Nerja Shopping

You really can buy anything you are likely to want in Nerja and there is a good street market every Tuesday morning and a flea market/car boot sale on Sunday mornings.

And - for readers and booklovers there is a very well established book shop that sells English language books and newspapers.
It used to be called W.H.Smiffs - proclaimed on a sandwich board that used to stand at the entrance to the small arcade where it is located.

What to buy: If you run out of reading material and enjoy reading books set, and about, where you are I recommend -

For more serious reading:-

South from Granada by Gerald Brenan
The Spanish Labyrinth by Gerald Brenan
Iberia by James Michener
The New Spaniards by John Hooper ( 2nd Revised 2006 version)

Lighter reading about living in Spain now -

Driving over Lemons by Chris Stewart - and its two sequels -
A Parrrot in a Pepper Tree
The Almond Blosson Appreciation Society

Novels -
Winter in Madrid by C.J.Sansom
The Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Lucia Graves Translator)

What to pay: I usually find that buying English language books in Europe works out more expensive than buying before you go. But if you are desparate ....

There are many little arts and crafts shops both on the above street, (C/ Cristo becomes C/ A. Ferrandiz further down), and Calle Pintada. These are what are known as the lanes because of their narrowness. Don't be fooled and think they are therefore pedestrian only though. Traffic is allowed along them as you will find out if unwary.

Even if not buying, these are very pleasant little streets and there are a few bars along the way too!
Shops stay open until quite late in Spain so you can browse at night if you wish to.

What to buy: All the little gifts that are so easy to pack can be found here from posters, wine, clothing and other curios.

What to pay: It very much depends upon you. If you think that a price is reasonable, then OK.

The Sunday market is more of a 'Car Boot sale' affair whereas the Tuesday one is a propper market that also sells fruit and vegetables and NEW clothing.

For some reason, I created my Markets page on the 'Off the beaten track' section. (Stupid me!). For more information on the Markets and their locations, please use the link.

The Sunday market is now so far out of town that it feels like 'off the beaten track'!

What to buy: So many things can be obtained from these two markets that they are totally impossible to list here.

What to pay: Less than average prices.

The new Mercadona has opened just before Christmas 2004 at the top of town. Just up from the Hostal Ermita. It is a large supermarket but do be careful of the pavement outside, which is quite narrow. Please also note that the old Mercadonna on Calle Fray Junipero is now CLOSED and is now a Chinese market.
Mercadona is CLOSED all day on Sundays.

Warning:
The pavement is very narrow here and the road busy with traffic. Take care, especially when crossing the road.

What to buy: Meat, fruit, vegetables, bread, tinned foods etc. Virtually anything that any International supermarket sells. A good sellection of fresh and frozen food and wines can be found here.

Freshly baked bread which the English call French sticks and the Spanish call Barras can also be bought here.

I found that the fresh fruit and vegetables are much cheaper than in England and fresher.

What to pay: It depends upon what you want really, but on the whole I feel all their prices are quite fair. However, English brands will cost you more than Spanish ones.

Nerja Book Centre sells second hand English language books. There is a large and varied collection and when you return bought items, you get discount on your next purchase.

They also keep several free periodicals on Nerja happenings, events, etc which are a goldmine of information. Well worth picking up.

What to pay: Cheap

Market Days are
Monday
TORROX COSTA
Tuesday
NERJA, SALOBREÑA
Wednesday
ALGARROBO COSTA, RINCON DE LA VICTORIA
Thursday
FRIGILIANA, TORRE DEL MAR, TORREMOLINOS, VELEZ-MALAGA
Friday
ALMUNECAR, BENELMADENA, LA HERRADURA
Saturday
COMPETA, LA CALETA DE VELEZ, TORROX COSTA, PUERTO BANUS
Sunday
FUENGIROLA (Flea Market), MALAGA (Flea Market),
NERJA (Car Boot)
ALHAURIN EL GRANDE (fortnightly Car Boot)

When buying inmobiles (I think it means houses, apartementos, etc...) you may use Finnish language, too.