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I thought they might have reached saturation point on the Costa del Sol by now -- after all, they've been at it for years.

In 1986 I was here as a tourist and even then was struck by the overwhelming concentration of concrete; of the endless apartment blocks rising up from the skinniest beaches, the water almost lapping the foundations.

You know the scene in the movie Planet of the Apes? Where the top of the Statue of Liberty's sticking out the sand? That's how I imagine generations to come will finally uncover the story of the Costa del Sol -- and the Costa del Con that went with it.

This stretch of the Spanish Mediterranean coast has already spawned a thousand parodies from Monty Python's travel sketch to the Fast Show's weather forecast -- where everyday was "scorchio."

A land of territorial German beach towels, baking Brits and Swedes so sun-struck they look like blushing lobsters.

This blessed strip of all day English breakfasts and mini-Munichs with an eternal Oktoberfest.

But the place has changed dramatically since I first saw it 2 decades ago -- it's much, much bigger.

Less will never be more on the Costa del Sol. In fact, more can never be enough.

There's really serious money here now, some of it Russian, so little places that were once fishing ports now hold giant motorboats the size of small villages.

And when the owners and their guests step ashore they can do that essential holiday shopping, like buying a mink coat or a very, very, very expensive diamond.

Twenty-one years ago, I felt like the token Australian on the beach -- I probably was
-- after all, we don't really rate the Costa del Sol beaches -- they're not big enough for us -- call this a beach? Hell, I can count the grains of sand.

Now I feel dwarfed by the sheer change to the landscape.

It feels like half of Europe's decided to move south, spreading back up the hills in huge apartment blocks, sorry, villas, yes villas because they sound much more luxurious, don't they?

Life as one long holiday.

My God, what a place.

From Chris Clark, Correspondent, ABC Australia