Our Spanish Hibernation 3:0

So our second hibernation in Malaga comes to a close and it has been another great adventure. We have immersed ourselves in the city and enjoyed its hustle, bustle and vibrancy but now it’s time to pack up our belongings and head back to Reading.

Both of our winter stays here have been great, but we certainly learnt from last year’s experience so it felt a lot easier to settle in this time. It helped that the apartment was much more convenient for the centre of town, the gym, the supermercados and of course the bars and restaurants!

As before, we got out of town a few times and it was great visiting Cordoba, Sevilla, Ronda and Setenil de Bodegas. All lovely and we know there’s a lot more of Sevilla we hope to see next year.

Earlier this week, we met up with my Spanish teacher, Toni for some lunchtime tapas. He took us to La Recova – a delightful, cosy place tucked away in a sidestreet and packed with locals. We were happy for him to choose the dishes and enjoyed beautifully prepared tuna with sliced beef tomatoes, some manchego cheese, pork grilled and served in a herby olive oil and a flamed chorizo. The flaming of the chorizo takes place on your table. The camarera lit the dish, instructed us what not to touch (which seemed to be almost everything) then left us in charge of turning the sausage until cooked to our liking. It was dramatic and delicious.

With the fridge nearly empty and the packing approaching, we decided to pop out last night for food and beverages! The centre of Malaga is gearing itself up for the annual Carnaval – ten days of singing, vibrant costumes, parades and fun as a lead in to lent. A perky looking harlequin sits at one end of Calle Larios, whilst at the other end a stage and bar is going up in the Plaza de Constitución. All along the street, the amazing Christmas lights have been replaced with a sparkling Carnaval display. They look stunning.

Our plan next year is to stay in El Palo for three months and be close to the city, whilst enjoying a different neighbourhood experience. Can’t wait! Gracias Malaga. Hasta próxima vez!