Recently, Jason attended a week-long class off the southern coast of Spain in Malaga and we tagged along too, for moral support. (Not really...ha!) We spent eight days along the Costa del Sol, enjoying the Spanish sights, sangria, and the sun in one of the oldest cities in the world.
My husband is ready to retire to Spain. Fishing, hunting, and bull fighting are all he says he needs.
I would not mind visiting again, but I am a Louisiana girl to the core!
Anyways, see for yourself! (There is plenty to see...sorry.) And Feliz Navidad!
 |
| Waking up to beautiful skies and the sun every morning |
 |
| Everyone was in the Christmas spirit. |
 |
Yes, it is what you think it is. A pig's leg, cured in sea salt for months.
In Spain, cured ham is called jamon. And we were greeted by them in every restaurant and food store we visited.
It is very common for business establishments to present a leg of jamon as a Christmas gift to clients.
(I guess it isn't any different than giving a sack of oysters or bushel of crabs like so many do back in Louisiana.) |
 |
| Tapas bars and restaurants dotted every alley and corner in the city. |
 |
Sangria and marinated claims in a savory garlic/butter sauce
We also tried a native, cold potato soup called, gazpachuelo. |
 |
Our first night and meal in Spain
It was late, Caroline was fussy. Graham was too busy playing with his balloon to eat. Jason and I enjoyed a few tapas and Spanish wine in record time. And a local was kind enough to take our only family photo.
Memories in Malaga |
 |
Graham and his mint green gelato
This happened on more than one night during the week. |
 |
Graham with his mint green gelato and a Spanish speaking Santa. What a combination...
Contrary to what you may be thinking, this was not an act of parental bribery. This was 100% Graham Nugent. We tried to do the Santa thing before ice cream, but Graham was not having any part of the big guy. We moved on. (The ice cream shop was next to where Santa was set up.) So after we purchased our ice cream cones, we began walking back to our hotel. With chocolate dangling from his face and ice cream dripping from his fingers, Graham decided he wanted to pay a visit to Santa. And the picture captures the rest--a classic!
|
 |
| Malaga is the birthplace of the famous Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso. The museum's collection comprises mostly of family donations, spanning eight decades. To see these works was quite a treat for me as I have a fond admiration and appreciation for art. |
 |
Picasso meet Graham
One morning on our way to the park, we peeped in a gallery to have a look at more of Picasso's paintings. The gallery proprietor graciously allowed me to take a few photographs since I wasn't able to do so in the museum. His Picasso collection was quite extensive as well. |
 |
After the gallery and park, we walked down to the marina to check out the Mediterranean Sea.
And yes, the water is beautiful! |
 |
We think "Woo-dy" is to blame...
Woody has his pants tucked in his boots, so Graham has to have his pants tucked in his boots. And yes, Woody tagged along too. |
 |
Alcazaba is an 11th century palatial fortress and served as the residence to several Moorish rulers (Muslim) before the Moors were overthrown by the Christian monarchs.
It is possible to see Africa from the top of the fortress on a clear day. |
CC...these are all for you! Three words: "bel-lay, bel-lay, bel-lay"
 |
| My sister encourages him to do this... |
 |
View from our hotel room of the Cathedral of Malaga
I had fun taking shots of this view every day. Sorry for the redundancy. |
 |
Construction on the cathedral began in 1528 and took over 200 years to complete. The grounds once served as the site of a former mosque before the Arabs were overthrown by the Catholic Monarchy in the later years of the 15th century. The southern columns were never completed because of money. One such story speculated that money intended for such purpose, instead was sent to the American colonies to gain independence from Great Britain.
 |
 |
| The church gardens |
 |
A masterpiece.
We were able to attend Mass here and Graham was able to light his candles. (In our church in Holland, he doesn't like to sit in the cry-room. Instead he prefers to sit in the church, so he can dip his fingers in the "holy water" and "light candles, momma".) |
 |
| The nativity scene in the cathedral |
 |
| The elaborate nativity villages were beautiful. Many businesses display their Christmas creche for public viewing. We visited a few during the week. Even the sidewalk markets sell villages depicting that first holy, Christmas night. |
 |
| An artisan making mangers. |
 |
| I loved this shop and the displays of the infant Jesus. |
 |
| Going to see baby Jesus |
 |
| In Spain, it is customary for the Three Magi to deliver children gifts on the eve of the Epiphany, so the children awake to their presents on the Epiphany as opposed to Christmas Day. |
 |
| Festive town square |
 |
| Graham loved the lights!! |
 |
| Always after the ladies |
 |
| Yes, Graham had mint green gelato again on this night. Hence the spoon still in his hand :=) |
 |
| The spoon photo bombed again. |
 |
| And again. |
 |
| And this little girl gets the award for best behaved! |
 |
| I loved how the nativity scenes are still very much a part of public life! |
Ronda, Spain
Our last day in Spain, we made the 60-mile car ride up to the mountain-town of Ronda. The landscapes took us back to similar scenic drives through Brazil and New Zealand. Each turn had such different, yet, amazing views.
 |
| Olive farms everywhere!! |
 |
| A few times Jason turned to me has he thought we were back in New Zealand. |
 |
| If only these walls could talk...ahh the history behind these centuries-old structures. |
 |
| Our driver stopped off at a gas station, so we could see Ronda off from a distance. |
The Church of Our Lady of Mercy also houses a convent for the Carmelites of Ronda and a relic from St. Teresa of Avila.
 |
| This was a quaint little park in the middle of town over looking the mountainsides. Quite windy I may add. With the little ones, we only stopped long enough to snap a few photos. |
 |
| Making sure Caroline has a few photos for her scrapbook as well. |
 |
Oh the meltdowns memories
One night in the hotel, I was taking pictures of the cathedral and let Graham "press" a few times. So during this particular meltdown, he was wanting to be the photographer rather than be photographed.
(I guess I should look into a toy camera for Christmas for Graham.) |
 |
| Bullfighting anyone? |
 |
| The Plaza de Toros (Spanish name given to all bullfighting arenas) was built entirely with stone materials during the 18th century and is considered one of these oldest in Spain. |
 |
| Of course, I was most impressed with the tiled staircase to the second level. Ha! |
 |
| The bull stalls |
 |
| This stop made the trip for Jason. He wants to go back during April-September to see the bullfights. |
 |
| Oh the places this two year old has been and sadly will never remember. |
 |
| These are two of my favorites...I don't know who was having more fun?! |
 |
| Ready or not, I am out the door! |
 |
| And this is how he "rolls" |
