Malaga, The Return Trip: Sometimes, Seats Do Face Forward

Yes!  For our return trip via train from Malaga to Sevilla, I persevered and asked for seats that faced in the direction we would be traveling.  The gruff, this time, ticket agent said he would try but couldn't guarantee it.  So, we expected the same old same old.  We were so sure we had once again been unsuccessful that even after we got on the train and found that our seats did in fact face the apparently correct direction, we were convinced that the train was going to pull out of the station and then reverse direction (which is a possibility since this Malaga station is not a "drive-thru").

Oh, ye of little faith.  We didn't have to change seats.

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY THAT CAN'T BE SEEN IN THIS PICTURE.

The Cousin of the Germ sat down in front of us for the last half hour of the two hour and thirty-eight minute ride, but she was spraying her TB on the guy in front of her.  I don't think we were exposed.

BOSTON CREAMS IN MALAGA.

We were both kind of tired today, so didn't have the energy to do lots of wandering around Malaga.  We did head to another neighborhood (away from the old center) to check things out and we loved what we saw.  My mother will be pleased to know they even have Dunkin Donuts... well, Dunkin Coffee in Malaga.  She thinks their coffee is better than Starbuck's or Peet's, so we gave it a try.  We had a couple of donuts while we were at it: Boston Cream.  I wasn't however sold on the coffee.  Spain's cafe con leche is my new best friend.

MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE PUBLIC MARKET.

On our way back to our hotel we came upon Malaga's public market (Mercado Central de Atarazanas).  Another exciting place and it makes Jerry want to cook.  It just makes me want to look around, take some pictures, and maybe buy some dried fruit.  It's a beautiful building with stunning stained glass inside.

THE EAST WING... OF THE PUBLIC MARKET.

So, with our brief visit to Malaga complete, we're pretty sure it's where we'll end up living.  The weather was not glorious — rain and gray for our visit.  But the air off the Mediterranean smelled fresh and it was definitely much milder than Sevilla.  It's a very easy city to get around.  Great shopping, for those who care.  Beautiful beaches, which are probably insane during "season."  Lots of available housing at very good prices.  There are two train stations.  The RENFE station that we went in and out of is beautiful.  And there are an amazing number of museums, including the Picasso Museum, that will keep us busy and happy for a good long time. 

CONTRADANZA... OUR NEW FAVORITE MUSICA.

We also have our new favorite book store (music store, electronics store) called FNAC (pronounced EFF-KNOCK).  It's French-owned and there's also one in Sevilla.  They even have live performances in their little cafe.  We caught a great performance at FNAC in Sevilla over the weekend by a group called Contradanza.  They are a small Sevillian band that puts a different spin on traditional, folk, and flamenco Andalusian music.  We enjoyed their music so much that we bought their latest CD "Tentenelaire.”  Jerry is going to learn all the lyrics by heart and sound fluent in Spanish... except that Jerry has never learned ANY lyrics by heart to even sound fluent in English.

Jerry is relaxing and reading and I'm about to work on my attitude so that we can go out to dinner tonight and I can be pleasant company instead of being tired, cold, and crabby.  Keep a good thought for Jerry.