Enjoying Thanksgiving Boquerones in Málaga

Did you know there are 10 different ways to order coffee in Málaga?

Café Solo
Café Largo
Café Semi largo
Sólo corto o Sólo cortado
Café Mitad
Café Entre Corto
Café Corto
Café Sombra
Café nube
Café No me lo ponga

Okay, there are only nine different ways. Café No me lo ponga means you don’t want coffee, but most locals get the joke.

This is a small tidbit I learned during my second excursion to Málaga.

On my first visit, I explored the Costa del Sol region, which included the city of Fuengirola and the disastrous Gibraltar field trip.

This time around, I stayed primarily in the city of Málaga.

This was also my Thanksgiving holiday adventure. Málaga is one of the warmest places in the winter in Europe. The average temperature during my adventure was 20° Celsius, or 68° Fahrenheit.

The temperature suited me just fine. The average temperature where I live was 5° Celsius, or 41° Fahrenheit.

Like Valencia, the warm weather was a reason I selected Málaga as my Thanksgiving holiday destination.

Seville was my first choice, but travel logistics were a headache. Nevertheless, I journeyed to the “Pearl of Andalusia” during this adventure.

GETTING HERE:

Flying to Málaga was not a major issue. There was a direct flight at a reasonable price, so I booked it.

I also paid for my seat reservation because I don’t want to leave that to the airline. I did that on one of my flights and ended up in a middle seat in the last row next to the lavatory.

Checked luggage was also included. Taking just a carry-on is wonderful, but that’s not my travel style. A larger suitcase normally accompanies me, if only to carry back the souvenirs and trinkets I ‘inherit’ doing my adventures.

The 2.5-hour flight was uneventful. I think I slept for 70% of it. Arrived safely in Málaga, and had no issues with baggage claim.

**Malaga Airport display giving directions in three languages**

I opted for a taxi from the airport to the hotel as the closest metro station was a 15-minute walk from my hotel, and I didn’t want to drag my luggage.

Málaga taxis are white with a blue lateral stripe. This is good information to know as there are imposter taxis in every major city in the world. Knowing which taxis are legitimate and which aren’t is an important safety tip.

**Málaga taxis are white with a blue lateral stripe.**

AC HOTEL BY MARRIOTT MALAGA PALACIO

My four-night stay at the AC Hotel by Marriott Malaga Palacio was average. The location is perfect for walkability around the city center and the promenade across the street.

However, I should have insisted on a quiet room away from the elevators. Customer service at check in/out was decent.

The security guard at the door asking me every time if I was a guest was very annoying, especially since it was the same person who opened the door for me each time. I get that it’s his job, but c’mon. I was even blocked from entering once because the guy didn’t believe I was a guest, even though he was the one who opened the door and helped me with my luggage when I checked in.

My stay was upgraded to a Standard Sea View King, which was nice.

However, the noise from street activities and the port across the street is a reason never to accept or book this room type again.

Room was unseasonably warm and A/C didn’t help cool it down. Had to leave the balcony door open to let in air to cool the room. The in-room Wi-Fi was very spotty, yet it worked exceptionally well in the bathroom.

Room lighting was adequate and loved having a bathtub. Enjoying a nice hot bath after walking the city was delightful. The elevators were extremely slow. I waited once for eight minutes for one to arrive. I would’ve taken the stairs as they were much faster had I not had luggage.

Breakfast was edible, though nothing special, and not worth getting unless included in the room rate.

Avoid the rooftop bar restaurant. The only benefit is the nice views. The menu left something to be desired. Expensive for what I ordered, and the food wasn’t very good. There are plenty of restaurant choices in this city. No need to splurge on subpar food.

Speaking of food —

A ‘HARD ROCK’ THANKSGIVING

I enjoyed a Hard Rock Thanksgiving for the second year in a row, In 2022, Lisbon played host. Málaga’s Hard Rock Cafe lived up to my expectations. I selected their special Thanksgiving Day entree and dessert. It was fabulous.

Turkey, Broccoli, Sweet Potato Mash
& Stuffing w/gravy

Customer service was phenomenal. Susana and her team put their best foot forward and made my experience a memorable one.

