Sabado, Day 6 - Day Trip to Málaga

The next day, we stayed close to home and visited the city of Málaga. Just a little North of Marbella on the coast, Málaga is a port town not unlike Baltimore. Like Baltimore, it has all the industry of an active port town, and like Baltimore it has worked very hard to clean up its act and spruce up for tourists in recent years. It is probably best known as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. We drove up to the Castillo de Gibralfaro, a 14th Century Moorish Castle, and got a great view of the city below. We also got to see a little of the Alcazaba, which was built near the remains of a Roman amphitheater by the Moors between the 8th and 11th Centuries, when Málaga was the principal port of the Kingdom of Gránada. Unfortunately, though, most of it was closed for renovation. The most interesting part of our time in Málaga, however, had nothing to do with tourist attractions. Exactly a week to the day from our own wedding, we watched couple after couple exiting the Ayuntamiento (town hall) with that just-married glow.

On the drive back from Málaga, we found ourselves in the unfortunate position of being famished during siesta time. We almost hate to admit it, but our best option at that point was the Golden Arches. We skipped the drive through (or as the Spanish say, McAuto) and went inside. Despite the Metric system, a quarter pounder was still a quarter pounder. The most interesting menu differences where (1) the presence of beer as a beverage option, (2) the presence of gazpacho, and (3) the "Around the World in Seven Days" promotion they were having, which offered such interesting sandwiches as the McIndia (chicken breast on Naan) and the McMexico (featuring salsa instead of ketchup).

After a much needed nap, we ventured back out for a late dinner at another non-Spanish locale - who knew we would find a Trader Vic's in Spain? For one night, we skipped the Sangría and sipped rum drinks for two with silly umbrellas through extra long straws instead.

- Day Seven -