Marbella with Him & Her

International Podcast with PJ in Marbella, Mandy in Miami and Hannah in India

Episode 52, yes 52, our 1 year podcast anniversery! We are loving putting this together each week and we hope you are still enjoying listening to our expat life in Marbella (and this week Miami too), and general Marbella lifestyle news and events.
As Hannah is still zooming across India in a tuktuk Mandy Urena joins us again from Miami with news of expat life there too.
This week we chat about the amazing creatures she sees from her back garden in the canal, which include manatees, dolphins and hammerhead sharks.
We also chat about the Spanish feria that Mandy went to in Miami and the Sevillana dancing that she is re-learning in time for the Rota feria in April, when she will come back to Spain for a few days.
I also have to mention the awful weather we are having in Marbella right now and the floods, landslides and storms. I mention that the Ronda road between San Pedro and Ronda is closed and will be for a while due to a landslide that has covered the entire road.
Of course we mention food and my curry envy of Hannah and the photos she has been posting of the various curries she has been eating. So much so that I headed out to a new Indian in San Pedro called Maurya (@mauryindiansanpedro) for a takeaway Madras curry. We also chat about popular food in Miami as well as my visit to Da Bruno is San Pedro for my favourite dish veal milanese (@dabrunosanpedro).
AND the big news this week is that we caught up with Hannah in India. She gives us an overview of what it has been like driving in India and how they are getting on.
You can follow Mandy at @mandyisallaboutmassage PJ at @pjlopez1marbella and Hannah at @radiohannah
And the big 

Marbella, Miami, Mandy, Massage Stories and Fish and Chips

Welcome to episode 51 of Marbella with Him and Her, except the her is not Hannah Murray this week, it is Mandy Urena in Miami filling in for Hannah during Hannah's epic expedition across India.
It is a varied podcast this week as we introduce Mandy to you and talk about Miami versus Marbella, expensive cocktails, and memories of when we went to Miami before our Honeymoon cruise.
We also talk about the frustrations of baggae allowances and how the standard cabin bag is different on each airline. This came about as Hannah will be flying with four different airlines on route and back from India.
Mandy tells us about her amazing travels and in particular her memorable trip to the arctic where she went for a freezing cold dip. In fact you can catch up with her travels, including the arctic cruise on her YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@destinationeverywhereusa
We also learn about Mandy's interesting job massaging royalty and VIP clients!
It was Dia de Andalucia last week so we have a chat about that and Mandy's love of Spain, and how she fell in love with Rota in Cadiz.
Before Hannah flew we had fish and chips from Harry's in Nueva Andalucia, deciding it was the safest pre-flight food. I asked Mandy if they have fish and chip shops in Miami. Listen to see what she had to say. @harrysfishandchips
I also talk about my home alone shopping, curry at Bombay Grill and live music with Paul Hull at The Hogan Stand.
@paulhullmusic @thehoganstand
 
Next week Hannah will be sending some India updates and we will be joined by Mandy from Miami again
@pjlopez1marbellam@mandyisallaboutmassage
And to keep updated with Hannah in India @radiohannah
 