MÁLAGA CATHEDRAL

My exploration of the city began with visiting Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga. When I set out after breakfast, I used Google Maps to help me find the cathedral.

Directions went like this:

Google: Turn right.

I turned right.

Google: You have reached your destination.

**The view of Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga from my hotel’s doorstep.**

LOL! Yep, my hotel was right next to the cathedral. Not the most observant explorer at the best of times, am I? 😂

A jewel of the Spanish Renaissance, the Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga is a beautiful and peaceful place. Its origin dates back to 1487, when the city was conquered by Castilian troops. The cathedral as it stands today was opened in 1768.

A unique feature is its one finished tower. Why does the cathedral have only one finished tower?
The answer is quite simple: No money!

Apparently, the taxes which were supposed to go to the cathedral were used for other projects. The unfinished tower led to the cathedral’s nickname of “La Manquita,” which in English is “The One-Armed Lady.”

OXO – MUSEO DEL VIDEOJUEGO

Málaga’s video game museum. Yes, I had to visit because why not?

I visited Berlin’s Computerspielemuseum and had a blast.

The OXO – Museo Del Videojuego didn’t match the Computerspielemuseum in presentation or playable video games. Nevertheless, I had some fun playing some of my favorite video games.

Customer service was exceptional. The €15 entry may seem pricey, but given the wear and tear on the video games systems, it’s understandable.

I only spent an hour of the two hours included with entry, but enjoyed playing a few of my favorites, including OutRun, Galaga, and Mortal Kombat.

Hearing “Flawless Victory” never gets old.

The history lesson was informative. The special exhibition on Final Fantasy didn’t intrigue me, and was pretty much a letdown. When they do a Grand Theft Auto exhibit, I’ll be back.

INTERACTIVE MUSEUM OF MUSIC MÁLAGA

MIMMA was next on my list. Actually, it was the first attraction on my list to visit. I also wanted to attend the Flamenco Show later that evening, so the customer service representative suggested I return at 1600. This way I could enjoy the museum before the show starts without having to leave and come back.

Sound advice, and I took it.

The museum exhibits are organized several types of spaces of different colors:

White: Large scale instruments and installations, temporary exhibitions and archaeological ruins from the Roman empire and from the Medieval city walls.

Black: The permanent collection and music history.

Red: My favorite! These were the museum’s “Please Play.”

Here I played:
– The piano badly
– The drums terribly
– The xylophone poorly
– The harp dreadfully

I got a standing ovation at the gong, but only because I’d stopped hitting it. 😂

The concert I gave was atrocious, but I had so much fun!

JALEO: FLAMENCO SHOW

The JALEO: Flamenco Show was the highlight of the museum visit. The dances, the colors and strength of this art was on display. The performers’ passion was evident. Truly an enjoyable show.

CALLE MARQUES DE LARIOS

Málaga’s Fifth Avenue is a shopper’s paradise. Just like its New York counterpart, it is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world.

Yes, I avoided shopping here, but the Christmas decorations were awesome. The city was getting ready to celebrate the Temporada de navidad.

LOS MELLIZOS MÁLAGA

Seafood has inspired many Málaga’s recipes for centuries. I am a seafood lover, though I have my limits. Thus, I searched for and found a few highly-praised seafood restaurants.

I selected Los Mellizos because the host was extremely nice and didn’t stick me at a table next to the bathroom because I was solo. The restaurant gets busy really fast, so best to make a reservation.

Overall, my meal was enjoyable. Food was served hot and fresh. The seafood soup was marvelous. The fried sol was okay, edible and filling.

UDON MÁLAGA

A craving for ramen led me to Udon Málaga. Since my experience at Mr. Ramen in Copenhagen, I’ve been exploring similar type noodle restaurants and bars. This restaurant didn’t match Mr. Ramen’s, but the food was refreshing. The prices were reasonable.

Customer service was excellent. Ordered edamame, miso soup and Tonkotsu Ramen, the same meal I had at Mr. Ramen, minus the kimchi. All items were delicious and filling, but didn’t leave me with that satisfied feeling I had at Mr. Ramen. Oh well. The search continues.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A ‘City Life’ photo safari made up the rest of my time in Málaga. The city’s beauty, history and colorfulness makes it one of my favorite places to explore.