13th-chapter-Spain 2023

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This is Chapter Thirteen – Torremolinos, Spain

Torremolinos, Saturday, February 24, 2023

Today we pack and clean, wrapping up our 2 month stay in Torremolinos.

This is one of our favorite places to stay. It is a lovely one bedroom apartment, nicely furnished with a breathtaking view of the sea.

View from our balcony.

This has been a great trip, now it is back to Cannes to find a more permanent place.

Seville, Thursday, February 23, 2023

We arose around 8 AM to be ready for our 9AM breakfast on the terrace at the hotel. It can best be described as elegant, with a nice assortment of fruits, breads, muffins and juices. Hats off to Rebecca for scoring this great little hotel.

After breakfast we stored our backpacks and headed over to the Real Alcazar one of the key draws in Seville.

In the year 913, Abd-ar-Rahman III (the first caliph of Al-Andalus) gave the order for the construction of a castle on this site where a Roman fortress once stood. The castle was further expanded into a palace by King Al-Moetamid (the last king of the Abbadid dynasty) in the 11th century. In the 14th century, the Spanish recaptured the palace from the Moors, after which King Alfons X of Castile expanded the palace. In 1364, King Peter I of Castile (‘The Cruel’) ordered the construction of a new palace, the Alcázar, after which his successors continued to build the palace.

After our visit we headed off to lunch at Mi Arma – Cocina Española (C. Alemanes, 35) a nice restaurant next to the cathedral. We both had an excellent potato omelet dish.

After lunch we returned to the hotel, rested a bit in the lobby and headed off via taxi to the train station. The return train home took 2 hours.

We head back to Cannes on Sunday after two great months in Spain.

Seville, Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Seville-ians for two days.

Today we began a two day trip to revisit Seville. It started with a 8 Am train from Torremolinos to Malaga. Then a 9 AM high speed 2 hour train to Seville. We chatted with a nice recent grad from Florida who was traveling before her new job began.

On the train we have a very nice chat with a couple from Norway who were former English teachers. We covered an interesting range of topics.

We took a taxi to out boutique hotel Triana House (C. Rodrigo de Triana, 94) which Rebecca found. It was a very nice 7 room hotel.

We dropped our backpacks and headed out to re-explore Seville a city we spent in week in a year ago.

We caught lunch at La Mala (C. Rivero, 7) a nice organic restaurant, a place we had visited before.

After lunch we headed over to site of the The Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 at The Plaza de España , a well preserved area with several interesting buildings.

The Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 was a world’s fair held in Seville, Spain, from 9 May 1929 until 21 June 1930. Countries in attendance of the exposition included: Portugal, the United States, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile, the Republic of Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. Each Spanish region and each of the provinces of Andalusia were also represented. Spain’s Dictator General Miguel Primo de Rivera gave the opening address. Primo de Rivera allowed the Spanish King Alfonso XIII to give the final words and officially open the exposition. The purpose of the exposition was to improve relations between Spain and the countries in attendance, all of which have historical ties with Spain through colonization or political union . Other countries were represented at the International section in Barcelona.

After walking several hours we returned to the room to rest and then headed out for a late dinner and more evening sightseeing. We ended up at at Nickel Restaurant for a not very good set of overpriced burgers.

We returned to the room late after racking up over 24,000 steps.

Antequera, Monday, February 20, 2023

I did a solo day trip today to Antequera. It is a 1 hour bus ride (6 eu) due north from Malaga.

ANTEQUERA “CROSSROADS OF ANDALUCIA”

A visit to this historical Andalucían town is a journey almost 5,000 years back in time, beginning with the Bronze Age and the native Iberians. The timeline is there to be followed in this fascinating city’s profusion of burial mounds, dolmens, Roman baths, a Moorish Castle, Gothic churches, Renaissance fountains and baroque bell towers.

The first sighting of Antequera in the distance is that of a typical medieval town, with the spires of her many churches and the walls and towers of the great Moorish fortress silhouetted against the sky. Spread out in the valley below lie rich farmlands irrigated by the Guadalhorce River. For centuries this has been one of Andalucía’s most fertile areas, and is currently a leading producer of asparagus, cereals and olives. In summer, its fields turn brilliant yellow with sunflowers.

