The   bus   dropped   me   off   at   Mijas   Pueblo,   which   is   the   whitewashed   mishmash   of buildings   and   narrow   cobbled   streets   built   on   the   hillside   428   metres   above   sea level.   My   first   stop   was   at   the   Tourist   Information   Centre,   only   a   couple   of   minutes walk   from   the   bus   stop.   There   I   picked   up   a   map   of   the   village   to   help   me   find   my way   around,   but   really   it   wasn't   necessary   because   this   was   a   small   place.   Of course,    being    so    close    to    the    densely    populated    interlinked    coastal    towns    of Benalmádena,   Torremolinos,   Feurengirola   and   Marbella,   Mijas   was   going   to   be very   busy,   and   so   it   was,   spectacularly   so!   As   my   readers   know,   I'm   not   in   my comfort   zone   when   in   crowds   of   tourists,   so   never   really   felt   comfortable   in   this highly   popular   destination.   I   did   however   find   some   quiet   streets   off   the   beaten track   that   the   throngs   of   visitors   had   miraculously   missed,   and   a   few   places   to pause   and   wonder   at   the   fabulous   views   over   the   coastline   and   across   the   Straits of   Gibraltar.   But   generally   I   didn't   gel   in   this   popular   tourist   destination   -   it   was   far too   congested   for   my   liking,   and   to   add   to   my   distaste,   most   of   the   narrow   streets had   not   been   pedestrianised!   So   when   I   should   have   been   wandering   around enjoying   the   relative   peace   and   beauty   of   the   place,   I   was   forever   dodging   traffic, delivery   trucks,   private   motorists,   scooters,   and   ghetto   blasters   from   many   of   the cars!   I   had   planned   to   sit   and   enjoy   a   glass   of   wine   in   some   Plaza   whilst   watching the   world   go   by,   but   that   was   impossible   in   this   manic   place!   And   what   about   the architecture?   I'm   not   sure   from   whence   it   originates   -   Wikipedia   cleverly   avoids putting   dates   to   their   description   of   Mijas,   except   to   tell   the   reader   that   in   the   1950s an   asbestos   factory   was   built   to   reduce   unemployment   and   the   first   small   hotel   was built   because   of   the   growing   fame   of   the   Costa   del   Sol.   But   despite   references   to ancient   history   and   the   existence   of   some   relics,   nowhere   can   I   discover   when   the village,   as   it   is   now,   was   constructed?   Actually   most   buildings   appear   relatively recent,   but   I   may   be   wrong! The   average   visitor   is   of   course   not   interested   in   any   of this   -   it   is   indeed   an   attractive   place,   has   the   obligatory   narrow   cobbled   streets, whitewashed   buildings,   plenty   of   tapas   bars,   cafés   and   restaurants   and   souvenir shops   around   every   corner,   and   that   seems   to   be   what   the   modern   day   tourist wants, but not me included!