Family in Marbella, bowling, and pizza

Welcome to our half century! We are proud to bring you our Marbella lifestyle podcast Marbella with Him & Her episode 50. This week we walked from San Pedro de Alcantara to Puerto Banus in the glorious sunshine with visiting family, and headed straight to the Benabola Hotel Sky Bar for a drink as it really does have the best views across the marina. It was then off to the famous Picasso restaurant for Pizza and Pasta, where we were taken upstairs, which again has incredible views. We didn't even know the restaurant had an upstairs! The walk back home involved a stop at our former wedding venue Alabardero Beach for a drink.
We also went 10-Pin bowling at Loa Arqueros Golf & Country Club with the family, which was a great choice as everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. It is €60 for a lane for up to six people, which actually isn't that bad. They have a café and bar there too so it is a really good place to go for something a little different.
Hannah has had a bit of a media week being interviewed on Talk Radio Europe by her colleague Giles Brown about her upcoming India trip, which has now raised over £50,000. She was also interviewed by Tony Bryant from the Sur in English with a great article also online about her trip.
The International Theatre Studio (not School, Hannah!) had a play reading in a new venue this week with a play called Entertaining Mr Sloane, a very funny and risqué comedy.
We were joined at Hannah's Thursday quiz by Pointless Dave, our friend Beverley's father who was on the TV quiz show pointless where he got to the final. He brought his trophy with him with everyone wanting to give it a feel.
Hannah was out with the girls from Talk Radio Europe where they did not end up in the Italian restaurant they booked as their table was given to another person with the same name that the reservation was in, so they went next door to another Italian restaurant! There was some unusual toppings and that led to the debate about pineapple on pizzas.
It was also the monthly Urban Chai quiz night which was again full. Afterwards a group of us went back to The Hogan Stand to catch the last part of Pete Rothwell singing. Then for reasons we are still trying to fathom, we decided to head to Pub Charles until the early hours drinking with our Irish friends.
Sunday we had the quiz winners lunch at The Hogan Stand where we all enjoyed an amazing Sunday roast.
This weeks Sur in English articles include details of the investment into Tivoli World to get it re-opened, the new maze at Laberintus Park inland of Malaga which is the biggest in Spain, and the list of the best restaurants in Malaga, which included Bardal where we ate in Ronda, and Back Tapas in Marbella.
Finally, with Hannah heading to India on Saturday 1st March, we are excited that our friend Mandy Urena (@mandyisallaboutmassage) in Miami will be filling in for Hannah. So we are going International for the next couple of weeks. We will also have some updates from Hannah from India!
You can follow us on Instagram at @radiohannah and @pjlopez1marbella

Successful Marbella Geocaching, and Valentine's vs Galentine's

Welcome to episode 49 of Marbella with Him & Her, your weekly lifestyle Marbella podcast about what to do in Marbella, where to go in Marbella, and what we have been up to during the week.
Hannah started the week on a nice healthy note by going to her second bootcamp Pilates class and ended the week on Valentines day with another one called 'Galentines'.
Mid week Hannah was back to feeling a bit crap with her cold and was not really with it, so ended up tripping up the stairs at work, breaking off a nail and going home in pain and a little emotional. She was back on track Thursday ready for her radio show and weekly quiz at the Hogan Stand @thehoganstand, which was all about Valentines. We had an early start however with a trip to the Marbella municipal market to get some fresh prawns and fresh tuna for our 'stay home' Valentines meal on Friday.
It was a busy weekend planned with Hannah's cousin and his children flying in for a few days late on Saturday. Before that we went geocaching again but this time Hannah had chosen route in Ojen where there were several hidden caches. We are pleased to announce we had success with PJ finding the first one and then others on the trip find another three.
After Hannah's cousin arrived, (after an hours delay) he picked us up on his way from the airport so we could show him where his accommodation was. We walked back through San Pedro centre at around 12.30am and had a drink at the new restaurant/ bar Terapia.
Thanks to Mandy in Miami for her feedback about concerts and astounding us with the price of concerts in USA, with one of her friends flying to Canada to see Taylor Swift costing between $2000 and $3000.
This weeks articles included one from the Olive Press about Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra being in Granada for the Goyas where he won the International Goya award for services to the industry. Afterward they dined in a restaurant just outside Granada in Cenes de la Vega called Ruta del Veleta (@rutadelveleta). He said it was "one of the best meals he had ever had". Although he did not have the tasting menu, which they do at just €75 per person.
We also give a bit more information about Hannah's upcoming India trip and give thanks to the Euro Weekly News for a fabulous article about Hannah and the trip (https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/02/10/lets-goa-rickshaw-rally-for-women-and-children-in-india/) as well as thanking Giles Brown for a write up on Planet Marbella (https://www.planetmarbella.com/lets-goa-hannah-murrays-charity-rickshaw-rally-across-india/) and PJ for the article in Celebrities in Marbella (https://celebritiesinmarbella.com/it-is-all-goa-from-now).
Finally we would like pass on our condolences to the family and friends of Alfredo, owner of the restaurant Alfredo's, an institution in San Pedro de Alcantara who sadly passed away this week.
Don't forget you can follow Hannah on Instagram at @radiohannah or PJ at @pjlopez1marbella

