Malaga

After a short flight from Morocco we arrived in Malaga and caught a train into the city.  We then had a 15 minute walk to our apartment, which was on the edge of the old city.

Our apartment was a few doors up this street

Although we didn't feel uncomfortable in Morocco it was a nice change to be walking amongst people where we don't stand out, although I'm sure we were readily recognised tourists.  In the old city of Malaga the streets were paved with a polished stone, they were very clean and there was no rubbish.  There were no cars just an occasional taxi or motorbike, a great place for walking.  While some streets were narrow most were wider than those in the old cities in Barcelona and Valencia.

In southern Spain many business close during the afternoon, opening again in the evening. At night every spare space seems to be taken up with a bar or restaurant and these are well patronised.  The streets come alive at night with people out for a stroll, all ages from the old to babies in prams, some are shopping, some dining or socialising at a bar and many out walking their dogs. One evening, while sitting in a street side bar sipping a wine, in the space of a minute I counted 60 people pass by on the 10 metre wide pavement in front of me.  We were in a busy square but a steady stream of people is usual, nobody in a hurry, a relaxed pace seems to be normal here.

Typical street at night, the reflection of the lights is because of the polish on the paving, it's not wet.

Malaga has an old palace fortress, the Alcazaba, built in the 11th century but extensively enlarged with a change of ruler in the 14th century.   It is built on a hill that overlooks the city and the buildings follow the contour of the land.  Steps and patios take you from one building to another.  It is an amazing construction.

A bit higher up the hill is the fort of Castillo de Gibralfaro which looks over the city and the port.  This was built in the 14th century and it was linked to the Alcazaba by a walled walkway creating a stronghold for the ruler of the time.  All that remains of the fort is some towers and the rampart walls.  We walked along the ramparts following the footsteps of soldiers from centuries ago.

The fort ramparts with a view over the port 

Near the entrance of the Alcazaba (at the bottom the hill) are remnants of a Roman theatre dating to the 1st century BC.  Stone seats are set in a semi circle and under the current pavement was a view down to some fish salting vats, built from stone.  No doubt there are more Roman ruins under today's buildings.

The Roman ruins with the Alcazaba behind

As we were on the Costa del Sol we couldn't miss visiting the beach.  We had a short walk from our apartment via a beautiful park or along the waterfront to get there.  At 10:30 in the morning it was too hot for us to stay long but many people were enjoying the sun and the sea.  There were sunbathers on the beach, bikini tops seemed to be optional, people swimming and people on sun loungers in the shade.

The beach 

On our way back from the beach we came by the by the bulk ring where fights still take place.

The bull ring, we liked it for it's architecture not it's purpose.