Malaga, Spain

A day at sea followed our visit to Lisbon; then as evening approached we passed the Rock of Gibraltor and I snapped lots of photos, mostly shrouded in a misty gray background. The next morning we were in Malaga, Spain. A small fee, 5 euros if I remember correctly, provided a roundtrip shuttle bus from the ship's berth to the entry gate at the heart of the city. It was worth the expense, since walking would have been on the side of the road in an area of still developing port upgrades without sidewalks or pedestrian paths.

Immediately left of the gates was the marker post for the Malaga Hop-on, Hop-off bus, and although advertised to stop every 20 minutes starting at 9am, it was closer to 10am when the first bus arrived, and already some had given up waiting to venture into the city. The delay gave a couple of our friends time to walk across the street to ATMs so they could replenish their euros. We climbed up to the open air second level and plugged the headsets into a connection on the sidewall and tuned to channel 2 for an English explantion. This being much better than hearing the same commentary in several languages.

Our plan was to ride the entire 90 minute loop, and then repeat the tour getting off at the most enticing or tempting sights. Along the way I made a mental note to hop-off at Gibralfaro Castle, the Alcazaba, and the Cathedral near Picasso's museum. But as we started the tour, just rounding the first park, I noticed to the left a wide pedestrian street already busy with traffic. So, as the noon hour approached, and the bus finished our first circuit, we hopped-off to enjoy a picnic lunch carried from the ship, to one of the many benches inside the garden of the first park. Then I innocently suggested to DH that we should stroll thru the pedestrian streets of the city and hop-on later, and that was our folly. Bye-bye "hop-on" bus.....we never made it back on.

We did enjoy window shopping and later DH sipped a caffe con leche and for me the most delectable Snow Queen green tea (Sans & Sans) at a sidewalk bakery. Alas, it wasn't until I returned home I discovered this tea is made and sold in Barcelona, so I missed my opportunity for picking up a decade's worth of this sumptuous tea infused with vanilla and almond flavoring. Anyone going to Barcelona want to run a teeny-weeny little errand for me?

I saw the Penelope and Monica Cruz collection at Mango, after first spotting Penelope's photo on the bus stop shelters. DH bought a cap as the sun was quite bright today. And I ducked in a shop to find a large pair of tortoiseshell design fashion sunglasses for less than the fake brand ripoffs I had seen on the streets in Vigo.

I love the fashion shops with fall merchandise completely coordinated on each rack from shoes, to skirt, to blouse, sweater, gloves, and handbag. Subliminal meaning.....you need it all to make it work! I saw a dress almost identical to the $3000 gold color Oscar de la Renta one worn by Cindy McCain at the Republican convention. You know, the one that got all the buzz, because the ensemble cost $300,000 (note: her 3 carat diamond studs were $280K....so what's mere $20K between fashionistas?.....I could do that number in so much less buckaroos....Lia Sophia 3 carat studs are only $32) Except this one was purple, and a bargain at only 148 euros. Same sheen, same collar, same full skirt. 'Would I like to try it on, asked the clerk?' Durn right I would if I were 6 inches taller and 20 pounds lighter, but instead I said "no gracias". Cindy is Barbie doll, me...well, let's just say I am not.

Last stop before heading back to the shuttle at the port was a quick walk over the bridge to El Ingles Cortez in search of Sans & Sans tea. Like most European department stores we found the gourmet foods market in the basement, but my mission was not successful. I did however find BlingH2O, and for this 98 euro per bottle of water I share this photo. No doubt, like me, you will Google this water to find it at the bargain price of ONLY $40 U.S. per bottle in Beverly Hills, CA. Well, back to P&G teabags on board the ship, with tap water!! Adios! Kiko