Bus to Marbella, the Rain in Spain, & Concert tickets

A little later than usual due to Hannah's cold, but we are back with our latest episode of Marbella with Him & Her, a Marbella lifestyle podcast packed with information, fun and humour. This week we have much to talk about starting with last week's very wet weather. 
Hannah was suffering last week thanks to a bootcamp Pilates class in Estepona,  which meant she had pains in her buttocks for the rest of the week :)
We discuss the unrobing of Bianca Censori at last week's Grammy awards and the general public reaction, plus our own thoughts on the whole thing.
Hannah invited Sheila over during the week so they could take part in a Female Invest seminar co-hosted by Dragon's Den star and international business woman Deborah Meaden.
Hannah had some great tips for people using the Avanza bus network on how to see when the bus will be arriving via an app, saving you having to stand aimlessly at the bus stop.
PJ headed down to Gibraltar on business in a car occupied by a multi-national delegation including an Argentinean with an Italian passport, a Ukrainian with a Portuguese passport, a Spaniard and himself with a British passport. After the meeting there was the obligatory trip to Morrisons for some Vimto and pork pies (which he smuggled back to Spain!!)
The articles discussed this week included one from the Euro Weekly News about the mobile shower unit that the charity Collective Calling is taking to homeless people that cannot generally access one. The one from the Sur in English is about the Robbie Williams concert he is doing for the TUI cruise ships in Malaga with 2,000 public tickets available from €170 to €199 per ticket. This also led to a wider discussion about Starlite Marbella ticket prices for Duran Duran and Will Smith in the summer.
As always you can follow Hannah on Instagram at @radiohannah and PJ at @pjlopez1marbella

New Marbella Restaurants & San Pedro walkabout

It is the latest episode of the popular Marbella lifestyle podcast 'Marbella with Him & Her', packed full of new places to eat, new places to visit and a bit of humour thrown in for good measure.
We start by mentioning something we completely forgot to mention in last week's episode, the unrehearsed play reading by ITS called Ladies Day. It was a great turnout with more people wanting to read than parts available. A fun night was had by all at the Atalaya Golf Resort and it was great to see some new faces wanting to get involved (@internationaltheatrestudio)
Hannah's friend Nikki was here for a few days so it gave PJ a chance to get creative in the kitchen with a coq au vin in the pressure cooker. Whilst she was here, they went for brunch at Hustle n Flow and later for some tapas at G Wine (both in San Pedro) to catch up on their upcoming India trip Let's Goa! 
Over 50 entrepreneurial women who are part of the sisterhood charity (@thesistrhoodgroup) set up by business woman @emsayle333 which supports empowerment for women will be driving tuk tuks from the east coast of India to the west coast at the beginning of March! https://fundraiser.bhumiusa.org/page/sisterhoodrally2025 This is the link if you would like to sponsor Hannah on the trip 
Hannah took her friend Sheila out for a long overdue birthday meal at the amazing San Pedro Argentinean restaurant Tafi (@tafimarbella) where they enjoyed some delicious food and a bottle of Malbec. Meanwhile PJ went to Nuevo Siglo just around the corner from Tafi to celebrate Chinese new year. Sadly the restaurant was not celebrating so it was basically just a normal night out in a Chinese!
At the weekend we were both determined to get lots done and lots achieved, and we certainly managed it. We went on a walk of discovery around San Pedro finding little villages we did not know existed, new restaurants that had opened, new restaurants about to open, and the amazing Thai restaurant (Manee) in the Mana Park area of Parque Los Tres Jardines. On the way back and after walking 12kms we stopped for a caña at La Fria tapas bar which were €1.10 each!
The Sur in English articles this week include the special concert Robbie Williams will be performing in Malaga port for TUI passengers and two thousand ticket holders. Also the cost of apartment rentals in Malaga make it the most expensive province in Andalucia to rent property.
Hannah also mentions the new eatery called the Hungry Club Diner at Malaga Airport opened by one the best Michelin star chefs Dabiz Muñoz (@dabizdiverxo) serving some very interesting Spanish fusion food.
As always you can follow Hannah at @radiohannah and PJ at @pjlopz1marbella

Marbella Old Town tapas & Eva Longoria promotes Marbella!

