Malaga, rogues in paradise, seville, travel literature

A Spanish treat Malaga Andalusia. In this travelogue, Avid traveler Calum Glenny takes us through the site, sounds, and tastes of Malaga. You may also enjoy his previous story of Frigillana.

Having spent several holidays (including hosting his daughter’s wedding in September 2022) in Frigiliana, Gourock’s ‘Avid Traveller’ revisited the Malaga area and ventured into the Andalusian capital Seville, seeking the warmth of late summer sunshine and an escape from the damp and cold Scottish autumn. Looking to escape the Scottish autumn with its wind, rain and dark nights, a trip to Malaga promised sunshine and warmth. 

Flight to Malaga Old Town

With most people flying into Malaga and then travelling on to other parts of the coast, the beauty of the ‘Old Town’ is a surprise to most who step out of the norm and visit Spain’s 6th largest city by population.

Old Town Malaga

 Our latest visit found Malaga to be a clean, friendly, and very impressive place. It has everything you’d expect of a city, plus fabulous beaches, a stunning cathedral, and a bullring. Also, sitting above the city adjacent to the cathedral is the Alcazaba which is described as a palatial fortification built during the period of Muslim rule in the 11th century. It was rebuilt numerous times up to the 14th century and is one of the best preserved and partly reconstructed Alcazabas in the world. This area also houses remnants of a Roman Theatre dating back to the 1st century AD.

Alcazaba de Málaga
Alcazaba de Málaga

I guarantee you will enjoy a walk around the ‘Old Town’. Below are some other highlights of our recent visit.

Malaga Port

We have been visiting this city for many years, there is no doubt the regeneration of the port area has added a lot to it.

New Port a Malaga Andalusia

The port often hosts several cruise ships at once, which is impressive to see but can create the downside of large groups of tourists being marched about the city on walking tours. The port has a whole host of new restaurants, most of these are modern chain types and can be very expensive simply given the location. These restaurants are very popular but give me a tapas bar in the city centre anytime. 

There are beautiful walks and parks around the harbour which hosts mini markets with numerous stalls, walk along this area as it is well worth coming out of the city to visit at least once. 

Various harbour and bay cruises are also available here and are a pleasant way to see the coastline from a different perspective. Recommended, but enjoyment can depend on the swell outside the harbour!

Malagueta Beach

MalaguetaBeach

This goes on for miles and merges into other beaches along the coast, it starts very close to the city (other side of the Port and the historic centre). A popular choice to visit if you have a limited time to spend in Malaga and comprises a fantastic beach promenade to walk, run, cycle or even segway while taking in the views.

These are public beaches and you can easily rent sun beds etc. The beaches all have toilet facilities and several have children’s playgrounds. 

The chiringuitos along the length of the beach provide very good food and drinks, sometimes slightly more expensive than in the city but recommended even just for the view and cool breeze. We visited during October when the beaches were almost completely empty and very clean.

Spectacular Rooftop Pool and Bar

Rooftop Pool Bar Malaga

If it’s great views, sunbathing, food, and drink along with a dip in a pool you’re after, then head to the rooftop bar at hotel Roommate Valeria, it’s amazing at all times of the day and a lot quieter (sshh) than others such as the adjacent AC Hotel Marriot. The 5th-floor facility is very comfortable, with several large double sunbeds and a mini pool to cool off. The views are spectacular across the port and towards the Alcazaba. A venue perfect for meeting friends.

That’s the ‘Old Town’ attractions, beach, and sunbathing sorted, now let’s look at some recommended bars and restaurants.

Restaurant – La Barra de Zapata.

Restaurant-La Barrade Zapata, Malaga

Somehow this restaurant is somewhat of a secret in Malaga, but probably not for long. We twice visited Rafael (owner), Evelin, Rafael (chef) and Jonathon at La Barra de Zapata. They are an excellent team who work in harmony and nothing is a problem.  

The menu is in Spanish and is compact. Still, Rafael takes the time to explain the various options to each table, seek out any allergies or specific ingredients that should be avoided, while providing his expertise on what dishes complement each other and, on occasion, how best to eat the dishes to get the utmost experience.

Over our two visits, we tried 8 different dishes, each one being a true gastronomic experience. The bao buns, beef carpaccio, and key lime pie were standouts for us. As was our introduction to Ronda wine. Even after our meal, Rafael managed to make my rum & coke taste extra special, although I won’t disclose his secret!

