The birthday present situation as we know it. A trip. Destination decided of course on the basis on cheap tickets options. Bonus I had Mijas Pueblo on my radar for waaaay too long. Another longer weekend abroad. Yeeey.
Reaching the city center from the airport was simple. It was just one train away and a short walk on a 20ish degree evening. The price is between 2-3.5euros, depending on the zone. Last time I had about 20 degrees weather was about 6 months ago. We were aiming for churros, but one never stops learning, and now I know those are considered breakfast food. Nevertheless, so many bars and copas around, and we had to start as we were doing about 10 years ago. Copas! Then, step here, step there and the bocadillo kiosks started popping. Like mushrooms. So, when in Spain, always aim for churros, even if you miss, you’ll end up with a jamon bocadillo. Which is even better.
Copa – alcoholic drink usually in a big plastic cup (ex. gin-tonic)
Churros – fried dough, eaten with hot chocolate – typical breakfast
Bocadillo – spanish word for sandwich, the most popular late night drink
Jamon – curred iberian ham, the best Spanish food if you ask me
Hearing “Buenos dias” sounds like Churros in my ears. And we started with our first round in Cafe Molina – (marked as closed). You can visit Churerria Rosa instead for the same old Spanish cafe vibes, just at the entrance of our accommodation. Fifty cents a piece and hot chocolate. I guess I approve sweet breakfasts only on birthdays. Next, we were on the discover city route. Snapping all the corners of the old city, strolling along the promenade, resting at the beach. Then stuffing ourselves with montaditos, and then tapas for lunch, and in the night you guess: Copas again. This time we started at a bit more special place, on a rooftop overlooking the cathedral. As the night was getting younger we mixed up with the crowds again.
Montaditos – tiny bite size sandwiches with various fillings.
Casa Al Sur Terraza – closed
The only trip that I wanted to do while here, was going to Mijas, but I was “brainwashed” from many sides, that I should not skip Marbella, and we decided to stop by. Everything except the old town, and one bakery, was definitively not my cup, neither my coppa. Too touristy and too “hotely”. In the summer months, you probably get the real deal. However, now it just seemed like too many Irish Pubs. There were retired citizens from the northern parts of the continent and way too much concrete.
So rather sooner than later, we were on a bus to Mijas. Or the white village. Being painted white and blue, and having donkeys as a taxi, you start wondering what came first Santorini or Mijas?
Whichever was, both are beautiful. And even more snaps, as the streets were almost empty, and that is how you. turn into happy jumpy child, as if turning 12, not a little bit more. Finishing our visit with paella and red wine we left Mijas, being a bit sad that we didn’t spend the full day here. I don’t know if this calls for next time, but I hope so.
Our last day was devoted to brunch, arts and history. We started at Julia’s cafe, then visited the fortress Alcazaba, and the Gibralfao castle, overlooking the city, smelling orange blossoming trees. If I am going to remember this trip for something that is definitively going to be the smell of oranges. Our tour ended with Picasso’s house and coffee in a very touristy sunny square.
After that, we had even more churros. On this trip we ate them four times. And definitively realized, why they are consumed with old fashioned hot chocolate and not with sweet sauces. Believe it or regret it.
I came back from the trip older and wiser. Churros are breakfast meal. Don’t visit everything that it is recommended to you. You can’t do more than two copas in one night. Also, find a destination that you want to visit, and choose the travel dates based on the oranges blossoming period.
CONCRETE COLLAGE 