The typical breakfast during these vacation days includes eggs, avocado, jamon, focaccia and of course coffee. I am trying to skip the lunches, so the breakfast should be rich enough in nutrients.
The morning is beautiful as usual. And early walking around the city charges me with the positive thoughts for the following day. Indeed, aimless strolling is good for the mental health, but I need to think about my soul and brain as well. So, today I have planned some nice events, connected with art.
Malaga with 2900 sunshine hours per year has exceptionally sunny weather, but also it has a fairly active year-round exhibition and cultural program. There are several substantial institutions concentrated very close together, including Museo Picasso, Museo Carmen Thyssen and Centre Pompidou.
Actually, Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga in 1881 (but left the city when he was very young), so there must be an interesting museum about his life here. However, my choice for today is Museo Carmen Thyssen. Its permanent collection is strongly focused on Spanish and especially Andalusian art from the 19th century into early modernism: portraits. landscapes and everyday life scenes, with such artists as Sorolla, Fortuny, Zurbaran and Romero de Torres.
I really liked the collection of the paintings at this art gallery. Especially I loved the pictures with Corrida and pictures with the dancing women. I can imagine now, how bright and fun was the life some centuries ago!
Happy and inspired I have left the museum with the feeling that I would need to start painting again. Maybe I should start the series of pictures from our everyday life. Next generations should have a chance to see what kind of life we are having in the 21st century.
Malaga is a very beachy place! It has 15 city beaches, covering around 13.5 kilometers of beachfront! And I have read that 7 beaches from here have Blue Flags in 2026, including the main city beach Malagueta, which I usually visit during my staying.
Most city beaches have dark or greyish sand, rather than the very pale (almost white sand), which you can find in other Mediterranean destinations. And the beaches here have a quite gradual entry, so you do not immediately step into deep water, and I love that specifically. Unfortunately, I have noticed that the water was dirtier than I used to see in Catalunya, at Costa del Garraf or Costa Dorada.
I was so impatient today to wait the evening. The more appropriate word would be "excited". The reason is that I am going to visit the flamenco show. For the first time, I had such experience many years ago, but I still have a good aftertaste in my memories about that performances. And of course, I was writing about that stories in my blog posts, so it is available for reading here - "Valencia, Flamenco Experience" and here - "Europe. Art, tapas and flamenko".
I have bought the ticket with VIP access. Basically, it means that you can sit closer to the stage, and additionally one drink is offered from the bar for free. Still, I felt quite uncomfortable, because there were only 3 people, including me, with VIP ticket.
I will remind that Flamenco is a traditional Spanish art form (yes, an art form, not only dance) that developed mainly in Andalusia, in the southern Spain, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. So, to see this show in Malaga, closer to its origins, is the must-be.
In short, Flamenco has three main elements: Cante (singing), Baile (dancing) and Toque (guitar playing). And it is known primarily for the strong emotion, expressive movements, rhythmic hand clapping, some shouting (sometimes even cry) and footwork.
At this show I could watch people of different generations. With their own dramatic stories. They danced, played music, singing and basically lived a life on the stage.
Unforgettable experience. I think, I should try other venues with Flamenco show, because I expect that different bands can do it in a different and unique way.
Good mood, some nice melodies in the head, the delicious Mexican food in some random restaurant and delicious wine at my favourite bar for locals. What else do you need for happy life?
Honestly, Malaga has so many things to offer, not mentioning that you can use this city as a base to travel around Andalusia. So, even if I did not like much the beaches here, I would love to come here several times and to explore more places and surroundings.
