Christmas - Malaga style

Hello to you all from Malaga where we've enjoyed the last couple of weeks. We were fortunate to find a lovely studio garden flat in the Malagueta district which was perfect: modern (but in a traditional Spanish apartment block), very clean and comfortable and well-located for regular walks to the beach and city centre (with good bus services if we were feeling lazy).  We were also lucky to meet the lovely Inma who owns the studio and lives alongside in a bigger apartment with her family and four-legged friend Muffin!  Inma was the perfect host - giving us our independence as well as tips and friendship - including preparing Mick some soups as he was under par with man flu - oops, sorry - a cold!

Mick with his furry friend, Muffin!

So, with Christmas around the corner, I wanted to share with you a post about Christmas, Spanish style.  Of course, Christmas Day is celebrated (la navidad) but gifts are not exchanged until 6 January (Day of the Kings) which falls on the 12th day of Christmas.  So the two celebrations are quite separate - 25 December is the main celebration and very distinct from prezzie day on 6 January - it makes you remember just what Christmas is about.


In the run up to Christmas the belens (nativity scenes) are on display for all to see all over the city and some are truly magnificent.  There are queues waiting to get a glimpse and families visit and spend time looking and discussing the belens - really touching to see.  This is a scene in a series of five - the whole belen measuring in at some 20'-25' in length - each scene representing the progression of Christmas - on display at the ayuntamiento (town hall).  The last time I saw something like this was at primary school.

The nativity scene at the ayuntamiento, Malaga

And here's the belen in the Cathedral:

The Cathedral's belen

And then there's the Christmas lights.  The main street here is Calle Marques de Larios (Malaga's equivalent of Regent Street).  Well, what can I say except 'Regent Street eat your heart out!'  It was literally packed with people as the lights were switched on.

Christmas lights

And where would we be without a Christmas concert?  Well, we couldn't find a carol concert but we did go to a fabulous (free!) performance of Puccini's Messa di Gloria by the Malaga Philharmonic & Choral Opera at the Cathedral - what a gig!  Literally full to the gunwales (unlike the mass beforehand!) it was truly beautiful.  Here's a clip of the opening movement and main chorus - enjoy!

So, all that remains for us to say is thanks for all your friendship, support, comments and emails over the year - its made all the difference to know that friends & family are with us on our gap year for oldies!  We've missed you all and will catch up with some of you over Christmas.  In any case, we'll sign off by saying 'Merry Christmas and all best wishes for 2014' or, as they say in Spanish, !feliz navidad y buenos deseos por 2014!