Highlights included the Alcazaba which was built in the 14th century, a proliferation of churches many from the 16th & 17th century, 2,000 year old roman ruins and baths, and 5,000 year old burial mounds, including the Dolmen de Menga.

Malaga, Sunday, February 19, 2023

We took a short trip into Malaga today with the primary purpose to stock up Rebecca with some coffee beans.

I diverted to an Auto museum –Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda https://museoautomovilmalaga.com. I had visited it before but it was worth a return visit.

Rebecca ended up walking into the last day of the Malaga Carnival where I joined her after my museum visit. It was very colorful with different groups singing songs and participating in a parade.

Málaga Carnival starts with the selection of the god and goddess of the carnival. You can expect children’s parties, music, dancing, street food in abundance, parades, concerts, a ‘Battle of the Flowers’, and, finally, a boquerone fest in Plaza de la Constitución. The carnival ends with a giant boquerone being paraded through the city to La Malaqueta beach, where it takes centre place on a huge bonfire a symbolic end of carnival and beginning of Lent.

Mijas Pueblo Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Today we took a $2 vacation.

We grabbed the 121 bus from Torremolinos to Mijas Pueblo for a one hour .57 EU ride (yes half a Euro) . It is a favorite of Rebecca and a place we visited a year ago.

Whitewashed houses gleam along the steep, narrow streets of Mijas Pueblo, one of Andalusia’s mountainside white villages. Bars and restaurants surround Plaza Virgen de la Peña, where traditional Sevillana dances are held during the annual Mijas Fair. Frescoes from the 1600s adorn the Church of the Immaculate Conception, while the 18th-century Ermita del Calvario chapel offers sweeping views of the Costa del Sol

The day was a bit cool so I had to buy a new sweater to wear under my too-light jacket. We enjoyed a nice lunch at Viento Sur restaurant and then wandered around town.

Here are some shots.

We met a very nice couple (Leon and Danielle) from Quebec on the bus ride home and had a nice chat.

Torremolinos, Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Happy Valentines Day.

Today we had the pleasure of a visit from one of our former Malaga based Air BnB hosts – Jesus.

He stopped by and we had a pleasant chat covering a variety of topic including travel. It was great to see him again and enjoy his company.

Torremolinos, Sunday, February 12, 2023

Yesterday I finally solved our cellphone eSim problem.

Our French carried, Free Mobile, is largely an internet based company so contacting them, especially in English has been a real problem.

I have been trying to convert my Sim into an eSim so we could use our physical Spanish Sim and avoid long distance charges. Somehow I was able to translate their web site and select an eSim option for the French line.

This seems like a small thing but it is a big deal to be able to use a local Sim and keep our French number on the same phone.

Phew, mission finally accomplished

Benalmádena Pueblo, Saturday, February 11, 2023

One of the nice things about Spain (& France for that matter) are the excellent transportation options.

What started out as a walk downtown became a short half hour bus ride returning to Benalmádena Pueblo. Of course it included a visit to our favorite pastry shop. Cost 1.7 EU each way.

It is a pretty little town.

Torremolinos, Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Today it was cold, windy and rainy so we stayed in all day.

Still better than an average winter day in Chicago.

Torremolinos, Sunday, February 5, 2023

Rebecca had a slight mishap with her exercise bands so we have postponed our trip for next week. She was smacked in the forehead as one of the bands came loose. It left a bump on her head.

Not a serious injury but we wanted to wait a few days to be sure there were no consequences.

Torremolinos, Saturday, February 4, 2023

Big plans for next week. On Monday we catch a 3 hour bus to Tarifa Spain for a two day visit and then hop a ferry for Tangier Morocco for an additional few days. We may extend our visit by a day.

Also this weekend in Torremolinos , is a big festival – Rock’n Race Jamboree with many people from all over Europe dressed like they just stepped out of the movie Grease. Also a local car show.

