When I arrived in Spain I have to admit I was a bit out of sorts. After 6 weeks of travelling with great company, ordering a table for one feels a bit lonely. Plus it was raining and anyone who knows me at all will know how much I dislike getting wet! But with the beauty of Málaga and being soaked in the Spanish language it didn’t take long to get my mojo back.
One of my first stops was the (free on Sunday afternoons) Alcazaba de Malaga, which is a Moorish palace fortress that’s kind of like a mini Alhambra.
Up the hill is the Castillo de Gibralfaro which once acted as a lighthouse and military barracks. Now it offers sweeping views of the city and over the Mediterranean toward Africa.
No visit to a Spanish city could be complete without some church visits. The Cathedral de Málaga started on a mosque site and took 200 years to build. Because of the extensive time and cost they stopped before the second bell tower was complete. Now it bears the nickname ‘La Manquita’, which means the one-armed lady.
Being on the coast, there’s quite a beach scene in Málaga. As soon as the sun came out people flocked to the seaside paths and patios.
One morning I awoke to a bright bluebird day. I took the bus to the neighbouring town of Nerja and hiked up a creek bed to the village of Frigiliana. It’s a classic white village that appears to be dramatically clinging to the side of a mountain. I would have liked to spend more time savouring the views, maybe even with my paint set.
Nerja isn’t a bad place to spend time either.
I’ll leave you with a few pictures of markets, churches, and food. The seafood, paella, and sangria can definitely help a traveller get her groove back.
I’m moving inland today. Spoiler alert: tomorrow I’m doing the hike that is the reason that I returned to this area. So far the forecast looks great!