Tales from the Jet Set: Malaga

Hello readers! As promised, I have not gone on another hiatus from posting! There  have been some developments in my stay in Europe. Initially, I was to return to the US on May 31st. However, I am now coming home on the 19th. I also have decided to forgo my joint trip to London and Paris for one exclusively to London for three days. However, my Spain trip has gone according to plan, and it is what I share with you today! Enjoy!

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May 2nd:

I flew directly from Edinburgh to Malaga, Spain and arrived at 9 pm. I would be spending the entirety of my trip here to visit the friends I had made last summer. I took a bus from the airport to the city center, and then a taxi to my AirBnb. As I was traveling alone on this trip, I did not have the advantages of using a friend's WiFi hotspot, so I had to go to a nearby bar for their internet to let me notify my host.

I rented a room in a flat just outside of Malaga's city center. It came with a king size bed, walk in closet, and private bathroom. 

May 3rd:
After possibly the best sleep of my life, I set off to explore the city of Malaga. While I initially wanted to go to the city center on foot, I got lost almost right away, and had to hail a cab. Thankfully, it was only 5 Euros to the city center.

Plaza de Bailen, a park close to my AirBnb. I was able to use it as a landmark to find my way back on foot.

Plaza de la Marina is located in Malaga's city center. I used it as my dropping and pick-up point for taxi cabs.

This is Malaga's harbor, or El Muelle. It is full of shops, bars, and restaurants, and is a favorite spot of locals and tourists alike.

I stopped at the Atlantis Lounge in El Muelle for a Mojito. While the drink originated in Cuba, they are quite popular in Spain. I drank many of them during my stay in Malaga, especially on May 4th since it was the closest thing to a Mint Julep.

El Muelle's lighthouse. 

La Malagueta, Malaga's most famous beach

Malaga Cathedral

Calle Larios is Malaga's famous shopping area, with designer stores lining the sides.

After walking around the city center all day, I eventually found my way back to my AirBnb. After showering and resting for a bit, I returned to the city center to meet my friend Meghan. She is another exchange student at Stirling Uni who happened to be in Malaga for the same weekend, so we decided to get drinks and dinner.

The restaurant was close to Malaga's Roman theater. Almost on top of the theater is a castle that was built by the Moors during their time in Spain.

After dinner, we both returned to our respective AirBnb and hostel. However, I made sure to get a cab back to mine due to being exhausted from all the walking.

El Muelle's lighthouse was lit up at night.

I hate mirror selfies, but this is the only outfit photo I got for Day 1 in Malaga.

Polo Shirt (Marks + Spencer)
Wayfarer Sunglasses (Ray Ban) Italy
Leather Belt (J. Crew) USA
Stretch Fit Chinos (J. Crew)
Chronograph Watch (Fossil)
*Horsebit Loafers (Cole Haan)

• Marks + Spencer Polo Shirt- Bought from namesake department store in Stirling. I own a similar shirt in light blue from Banana Republic's Mad Men collection. However, this one fits much better and gives the same 1960s vibe. 
• Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses- See other posts.
• J. Crew Leather Belt- See other posts.
• J. Crew Stretch Fit Chinos- Beginning to wear out. Will likely buy a new pair, or from a superior brand, when I return to the states. See other posts for more.
• Fossil Chronograph Watch- The only watch I brought to Europe with me. The Bulova is sitting in a drawer in Salisbury, and will potentially need a new battery when I return. For more, see other posts.
• Cole Haan Horsebit Loafers- Had these mailed to me in Scotland to give my ailing Aldens a break. However, they do not make for comfortable walking shoes. My feet were a blistery mess after wearing them for the day. For more, see other posts.

May 4th:

Today I would be meeting my friends from last summer during the evening. However, I would spend most of my day at La Malagueta. I took a cab to Plaza de la Marina, and walked the rest of the way to the beach in my swim trunks, a polo, and loafers. If that didn't scream tourist, I don't know what did.

La Malagueta's letters had a person in front of them at all times for a photo.

I rented an umbrella and chair for 10 Euros, bought a Mojito for 5,  and the guy threw in a bottle of rum for free. Cue some Jimmy Buffett, and you have a day in paradise.

