Missing Cotillo

[SoCal]

Friends,

This posting is to those of you on the island or have recently been there and are willing to take a few minutes and update me on life in El Cotillo because after nearly a year and a half, I truly miss it.

Is it still quiet, or have the cranes started to show up again?

Is there still acceptance on the beach by textiles of nude folks?

Has anyone been to the new Torino's - south of the village? Does it still have the same relaxed charm, or does it seem over priced and tourist based? (This is as opposed to the beach bar located at Torino's previous location.)

If I start on the beach on the north side of the town, by the Italian place in the new set of apartments, is it still a quiet walk all the way to El Caleton? (Is the Italian place any better?)

Is Casa Rustico still in business?  How about Azzurro?

Because of the significant investment I make in traveling to Fuerteventura, the question always is: should I try to get out there in May again for a quiet, virtually clothing-free, book reading, volcano and beach hiking, good food and cheap tasty wine holiday because the place is essentially the same? Or should I look for new locations like Greek islands or Lanzarote because commercialism and tourism has overrun the entire island? 

Thank you.

Edited for clarification due to my illiteracy.

[stewarty]

Hello SoCal

Just returned from a week at El Cotillo. While gossipping with another Maravilla regular your name came up, so I can confirm that El Cotillo is missing you too!

I don't think you have anything to worry about. No sign of new cranes or significant new building, although the big new apartment / hotel blocks nearer the centre are more occupied than I've seen them before. And there's a large Chinese goods shop across from the supermarket.

No problems with nudity.  I was naked for more than 21 hours out of each 24, only putting some clothes on after dark to go to the supermarket, a restaurant, and the internet shop. And I was lucky to coincide with the kite festival, so for several afternoons the lagos beach had the surreal magic of multiple kites  -  you couldn't help grinning.

The beach bar under different management is OK, but I only went there once for a sunset coffee. Not as distinctively charming as it was a few years ago. (I think I've seen another thread on this forum reporting that the previous people have set up near the Corralejo dunes...?).

It's still a quiet, naked walk from near the bakery northwards. Casa Rustico is still going strong, and was busy both nights I was there. Azzuro still operating, though I didn't go there. Daytimes it seems to be a stop for the silly tame dune buggy safaris, and late afternoon there were always folk sipping stuff behind the sea-facing glass, soaking up the November sun and waiting for the sunset...

Commercialism and tourism haven't yet over-run the place. I have very mixed feelings about the Canaries  -  sometimes the islands seem to be just piles of barren ash, sometimes they have an unearthly beauty. There is of course the wind, but it's usually a warm wind, and you don't get baking hot, though the sun is strong enough for a tan.

For quite a few years I used to go to south-west Crete in April, and  rather miss the lushness and spring flowers and history. But I've recently wrecked a leg, so I'm not able to do long walks. I've also been to Lanzarote a few times, staying at Charco, which is appealing  -  but the beach barely exists. While there are some great beaches on Lanzarote they will demand driving to get there. Perhaps I've got a bit fundamentalist, or just lazy, but I really don't want to have to put clothes on to rush about. So the relaxedness of El Cotillo has become very appealing - I read Donna Tartt's first 2 massive novels rather than doing long walks  -   and I'm afraid I've already booked again for a week in early April  (with EasyJet flights totalling under £100 before you add in a bag and seat booking).

Be nice to bump into you one day, but not next year, if you're planning a May trip. Dave, from Cheshire, who met you some years ago, was there in May 2013, and might well be there again in May 2014....

regards  -  Stewart

[MinRich]

Cotillo is still the dump its always been , nothing there to like , always better off going anywhere else on the island 

[capricornukuk]

We were in cotillo in November lovely beach nice and tranquil only there twice on a day visit and we towards the pods right of the main beach if your facing the sea no issues about naked there for us 

[SoCal]

Thank you folks for the feedback. A special thanks to you Stewart.

Hopefully when my name came up at Maravilla, it was for pleasant reasons. It would be nice to be thought of as the person who is viewed as a devote nudist. However, it wouldn't surprise me if my name was the response to the question, "Who is the weirdest person you have ever seen here in Maravilla?"

To experience 21 out of 24 hours of nudism with a surreal kite festival - this rips my heart out with joy!  (And makes SWMBO roll her eyes)  A set of continuously changing photos on the background of my computer screen simply increases my desire to return of the warm air, warm sea water, soft sand and breathtaking sunsets.

I ask those who can fly on a whim to the land of beaches, of sensual sand, and of minimal demands to consider how fortunate you are.

modified to improve grammar