Hotel Monte Malaga Málaga

... think it is Ozzy, and the lyrics are "I'm going through changes" and right now that describes how I feel. Being in a new country is a big change. It's a huge change. Our cultures are so different and today I really realized it. On this day I have felt more homesick than I have felt since I got here. I believe the remedy for this is I need to make some changes.

I'm going to head out but let's hope things go a bit more smoothly here on out.

"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 ...

... Sounds funny eating Thai food in Spain. But, it was one of the best meals.. The couple is from Holland and use only fresh ingredients. It was by far the most flavorable food we've had. For the most part the Spanish food consists of overcooked, heavy meat (lamb, pork), boiled potatoes, and soggy vegetables, The pan is dry and mostly served cold. So, this was a treat. Food with flavor. I think our search for good food is paying off...2 nights in a row.

After getting in late the night before we got a pretty late start the next morning The place where we're staying is a 5 minute walk to Burriana Beach. A very popular beach in this area. The weather has been incredible our entire trip 70s and 80s the whole time. Apparently, this is unusual for this time of year here. It's tends to be a bit cooler. But the beaches are full of sunbathers even in mid-October. We really picked a good time to ...

Malaga oh Malaga. Today we met some locals through an intercabio at a Indian style cafe and it was pretty neat. I am realizing how little Spanish I know and how fast the Spaniards talk. So far I like my classes. We stay in the same room while three different teachers come in throughout the day. The biggest shock about Spain for me was that people ...

... and go Kenya. that's the first done. after that we are on our way.
But How do we leave Spain with the Doggies....and yes there is Simon..!!
Our good friend has a Van...needs it to be back in London and heey!! we go there.

Simon our life~saver for the first part of our Tour. We will take the Van..with the Dogs,and some of our personal belongings back to Holland. Simpels..!!!!
My Golfbag...some bags with extra clothes we cannot ...

... did his magic and we were cleared to go, taking off two hours late into the rain and dense cloud of Madrid. We climbed out above the heavy thunder clouds, which were present for the whole of the (reasonably smooth) one hour flight. The cabin crew were serving a (pay for) snacks meal but before they got to us it was time to descend and they hastily scarpered as we started to come down through heavy clouds and got thrown around (quite) a bit more. It wasn't raining as we ...

So after a long and bumpy flight to Madrid, I had a quick connecting flight to Malaga, which is on the southern coast of Spain. One of the employees from the study abroad program met me at the airport and took me in a taxi to my new home. They live in a 4 bedroom apartment on the 4th floor of a building that's pretty much in the center of the city. I got a map in my packet of materials and everything is easily accessible either by walking or hopping on a bus at a stop a ...

... our long hike. We then went to dinner at a great vegetarian restaurant!!! Yes, they have this in Malaga! I had soy meatballs with French fries. It may sound lame, but I haven't had meatballs in about 7 months. After dinner, we saw the movie, "El Sabor de La Sandia"= The Flavor of the Watermelon. The movie just ended up being very strange and about a porn star who did not enjoy his life. In addition, of the two movies I have seen in Spain, both ended up being Bollywood ...

... Next day nearly got a bus going in the opposite direction to the airport, but then all was fine until flying over england. All you could see was a layer of fluffy clouds, the shine of the sun bouncing off teh clouds making all you could see bright and fantastic. All I needed to see would be dude with a big grey beard and I'd be in heaven. Then we made the decent though the thick, now turning grey, clouds. It took a long time before the dreary, dull country that was home ...