Travel in mind

I went into Malaga today, to book tickets at the main train station Malaga Maria Zambrano for the journey to Vinaros when my work here is finihed. The Cercania line to Malaga from Fuengirola connects with the main station, now embedded in a huge modern shopping mall, so you emerge from an underground platform into a very busy posh retail centre. The station's name honours a woman highly esteemed as a Spanish essayist and philosopher, exiled from the country by the civil war until nine years after the death of Franco, when she was eighty years old. She was born in Velez Malaga 30km up the coast from the city. I wonder what Maria Zambrano would have made of this honour?

Early on November 3rd, I'll be taking the AVE fast train to Cordoba, change there for the Barcelona train that goes north east back down to the coast at Valencia, then on up the coast to Vinaros. An eight hour journey, arriving at tea time. I was delighted to pay just under fifty euros for my one way ticket, and to make the booking without needing to speak English. 

From the station I walked through the streets towards the old town centre and discovered a municipal market, dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of fishermen. The modern market building contained a majority of fish stalls, and this was reflected in the remarkable cafeteria, where there were two cold storage units on the counter, of the type normally containing prepared tapas dishes. These however, contained different species of fish ready to cook, sixteen containers, with several bowls containing prepared tapas and salads on top. In the corner was a hot plate, also several deep fry pans containing olive oil, two men cooking and two women serving. I ordered an Alhambra beer, one of the Malaga brews, and a meso racione of tuna fish, which was served up with pieces of white and brown bread, hot from the deep fryer, garnished with basil, a whole side plate full of pieces, right to the edge. So simple, so exquisite a taste!

After I'd wandered the streets and taken more photographs of things that caught my eye, I returned to get the Cercania train from Maria Zambrano, rather than the nearer terminus station at the top of the Alameda, as I'd made up my mind to have a day trip to Cordoba, camera in hand, of course, this coming Saturday. A seat on the AVE fast train ida y vuelta, cost me just under fifty euros. Affordable adventure!

When I got back, I had a call from Clare reporting a visit to her eye specialist. Her glaucoma condition now requires and eye operation which needs to be fitted in before shoulder surgery, and she's been given an appointment for day surgery on 2nd December, which means I'll have to fly back home for the inside of the week to see her through the day surgery and early after care. Vueling, by then will have stopped operating flights to Cardiff, so it's back to EasyJet to and from Bristol with train journeys at either end to Barcelona to take the flight. Fortunately, Rachel can come over from Arizona early for her Christmas visit, and is delighted to have the opportunity to look after her mum for a change when I've returned to complete my Costa Azahar spell of locum duty.

It's not often I get to book two train journeys and two flights in the same day! More Malaga photos here.