Mijas My Ass

Grande the white donkey notice the 3rd one in looking at me he is the one who "liked me"

I headed out to the bus station and saw a woman feeding a bunch of cats I smiled and said how many and she out he hands up to indicate 10, and said diez. Nice to know in Spain they feed strays too, since I also am taking care of 10 feral cats.  I took the local bus  to Mijas because I had read about the donkey Taxi's and also free Flamenco performance on Wednesday the ride up into the mountains was something else some of those turns were quite wild and you could see how steep looking down. At one point the driver tooted his horn so a car would know he was coming around the bend and half the bus screamed when we finally "landed"everyone applauded yes it was a heck of a ride. The fare was unbelievable about $ 2, for an hour ride.

I first  headed to the donkey taxi I bonded with one right away and he wanted to be petted and loved he was so sweet I wanted to ride him but I had to go on another one not sure why (he looked sturdy). The ride was good even though it was short ride but worth the 10 euro for trip and the donkey was very good. His name was "Grande" and as we walked along the street the man leading us would speak to him in Spanish and he acted like he understood. What amazed me he suddenly stopped and turned and started walking the other direction without the man touching his reign he knew the route.

After the donkey ride I grabbed my spot to see the Flamenco dancers, it was hard to tell just where to sit but everyone was keeping the area in front of the gazebo open so I sat on the side. They came out and went into the gazebo to dance and it was wonderful they were all good but the one man really stood out and I was memorized by him his dancing was amazing I filmed almost one whole song. At the end they came out of the gazebo and danced a bit in front of it this was great as it was much closer and you had nothing blocking you. I snapped away.

dance Monkey dance

The Shrine of the Virgin of the rock 

 

After that walked around the town saw the church that was built into in a rock it was small inside but beautiful. I walked up uphill looking at shops as I went,  saw a Bullfighting ring.  I came across the Shrine of Our Lady of Los Remedios, a very tiny shrine full of beautiful statues. There were plenty of little cafes and I glanced at some menus but nothing appealed to me could be that I was still full from the omelet I had at breakfast and 2 yummy rolls. I decided to have just an ice cream and of course it was a yummy chocolate cone. I decided to take an early bus back to Torry as I felt very tires. The first bus was full and I had no intention of standing on such a wild ride so I waited for the next bus and went over to talk to the donkeys again. I dozed off on the bus ride back down the mountain. When I arrived back I wound up having a kabob, I would have loved trying a Spanish dish but so far I have seen nothing that appeals to me. The fish ones tend to be ones  I would not touch swordfish, squid and I do not even want to know. 

I decided to try the swimming pool and I asked a young boy who was coming back from the pool and he said that it was cold outside and that I should go to the one upstairs as that one was indoors.  Then he asked me where it was and he lead me up the stairs to it and I said thank you and  I will go get my bathing suit. He then asked if I needed him to show me where the restaurant was and  then asked if I could get to my room okay. He was such a polite child. I had a good swim despite being tired and then I hit the sauna. As I headed back with my new little cover up on I met a man who winked at me so that made my day. 

My goodness in here is on a phone booth where you can call overseas  is screaming in Spanish at someone and the woman in the booth next is screaming too I wonder if they are talking to the same person. Mijas is such a pretty town and I am so glad that I checked it out tomorrow is a tour to Cordoba and I am very much looking forward to that.

the Plaza de Toros

Me and Grande or is it Grande and I

Alhambra in Granada

An early morning trip I had a quick breki as I was afraid the bus would be early it was a tiring morn as I was up before 6 so I kept dozing the till the alarm went off. The Alhambra (Moorish poets described it as "a pearl set in emeralds," in allusion to the color of its buildings and the woods around them) the first part the gardens was a disappointment and only saw one small area, but probably because we were rushed although in springtime they would probably be better. We were split into groups so we had an English speaking guide and then they waited for 2 more people when you wait it takes away from your time. It was also to early in the morning we were there after 10 so the sun was up but lots of shadows and it was cold yes Pat said cold but we were in the mountains and I had short sleeves on. I met a couple from county Louth,Ireland they had a little baby.

