Saturday, April 15
We are loving the Spanish towns of the Mediterranean. Just like Barcelona, Malaga is a lovely port and the city and its streets are very clean. Exceptional about Malaga, in addition to the beautiful architecture, are the beautiful gardens everywhere.
After we took the shuttle bus (10 Euros per person round trip) to the outskirts of the city center, we crossed the street and saw horse and buggy rides. I thought to myself that it would be very expensive, but we could at least inquire. It was only 30 Euros for the three of us! We had a lovely drive around the waterfront and a bit of Old Town.
The large park across from the waterfront was filled with blooming roses and flowering trees, a large variety of palms, banyans, huge red hibiscus trees, orange trees — it was absolutely gorgeous and lush, and so quiet. The flora reminded us of Florida. Flocks of green parrots like we have in Florida was the only noise we heard, and it was so welcoming to hear their joyful chatter. Along the ride, the driver pointed out a really nice stadium where bullfights are still being held.
After our delightful ride, we walked across the street into Old Town toward the lovely and enormous Malaga Cathedral. Long lines snaked into the front entrance. We continued walking down the lovely streets toward the massive Alcazaba, the old Moorish fortress that is the oldest part of the Alhambra. Alhambra is perched high above the city, offering panoramic views of Granada and the Mediterranean. There are hundreds of steps up from the fort itself to reach Alhambra, which is a fortress-palace complex. It is famous for its mosaics, columns and courtyards.
Cliff and I agreed to meet Joan in about 25 minutes, and started up the steps to Alcazaba. From there we could see the remains of an old coliseum, where people were sitting, and television cameras were set up for the recording of a big wedding. At the base of steps to the castle entrance, a man was playing beautiful music on a large harp.
We waited in line a while, and it seemed to be moving quickly, until we got inside and found that the line was much longer than we thought. We looked at a 3D model of the Alhambra and the Alcazaba and were astounded by how massive it is and all the steps involved in visiting both of them.
By then, it was time to meet Joan. We walked around and visited a few little shops, decided on an outdoor restaurant, and sat in the sat to order Sangria. It was definitely the BEST Sangria we have ever had. The glasses were huge, and the total amount for all three was only 7.50 Euros. However, the menu had to be pulled up through an OCR scan code, but we didn’t have Internet. Cliff walked across to a smaller cafe and found a waiter who could speak English, and the menu was in both English and Spanish. We moved over there and Joan and I had another Sangria (not quite as good) while Cliff had a beer. We each ordered a different pasta dish, and they were all outstanding.
After we ate, we continued walking, and spotted a dark statue we had not seen on the way in. As we walked by, he swung his pickaxe downward. He was excellent!
Cliff and I both loved Malaga very much and agreed that we could easily live there. Not only is it incredibly beautiful, but there is so much to do and see in Malaga. We would definitely love to return to Spain to explore all of the lovely towns along the Mediterranean.
Malaga has only about 19 inches of rain per year, and we imagined the winters are very hot, but the average temperature is only 86 in the hottest month, July.
After that, we checked out a few more shops, and then headed back to the shuttle bus. The sun was exceptionally bright, but the weather was absolute perfection, and we had a wonderful day. We returned to the ship early enough for a nice nap.
Later in the evening, we enjoyed a fabulous music show at the Princess Theater, with instruments from all over the world. It was amazing!
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