Málaga

Last week I took off to Spain the day after an exam. What a great way to destress! I first spent two or three days in Málaga, which is located on the SW coast, along what is known as La Costa Del Sol (The Coast of the Sun). And I found that description quite true, there was nothing but warm, dry weather and sunny-blue skies.

Malaga has seen a long history, from something like the 7th century, to the capital? of the Moorish kingdom in Spain, to now. The original city stood behind a defensive wall, and though the wall isn't there anymore I still feel like a clear demarkation was evident between the old city and the new. Outside the wall's boundaries the streets were wider and straighter, the buildings taller and more spaced. Within, many of the streets were so small that they were forced to be pedestrian-only, which incidentally makes things really nice for tourists.

On the beach side of the city, the main street (La Alameda Principal) was divided in the middle by the Parque (park), about 10 or 15 yards wide and several blocks long. Inside the weaving Paseo De Espana (Walk of Spain) the tall palms and mediterranean flowers blocked out most views of the cars passing by. It was quite amazing.

El Teatro Romano: The Roman Theatre. This was right along the edge of the big hill in the center of the old city, and only found in 1950 or so when some plaza was being constructed. I was shocked at how small it was, nothing like the huge theatre I was expecting. But it was neat, people were allowed to sit on the original benches.

Alcazaba de Malaga An Alcazaba is a Moorish fort in Spain, Moorish being the local word for the Muslim rulers who were there around 11-14th centuries or so. According to my brochure I picked up, this Alcazaba was rebuilt many times, containing some three concentric walls until the Palace in the center, which had about eight small rooms off of two plaza/inner courtyard type things. The architecture was extremely Moorish here, very geometric in design and style.

Castillo Gibralfaro, the Gibralfaro Castle, was higher up on the same hill. Strangely, it seemed to be less well maintained, but it was still possible to walk all the way around the outside walls. The inside had just a little cafe/snack bar and some gardens, no palace or anything here. Apparently it once held a large Magazine and quarters for soldiers and that.

Picasso: was born in Málaga! Now that's pretty cool. The Museo Picasso Malaga, right by the Catedral (which is also very pretty, but that's about all I know about it), held entirely works by Picasso, with the exception of the Temporary Exhibit, which was 1920's and 30's photography... so still pertinent. Underneath the art exhibitions was an open archaeological dig, showing original Roman walls, Phoenician wells, paved 14th century streets, all together and overlaid in this tiny basement. It was absolutely amazing.

Other things I saw:
-Plaza de Toros de la Malagueta - The bullfighting ring of Malagueta, which I think still hosts bullfights, though maybe they no longer kill the bulls, or treat them quite as badly as they still do in more rural areas? I managed to sneak in, and watched a Spanish man practice twirling movements with his red cape in the centre of the ring.
-Ayuntamiento, the local/regional government. As a building, I think it means the City Hall. I have a picture somewhere. Along the Alameda Principal, three buildings stand out from the rest. One is the Ayuntamiento, one is Palacio de la Aduana (Palace of the Border), and the third is the Rectorado Universidad de Málaga (University Rectorate). Shows how important and influential the Church has been throughout Spanish history.