Benalmádena Pueblo, Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Today Tim our landlord stopped by and drove us to Benalmádena Pueblo, a town nearby that has an exceptional Organic Scandinavian bakery.

Located in the mountains, at about 300 meters above sea level, it is the primitive urban center of Benalmádena that, even today, preserves its old structure of a typical Andalusian town where the whiteness of its narrow streets takes us to the passage of ancient towns that settled in these lands.

In its origins, and in this same location, there was a castle and a fortress that was the one that sheltered the houses of Benalmádena. Let us bear in mind that the foundation of the urban nucleus itself dates from the 15th century, after the destruction of various previous towns by the troops of King Ferdinand the Catholic during the Reconquest.

We stopped for coffee and pastries and then took a walking tour of the town.

It was a pleasant day exploring a nearby village and being with Tim.

Ronda, Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Help me Ronda …

Well, yesterday we set out for the train station at 8:30 to catch a Malaga train to Antequera, to visit a quaint town about a hour north of us.

So far so good.

We arrived on time at the Antequera train station to discover that we were in the middle of nowhere. After inquiring at the information booth it seems that the town is about a $25 taxi ride each way from the train station, a critical fact that the travel guide did not highlight.

Change in plans.

We rebooked with a train to Ronda, an interesting town an hour away which we had visited back in December 2019.

Ronda is one of the oldest cities in Spain first settled by the Celts around the 10th century BCE as Arunda. The town continued to thrive under the Romans as did the nearby settlement of Acinipo originally founded by the Phoenicians.

Ronda is a mountaintop city in Spain’s Malaga province that’s set dramatically above a deep gorge. This gorge (El Tajo) separates the city’s circa-15th-century new town from its old town, dating to Moorish rule. Puente Nuevo, a stone bridge spanning the gorge, has a lookout offering views. New town’s Plaza de Toros, a legendary 18th-century bullring, is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks

More on Ronda here – https://theculturetrip.com/europe/spain/articles/7-things-to-know-before-visiting-ronda/

Turns out it was a better alternative to our original plana and the train ride there was picturesque.

We arrived at the Ronda train station and made the short walk to the city center. We immediately searched for a restaurant we had visited in 2019. Of course, we could not recall its exact name. So we wandered around for some time in search only to suspect that it was no longer there. We opted instead for a well-recommended restaurant near the famous bridge in town arriving as it opened at 1 PM.

The food was very good although Rebecca’s duck itself was OK, but the sauces on it were excellent. My seafood dish was very good although Rebecca reports that the garlic in it followed us around for quite some time.

After leaving the restaurant and walking to the center of town, we encountered a religious procession. It seems that January 24 is an important date in Ronda as it is Fiesta de la Virgen de la Paz the Patron Saint of Ronda.

After that, we hiked down the path for a better view of the “New Bridge” (completed in 1793) . There we ran into a very nice couple from Poland Daria and Patrycja who spoke excellent English. We chatted for quite a while before climbing back up the path to the village.

Our next action was to return to town and wander around a bit. That took us to an ancient water mine.

Carved into the cliffs of the ‘El Tajo’ gorge is a surprising mine and fortress that dates back to the Moorish era when constant wars in Al-Andalus required the city governors to protect water supplies to the people and defenders of the city. Ronda’s Water Mine under the Casa del Rey Moro was built during the reign of Ronda’s King Abomelic at the beginning of the 14th century, when Ronda was an independent Islamic kingdom on the frontline between the Christian north, and the newly developing Islamic Nazari Kingdom in Granada.

We took the steps down 20 stories to explore it.

The trip home required us to retrace our ride to the Antequera station and then connect to Malaga for the tram home to the Torremolinos station. Connecting we met another couple this time from Austria (Alex & Alex) who were staying in Malaga on holiday. They gave us some suggestions on places to visit in their area.

We returned home around 11 PM, but stayed up till almost 1 AM watching Yellowstone a series delivered by Amazon Prime.

It was a nice adventure day.

Torremolinos, Tuesday, January 17, 2023

One hundred years ago today, January 17, 1923, an immigrant couple, Tobias and Barbara Dazer welcomed a new child into this world – your grandmother- Frances Barbara. She was the 10^th of 15 children.

