Things I learned in Málaga [Spain]

Things I learned in Málaga.
When the plane left, I was so scared it would crash. In France there was a storm with a lot of wind (gusts around 100km/h) and rain. I don’t usually feel as bad in planes but this time, the take-off was woobly. I really though the plane would tilt too much and crash. Hopefully, nothing happened (touching wood).

As soon as we reached the sky above the clouds, the plane stopped shaking. I could only see a white sea outside.

When we approached Malaga, the clouds disappeared and I discovered that Malaga was surrounded by mountains. I knew there was mountains in Southern Spain but I didn’t thought the mountains were that close to the city. They are all over it. It is really beautiful.

As I landed, I could already feel the heat of the sun on my skin and I couldn’t wait to not wear my coat outside anymore. Big mistake. Malaga is a very windy city and when you are not under the sun, it can get “cold” even if it is 22°C outside.

I don’t really know what to think about this city. There is a very nice historic district with a nice marina but apart from that, you can see ship reparation machines on the harbour, new style buildings that are not that pretty and the airport next to the beach.

What I liked there was the almost constant sun (it never rains, except when I am there…), the beaches that are very close and beautiful if you get a bit further from the city, you can walk to anywhere, there are mountains all around and the sea on the other side. I could find small coffee shops like I love and few cute restaurants too.

Informations about the trip:

Flight Paris — Malaga — Malaga — Paris: 112€ (AirEuropa)

Coffee shop visited:

— El Ultimo Mono

— Dulces Dreams

— Recyclo bike

Restaurants:

— Noviembre

What to visit:

— Picasso’s birth house (& foundation). There is also a museum about Picasso. He was born in Malaga.

— El Alcazaba ( 2,2 €)

— El Mirador (on top of el Alcazaba: Free)

— Museum Carmen Thyssen

— Pompidou Museum

— Malaga Interactive Museum of Music (MIMMA)

The lists will be updated when the articles about the restaurants/coffee shops will be created.

I made a short list of stuff I learned by being in Malaga for three days. I think it will more reflect my thoughts about the city.

1. Philadelphia cream cheese was not created in Philadelphia. It was created in the state of New York, and named after Philadelphia city because it was a better name for marketing. (source) — Yes it was a big disappointment for me.

2. It’s always sunny in Philadelphia Malaga. That what everybody told me. Of course it is true unless I’m there! Yes, it actually rained. two days out of three.

3. You know you’re a tourist in Málaga if you wear sandals, a skirt (or shorts) and no jacket. In facts, Málaga is known for its wind. While I was wearing only a few layers on me, everybody was wearing winter clothes even if it was 22°C outside. Everybody was looking at me like I was crazy but I was looking at them as if they were crazy! The weather was like the one we have in Normandy in Summer so why would I put my winter coat on? Well, it’s really windy in the city and if it looks like it’s hot outside, it’s a trap! So always keep a jacket or a sweater under your hand.

4. You’re also a tourist if you wait at walking red lights to cross the road. You can wait up to 90 seconds for a red light to turn green! And most of the time, there are not that many cars around so people just cross at anytime.

5. There are no green parks with grass inside the city.That is crazy. My friend made me realize it. She is from Canada where there are a lot of parks everywhere (big ones!). You can think it doesn’t matter to have grass parks but when you just want to chill out in the sun, where would you go? Apparently it would be because of the way Malaga grew, which is my next point.
   PS: Actually there is one park but it is not in the city center and it doesn’t seem very safe either.

6. The city was not touristic at first. Malaga was known to be an important harbour. More over, few miles from the city were a lot of hotels and resorts for tourists that wanted to enjoy the sun and beaches but it wasn’t inside the city. That’s how the city started to get tourists. It grow suddenly and they didn’t really had time to think over the architecture of the city, they just built and built buildings. That is a part of why there a not many parks.

7. Biking is not that easy in the city. There are quite a few bike rentals inside the city, though there are not many bike lanes. Bikers have to go on the sidewalks in order to bike.

8. Bikes are often stolen. My friend said it was worse than in Canada. She also said a very true thing: The fact that there are no bikes in the parking spots made for them is reflecting the problem. No one wants to leave its bike outside.

9. Life is cheap. You can go to restaurant very easily without paying tons of money. for example, for a tapas you can pay 1,5 € ! Fruits and olives are cheap because Spain grow a lot of them. A flat rent for 50m2 is around 450€ (source).

10. Between 2PM and 5PM it’s “Siesta time”. Shops and companies in Malaga close on the afternoon for “The Siesta” for 3 hours but they are openned later on evenings.

11. Tapas is the usual meal. When they do “tapas”, people frequently change places to eat tapas in one place and then one in another. I loved that way of having the pre-dinner drinks (and food).

12. There is a river without water in Malaga. I still don’t get it but apparently it’s “just in case” of a flood.

13. There are a lot of art on the walls.

14. Malaga has the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. You will have to climb up to “el Mirador” on top of the Alcazaba to see it, but it is totally worth it. I would go back just for this magical sunset.