Hotel Bandolero Málaga

... on to me when I was leaning against a wall. Wasn´t happy that Mark wasn´t around to get a pic though! grrr!! I Want One! Plus I miss my babies, Harvey and Biscuit...

Anyway, the trip was a really good breath of fresh air, in comparison to the hustle and bustle of lots of the parts of Europe we have visited recently.

Hopefully we can get a computer that will upload photos in the next few days! Keep an eye out...

... to a salsa bar a few times, we went hiking one day near Pedregalejo (a fancy neighborhood in Málaga), documentaries in a cultural center near here, museums, etc. There is a lot to do!

Yesterday I ran the 1st Urban Run in Málaga. It was a 10K and I did it in about 57 minutes. It felt really good! Afterwards, Lindsay, Katie (a friend who was visiting for the weekend), Roísín and I went to the beach the lay in the sun and jump in the water! I got a ...

"Yes" it is possible to to experience a different Marbella.....
Normally one does not associate "authentic Spain" when coming to
Marbella or the Costa del Sol in general! The picture we all have of this part of the world, is big
concrete buildings from Malaga right to Gibraltar! Big hotels, big resorts, Golf Courses and obviously lots of sun! Not to forget the bling bling factor!
When looking for the "Real ...

... I saw a bullfight my first week here and it really wasn't my cup of tea, but it was interesting to be where all the action takes place. I then proceeded to go exploring on my own, which I actually do quite frequently. I love people but I find I really enjoy some things better when I make my own experience not surrounded by what everyone else wants to do. I started by going down into the Ronda Gorge, which literally looks like a city built on a cliff. It is just ...

We decided today we would stay in the area and just go driving. We wanted to check out some wineries and take a cave tour. But we didn't get a chance to do either one. The cave tours were 5 hours long. The caves are amazing but not sure Shae would be able to hang that long. my guess is not. And we drove and drove and didn't find one winery. I think we got close one time. But anyway the ride was beautiful and there was a great restaurant in a white village ...

... a holiday so everyone was out and this is a popular destination for miles around. We got to the square and they had a jumping tent set up for the kids. Shae was thrilled. Finally, something she can enjoy doing on her own. We sat at the nearby cafe and she jumped probably 5-6 different times. She made a couple of new friends. It was so cute. We also got a great suggestion for lunch and headed over when they opened ...

... was something not to be found. Yes, a whole bunch of tiny yoghurts with added sugar and fruit, but no decent 1l package of natural nothing added yoghurt. So no cereals. Even in the great shopping mall supermarket Pablo brought me to later I only found natural yoghurt in these tiny packages, that would mean you´d have to buy ten of them and empty two or three of them for a daily bowl of cereals and yoghurt. And I found a reasonably sized glass bottle of yoghurt for 3.60. I am ...

... signs actually read "Stop" and not "Alto" like in most Spanish speaking countries and our tour guide explained to me that most Spaniards only look at stop signs and red lights as suggestions and not the law (this must be an Italian influence as I am well aware of how they follow this rule as well). The second was the number one national pastime for the residents is not soccer but rather basketball. They love their basketball and their team as well ...

... her stick, strode surprisingly swiftly away, black gown fluttering in a light wind. After ten minutes she was barely a dot in the distance, the mountains looming above her, only her head showing above an emerald sea of grass. All around was an immense silence. It was the last day of our eastern trip and we were on our way home. Please feel free to leave any messages for me. I welcome any friendly comments, whether on my blogger web site or on my TravelPod space. Thank you.

... paid for it? (and are over 18?). No seriously, my teacher is really nice, she has a bit of an Antonio Banderas fetish, and literary discussions are at times a little difficult to follow (she pronounces ´Shakespeare´ as ´Jackishere´), but tomorrow evening we are going to the cinema to see the film version of a book she recommended. I think my chances of English subtitles in ´Cine Malaga España´are pretty slim...