This was at the foot of the roaring 20s, but as immigrants and with many children the affluence of this age never benefited this family. Soon the Great Depression of the 1930s would reach them.

They were of modest means and lived in an area of town with other immigrant families, in Port Huron Michigan.

Growing up Franny’s outgoing personality and unbridled optimism served her well and she accumulated many friends, a number of which lasted a lifetime.

In grade school, Franny owned two outfits, which she wore on alternative days. When asked if this was embarrassing, she replied “Not really we were all poor back then”. Material things were never that important to Franny. She placed her value on friends and helping others.

Later in life when I was visiting her in the kitchen talking, I noticed that she was distracted by something going on outside her window. When asked she noted that a large hawk has become fond of the bird bath in her backyard. As a result, he knocked out all the water. She was getting ready to refill it so the little birds could use it.

I told her that I could fix it so the hawk would be prevented from using it and she would not have to refill it every day.

She turned to me and said, “It’s OK, he should be able to use it too, and I don’t mind refilling it for the little birds.”

That was pure mom, always enjoying helping others even if they were just little birds.

So today I honor what would have been my mom’s 100 birthday. Her presence in this world has benefited me and many other people.

She is missed.

Malaga, Sunday, January 15, 2023

So today we woke up and decided to take the short train trip to Malaga.

We walked around town and the port on a beautiful day taking in the sights.

We also caught lunch at a local restaurant.

That night we rented the first season of Yellowstone.

Torremolinos, Friday, January 13, 2023

Rebecca arose early today around 7 AM. We were treated to a beautiful sunrise today off our balcony.

We both were able to get some serious walking in today up and down the walkway and Rebeca stopped into a new coffee place for a cup or two.

Later in the day, I filled for a French Drivers’ license. Actually one is able to convert an Illinois license into a French one by supplying some documents and copies of my valid license. It is all done online. They are valid for 15 years. It was supposed to be completed during the first year of residency so we will see. My current license expires in March.

Torremolinos, Thursday, January 12, 2023

Remembering my dad today on the anniversary of his passing –

Leo F Bachler, April 2, 1919, to January 12, 2010.

His father, Leo R Bachler, a mechanic/engineer at Christ Craft, was killed in an accident in 1929 as he was testing a race boat at high speed. Dad was only 10 at the time, the great depression beginning only a few months after losing his father. He had a tough childhood.

Dad fought in WWII, caught malaria during the war, and took a job in production at Chrysler Corporation where he met my mom.

He earned his engineering degree under the GI Bill and was promoted to the engineering department at Chrysler where he worked for his entire career.

He comminuted to work in the Detroit area an hour and a half drive each way every day so we could live in Port Huron Michigan a quiet community far from Detroit.

Dad never complained, worked hard, and was very bright. He was an excellent father and is missed.

A final note – after my parent passed we were going through a safe in my parent’s house where they kept their most valuable possessions – his father’s pocket watch, mom’s father’s Passport from Hungary, etc.

In the safe was an envelope with the words Thanks Pat, love Dad written on the outside.

The envelope contained a handwritten letter I had sent my parents when I was in my late twenties thanking them for being great parents and recognizing the sacrifices they had made on my behalf. I had forgotten all about the letter but it seems that my parents had not. They knew I would see the note after they were gone.

I still tear up when I think about that heartfelt four-word note from dad.

Also today I printed out and mailed our health care documents. It was nice to get them off. I expect that it will take a month or so to hear back and get our cards. We should be back in France by then to receive them.

Torremolinos, Wednesday, January 11, 2023

It was a very windy day today which made walking a bit difficult. I finally logged my 10K steps and Rebecca took the day off to relax.

I worked on some documents which were requested to finish our French health care application.

We are watching Spotify a series on Netflix at night.

Torremolinos, Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Today’s mini adventure was a short train trip to the nearby outlet mall – Plaza Major.

While at the train station, I found out about a local train pass 10 Eu for 4 months of unlimited local travel. Quite a bargain.