When we return to Malaga, we will most definitely pay another visit to Rafael and his wonderful team at La Barra de Zapata. I’m already looking forward to checking out his next menu of delights! 

Bar La Tranca – a True Spanish Treat Malaga Andalusia

Bar-LaTranca a Spanish Treat Malaga Adalusia
Bar-LaTranca

Listening to a local for recommendations on a great Spanish tapas bar experience,  we visited La Tranca on Calle Carretería. 

It is, without doubt, one of the best Vermut bars we have been to on any of our Malaga trips, and we will return. This fun-filled bar has a fascinating interior with really interesting fixtures and features. Typical Spanish decor is complemented by various record covers and other wall decorations, which all customers will find of interest.

This brilliant tapas bar was extremely busy when we visited, and you could immediately sense the amazing atmosphere, the loud Spanish chatter and traditional music. Thankfully the very observant bar staff guided us through the crowd, and we were served virtually straight away! Our tapas and drinks were superb and really well-priced. This was the best tapas bar in Malaga we visited and the most traditional, it’s a truly unique experience and well worth a visit if you’re in Malaga, it is fairly simple to find, just look for the crowd outside and listen for the conversation buzz and singing from inside. 

Excellent Small Malaga Restaurant and Bar

Gloria Hoyos Restaurant Malaga
Gloria Hoyos Restaurant Malaga

Just diagonally opposite La Tranca is a small but great restaurant and bar called Gloria Hoyos, again on Calle Carreteria. Being new to us it was an excellent experience offering a superb range of food and is located in a locally popular area of Malaga just in the outskirts of the main tourist drag. We visited in the evening and the food was excellent. We hadn’t reserved a table but this should be considered if visiting in the busier summer season. I’d recommend the mushroom croquettes and slow cooked rib of beef, both delicious. 

Bar Malaga

Bar Malaga

This is a very small bar with great tapas downstairs and a more formal restaurant upstairs. Situated in Calle Santa Maria just off the Plaza de La Constitution. 

An ideal location to shelter from the elements whether it be sun or rain! We sat here a few times and the bar was very friendly with good beer and wine. Tapas options are numerous with some typical Spanish dishes such as caracoles (snails) which certainly makes the uninitiated think twice! People from all walks of life and from all over the world just seem to pop in for a drink and a tapas at all times of the day! 

Mia Coffee Shop, Plaza Martires.

Mia Coffee Shop Plaza Martires
Mia Coffee Shop Plaza Martires

For a quick take away or to drink while you take in the lovely Church opposite visit Mia Coffee Shop. Basically a tiny shop front where you will be served at the window with great coffee and a sublime offering of homemade cakes. The fact a bride was entering the Church on her wedding day while we were there enhanced the experience for us and all the people who were drinking their coffee next to the cafe. The place is not far from the Plaza de La Constitution and a little out of the main thoroughfare but it is certainly worth the detour, very popular and a highly recommended way to start your day in sunny Malaga.

Fed and watered so now let’s look at our hotel accommodation. 

Hotel – Vincci Seleccion Posada del Patio

Hotel POsada Del Patio Malaga
Hotel POsada Del Patio Malaga

Despite having previously stayed in various Malaga hotels we chose Posada del Patio as we had had a fabulous experience at its sister hotel in Madrid. 

We booked a room with a balcony expecting to be able to sit in the sun. However, this was simply a Juliet balcony looking onto a block of apartments. Very quickly we realised that the hotel does not have the best views!

The plus points far outweigh this as the hotel is very well positioned at the beginning of the pedestrianised historic area and minutes from Mercado de Atarazanas- a huge fresh produce covered market, which also contains numerous bars and tapas restaurants.

Spanish Market-Mercado de Atarazanas

The newer part of town is easily accessed via a walkway across the dried river bed, with a large El Corte Ingles and nearby a pristine new shopping centre the main attractions. There is a taxi rank outside the front door of the hotel, so catching a taxi is no problem. 

The interior of the hotel is delightful and quiet. There is a public lounge, a glass enclosed outdoor area with tables for smokers. On entry the hotel foundations are visible through a glass floor and display beautifully preserved original Roman city walls.

rooms at Vincci Seleccion Posada del Patio

The roof top pool decking area is fairly small with limited numbers of sun beds and deck chairs, however the pool is large relative to other similar facilities in Malaga. We used it every day as our weather was fantastic and it offered excellent bar service just a phone call away or from a passing waiter. 

