(Grafitti on a bridge in Malaga)
I think the only musical group to NOT stop by our table was the Ohio State Marching Band, other than that, everyone with a musical instrument and a hand out....stopped by.
It is a city of a half million or more, right on the coast and in the summer, it rocks. Right now they are celebrating some sort of Carnival which is held the week before Lent begins. Sort of a Mardi Gras without the wild parties and huge parades (darn) but we do see kids dressed in costumes and they had some sort of contest in the main street a couple nights ago. We have looked it up online and all we can learn is that the Carnival was banned by Franco, the former dictator. He died. The Carnival was reinstituted and everybody is happy.
So, we had to weave around the semi-festivities on Saturday and found a restaurant in the Old Town and sat outside to enjoy the millions of people walking by. Problem was, a half of those million were wandering musicians who would play and then walk among the tables for donations. Our meal costs would have easily doubled. A violinist stood over there. Then an accordian player came by (no, he did not play "Lady of Spain") then a trumpeter, then a trumpeter AND accordian player together (still no "Lady of Spain"). There was also a begger or two and people selling flowers. There was more foot traffic around my table than I have seen in the parking lot of an OSU football game. But, it was fun. When we asked about the Carnival, the woman at the restaurant said, "Yes, it's Carnival."
We have been along the sea in Istanbul and Thessaloniki and sort of in Athens and in Patras, Greece and Bari, Italy but this is the first time we have been on a warm beach of the Mediterranean. The temperature is in the 60's and lots of people are walking along the promenade and even a few are sunning themselves. We take a break from cathedral walking and enjoy a few hours of sunshine. Although I did carefully study a San Miguel as I sat at a beachside restaurant in the morning.
I am told that this particular section of Spain is THE place to escape the cold and dreariness of winter for many Europeans. I can surmise that the Germans come here in droves because the TV systems have many German language stations on them. Of course most are in Spanish and a couple in English. All newspapers are in Spanish and we can get world news via the internet.
Several folks have written and asked what the Spaniards think about the events in the middle east and what America is doing. Nearest I can figure out, they want America to work with them (Europe) in coordinating unified diplomatic efforts. The foreign press seems to be focusing on what is unfolding rather than how they can control the events of another country. I suppose that is a very American thing...."What should WE do to influence another countries people about their leader?" The foreign press is not focusing on America's response. These protests may just be about the man in the street in Cairo and Libya and not about Americans. In any case, it is in the news, the news is mainly in another language, we can't get the subleties of the situation of the countries we are in. Heck, we can't even figure out what this Carnival taking place 3 blocks from our hotel and involving thousands of people is all about. We order food by sign language and the help of any nearby English speaking person or our limited Spanish. That is an adventure in itself. How are we going to figure out the finer points of Spanish or Italian diplomacy concerning Libya?
Onward. On our walks this morning we noted an old fort/castle and saw people walking up the hillside via long, beautiful terraced gardens and complex stairs and steps. We decided there was a great view of the harbor and city and so we made that our late afternoon destination. We took a side street from the hotel and then walked the palm and garden lined boulevard through the town. I still can't get over the fact that people in Europe walk around towns....that is....they stroll. Of course, during the work days, they are commuting and rushing and they look like any other harried work a day people. But in the evenings, on the weekends.....they come to the city centers and stroll. I realize that most of you know that, but it is wonderful to be amongst the Europeans for these weeks and to see their city centers teeming with shops, restaurants and cafes. And every city has the "old city" where the shops and pathways are cuter and quainter and cars are not allowed. People walk to .....to walk. Grandmas and Mom and Dad and a kid or three. They buy ice cream and Sponge Bob balloons (another thing EVERY city has... some men selling helium balloons on the weekends in the city center), teens rove in packs, fashionistas strut their stuff. Great fun.
Our destination was the Alcazaba a former military fort and castle which overlooked the city and harbor. Up and up and up we walked. It was a long way, but we had been in training on the Vatican and Duomo in Florence and the countless city walks we have done over the past weeks. Each step brought another breathtaking view of the city. To the south we could see more mountains down around Torremolinos. (You win the prize if you can name the famous novel which was set in that town.) There were various places to rest and enjoy the view. When we reached the top, we were told that the gates to the Alcazaba were closed for the day.
We didn't even know there was an entrance to the place way up there, we thought it was down below. So, we were not disappointed, we just enjoyed the view.
Peace, Bob
We have been along the sea in Istanbul and Thessaloniki and sort of in Athens and in Patras, Greece and Bari, Italy but this is the first time we have been on a warm beach of the Mediterranean. The temperature is in the 60's and lots of people are walking along the promenade and even a few are sunning themselves. We take a break from cathedral walking and enjoy a few hours of sunshine. Although I did carefully study a San Miguel as I sat at a beachside restaurant in the morning.
I am told that this particular section of Spain is THE place to escape the cold and dreariness of winter for many Europeans. I can surmise that the Germans come here in droves because the TV systems have many German language stations on them. Of course most are in Spanish and a couple in English. All newspapers are in Spanish and we can get world news via the internet.
Several folks have written and asked what the Spaniards think about the events in the middle east and what America is doing. Nearest I can figure out, they want America to work with them (Europe) in coordinating unified diplomatic efforts. The foreign press seems to be focusing on what is unfolding rather than how they can control the events of another country. I suppose that is a very American thing...."What should WE do to influence another countries people about their leader?" The foreign press is not focusing on America's response. These protests may just be about the man in the street in Cairo and Libya and not about Americans. In any case, it is in the news, the news is mainly in another language, we can't get the subleties of the situation of the countries we are in. Heck, we can't even figure out what this Carnival taking place 3 blocks from our hotel and involving thousands of people is all about. We order food by sign language and the help of any nearby English speaking person or our limited Spanish. That is an adventure in itself. How are we going to figure out the finer points of Spanish or Italian diplomacy concerning Libya?
Onward. On our walks this morning we noted an old fort/castle and saw people walking up the hillside via long, beautiful terraced gardens and complex stairs and steps. We decided there was a great view of the harbor and city and so we made that our late afternoon destination. We took a side street from the hotel and then walked the palm and garden lined boulevard through the town. I still can't get over the fact that people in Europe walk around towns....that is....they stroll. Of course, during the work days, they are commuting and rushing and they look like any other harried work a day people. But in the evenings, on the weekends.....they come to the city centers and stroll. I realize that most of you know that, but it is wonderful to be amongst the Europeans for these weeks and to see their city centers teeming with shops, restaurants and cafes. And every city has the "old city" where the shops and pathways are cuter and quainter and cars are not allowed. People walk to .....to walk. Grandmas and Mom and Dad and a kid or three. They buy ice cream and Sponge Bob balloons (another thing EVERY city has... some men selling helium balloons on the weekends in the city center), teens rove in packs, fashionistas strut their stuff. Great fun.
We didn't even know there was an entrance to the place way up there, we thought it was down below. So, we were not disappointed, we just enjoyed the view.
Peace, Bob
Oh my, this looks like heaven about now....
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