Welcome to the latest episode of Marbella with Him & Her, a lifestyle and travel podcast about Marbella and the Costa del Sol. As always you can follow Hannah on Instagram at @radiohannah and PJ at @pjlopez1marbella.
In this weeks episode we talk about the start of the week being cold and wet, on the same day known as Blue Monday (the most depressing day of the year). Listen and find out how it affected our plans!
Monday's for us has been for quite some time quiz night at home. We settle down to watch and join in with quiz shows Only Connect and University Challenge. We chat about our answers and point scoring.
Hannah talks about her new favourite lunches and also about her previous favourite actually being mentioned as one of the healthiest foods. Listen to find out what they are.
This week we were also excited to watch Hannah's friends Ian and Andrew on the tv series Amanda and Alan's Spanish Job, where they were with Amanda Holden and Alan Carr in their beautiful village of Moclin in Granada.
It was time for Hannah's monthly quiz at Urban Chai which also happened to be Burns Night (@urbanchaicafe). Hannah was appropriately dressed for the occasion which obviously included a round about the Scottish bard himself. The monthly quiz is proving to be popular with all tables taken for this quiz and almost already full for February.
Another monthly event for Hannah was also this week, where she meets up with her good friend Charlotte of Cervinco Wine for lunch. This month they headed to Old Town Marbella for a bit of a taps crawl which included Barril del Gusto (@barrildelgusto), Taberna Casa Curri (@tabernacasacurrimarbella), La Tienda Cassa Curro (@latiendacasacurro) and Marisqueria Casa Curro (@marisqueriacasacurro)
After a bit more de-cluttering inspired by Ingrid Jansen (@declutterhub) we are preparing for the amber weather warning of high winds and big waves hitting the Costa del Sol on Monday.
The Sur in English article this week is about Eva Longoria and Maria Bravo being part of the Marbella tourism promotional campaign launched at the Madrid travel fair Fitur.
We also have a bit of a moan at GB News and the British press for mis-communicating the information about touristic licenses being granted in Malaga by wrongly stating that British Tourists will be banned from Spain for 3 years.

Marbella Hard Rock Hotel Filming, Gym and Geocaching

It is episode 45 of the Marbella lifestlye podcast Marbella with Him & Her, presented by PJ Lopez and Hannah Murray.
Hannah spoke about filming in the executive suite at Hark Rock Hotel Marbella for Good Morning Spain TV this week! (@hrhmarbella @goodmorningspaintv) 
Early on in the week we hit the gym in San Pedro with one of us (not mentioning any names, HANNAH, slightly overdoing it).
There was a midweek birthday party for Hannah's friend Audrey which of course involved food and dancing!
Hannah attended an online social media course on Thursday morning with Inge Hunter, one of the ladies that will be going on the India trip in March (@inge.hunter & @clue.content)
On Friday we headed up to Fuengirola as Hannah was going to a Hen Party for our friend Fabiola. She went to a restaurant called La Solera where she enjoyed a three course menu, including wine, for an amazing price of just €19.50.
Meanwhile PJ went to Christy's Irish Gastro pub and enjoyed fish and chips and a few pints of Guinness (@christysgastropubfuengirola)
After a restful Saturday it was up early on Sunday to go geocaching close to La Zagaleta which involved a walk of 12km through some amazing countryside.
The Sur in English article this week is about the best time to drink coffee to help with your life expectancy....listen to the podcast to fine out when that is!
We also reveal the answers to the question we posed last week about the countries that do not have an area that could be coloured in if you wrote them in capital letters.
We would love to hear any quiz questions you might have for us to include, so you can message Hannah at @radiohannah or PJ at @pjlopez1marbella