We wandered around for a few hours and I snagged a new pair of Sketchers.

BTW- The weather here has been great.

Torremolinos, Monday, January 9, 2023

Rebecca went out for coffee and ended up spending two hours in conversation at the coffee shop with a nice couple (William and Cesar) who visit this area each year. She picked up some ideas for day trips.

At my suggestion, we walked along the beach to a Chinese Buffett for a large dose of average food. After over filling our stomachs beyond normal capacity, we continued our walk until Rebecca found a great deal on a smartwatch.

We returned via the harbor and skipped dinner.

We also contacted our host to reserve Jan & Feb for 2024. We are enjoying ourselves here.

Torremolinos, Sunday, January 8, 2023

Sunday is flea market day near the bull ring so I headed out to look for a bathroom scale.

I found one offered for 5 EU , talked him down to 3.50 EU, felt bad about it and returned to give him the full 5 EU. After buying batteries I found out that it was broken and returned it. I did score a few avocados at the market.

Rebecca noticed a nice rainbow off our balcony mid day.

In the evening I created an instruction manual for the appliances in the apartment. Our Air BnB host was very happy.

Torremolinos, Saturday, January 7, 2023

Today was a beautiful weather day. I watched a tractor groom the beach in the early light.

I went out for a morning walk to Lidl through town.

Around noon, Rebecca and I took a long walk along the sea to Benalmadena enjoying the sights along the way.

Torremolinos, Friday, January 6, 2023

Happy Three Kings Day Fiesta de los Reyes

Torremolinos, Thursday, January 5, 2023

I set out to pick up some provisions in the morning to stock the refrigerator and shelves. It took two trips to Lidl for me and one by Rebecca.

I wanted to have access to both our French and Spanish phone numbers. this requires that one be an E-SIMM. Unfortunately our Spanish SIMM does not have eSIMMS available and I can’t seem to find a a contact at France Free Mobile to convert that SIMM to eSIMM.

I pulled the Spanish SIMM until I can resolve the issue.

Tomorrow marks the end of Spanish Christmas season with the Three Kings Festival (Fiesta de los Reyes).

On the evening of January 5th every year, Spanish towns and cities are given over to the colorful parades of the Dia de los Reyes, or the Kings’ Day – a celebration of the arrival of the three wise men in Bethlehem after Jesus’ birth. Mechanized floats bearing effigies of Melchior (Arabia), Caspar (the Orient) and Balthazar (Africa) – or real life versions of the wise men played by members of the local council – and various other brightly-costumed participants trundle down major streets; as they pass, they throw out handfuls of sweets that rain down on the spectators gathered to watch their grand entry into the town.

A part of this tradition is a special cake called Rosca de Reyes. Inside is a figurine and a bean. The person who gets the piece with the figurine is declared King for the day, the bean recipient is obligated to buy the cake the next year.

Cannes/Torremolinos, Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Our travels went according to plan with no major hitches.

At the Nice airport we shared a flight to Madrid with a nice American young lady who was traveling back to her home in Mexico City. She had been visiting her parents who were vacationing in Cannes and considering buying a home there.

The airport in Madrid had a very interesting baggage claim area.

We took a TGV from Madrid to Malaga traveling at 270 K/H

At the trains station I bought two Spanish Simms for our phones,

Upon arrival at our Air BnB we dropped the bags and caught a quick bite topping it off with a delicious milkshake. That evening we were treated to our night view from our balcony.

We are looking forward to two relaxing months here.

Cannes, Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Tomorrow is a Travel day – Cannes to Torremolinos Spain. Fly Nice to Madrid, than catch a train to Malaga.

Here are the details.

Walk to Cannes train station, take train to Nice Ville station (7.40 EU) . Then the tram to Nice airport (1.5 EU) for a flight on Iberia Air (106.90 EU) at 12:30 to MADRID (MAD) arriving at 14:35. Leave MADRID XOC (XOC) – Atocha (Railway Station) at 17:35 to arrive in Malaga at 20:10. Final leg, Malaga train to Torremolinos, and walk to Air Bnb. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5027622

Should be a nice travel day.