Our experience was that all staff were extremely well turned out, ready to help and provide advice while very courteous.

The hotel offers a free late check out until 1300 hours where possible and we took advantage of this as it was perfect for our flight time of 1550. I would recommend this lovely hotel and make clear that what it loses in terms of views, it gains in internal appearance and the extremely pleasant staff! Well done to the staff as you certainly do make the hotel a 5 Star!

Overview -Hope you enjoyed our highlights of Malaga a Spanish Treat in Andalusia. I hope it interests you to pay a visit to what is a beautiful and fun filled historic city. I’m now off on the train to Sevilla in what is a two hour journey. 

Calum Glenny

Gourock’s ‘Avid Traveller’

In association with the Rogues Guide by Rogues in Paradise

Rogues in paradise is the upcoming book on the History of the People of Barbados. The island was named by the Portuguese navigator Pedro A. Campos because of the magnificent Bearded fig trees that were abundant on the island. It means “the bearded one” in Portuguese. The Spanish also occupied Barbados for some time before it was claimed by the British.

Summary Video – Malaga A Spanish Treat


TravelWatchNews

Frigiliana an andaludsian secret

Frigiliana – An Andalusian Secret
– but it’s all ups and downs!

This is a short summary of the full story on Linkedin

In Calum Glenny’s latest travel blog he visits the beautiful village of Frigiliana in Andalusia, Spain and explores the Main Street in the Old Town, Calle Real. He visits fabulous local bars, restaurants and shops in his walk through the stunning pueblo blanco. Calum discovers local food and delicacies such as the village honey and berejena’s.

Frigiliana Town Center
Calum touches on the local transport available and for such a small village the great sports facilities within and on its doorstep in Nerja.

He names some of the local people who work tirelessly in the village shops, restaurants, and bars to ensure the village provides a superb service to both tourists and locals alike.

From both a short-term or longer stay perspective he covers all accommodation budgets and standards of flats, apartments, and villas, also including boutique hotels.

Calum also takes us to some of the popular tourist attractions and activities as well as some of the lesser-known. One unusual venue highlighted in the blog is used in the film ‘Death of Antonio Sanchez Lomas’. Filmed in Frigiliana, it demonstrates the effects of the violence stemming from Franco’s dictatorship and how the tragedies of that period are still reverberating through the village inhabitants today.

As fiestas are plentiful, especially in smaller villages in Spain, Calum speaks of the last weekend in August when the village hosts the Three Cultures Festival. The event highlights how and why Jews, Muslims, and Christians should live in peace and harmony.  Despite a turbulent history, this celebration gives Frigiliana the opportunity to show off to the rest of the world.

Video of Calums Frigiliana WalkAbout


Video link  https://youtu.be/0W3VBd9NmSk

Video By Rogues GuideA Project of Rogues In Paradise

See the full story of Frigiliana on   Linkedin

Calum concludes his walk through Frigiliana with a visit to his favourite small bar La Algeria del Barrio, where he takes a quote from a friend in the stunning village which he uses as the blog title.

The Andalusian Secret is frigiliana


Frigiliana – An Andalusian Secret

By Calum Glenny, Gourock Scotland

 

 

Contacts

frigiliana contacts


This Summary of Frigiliana travelogue
https://travelwatchnews.com/frigiliana-andalusian-secret

Short link https:/tripgui.de/fritwn
CalumGlenny linked in Profile https://tripgui.de/calumli
Full story on Linked in short link  https://tripgui.de/frigli

RoguesinParadise.com


astrology, barbados, caribbean culture and heritage tourism, rogues in paradise, surfing, TravelWatchNews, wind hunters

Passion and Invention

passion for innovation

Barbadians are extraordinary people; they are superb hosts, keen to please, unassuming, obliging, and witty. Barbados Innovations in Tourism result from its creativity and passion. This passion for innovation has produced a treasure trove of different and unique ways to explore and experience the island. Land, sea, underwater, underground, in the air, and up in the sky are the palette of their creativity.

