The Mediterranean crashes in on the coast at La Carihuela on Spain’s Costa del Sol.

But it is mid-December 2013, there are sunny skies, and always a sheltered spot for a drink and to top up the tan at Playa Miguel as the waiters keep a watchful eye open for anyone in urgent need of their gin and tonic refreshing.

A 15-minute train journey direct from the airport at Malaga, takes you to Torremolinos, a walk or short taxi-ride away from this former fishing village, a family resort with plenty of shops and restaurants still open at this quiet time of the year.

There are apartments to let above many of the seafront shops, bars and cafes, and a choice of hotels too.

With almost no vehicular traffic in the centre of La Carihuela, it is a safe place to stroll and cast a glance over the many menus on display outside street cafes and restaurants.

The livelier resorts of Torremolinos and Benalmadena are an easy walk in either direction along the promenade, but you might find it hard to drag yourself away from the simple pleasures of the village itself.

It has been a good summer in La Carihuela, but Spain remains in the grip of a recession, with many people unemployed.

Tourism is vital for its economic revival, and the signs in this region of the country are encouraging, with lots of local businesses continuing to invest in their future.

NOTE: The original of this video has been removed, re-edited and re-posted as a result of a music copyright issue.