Have you ever played "How much is that house in the window?" while on holiday? We came to Frigiliana on our "Luna de miel" (honeymoon) in 1992 and like so many people do, we gazed in the windows of estate agencies, fantasizing about a second home in the sun. Remarkably, the very day we returned from our honeymoon, the Spanish government devalued the peseta 48% against the dollar and pound. They had kept the peseta strong for the Worlds Fair and Olympics of that year. Houses we had dreamed about for 50.000 pounds were now 26.000 overnight. Deah went back and we purchased a lovely country home and have never looked back.

After several years of visiting we realized that as nice as the countryside is, the village itself is a gem and we couldn't resist moving right into the middle of it all. Of course Frigiliana is beautiful, but it is the people that really make it such a wonderful place to live. The women sweeping and washing the streets daily and arranging the hundreds of potted plants which line practically every street. We love everything about Frigiliana, from the old men sitting around swapping stories and playing cards to the foreigners who do such a good job adapting, adjusting, and trying their best to fit in.

Frigiliana is a place where everyone greets each other with a cheery Buenas dias or Hola; where you can expect your neighbors to come by now and then with a bagful of whatever fruit is in season. With only about 2500 people, it is a place where you get to know your neighbors and everyone looks out for each others children, who are free to walk the streets in safety.

Frigiliana has been a preferred location to live for thousands of years and has an amazing history. The village has won numerous awards for beauty, architecture and such, including the first place national award for beautification in 1982. That is one of the reasons why so many tourists come to visit each year. When we first came here, there were just a handful of stores selling the local wine and hand woven baskets out of their homes. You can still buy wonderful homemade wine and high quality artisan goods, but there is also now a 1^st rate art gallery, and dozens of stores selling everything from hand made local products to more commercial souvenirs. It creates an unusual effect as the vast majority come during the day for just a few hours. When the tourists are gone at night, the village reverts to a cozy and comfortable haven away from the bustle of the coast. You can feel the peace, tranquility and serenity that has been such a strong feature of life in "The Village of the Three Cultures" for hundreds of years.

The town council is always trying to improve things and recent years have seen the construction of a museum/tourist office, several gorgeous parks, including an impressive botanical garden, a skate park for the children, and a modern sports pavilion. The excellent facilities, along with dedicated staff have transformed Frigiliana children's sports teams from also-rans to champions in a few short years.

Frigiliana is changing, as is the entire Costa del Sol; and that is not so bad. When we first came it took 2 and a half hours to get to Malaga airport. Now it takes 40 minutes. There were a handful of restaurants in Frigiliana. Now we have our choice from two dozen or more, French, Danish, Dutch, German, English, Italian, from quite elegant to casual, there is a restaurant to fit all tastes, and each one better than the next.

Unlike so many places on the coast, Frigiliana has lost none of its charm and character. Perhaps that is because of the way the village has of embracing foreigners and molding them. Before you know it, you are exchanging "hola" and "Buenos dias" to everyone you see in the street, and you are on your way to becoming a true "Aguanosa".