Above the Ground and Into The Cosmos

Take the sky, for example, which is free and filled with wonder. On a clear Barbados night, you can see forever. Barbadian ingenuity has enhanced what you can see and how you can experience the wonders of the universe by the work and passion of the man who created a new way to understand the cosmos. He is cosmic pioneer Leo Branch.

Cosmic Pioneer Leo Branch

Leo Branch a walking encyclopedia of astrology

Renowned astronomer,  Leo Branch,  pioneered nighttime beach gazing at the stars. Small groups gather on the beach at night to explore the cosmos with his 10-inch portable telescope. He is filled with passion and has dedicated his life to helping people understand the cosmos. With fifty-four years of studying the stars, he is a walking encyclopedia with a profound knowledge of the universe. With humour and insight, he makes astronomy exciting and easy to understand.  In addition to his signature beach events, Leo offers private lectures to groups in their homes and in other venues.  Now in semi-retirement, he has been sought by major media including the BBC, and has entertained earthly stars with his knowledge of creation.

Th Sky; Stars and Constellations

I looked through his telescope to my zodiac sign, Sagittarius, which he explained is the largest constellation in the Southern Hemisphere. Its many bright stars shining through the night are visible to the naked eye. The constellation was recorded in the 2nd century by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy, he named it Sagittarius, latin for the Archer. In the Sagittarius constellation, Nunki marks the vane of Archer’s arrow. He said Nunki is an important star nine times bigger than the sun. Pronounced as NunKee I heard Nookie and mused that it was more carnal than cosmic, which prompted a few giggles. Later, he explained to Anny that her sign, the constellation of Aries, the ram, is most compatible with Sagittarius. All eyes landed on me, they were eager for a confirmation of a budding romance: “Ah!” I said rather cheekily. “She just likes Nookie.”

Leo Branch Astronomer – leobranchbarbados (at) gmail.com
Telephone: land line (246) 420 6384 ,
Mobile ,whatsapp app (246 ) 230 0572

Underground Innovations

Barbados Innovations in Tourism include creating the unique cave buggies to explore the underworld caves.
Underground are the caves. Harrison cave tour is one of the most popular activities on the island. The tour includes an educational video explaining the geological history of Barbados. A submerged coral formation that was pushed out of the ocean by volcanic activity, it is unlike any other Caribbean island in many respects.

Again Bajan ingenuity created a unique cave train that takes visitors up to a hundred feet below the surface, in comfort and style. The buggy carriages look like modified golf carts. The winds along the twisting paths like a snake, a string of rubber-wheeled carts pulled by a custom-built, non-polluting engine.

Underwater Submarines

Bajan innovation and forward thinkig led to i being a leader in submarine holiday toursUnder the ocean, there are shipwrecks, corals,  technicolor fish, turtles, firns, and sea plants. You can swim with the fish, in fact, swimming with the turtles is one of the most popular activities.

Specially built Catamaran sailing ships leave from the wharf in Bridgetown and sail to favorite picnic spots where guests dine onboard, as well as swim, snorkel, and relax.

You can snorkel or scuba dive right off the beaches in Barbados, many of the underwater features are within easy reach of the shore. Also, inshore reefs are within wading distance and are favorite spots for beach walks and interpretive tours. Local fishers cast their nets from the shore and fish with line and sinker from the rocks.

You can jump aboard the Atlantis submarine if you don’t want to get wet. This is a real submarine built in Canada as a recreational vehicle. The Barbados Atlantis operation has several vacation submarines which are piloted and managed by accredited  Bajans.

Surfing the Wind and Waves

Barbados wind surfers are amongs the best in the world. Windsurfing over the waves nay have been invented iin barbadosBajans excel at surfing on the water, and the island has been called the “Surf Capital of the Caribbean”. The book Rogues in Paradise has an entire chapter about the wild sport of windsurfing and kitesurfing with wind hunters in the waves. In Rogues in Paradise, the true story of Barbados’ extraordinary-ordinary people, outrageous characters, rogues, heroes, places, and history, you will meet world-renowned windsurfer Brian Talma and some of his inspired guests who join him in hunting the perfect wind to jump the perfect wave.

