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Published: December 3rd 2007
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So as promised, at the first opportunity I got, I went to visit my Grandmother in Andalusia.
As it was a puente, and Stephanie had never been to Malaga, we decided to make a road trip out of it.
So, after dropping my worldy possesions off to my third flat in the month of October (the flat I found after our Columbian disaster had turned out to be a virtual OCD library) we headed off to grab our bus to Madrid, and then our bus to Malaga!
Thanks to my trusty Carnet Joven, our return tickets were 20% off! Costing each of us around £20 for a 6 hour return bus ride! Deal or no Deal?....uuh what do you reckon?! So at this price we were fully expecting a cramped and rickety coach, hurtling its way down the carreteras of Spain at speeds that defied its lack of wheel suspension. HOWEVER, National Express should take note, for £20 return, Daibus provided us passengers with a brand spanking new bus, with fully reclining seats, spacious overhead compartments and enough footroom to do the leedin Riverdance!
And for good measure, Daibus even provided us with radio terminals in between the seats, one for each passenger and in-coach entertainment on two drop down video screens.
One did wonder whether the film shown ''Turbulence II, fear of flying'' had been specifically chosen by the bus company. Starring that girl from flashdance and a teddy-bear faced guy who saves the day and wins her heart, the film is about a group of people who take an internal flight to celebrate getting over their fear of flying, have their plane and the chemical weapons on-board (oh no!) hijacked by terrorists...they are almost shot down by the military and there are other generally predicatable plot twists that secured it's straight-to-video release. A very apt, if a bit dramatic advert for Bus travel as opposed to flying.
We arrived in Malage central at about 10pm. The town was in full-hallowe'en-botellon swing. The beautiful fountain gardens were full of ghouls, vampires and devils drinking Whiskey, Vodka, and Tinto de Verano from a bottle. Feeling out of place in our everyday gear, Stephanie and I rested up in our very dodgy looking Hostel. Now when i say dodgy, I mean old, and in need of some serious modernisation. As we fiddled with the lock to our bedroom door we knew the room would make our break our break our spirits after our very plesant bus ride south. Unfortuneately as the door shuddered open, the sparse and desolate yellow room came into full view. It was the kind of room that would even sink Dick van Dyke's spirit. I couldnt tell whether the walls were yellow from age, smoke, or unchanged 70's colour scheme. It also puzzled us why there was a sink, and a shower in the bedrom, but no toilet. Once we had found the toilet however, it became clearer. With the level of care that the Hostal Costa Rica was used to, Im not suprised they dont risk putting the toilets in the rooms. After putting off being in our room as long as possible, Stephanie and I headed to bed. But not before banging the bed fiercely in a vain attempt to see if it would make any would-be bed bugs more visible.
The next day, we woke up early. Took cold strip washes in the room. Decided to wait to use the toilets in a cafe somewhere, and checked out. At least it didnt cost us much. And neither of us discovered any bed-bug bites which is always a good thing.
With a coffe and a doughnut down our necks, we begun our day visit through Malaga.
We walked through the beautiful fountain gardens along the coastal front. And then, with Carnet Joven's in hand, entered the Alcazaba. The Alcazaba is the old Moorish Castle halway up the hill on teh east on Malaga City centre. Further up, if you have time, is the even older ruined Moorish fortress which the ALcazaba replaced when it was built. All round this area are historical sights such as the Roman aphitheatre, the old bull ring. It is by far one of the best things to see in Malaga.
AMongst other cool things are th Flamenco shows, or the other numerous museums. Malaga has one of the highest concentrations of museum for a city in the world!!!So i would recommend trying some of them out. There are also Arabic baths, Flamenco museums, and The Picasso museum, which was our next port of call. And with our trusty Carnet Joven, yet again we got a brilliant deal. And they insist on taking your bags off you. Fair enough. Saves me lugging it around for an hour or so. Unfortuneately, as amazing as Picasso undoutedly is, it is my opinion that the Malaga gallery is a bit lacking...most of the artists best works are in the Prado,in New York. A fair way away from Malaga, his birth place. Nevertheless it was an insight into some of his lesser known works. Myfavourite is the Minotaur with the wine glass. The expression on the face of the Minotaur is perfect.
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