After traveling to Madrid and Barcelona, I wanted to see more of Spain. A colleague from Malaga has given me some good advice and recommended me to go visit her home. Unfortunately, she could not come along.
So I decided to spend a week in Andalusia and then a weekend in Madrid.

When I landed in Malaga, my colleague’s brother picked me up. Arrived in my accommodation from Airbnb, we soon went to the old town and enjoyed a sweet wine from Malaga on the roofs of the city by the sea. We continued in typical Spanish style and went from tapas bar to tapas bar where we enjoyed beer, wine, cider and good food. The first tapas bar is called El Pimpi which is one of the most famous restaurants / bars in Malaga and tourists as well as locals meet for delicious tapas.

The next day after breakfast, we strolled a bit through town and up to the castle. Next, we walked to the sea which unfortunately was very stormy in the not sunny weather. So, we stroll along the city, the harbor and the sea. Malaga is a nice city to see, shop and enjoy.

The Sunday was unfortunately very rainy. So, I slept off, had some nice brunch, visited the cathedral, the Thyssen Museum and ate in a good restaurant a delicious fresh fish. Later I booked 2 hours in the hammam. The hammam opened only a few years ago, but is still booked out very quickly. I can definitely recommend it. It is very relaxing and looks beautiful from the inside as well.

Already at home, I bought the bus tickets for Granada and Sevilla as well as the train ticket to Madrid in advance.  The luxury bus had enough space to sit and so the 2 hours passed by quickly. I took a taxi from the bus station in Granada to my Air BnB apartment in the Albaicin area. Checked in, I walked down the many stairs to the river where I was welcomed by the view of the Alhambra. The flower here are blooming and it smells so fantastic. I was walking around in the beautiful city of Granada, looking into a perfume museum.

Here is a big perfume culture that comes from the time of the Nasrid here in Andalusia. In Andalusia you can still find some remains of this time like palaces and baths. Since the Arabs, unlike the Europeans, used to be very sensitive to hygiene, soldiers and workers were given public hammams to clean themselves daily. Even when Europeans came on a state visit, they provided them with essential oils. This can be seen in the washing facilities in front of the building entrances of the Sultan here in Andalusia. I had my dinner in the Calle Navas. There are many tapas bars and restaurants where the locals go to eat. Especially if you walk a little further to the back end of the street.

I had already bought my ticket for a tour in the Alhambra with the Nasrid palaces and the gardens a few weeks in advance. The evening tickets were already sold out. The tour lasted 3 hours, but was very exciting and informative. The Alhambra, with all its beautiful buildings, gardens and views of Granada and the Albaicin is breathtaking.
In the afternoon I walked through the city, had delicious lunch, stroll through the Albaicin where I took a break in a recommended tea house. From the terrace of this tea house Abaco Té, you have a beautiful view of the Albaicin and Granada.
At the church of San Nicolas I enjoyed the sunset with the Alhambra in the background.

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