See  this and more about surfing with the Wind Hunters on the Barbados Blog Wind Hunters

Summary Video of Surfing with the Wind Hunters

Related Links

Leo Branch Astronomer – leobranchbarbados (at) gmail.com
Telephone: land line (246) 420 6384 ,
Mobile ,whatsapp app (246 ) 230 0572

The Story Behind Rogues in Paradise
Caribbean Travel Literature
Barbados Harry Bayley Observatory
Rogue and Wind Hunters
Rogues in Paradise Chapter Videos
 

 


caribbean culture and heritage tourism, geocadder, mapping literature, mapping travel literature, rogues in paradise, rogues tours barbados, travel literature, TravelWatchNews

In a first of its kind interactive map application, Barbados is using advanced map technology to illustrate the story of Barbados in the soon-to-be-published book Rogues in Paradise. Mapping Travel Literature is a  GEOCADDER application that tells a story visually and interactively to enliven the story and display content related to locations in the book.


https://barbados.org/blog/rogues-tours-barbados

Mapping Travel Literature Brings The Story To Life

It is traditionally used to map and visualize resources, people, business operations, farmings, sport, tourism environment, and land use. This latest application animates the story of Barbados Rogues in Paradise. The story is about people, places, and history in 38 chapters. The people places history and events noted in the chapters relate to locations on the island. By clicking on the Table of Contents in the online documents, readers can navigate the chapters and read a summary. The maps can also animate tours and trips of the island that include events, places, and characters mentioned in the book.

Maps and books about maps or mapping have been around long before the digital age. Before photography and television, printed and hand-colored maps told the story of exploration and discovery. Maps are no stranger to storytelling. Mapping America illustrates maps of the Renaissance and the American Revolutionary War. Yet one does not often see interactive digital maps as an aid to navigating a true novel. Static maps often help give location context to a novel, but navigating a book with a GEOCADDER interactive visualization has never been done before.

What is New In Mapping for Travel and Tourism

The interactive map in the book Rogues in Paradise is a new way to navigate the story. Every chapter is about the outrageous characters, rogues, and heroes of the book. Where they live and where the story takes place is mapped, and online readers can simply click a chapter to read the summary. History and events are also related to locations that are similarly mapped. You can do this with google maps, but the Rogues application is built on GEOCADDER, making it very fluid, fast, and fun to zoom around the island and navigate the story.

See the Rogue Interactive Map tours of Barbados – Click Here >>>>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


caribbean culture and heritage tourism, rogues in paradise, travel literature, TravelWatchNews

caribbean travel literature powering tourism
“How Caribbean Travel Literature Powers Tourism” explores the evolution of travel writing and its impact on travel and tourism in the  Caribbean. Todays’ traveler is looking for meaningful and transformative experiences, and travel literature is the key to discovering real meaning and culture. It explores the psychology of place, people, and culture, exposing uncomfortable truths with valuable insights into people, place, and history.

See more on the evolution of travel literature at  >>>
https://barbados.org/blog/how-travel-literature-evolved

Review of Current Travel Literature

how travel literature pwers tourism

The blog How travel literature evolved reviews the writing and thoughts of leading literary masters, such as Paul Theroux. It delves into the classic Caribbean literary artist like Barbados’ George Lamming, Trinidads’ V.S, Naipaul, and St. Lucias’ Derek Walcott It shows how travel literature is no longer a showcase of the best features of a destination but an essay of the psychology of place, time, people, culture, and history. 

The Real Purpose of Travel

travelliterature-bookshelf
Travelers travel to escape, to have fun, and to learn
. We learn by understanding differences and appreciating cultures from an intelligent and aware point of view. A view that is inclusive and accepting of other people and customers. It may be fiction and non-fiction, essay, poetry, memoirs, biographical accounts, and first-person narratives that search for the heart and soul of a destination. Travel lit opens up new frontiers with vagabond, footloose and fanciful stories about faraway places, and local communities.

rogues in paradiseRogues In Paradise Compared

How Travel Literature Evolved is also a contextual review of the book Rogues in Paradise.  It compares and contrasts Rogues to others travel books including Bill Brysons,  illustrating the differences in approach and treatment of the characters.

Rogues in Paradise is a masterful example of  How Travel Literature Powers Tourism. It paints a compelling story of people, lifestyles, and history with wit and subtle humour. At the same time, it is a provocative narrative of a troubled past with lessons on humanity and inclusion.

Learn more about how travel literature evolved and how it powers tourism click here >>>

Video-CaribLit: Caribbean Travel Literature &Tourism

Related Links

The story of the story  behind Rogues in Paradise