Malaga backstreets「マラガの道」

It's been a week since we physically landed, but somehow it feels we are still floating somewhere between Spain and Japan. What can I say. It's a weird feeling. I am not a foreigner, but I don't feel local either. 8 years away and a couple of international moves... Well, I guess they have enough impact on your personality to turn you into some kind of nomad - still, if you ask me for home, then I'll certainly answer Södermalm.

On the sunny side of things, fruit is cheap, the sun shines more or less everyday and hitting the beach, takes a 20' stroll from home. Enrique is driving "the health diet" which fits in nicely with the controlled working hours. We eat lots of fruit, get proper sleep and spend as little time as possible home. As soon as we have settled (i.e. found an empty apartment to move in, when our furniture arrives) we will start exercising regularly. Now, weekdays are a blend of paperwork, bus stop waiting lines and all sorts of chores required when you move into a new house, the bulb breaks, you need a towel and all that.

Malaga is getting ready for the Holy Week parades and people are renting out their balconies (!!). Sometimes we think is an apartment for rent... But nope, just the balcony!  The hairdresser told Enrique that there is one particularly expensive balcony in their building, because of the "double curve". The guys carrying the throne need to do some sort of special moves with the heavy and holy Saint, so it is really fun to watch - apparently.

I said this hundred thousand times, Spain and Japan are very similar: Aren't the Omikoshi quite the same as the Holy Week's Thrones? 

Main difference is that Andalusian Thrones are heavier (up to 5000kg) and more of an event. An app to track the Thrones around the city was released today (!!). But it makes perfect sense, as the coolest is not when the Trone is being walked around (except for the double curve) the best is to see it being "locked in" the destination church. Seriously. I saw masses of people running after the "locking moment" yesterday. 

As said before, my guess is that the years away make you develop an eye for the beauty in the local details, which are often missed when living in the same place for a long while. Here's a walk around our current neighborhood (the center of Malaga) on the first sunny Saturday of the Spring.

Hope you like it (^_^)

Streets are crowded with al fresco tapas' bar tables.



The city has Roman origin (just like Zaragoza) which is clearly visible in the Roman Theatre.





Still learning how to shoot in this burning sun... But smiling ;)



I really like the many XIX Century houses.

I really like the colors and baroque shapes. But yes, I'd rather throw down all the internal walls and turn these flats into a single-open-space loft, for the sake of contrast.

Churches, tiny streets, microscopic squares.





I so love this one, white and bright. Reminds me of the fake wedding churches of Omotesando :P

After a long walk, time for an early dinner (yes we are those eating 20:30) at my hands-down favorite place, which is called Lechuga and specializes in salads. My favorite is the Nordic one, because it comes with something that reminds me SO MUCH of skagenröra that feels like being in Stockholm, having some yummy räksallad.

Restaurante Lechuga
Address: Plaza de la Merced 1
Phone: +34610391494

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