1986–1995

The starting point in 1985

When the period began, Playa Tropical was marked by many years of hard use. From the Danish side, Club Andalucia pushed for better maintenance of the apartments, and the gas installations were a known problem – members were urged to always air out before turning on gas and electricity. The club's general meetings were held at Pejsegården in Brønshøj, and the subscription was 100 kr. per year (65 kr. for pensioners).

On the other hand, the surroundings had become much nicer: the paseo from town out past Playa Tropical was now largely complete, with tiled pavements, streetlights, and around 100 palm trees. Majuelo Park below the castle and the statue of Abderramán I were inaugurated in 1984, and the same year the town's archaeological museum moved into the Roman vaults in Cueva de Siete Palacios.

Spain becomes part of Europe

On 1st January 1986, Spain became a member of the EEC – the same community as Denmark. This could be felt in the following years: the roads became better, the coastal towns received money for promenades and sewerage, and it became easier to travel, shop, and own an apartment in another EEC country. In 1993 the EEC single market came into force, and in 1995 border controls between Spain and a number of other countries were abolished with the Schengen Agreement.

1992 became Spain's big year with the Olympic Games in Barcelona and the Expo 92 world exhibition in Seville – and with the first high-speed train between Madrid and Seville. Andalusia became much more modern in just a few years.

How to get down there

The journey typically involved a charter flight to Málaga and from there by bus or rented car along the old coastal road N-340 – with all the bends along the cliffs east of Nerja. The motorway along the Costa Tropical came many years later. Payment was made in pesetas, and at Playa Tropical a daily fee continued to be paid for gas, water, and electricity.

The town grows

Almuñécar grew during these years from a fishing and agricultural town into a proper resort town. More Spaniards from Granada and Madrid bought summer apartments on the coast, and new high-rises shot up along the beaches. Between the town and Playa Tropical, the large leisure project with tennis courts and swimming pools that the municipality had showcased in 1984 never came to anything – instead, the water park that still lies by Velilla was built.

Do you have memories, pictures, or club magazines from 1986–1995? We would love to hear from you – it is precisely those years that are missing from the history.