in London, Fuengirola has been my home since the 1990s. This is where I spent my teenage years, found my tribe, flunked and aced my driver’s license, got my first job, learned to dance salsa, had moragas on the beach, churros for breakfast, changed jobs, cried, laughed—and met my soulmate and welcomed my son.
My husband shares my love for this small town. Although he had a big-city upbringing in Malaga, he too has magical Fuengirola childhood memories, having spent many summer holidays here visiting his aunt and cousin. That nostalgia eventually led him to move from Malaga to Fuengirola as an adult. Years later, we met… and fell in love.
We got married in 2011. Now Fuengirola is the happy place where we’re raising our son—the self-appointed Park Expert of this blog.
Fun facts about me
- Caffeine conundrum: I have a love-hate relationship with caffeine. If I have it, I don’t sleep, but without it, I can’t get anything done after 3 pm.
- Insect fears: I once drove my car into a ditch because there was a wasp inside. Another time, I ran out onto the patio stark naked because there was a cockroach in my shower.
- Shoe thing: I have a weird thing about collecting white trainers, and about shoes in general. Luckily, my husband has good taste in footwear, so I was safe to marry him.
What you’ll find here on this website
This blog is not a directory of local tourist services. It’s a personal journal of sorts, documenting what I get up to in Fuengirola. Here’s what you can expect:
- Everyday adventures: Things, activities and places I like. Not necessarily popular or fashionable, just what I enjoy. Think of it as your local friend’s recommendations.
- Local history and fun facts: Bits of Fuengirola’s history and interesting facts. Did you know the castle was once occupied by Polish soldiers?
- Helpful advice: for example, posts rating Fuengirola’s many parks with the help of my son. Who better to rate a park than a connoisseur of swings and slides?
- Free stuff and bargains: Right now, I’m too busy/lazy for a career or entrepreneurship. So I’m always on the hunt for freebies, bargains and cheap thrills. If I find one, I’ll share it with you.
- Photography: Taking snaps of Fuengirola in its best light. I’m not a photographer, I just own a camera. But I try to capture the town’s beauty with love.
- Community spirit: I encourage discussion on Instagram with a positive outlook. Let’s celebrate the good things in life!
Thank you for visiting FuengirolaForever.com. Here’s to discovering my home town, one story at a time. Don’t forget to come and join me on Instagram!