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Skip breakfast at the hostel,
taking remainders of bread from dinner,
and step out through the extensive underground metro construction
to the nearby convenience store for an espresso
at a quaint diner counter with other morning customers.
Sitting at the cafe bar, we join old men
drinking steaming cafe con leche out of small highball glasses.
They are also partaking in some kind of clear liqueur…
Slugging the coffees, we set off through the subway construction towards the sea,
taking in the sights – graffiti tags and an overturned glass receptacle..?.
They are also partaking in some kind of clear liqueur…
Four blocks from the hostel, we reach the beach.
Industrial cargo and tanker ships, at first look, the Mediterranean does not appear very clean.
We Make eye-contact, saying, “Hola,” but they do not look away or greet us.
Staring into a stranger’s eyes, a curious characteristic…
Our first cucaracha sighting…about the size of a Euro.
We continue along the waterfront into El Parque de Málaga,
a well groomed park and pedestrian pathway featuring many sights.
Beautiful mosaic tiles and ceramic planters frame depictions of Spanish heraldry crest symbols
of the larger municipalities comprising the Province of Málaga.
Málaga’s coat of arms (above) in amazing tile work! “Peligro” indeed!
The crests of 12 different cities in Málaga Province are pictured as follows:
Marbella, Mijas, Rincón de la Victoria
Benalmádena, Estepona, Antiguera
Fuengirloa, Alhaurín de la Torre, Álora
Bust of Spanish painter Antonio Muñoz Degrain.
In the park around every curve, this retreat from the summer heat includes
fountains, sculptures, and busts
strewn amongst the shady palm trees, ferns, and flowers,
There’s even an orchestral amphitheater!
Bust of Spanish composer Eduardo Ocón Rivas
From the park, a Spanish Galleon Ship is seen in the bay,
and what looks like the Spanish Coast Guard.
At a clearing, above the city are the walls of a castle,
curiosity marks this as the new goal for the day!
Bust of poet Rubén Darío.
No Eating the King’s Oranges!
Ahead, the map marks the Málaga bullring, Plaza de Toros de La Malagueta is near…
Overhead view of Plaza de Toros de La Malagueta (Image Source: Wikipedia)
The building is a large, white ring with rust red accents.
Many cities in Spain have bullrings and local favorite matadors
such as Antonio Ordóñez immortalized here in bronze.
Ernest Hemingway was a family friend of the Ordóñez family,
and Antonio Ordóñez was the model for Hemingway’s novel, The Dangerous Summer,
which chronicles the rivalry between Antonio Ordóñez and Luis Miguel Dominguín.
After a stop on the other side of the bullring for a refreshing beverage in the shade,
we start hiking up the garden to the Castillo de Gibralfaro (Castle of Gibralfaro)
atop Monte Gibralfaro (Mount Gibralfaro).
Posing for a picture while passing
the Museo del Patrimonio Municipal (MUPAM).
Our walk into the gardens of Mount Gibralfaro
starts to get surreal with amazing plant life all around!
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