Our Spanish Hibernation 3:0

As our second hibernation in Malaga reaches the last couple of weeks, we have started to think about returning next winter and where to stay. Our apartment in Lagunillas has worked out very nicely and the city centre location is very handy. So potentially we will come back here or somewhere nearby which offers the outside space this one lacks.

We explored a couple of different neighbourhoods over the weekend to see if they would work. On the other side of town, but still in central Malaga, we took a stroll through Soho. I really couldn’t imagine staying there for three months. It is thought to be an upcoming area with a cool vibe, good bars and excellent restaurants. Some apartments would have balconies or terraces with sea views. The bit we looked at struck me as noisy, gloomy and a bit seedy.

It didn’t help that it was a long walk to get there and I was hungry. We made our way back to the lower part of the city and into a semi-regular of ours where we enjoyed much needed beverages and some pintxos – bite sized snacks served on a slice of baguette. Delicious!

On Saturday, we took a fifteen minute bus ride along the coast to El Palo. This is a lovely beachside neighbourhood with all the shops, restaurants, bars and businesses that the city centre offers but in a more tranquil setting. Getting in to the centre is convenient enough using the regular bus service or you could cycle or even hire an electric scooter. The scooter is a very popular mode of transport around town, but I’m not sure it would be for me! Watch this space!

On a nice day, walking between El Palo and the city is definitely an option. It is a longish stroll – at least an hour and a quarter – but mostly along the promenade, so very picturesque. Along the way there are many places to stop for food or drink. Maybe some grilled sardines from a chiringuito or a cold cerveza from a beachfront bar. Or you can just sit on one of the many benches and simply look out at the sea.