It's all Prespective

Three days in Madrid; three days in Barcelona - what a whirlwind. It was great to get an overview of each city on the Hop on Hop off buses and then walk around delving into the details. Even then, we just scratched the surface of it all. However, the crowds were a bit overwhelming and we were happy to hop the train to Valencia.

Valencia was nice. If I were going to choose a city in Spain to live and work in, this might be it. It still is a city with access to the Metro, Trains and Planes, yet the old city was more alluring, and fun. I loved going to the market and imagining coming here to get my fresh fruits and vegetable. Yet, it was modern, clean and neat.

Mallorca is a Spanish island and was fun. After watching The Mallorca Files on BritBox we just had to go and see where these detectives solved all their crimes. We focused on the Old City, took the train to town of Soller that they rode on in Season 1, Episode 4 and enjoyed the view of the port from our balcony. It is where the rich play so lots of yachts and high end boutiques, etc. For such a small island, the airport was large and bustling  full of places to shop while you wait.

Then we flew down to Malaga and the Costa del Sol for five days. We stayed in La Herradura, a typical coastal town surrounded by mountains. Since the hotel wasn't quite as luxurious as some we had been in, we wondered if we would be glad to spend 5 days here. However, after driving around to some of the other towns, we were glad to get back to our sleepy little villa; and even though the bed wasn't as comfortable as I would have liked, it was neat and clean and had a great breakfast for a great price.

Yesterday we took a drive through the mountains to visit Alhamas de Granda where their claim to fame is thermal springs. Winding roads and cute towns nestled on the mountainside, made for an amazing view. Now we know where they grow all their produce.

Now, at the end of our stay, we are rested and ready to take on another adventure. 

Granada - Here we come

Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone

I've often wondered about this statement, especially when in Europe. I'm beginning to think I really could live on breakfast only as it is served here. Today, since we really don't have any plans, I think I will sit on the veranda as long as we can and enjoy, piece by piece, this delicious breakfast.

Malagna

We flew Ryan Air to Malaga, and since we had luggage (carry on size) we had to pay a little more but got us an upfront seat and priority boarding. Ryan Air also offered a rental car for 7 days for $68 so we decided to take the $271 insurance coverage which gave us some upgrades; a nice Hyundai SUV. 

Some of the things we have noticed about the Spanish people is that they are not morning people, so we have adapted to eating later at night and sleeping until 8 a.m. Now, with breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, we are at peace. I wish I could capture this moment and make time stand still. We are really enjoying our churro with chocolate - any time of the day.

Another thing we have notice is that they seem to be very neat, organized and helpful. They seem to be very respectful of the elderly, meaning us, and are always offering us a seat on the metro. However, most do not speak english so communication is sometimes difficult. They also seem to be very up to date with technology and the efficiency of everything is a stark reminder that the USA is deteriorating and not cutting edge anymore.

I'm really enjoying this "chocolate for breakfast" thing!!!