Day 15 - Sunday February 1, 2026 - Malaga Spain

 

Today was one of the more special days of this trip. The weather was cool, but a light jacket was all that was needed and for the most part of our tour, the sun stayed out.

We took the included tour, approximately three hours, which included a bus ride to see the highlights of the city and a good bit of walking. I’m at about 9500 steps and it’s just passed noon.

The bus to our left at 8:30 AM and we were guided along the beach area. Malaga has a beautiful long beach area that they say is man-made. Most of their beaches are pebbles and rocks, but they drained sand from the Mediterranean and covered the rocks to make a sandy beachy area.

The bus wound its way up to one of the highest points in Malaga, Mirador Panoramico de Malaga.  From there, we were able to see views of most of the skyline of Malaga. There’s also a beautiful hotel up there.  Spain is known for their Paradors.  These are state run historical hotels Usually old monasteries, fortresses or castles and are exquisite and well kept.

Malaga bullring still actively used

Views from the highest point in the city

The beautiful Parador

It was all downhill from the bus to take the pictures of the skyline. We strolled down the  Jardines de Pedro Luis Alonso And from there, we could also see the Malaga bullring which is still operational.  And of course, it was all uphill back to the bus. I’m 15 days into this trip and my left knee knows it well.  But on the other hand, my breathing is getting better.

Back on the bus, we traveled down to the old city where the bus left us and the real walking began on the  Jardines de Pedro Luis Alonso .  We walked all over the old city, looking at the beautiful old buildings and the wide pedestrian walking areas.  

Malaga City Hall

Bank of Spain

A university building that used to be the post office 

On the pedestrian walking area of the old city. Some of the old buildings with the café Asia front really are beautiful.

This was the entrance to the museum at the ancient Roman amphitheater if you wanted to come back later on and take the tour.

What one could see of the Roman amphitheater without going to the museum?

More of the pedestrian walkway, the beautiful buildings in the outdoor cafés.  On the highest floor, the penthouse lives, Antonio Banderas, a.k.a. Zorro. We all wanted to go up and visit him if he was making breakfast.

Or there’s Burger King

One of our stops was at the square they referred to as the Pablo Picasso Square. He lived on the square as a young man and there’s a bronze statue of him there as well. Pablo Picasso was born here in Malaga. We also stopped outside the Pablo Picasso museum, but did not go in. That was a separate tour. 

Pablo Picasso Square

The very corner of the building was where Pablo Picasso lived

And right next-door with the café, where we sat and enjoyed the coffee

Wayne made a new friend an inducted Pablo into the military

Coffee time

More of the beautiful buildings surrounding the squares in Malaga

Entrance to the Pablo Picasso museum

We were given some free time here and Wayne and I went to the café next to public Picasso‘s house and had a coffee and sat outside and watched the world go by. We do this for several reasons, one to use the bathrooms in the café for free and secondly to enjoy the warm morning and watch all the people. It also allows you to get some change when you pay for your coffee that you need for tips for the guide and bus drivers. But sitting in an outdoor café in a city like Malaga is what traveling is all about. The enjoyment of just relaxing, and knowing that you’re seeing something you’ll perhaps never see you again makes it even more special. . 

A word here about the Spanish inquisition. This church and many others is built on the foundation of a mosque. During the Spanish inquisition,anyone not catholic was forced to leave Spain. This included Muslims, Jews, and any other religion, other than Roman Catholic. Most of the Catholic churches were built on the foundations of other religious institutions when the people were forced to leave. Most Jewish people immigrated to Portugal as well as other countries. The Muslims went south across the Mediterranean, only 9 miles to Morocco and other places.

This is the Parroquia Santiago Apóstol Málaga catholic Church dating back to 1509 built on a foundation of them mosque.  We were able to go inside this one as mass had not started.

Wayne stayed outside of course. And when there is no bench, there’s always a flower pot.

The baptismal font were Pablo Picasso was baptized

The statues are taken from the church and during carnival, our parade around the streets. This is much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

More walking brought us to a beautiful cathedral  Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación de Málaga.  We could not go inside as it was Sunday and mass was going on. They call this the unfinished church. It took 258 years to build this church but the right Bell tower has never been finished. Obviously, at this point there are no plans to finish it. It’s under renovation presently to fix the holes in the roof.

Couldn’t resist this pretty old building and the patisserie on the first floor. It’s hard to see through the window.

Pictures of Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación de Málaga.  258 years old and never finished. Take a look at the right bell tower. It’s much shorter.

The right belt tower, shorter than the one on the left

This building is nothing special but sits right next to the church on the Square. I believe it’s just an office building and there’s a Western Union office in there. But the architecture here in Europe is just so enjoyable for me.

Our tour finally ended as we walked back to the bus that took us back to the ship. There is a complementary shuttle bus that we could take back into the old city if we wished. But my knees do not wish.

My last pictures of the day. I’ll look at the Fortress up on the hill as we walk back to the bus.

Spotted this from the bus on the way to our ship. Just a small little toy for someone.

It will be a different kind of last day before we head home on Tuesday morning. We have a sea day tomorrow.  So it will be easy packing sometime tomorrow. We are in the second group to get off the ship and be transported to the airport.

I see a bunch of cribbage games in my future tomorrow. More games to lose.!  Looking forward to heading home. This trip has been different in several ways. Cooler weather and rougher seas that kept us from stopping in Algeria or Morocco. Both disappointing, but nothing is within your control and you have to deal with safety first. We did get to stop in Mallorca, which was unplanned and I enjoyed that stop as well.

Pros and cons of this trip. Obviously the trip was free so how can you complain. However Viking only runs this particular cruise from November until early February in the Mediterranean off-season. I probably would not travel again in the off-season as you are subject to more weather related port cancellations.  

As for our penthouse on the eighth deck, I’ll take the third deck midship over this stateroom any day. It was forward and we rolled far more than mid ship staterooms.  Also being down lower, on deck three, would keep you more stable as well. The room was lovely and there was more room, especially the bathroom with a full 5 foot shower and two sinks as well as sofa and chair and an extra dresser. However, you are rarely in your room so some of these amenities don’t mean quite as much as it doesn’t want paper. I do have to say that the free laundry service can’t be beat. It sure allows you to bring less clothes as long as you’re willing to wear the same clothes more often. But they are always clean.  All that being said,I wouldn’t pass up another free trip if they told me I had to be in a penthouse.