The Palace was the best part it had many colorful tiles and the Moorish work was spectacular also the sun was higher so photos were better the bad part was being so rushed. We really only saw a small part of the Alhambra, that is the bad thing about tours. We saw the court of the Lions the lions were inside another area as they as they had been restored and you were not allowed to take pictures too bad they looked beautiful.

After the tour some people went to the paid lunch and I looked in shops bought yet another tee shirt but it was nice and I wanted to have one from Spain. The woman showing me the shirt would say X X Large the way she pronounced the X's was so cute and then she would show me a large and say Large and Tall not XX. The one I really wanted was only available in medium she thought it would fit by I knew better I finally settled on a different shirt in Large she said yes NOT X X. Half the reason I bought the shirt was I did not want to disappoint her with no sale. I also went back to the garden area and saw some parts we had not seen. I and went in the church barely made it as was closed when I was leaving I love how beautiful the statues faces are in Spain just like Costa Rica.I went back to the bus and people were 20 minutes late of course they were older Spanish woman and after that horrid shop keeper no longer care for them well that lateness took from our time in the city so we had only an hour instead of 90 minutes I walked quickly to the Cathedral with a couple from Houston and from SC it was closed because of the siesta that was sad as I really wanted to see the grave of Infanta Isabella and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon (they brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain) I did get a postcard from the shop of the grave but not the same thing. The Cathedral was quite large so there was no place to stand to capture it properly. This seemed totally out of place near the Cathedral.

I am so glad I brought a baguette sandwich along the Irish couple stopped some place and it was 26 euros for a burger fries and drink for one person so he just ate they had not purchased the lunch part of the tour, neither did I as it was 20 euro she was Japanese and she was mocked by some Brits because she said she was from Ireland they were so rude to her. Good day and happy I finally saw Granada check off the list.

Catamaran Mama

I decided to walk along the Mediterranean Sea I walked from Torremolinos beach to the next village Benalmádena Costa it was a long walk but i enjoyed it despite the heat it got to 90 during the walk but there was a breeze, I could look at the color of the sea forever it was amazing that day. A Catamaran was getting ready to leave so it was 10 euro so I hopped on board it was different just sitting on the front of the boat.  They has said we might see dolphins which would have been a bonus it was a nice trip minus the dolphins. I met a family from York and Scotland they sat with me we chatted and they took a pic of me so that was nice. One nice thing about solo travel because you meet people they always seem impressed I am on my own.

I also climbed up steps to get a better view of the sea I came across people who "carved" things out of the sand some very interesting things they usually had a little bucket out for a donation. So I always dropped some change in before I took a photo I do not mind giving money to someone who provides entertainment of some sort and also do not have a hand out demanding


I looked in shops and found a really nice top to wear over a bathing suit and it was marked down to 2 euro so I quickly snatched it up. I saw plenty of interesting little cafes and beach restaurants on the walk down but was not hungry. I started to get  hungry as it was around 4 and I had not eaten since breki,I started walking back to Torrey and could not find a place to eat either closed, Siesta time or not what I wanted finally settled  I finally settled for a steak and a huge baked potato and hot bread and a sangria for only for a 5.99 euro it was yummy.  I sat and enjoyed my meal and watched the "regulars" come in to order.

Afterwards I started the walk back it had been very warm but at one point there is a break in the route where you go around some rocks and it was a lot cooler on the other side and the rest of the walk back.

El footo hurto walko lotso Malaga Spain

I love the street signs

After brekie I got the train to Malaga it was an interesting city I needed a toilet at one point so saw a hotel and decided to walk in and find the toilet it was in the lobby where people were checking in and or out so used it and saw a computer and waited a few minutes till someone got off and quickly checked email and Facebook bad girl.

I found a church that was very beautiful I went inside and looked around I love their statues they are beautiful.

