Malaga

Last night I had a lot of fun going over to Ashley's host family's apartment. They were so nice and fun to meet. We had the two salads we made earlier and hamburgers. They were very good! We also had dessert,  apple strudel, which was really yummy too! After dinner her 11 year old sister Blanca and us played school. She was our professora, and was quizzing us on different things. A few times she didn't like our answers and made us face the wall. She was so cute and funny. Afterward we went to a flamenco show. We had a hard time finding the place, but we eventually made it. There was only a sign painted on the building and from the outside it didn't look like much. Is was cute inside and was full of people. We got seats right in the front and shared a pitcher of mojitos. The flamenco show was fantastic to watch. There was el toque (guitar player), el cante (singer) and la bailaor (dancer). It was especially fun since I have learned a little about it already in my flamenco class. It was amazing how fast she could move her feet.

mojito

The only sign for the Flamenco place

This morning we had to get up early to leave for Malaga. We had to be at the meeting point at 7:30, so we took the tranvia close by and walked the rest. It was about a 3 hour bus ride to get there. It's a lot more interesting to drive through Spain that the cornfields of the Midwest. When we got there the first thing we did was go to the Picasso museum. Picasso was born in Malaga and so they have a museum with many of his pieces. During his lifetime he painted more than a quarter of a million pieces. He went through so many phases and it was cool to see all the different kinds of works he created. My favorites were the bright colored ones, where you could kind of see something, but were still a mystery. The museum was in an old castle that has been restored, and was a very nice place.

Pablo

 Then we went on a tour of the city. We saw the building were Picasso was born. We walked all around, saw the main streets, and ended at the cathedral. On the way we learned that lots of the buildings are curved, instead of having corners, because it lets in more sun. Also the old buildings were build very close together, so if it rained it wouldn't be as wet on the little street. The streets themselves were very nice. Lots of them were stone, and others were many out of little pebbles. This way when the romans wore their very thin sandals, they stones could massage their feet as they walked. The cathedral there only has one of its bell towers. Why? Because when they were building it, we (the US) were fighting Britain for our independence. Spain supported us, and gave us monetary support. So instead of using the money to finish the bell tower, they gave that money to us. We have offered to have it completed, but they have come to like its uniqueness. They call it la manquita, which means one handed lady, because it is like the cathedral is missing a hand. We got to go inside and it was beautiful. I thought my church at home was beautiful and it is, but it is nothing compared to these grand cathedrals. Inside there are all these little chapels around the inside with a big alter area in the middle. They still have the original organ pipes (more than a thousand). There is stained glass, paintings, and so much detail everywhere. It was a very beautiful place to visit.

The nice streets

The bottom is from the Romans, while the top is from the Arabs 

A sculpture where you are supposed to see different outlines of faces

The left tower is there but not the right one

Sidewalks/foot massagers

In front of the cathedral

cathedral 

Small chapel within the cathedral

Alter in the cathedral

Free time way next and we decided to head to the beach. How often are you able to put your feet in the Mediterranean sea in February? Not very, so I had to. It was chilly, but it felt good to have my feet in the sand and water. We went to a little restaurant on the beach, where I actually ate the sandwich my host mom packed me. It was good, and then I was able to try a little of other peoples seafood. It felt amazing to just sit in the sun! Malaga has a big port, so on the way back from the beach we walked along the port.  There were lots of boats around. I was a little surprised how clean it was. Right before we had to get on the bus, we stopped for gelato. I got a delicious chocolate one. Oh and right before we left I saw a pretty big black cat. It was interesting because for a litte time when I was little I had a black cat that I had names Picasso. 

Toes in the water

The neighborhood where the beach is is called Malagueta

Picasso look alike