Met one of my friends from last summer on the beach. She was shocked to see I wasn't wearing my American flag trunks.

Baggies Shorts (Patagonia)

• Patagonia Baggies- Bought from Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, NC. If you are looking for a worthwhile investment for summer, buy a pair of baggies. They come with 5.5 and 7 inch (pictured here) options for inseam, and can be worn both in water and on land. Freeballin' never looked (or felt) so good!

After returning from the beach in the early evening by cab from Plaza de la Marina, I got ready to meet up with another girl from last summer. We met on Calle Larios and we walked around parts of the city center I hadn't seen yet. But before we did that, I bought a new pair of loafers from one of the stores on Calle Larios.

The first place Maria took me was Jardines de Puerta Oscura. It led to a scenic overlook of Malaga's city center.

You could see pretty much everything from where Maria took me. La Malagueta, El Muelle, even the city's bull ring. I wanted to go see a bullfight while in Spain (much to the disapproval of my flatmates back in Stirling), but unfortunately, there were none scheduled.

Happy getting to see Maria again! Hopefully she can come do an exchange with SU at some point.

Polo Shirt (Ralph Lauren)

• Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt- As I said with Italy, you can't go wrong with a neutral colored polo shirt or anything from Ralph Lauren in Europe. For more, see other posts.

While I had already been through El Muelle several times, Maria and I went to watch the beautiful sunset.

After walking around for several hours with Maria, we met up with a larger group of the students from last summer. We all then went out to a Tapas restaurant for dinner and to a bar for drinks later, where I was happy to discover that Spanish bartenders have a heavy pour.

It was great getting to see so many of my friends from last summer!

Penny Loafers (Massimo Dutti) Portugal

• Massimo Dutti Penny Loafers- Bought on Calle Larios. Massimo Dutti is not an Italian brand like the name suggests, but Spanish! The brand is fairly young, dating back to 1985, but they offer quality clothing and shoes. Made out of cordovan leather from Spain, but assembled in Portugal, I'd definitely recommend these shoes bought new to anyone looking for a quality deal like I was.

Malaga's other famous theater, Teatro Cervantes.

May 5th

I checked out of my AirBnb around 11:30 and walked to Plaza de la Marina to meet my friend Clara to catch a bus to Malaga's seaside district to meet some other girls from last summer. There we would be going for a walk on the promenade and eventually going for a seafood lunch. While none of the beach side restaurants had open tables due to it being Mother's Day in Spain, we still managed to get our seafood from another place close by.

All of the seaside restaurants had one of these shacks where they would cook their fresh seafood.

With less room in my backpack due to now having to carry an extra pair of shoes, I was "forced" to wear my navy blazer around Malaga and channel my inner Cary Grant.

Navy Blazer (Belk) USA
OCBD (L.L. Bean)

• Belk Navy Blazer- Brought the blazer to Spain for nice meals, but hadn't planned on wearing it on 80 degree days. Still, I didn't stand out. That weekend, I witnessed wardrobes ranging from linen sport coats and ascots to cargo shorts and tank tops. With regards to style, Malaga was a true melting pot! For more, see other posts.
• L.L. Bean OCBD- Later changed into my striped linen shirt from M+S. L.L. Bean OCBDs don't breathe very well in the heat! For more, see other posts.

I would probably have never found out about the seaside district if it wasn't for them!

Fried Sardines for lunch! A Malaguena delicacy.

After a late lunch, the girls had to go home to celebrate Mother's Day, and I walked around El Muelle and La Malagueta one last time before it was time for me to catch a train to the airport. Before leaving though, I managed to bring home one more thing from Spain, and that was a liter of Cutty Sark scotch whisky that would have cost 20 Pounds in the UK.

The ever-growing bar on my desk back in Stirling. Don't even ask to see my graveyard.

In all, Malaga was probably the best trip I have ever taken! I will be sure to come back one day. I recommend it to all of you! But before you go, just be sure to brush up on basic Spanish! Anyways, stay tuned for my London post in the coming weeks, maybe even one of Glasgow. But until then, adios!

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