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July 17, 2025
Málaga, Spain


Málaga, Spain (Note the cannabis shop. In Spain, cannabis is legal for private consumption.)

On yesterday’s sea day, we sailed from eastern to southern Spain. Today’s port is Málaga on the southern “Costa del Sol” (“sunshine coast”).

Gail escorted “The Endless Bounty of Andalusia” for a whopping 7.5 hours. Her tour drove through the Andalusian countryside, where they visited three different locations for wine and food. By the time she reached the third venue, she was offered so much food she couldn’t eat anymore.


Some views of the Andalusian countryside


Gail was particularly struck by this walking path that clings to the side of a cliff. (Gail hates edges.)


The tour’s food destinations included a farm and a winery


Some of the endless bounty of Andalusia. Gail was overwhelmed by the amount of food served.

Málaga has built a tourist reputation in part as “the birthplace of Pablo Picasso.” Although Picasso only lived here until he was 10 years old, he was born here. Consequently, Málaga has preserved the building in which he was born. There is also a small museum that contains a portfolio of work that spans Picasso’s entire artistic career.

(For those interested, the man’s full name was “Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso.”)

Russell escorted the four-hour “Picasso Museum” excursion. In addition to a walking tour through Málaga, the tour went to both the Picasso Casa Natal (“Picasso’s birthplace house”) and the Museo Picasso Málaga (“Picasso museum”). As our guide observed, Málaga’s smaller museum gives visitors an opportunity to see Picasso’s breadth during a limited timeframe without feeling overwhelmed.


The Picasso Casa Natal (“Picasso’s birthplace house”)


In the square outside Picasso’s birthplace house, there is a life-sized statue of him sitting on a bench


Picasso as a child


The Museo Picasso Málaga (“Picasso museum”)


Two portraits from the beginning and end of his career demonstrate Picasso’s evolution as an artist. Left: “Portrait of a Bearded Man” (c.1895). Right: “Head of a Man” (1972)


It’s fascinating to watch Picasso’s artistic development, as he distilled his subjects down to their barest essence. This is “Still Life with Guitar” (1920).


“Sheet Music and Guitar” (1921)


Picasso’s work extended to sculpture. This is “Reclining Bather” (1931)


Some examples of Málaga’s architecture


Calle Larios, Málaga’s popular pedestrian and shopping street, features a gigantic awning to shade visitors during the summer. There are also street performers.

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