Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm’d;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
~ William Shakespeare ~
Most of us are familiar with at least the opening lines of Sonnet 18 by English playwright and poet, William Shakespeare, in which he compares his beloved Fair Youth to that of an English summer’s day.
I’ve suffered endured experienced many cool and rainy summer days in England over the years, when the BBQ I had planned for friends has been a total washout, or no-one could sleep at night because it was too humid, despite being only 17 Celsius.
Of course, it’s not always like that in England but, here in southern Spain, the weather, whilst retaining distinct seasons, is much more reliable.
The outdoor lifestyle was one of the main influencing factors for our move here, eight years ago.
So, what is a summer’s day in July or August like – east of Málaga?
We would typically expect the temperature to be between 30 – 35 Celcius (that’s 86 – 95 Fahrenheit) during the day, with overnight temperatures rarely dropping below 21C (70 degrees Fahrenheit). Clear blue skies are virtually guaranteed, with little or no rainfall and low humidity.
During August, the thermometer can sometimes touch 40C in the shade, so it’s vital to adapt your lifestyle accordingly.
August days often see me wandering around the house and garden in a swim suit and loose-fitting sarong, with my hair tied up, wearing no make-up. Carefree. And, because we live in the countryside a few kilometres from the coast, days often go by without seeing another soul – and that suits me just fine. 
Not only do many northern European tourists head down this way for their annual vacation, but the rest of the population of Spain seems to end up around these parts, too. So, we tend to stay at home, out of the way of the crowded restaurants and the lack of parking spaces, only venturing out when we need to buy groceries or if we choose to stroll along the promenade on a Saturday evening, before visiting a local chiringuito (fish restaurant).
I’m an early riser, so the first thing I do when I get out of bed is to throw all the windows and doors open, allowing the cool morning air into the house. Any chores that need doing are always completed well before 11am, by which time, the windows are closed to keep the warm air out. As the sun continues it’s journey around the house, various blinds are pulled down over the windows to stop the heat from penetrating. 
My days are spent writing, wandering nearby taking photographs, sipping cool drinks, trying to catch up with my list of books to be read, or simply taking a dip in the pool when I get a bit overheated.
We have several cool, shady terraces where I choose to to locate my “office” for the morning. Today’s lunch will be fillet of salmon with patatas a lo pobre, prepared earlier this morning, and made all the tastier knowing that the onions and green peppers have been grown in our vegetable patch. I’m pretty sure that we’ll have a chilled glass of wine with lunch, too. 🙂
This afternoon, there could be a siesta, another swim or time to catch up reading blogs I enjoy. I might even plan more of our next trip (to Portugal in October) or chat to friends around the world on the internet.
After sunset, the windows are once again thrown open, and it’s a delight to feel the cool evening air, as the delicious perfume of the night-scented jasmine pervades the surroundings.
One thing I love about hot, summer nights is the chance to have a swim after dark before hopping into bed. I always make sure that there are no outside lights shining from the house and, because we live in the countryside, there is virtually no light pollution. It´s quite surreal floating about in the pool on your back on an airbed watching the stars twinkling overhead. Sleep comes easily after such a carefree day, with the open window and overhead ceiling fan keeping me cool.
So, east of Málaga, shall I compare thee to a summer’s day in England? NO, I’ll just enjoy every day spent in this beautiful country I have adopted as my home, and take English summers as, and when, I choose to find them.
You might enjoy these summer related articles, too:
Flying the Blue Flags on the beaches
Hummamole Dip – perfect for a summer’s day
East of Málaga 
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Loved your blog today planning a trip to Malaga for 7 days in October (from US Colorado ). Hoping to come back in February. For a much longer stay….maybe a year or or 10. My mom passed away, my dog did too. My sons moved out and have lives of their own. I’m single and free and can’t wait to live a new life .
That’s fantastic, Tara – good for you!
Málaga is a great city – and of course, you should try to get to Seville, Cordoba and Granada, too. Maybe even Ronda….and Jerez …. and Cádiz …..not forgetting the wonderful EAST OF MALAGA! LOL
But if you are coming back in February, yo’ll have lots of time to do all of those things 🙂
If you need any pointers, let me know. I’d be glad to help 🙂
Good luck!
I could use all the tips you have! I don’t have any plans as of yet. Thought I’d discover as I go. But with a little local insight I’d probably see the best. I really like to hang with the locals where ever I go. Your suggestions would be most appreciated!
Cheers!
Tara
Sure looks like it was the right decision to me!!!!
I think so, Tina 🙂
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I recently had access to a pool in the dark for the first time in my life. Bliss!
… isn’t it just! That’s why I do it most nights, before hopping into bed.
Saw the International Space Station zipping across the sky last night at 10.25pm, too 🙂
Great pictures as usual Marianna, makes me want to get down to Malaga again…still suffering in the heat with Sevillanos starting their building works at 7am…argghhh…
7am? AARRGGHHH!
I guess they need to start working early so they can finish before the heat gets too much.
