Sisters in Spain!

This weekend I got to see Katie! On Thursday night I picked her up from the airport in Málaga, and we walked along the Mediterranean Sea and then went out for tapas (which we had to pay for, because Málaga isn't quite as cool as Granada.)  We got something with cranberry sauce to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Friday we took a day trip to Marbella, another coastal town.  We wandered up a little hill which turned out to be a fitness park.  There was workout equipment disguised as playground equipment, and we had a lot of fun.  For lunch we had the traditional Spanish paella, which usually includes seafood, but we just had it with bunches of vegetables.  Then we made it to the beach.  We played tag with the waves, which was a lot of fun.  It was a bit chilly by the water, so we had to put our sweaters on.





When we arrived back in Málaga, I participated in my first (and last) Black Friday shopping experience.  A few stores actually did have Black Friday sales, and I overheard someone complaining that it was more crowded that usual, but it wasn't nearly like I imagine it is in the States.  I was super excited to go to Primark, a British store that has a few locations in Spain, so that was fun.  (Don't get excited, though. I only bought presents for myself.)


















Our plan for Saturday morning was to go to the Picasso Museum, as he was born in Málaga, but we had been seeing ads for an Impressionist art exhibit at a different museum, and Katie and I both like that much better, so we did that instead.  I'm glad we did.  I have been to a lot of art museums these last few months, but I am still enjoying them.  Then we went to see the house where Picasso was born.  That was also a museum, but we were happy to just see it and eat churros con chocolate in the plaza right by it.  The churros were yummy, but the hot chocolate was no match for the chocolate pudding at Café Fútbol, the one right down the block from me.



We browsed in the Christmas market for a bit before it was showtime.  We had tickets for a matinee showing of Cenicienta (Cinderella).  I picked a kids' show so that Katie might understand it better, and I hope she enjoyed it.  I thought it was pretty cute.  Next on our list was to find pizza.  This was harder than I had thought, considering how many international food places there are in Málaga.  We eventually were successful at a kebab place where people were watching a Turkish football game.  Then I took Katie to El Corte Inglés.  It was certainly Christmastime here.  Outside of the store was a "sledding" slide, a carousel, and an ice skating rink.  When we got back to the hostel we played Rummikub and checkers, and I must announce to the world that I beat Katie at both games. (For those of you who don't know my family, to beat Katie at Rummikub is quite the accomplishment.)

 

On Sunday morning we went to Mass at the Cathedral, which I thought was prettier than either the one in Granada or Sevilla.  On the way I was pleased to be able to show Katie one of the many processions that they do in Spain, with the candles and the prayers and the people carrying a float with a giant statue of Mary. Then we did a bit more wandering and shopping.  Katie introduced me to a Swedish store called Tiger, which is really cool.  I wish they had a store like that in the States.  They just have everything there.  Next we went to the Alcazaba, the Muslim palace/fortress.  It was cool, comparable to the Alhambra of Granada, but very different.  The walk up, rather that being an unrelated park, actually included the walls and towers and tiny stone staircases.  I enjoyed it.  After exploring that for a bit, we headed to an American-style restaurant.  It was stereotypical 1950's, like Johnny Rockets.  I had onion rings with ketchup, and a pink lemonade.  The best part, though, was that they sold Dr. Pepper.  I got two to bring home, one for my roommate, and one for me.  Then we took one last walk by the Mediterranean, through a pretty park, and to the Christmas market.  We treated ourselves to Buñuelos, which I have seen in Granada almost every day on my walk home, but I had never tried before.  It's probably a good thing that I'm just discovering them now, because they are absolutely delicious.  You get to watch them make it, like at Krispy Kreme, which is fun, and that way you know it's fresh.  But it doesn't quite taste like donuts.  They are almost a bit waffle-y, I think.  I don't know, but they are yummy.

 

After that, we knew that Málaga would have nothing better to offer us than Buñuelos, so it was time to go home.  We stopped back at the hostel for one last game of checkers and to pick up our bags, and then headed to the bus station.  Katie and I played a game of Ludo (like Sorry) while we waited for her bus to the airport, and then soon my bus came to take me back to Granada.  It is a lot cooler here than it is there, so it's good that Katie sent me back with her jacket to take home.  That was my lovely weekend with Katie, and my last weekend traveling.  I get to enjoy two more weekends in Granada, and then I'm homeward bound!