I came across some religious procession of some sort the women were dressed in their Sunday best and wearing long mantillas I took pictures of course and then there was 
a little group of men dressed in Spanish customs playing instruments and a cute little boy playing the drum,  I kept trying to get movies but people kept jumping in my way I was trying to be out of  other people way. At the end was this big cart with all sorts of silver decorations  led by a bull not sure now never got a good look I kept following the parade and trying to get better photos or video. 








































Then I walked through a Parque de Malaga (park)  and ran into a group of flamenco dancers I got a very short video before they stopped. I walked some more it was a pretty park Cricket spied a fountain and I had to keep him from jumping in and swimming and then headed off to find the The Alcazaba Moorish Fortress. I was not very successful and the directions were not clear. I finally asked a couple if they spoke English and he said we better we are American and they were from Omaha so they figured it out and decided to go along it was  interesting and high up. I walked and took photos with them for awhile and the guy wanted one of me as their friend from Buffalo then I took one of him and his wife. They also took one of me with my camera they decided to head off and said goodbye they I were going to climb up to the other part of the fortress I was going to too but continued to look around as we had only seen about one third and they missed the best part I got someone to take a photo of me in a different spot.  

I then spotted a place with ice cream and it was very good as it became really hot out at that point decided it was just to high to climb to the other place the Gibralfaro as I decided it was not worth being exhausted good call. I went through some gardens and looked for Picasso museum again very hard to find finally a shop keeper pointed me on my way I found it only to find it is closed for a week so missed out. I spotted a place with lamb kebab and I had to have it sat outside to enjoy the view and the went and took pictures at the Cathedral which is closed on Sunday very strange. I then decided to start back but just could not find the train station and I was near the hotel I had been in the am but no station nothing marked I asked a man at a news stand he pointed down the street 3 minutes walk well guess what did not see it so I kept walking and saw people with suitcases finally found some to direct me but I could not believe this was the same station I had been at well guess what it was not it was different station one stop closer to Torry it was the main station. My poor feet were about to explode and I was so mad I did not have my nuprin. I just found a shop where I bought some really cute sparkly tops for work can't wait to wear them.

Cricket at the fountain

Sitting on my balcony drinking some sherry eating some peanuts this is the life this is the view.

El bitcho shop keeper

       inutes a I was looking at a scarf fofor 

 For I saw a scraf and 

For a few minutes and decided to buy it I reached to get my money and the shopkeeper said it is only 2 euro buy it is cheap it is only 2 euros shaking her hand at me and I reached for my money and said I am getting my money and she started screaming at me grabbed it out of my hand and kept shooing me away and kept yelling keep you hands off shoo shoo get out get out loco. I went and got a nice scarf someplace else and then went back and showed her I spend money elsewhere she was loco don't know what was wrong with her. I barely touched the scarf so don't know what was wrong.

I found the travel place that I that was recommended so booked 3 tours Granada on Tuesday last seat available Cordoba on Thursday and Seville on Friday I am so excited I could not stop beaming and the best I was on this high when I ran into the loco shop keeper.

I then headed to "the Steps" which turned out to have shops and restaurants on the way down to the Sea. Very picturesque I walked along the Mediterranean sea for quite awhile got my feet and bottom of my carpi's wet people were swimming despite the cold water and very little sun if it is nice Monday I may go in just to do it. I had fish and chips for lunch cos I could not resist am exhausted and heading in my room has a really nice little veranda and I can sit out there the view of the Sierra De Mijas mountains is fabulous and the other side is Mediterranean sea who could ask for more.

First time stepping Med Sea

view from my room

Spain the Dream Come True

I had good flight out of Buffalo the flight from NYC tho was very bumpy at times the worst I have felt in a long time managed to sleep a good deal of the way waking up at times.

I arrived okay passport only had 2 men in little booths just like the passport control taking the Eurostar from London to Paris.  It was quite a walk to where the luggage was the signs they were in English Spanish and German not that I can read it but I can tell struck me how many words in the German language to say a short word or two. Though the next thing you know I am standing outside of where the luggage was and the sign said do not enter but I did any way and security standing there did not even pay attention. It wasn't till I was at the train that I realized no one asked me for my landing card and it was in my hand.

I found the train ok clearly marked and got a I n  clearly marked and got a ticket

I could see the hotel as soon as I came up the steps from the train station very close.  Torry looks very cute little town lots of shops near where I am waiting till noon to get my room have to admit I am exhausted walked around some to get the lay of the land spotted cod fish and chips heaven and also chocolate crepes and a lamb place all by the hotel Smiley face/happy me. views from my room these were taken from the balcony.