Happy New Year from Malaga!

Hello to you all!  We hope you had a good Christmas with your family and friends and that you're not too windswept by the all too commonplace windy, wet weather.

We had a lovely time in the UK over Christmas visiting friends and catching up with family after travelling through France and Spain for 8 months.  To be honest, we were made so welcome and spoilt that we felt like staying in the UK - despite the weather - but then we thought of hearing Auld Lang Syne again and remembered why we wanted to be in Spain for New Year's Eve!

So, after a couple of tearful hasta prontos and lumps in our throats, we returned on the Easyjet red eye on New Year's Eve and, after an afternoon snooze to top up the sleep batteries, we hit the streets of Malaga to get a slice of the action in readiness for las doce uvas (the 12 grapes), the traditional way to see in a new year in Spain.  We were a little worried as the streets were pretty quiet at 7.30pm and only a handful of tapas bars were open but we found the fabulous La Piconera in the centre and it was certainly where the action was.  It was so busy we had to wait for a while to place our order and as we'd been patient the owner insisted we only paid for our drinks - only in Spain eh?

So after some lovely wine, bacalao (salted cod), hambuergesitas de pollo (mini chicken burgers) y patatas bravas we felt ready for some cava and the grapes and set off for the Plaza de la Constitucion where we stood among the crowds awaiting the big event - not that we particularly wanted to see the end of 2013 - it was a good year for us - but just to be part of the action. 

In readiness for the big hour!

We met a lovely Spanish family who showed Mick how to eat the grapes - he was trying to cheat you see - putting them in his mouth before the first strike of midnight - men eh - so competitive!   Each chime relates to different aspects of luck for the forthcoming year: health, work, love, happiness, etc.  What a great tradition and one which, refreshingly, doesn't involve alcohol.  You can swish the grapes down afterwards with a little cava but it isn't necessary.  We only took a few sips of our cava before dispensing with the bottle as only a few locals had a mini bottle of bubbles for a post-midnight drink.

You'll be pleased to know that we successfully completed the challenge so we're looking forward to 2014.  And here's how the incoming new year was marked in Malaga:

So, there's not much more to say except that we wish you all a healthy, happy and prosperous 2014.  Thanks to all our friends and family who reminded us what family and friendship mean and we'll see you really soon.  Until then, do follow our escapades - the next update will be from Estepona - a nice little expat  enclave on the Costa del Sol where we hope to get some late winter sun (though at the time of writing the winds are so strong the double glazed doors and windows are rattling!)  So, until then, cuidarte y pasatelo bien (take care and have a good time). Love F&M. xx