You coming down for the Feria, Baz?
Thank you for this little getaway. Reading this just proves to me more and more why I need to be back in Málaga; this just may of been the additional push I needed. 🙂
Well, you know what you have to do, don’t you, Christine?
Just get here 🙂
Well I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, Marianne. This appears to be as carefree as it gets. A little slice of heaven on earth. Thanks for sharing a carefree bit of your world. 😉
Always happy to share, Gemma 🙂
Stargazing from the pool… that sounds very nice indeed.
Yes, it is, Sheri – and something that had never crossed my mind before moving here. Mainly because I had never had a pool before! 🙂
Your words resonate – I so agree!
Thanks, Tanya 🙂
Swimming after dark is lovely on really humid nights. Love the pics.
Oh yes, it is! Thanks 🙂
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That sounds like total heaven!
Pretty cool, Luffy 🙂
What an idyllic way of life you have 🙂
In August, especially!
Shakespeare is great… 🙂 🙂
So wonderful atmosphere – excellent captured photos… 🙂
Thanks Drake – much appreciated.
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Your world is beautiful! Love the image of the pool at night.
I love my late-night swims. Very precious time of day 🙂
You`re living in Paradise.Definitely adding your lifestyle to my bucket list.
Ah but no running on the flat here …. it’s all dusty, stony tracks either up or down hill!
Oh, don`t worry-I`ll happily swim instead in that glorious pool of yours!
OK, that’s fine! 😉
My great-grandfather was a Spanish sea captain (from Barcelona/Valencia area) who ended up in coastal Mississippi. I can see the similarities. Here in Florida I do most of my writing in my garden in the morning (the only time that particular spot gets shade).
If you open a bed and breakfast, let me know 🙂
Hahaha …. not thinking about doing that, Cynthia, but you never know!
I think your weather is more humid and sub-tropical than ours. I recall the huge downpours in an afternoon when I last visited Florida.
It is humid.
😦
I spent a summer at the University of Madrid and spent the first week getting used to the dryness. Got off the plane in Mobile, Alabama in August and said ‘That’s where the moisture went.”
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Sounds like a little paradise! Hope this will be our future too in a few years 🙂
Go for it!
Much is what you make of it – but we love our life in Spain.
Thanks for your comment – much appreciated 🙂
Hello Marianne, we sure will!
Our first stay at Malaga and region for explorations will be in october.
Greetings from a drowsy Holland 😦
Mart.
Many people come out of Malaga airport and turn right – to the places we have all heard of …. Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Marbella. I would urge you to turn left and head to La Axarquia (meaning land to the east) for a much more authentic option.
But then again – I’m biased 🙂
Good advise; thanks. We will first head to Malaga-town.Any suggestions for a good B&B there?
from there off we will make trips to the hinterlands.
Kind regards, Mart
I’ve never stayed in Málaga city myself, so I can’t really recommend anywhere. Sorry, Mart. Try having a look on Trip Advisor.
Okay Marianne; thanks for reaction.
When we’re travelling we often have a look on Air BnB – sometimes great bargains and lovely people to meet, too 🙂
Already discovered that one Marianne. Good possibilities in Malaga indeed. Thanks. (Also for following my just started blog 😉 ).
KR, Mart
A message for Mart – I haven’t stayed in Malaga town itself but inland a bit in a town called Archidona, near Antequera, is a most beautiful B&B called Almohalla 51 that I can thoroughly recommend. You can Google it, if you’re interested.
OOHHH thanks for that, Sue. Good to know 🙂
Just to add, I’m just a happy customer! We stayed there last October. They have fab reviews on Trip Advisor too, so it’s not just me 🙂
Thanks a lot Sue; I will look it up!
The sad irony is, of course, that nothing much beats a nice English summer’s day… and if only there weren’t so few of them, we might have stayed.
Yep – I’ll second that! 🙂
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Are you sure you not a East of Malagan salesman as well???? If so, I’m sold.
Oh yes, I’m that, too! 🙂
Sold to the lady standing in the shop window!!
Oh I laughed out loud then. Does look beautiful though and like so many others (mannequins included) I’ve never been east of Malaga.
heaven – which is why we’ve just moved here too
Yaay … good for you!
Where are you, Sandie?
canillas de albaida – we love it
I’m in the campo between Competa and Torrox.
Lovely! And I can envision all of it. 🙂
Yes you can, Kathy 🙂
What a beautiful interpretation of carefree, Marianne. I think you might just have made a few people jealous 🙂
I guess “carefree” is what you make it, Jo.
Some people might translate my kind of carefree as boring.
Groan. I’m sitting in front of a heater. What I would give for 35 deg… This was beautifully written, and all the better for a little Shakespeare at the beginning. Thanks.
Well, it IS your winter, Trish. It comes to us all!
Thanks for the compliment, and I’ll do my best to waft a little warmth from the Spanish sun your way 🙂
You seem to have found your own little piece of heaven! 🙂
Truly, I have, Sue 🙂