Marbella 'normal' life, LA fires, and Iznajar

Welcome to episode 44 of your Marbella lifestyle podcast Marbella with Him & Her, with PJ Lopez and Hannah Murray. PJ has worked in digital marketing since 2003 while Hannah is a radio presenter on Talk Radio Europe @talk_radio_europe). They both belong to the amateur theatre group International Theatre Studio(@internationaltheatrestudio) and enjoy busy social lives. Hannah also runs a weekly pub quiz at the Irish pub The Hogan Stand (@thehoganstand) every Thursday.
In this episode Hannah tells us about getting back to the gym and some of the classes she has done this week. She is also delighted to get back to a normal routine after Christmas and met her dad for a brunch on Friday where they tried out the new menu at Pandora in San Pedro (@pandora_cafeteria).
Of course, having caused so much devastation in California we also have a chat about the horrendous wildfires that are ravaging across LA.
Hannah is still on a mission to clear and de-clutter, which was all inspired after an interview she did a few years ago with Ingrid Jansen (@declutterhub).
Both of us have also made a conscious effort with eating less, and healthier, and cutting back on drinking alcohol.
On Saturday we took some clothes back that were Christmas presents and swapped them for some important stuff for Hannah's upcoming trip and tuktuk race across India. When we got back from shopping Hannah and her friend who is also doing the challenge booked the plane tickets for the different legs of the journey.
On Sunday it was Hannah's Dad Bernie's birthday so along with Sheila, we took him on a mystery ride to a beautiful Spanish village about an hour and 20 minutes from San Pedro called Iznájar. After looking around the historic village we went for lunch at a beautiful lakeside chiringuito (@chiringuitoValdearenas)  Sheila ordered a chuleton of beef and it literally looked like a prehistoric animal was delivered. We were all expecting the Flintstones to rock up!!
This week’s Sur in English article was about the MSC Magnifica making Malaga the first port of call on a round the world trip. We also spoke about Richard Gere being in Malaga to see Gypsy, having been invited by Antonio Banderas.
Don't forget you can follow us individually on @radiohannah and @pjlopez1marbella

New Year in Marbella, & 2 Michelin star restaurant experience

Firstly, HAPPY NEW YEAR from Marbella with Him & Her, your weekly Marbella podcast from PJ Lopez and Hannah Murray (@pjlopez1marbella and @radiohannah).
In our podcast we bring you news of the places we have been and the things going on around Marbella and the Costa del Sol, although this week we did go a little further into Andalucia to Ronda. Our podcast is a Marbella lifestyle guide covering expat life in Marbella, Spain. Most episodes cover everything from social events to travel and restaurant tips explained with our unique sense of humour.
We start this episode with Hannah's nail appointment in Marbella that ended up costing much more than it needed to because of a parking fine (we give some advice in how to pay parking fines in Marbella).
The following day Hannah went back to the celebrity hair salon in Marbella, Salon Maher (@salonmaher) and paid her fine!
We started our New Year celebrations with drinks at home with friends and family. It was then off to The Hogan Stand (@thehoganstand) who always have the best new year's celebrations. No silly prices, just their usual menu and live entertainment throughout the night with Paul Hull (@paulhullmusic). Needless to say, there was lots of singing and dancing throughout the night!
Thursday was Hannah's quiz 'The Big Fat Quiz of the Year', a popular quiz all realted to things from the past year. There were 16 teams participating with a fantastic atmosphere.
On Friday 3rd we went to Ronda, only 45km from San Pedro, but via a very windy road so it takes about 45 minutes to drive there. We had been given a fabulous present by Bernie (Hannah's dad) and Sheila which was a night in the beautiful Boutique Hotel Palacio del la Duquesa (@palaciodeladuquesa). The hotel has only recently re-opened after a major refurbishment, and it is now stunning and highly recommended!
Another part of the present was a tasting menu at the 2 Michelin star restaurant Bardal (@restaurantebardal) in the centre of Ronda. We were treated to an amazing 20 dish tasting menu full of incredible food and amazing flavours. The restaurant was visted during last summer by Robert Di Niro and it certainly lived up to all the hype.
Whilst we were there we did the different walks to see the bridge that the city is famous for. Firstly, we went on the path that costs €5 per person but allows you to walk a long way down to under the bridge as well as to a viewing platform. After that we did the new bridge that costs €2.50 per person located just by the Parador Hotel and takes you to a lower level where you can go inside the bridge. Finally, we drove down to another area which is essentially right under the bridge giving another amazing perspective and views.
When we arrived back home to Marbella, we decided to start the year with a de-clutter so we set to work in different parts of the house. We learnt how to fold fitted sheets thanks to a video from @thefoldinglady 
The Sur in English articles this week include a strange story about Aldi recalling cutlery that has sharp edges, something that made us laugh as surely all cutlery has sharp edges??
We also talk about the Marbella v Athletico Madrid football match and also the Three Kings parades that were moved to the Saturday instead of Sunday due to the weather forecast.