Spain 2025 (2) Malaga

I installed an eSIM while waiting for my luggage at Malaga Airport. As soon as it connected, emails and other notifications flooded in. This was also something I heard about from a friend who gave me the hotel information for Doha. When I came to Europe before, it was still the early days of mobile phones, so it feels like a different era.

Leaving the airport, there was a tropical atmosphere. Malaga is the center of the Costa del Sol, a resort area along the Mediterranean coast. I immediately headed to the Renfe national railway station as I had studied online. Here, a big problem arose. I didn't know how to operate the ticket machine. I let an Asian young man behind me go first and asked, "Do you mind if I watch?" He taught me, "Click here to change it to English." However, even when I did the same thing, my credit card wouldn't work. If this card doesn't work, my trip is doomed. I paid with the small change I had and headed to the train.
Looking at the route map inside the train, my destination was the next station. When I asked a Black young man who was about to get off, "Maria Zambrano Station?", he said, "No, no," and after getting off onto the station platform, he pointed further ahead.
An elderly man who had been by the door said, "It's further ahead, let's get off together," and he got off and guided me to the ground level.
"You are Japanese, right? I studied Japanese. Welcome. Hello. Goodbye. Samurai."
Samurai... Typical.
"Japan has... what is it?"
"?"
"There are dogs and rabbits, right?"
"??"
"This year is the snake."
"Oh, you mean the zodiac?"
I said it in Japanese without thinking. Well, that would be surprising. To have an elderly man you met on a train tell you that this year is the Year of the Snake.
After parting ways with the kind elderly man, I arrived at the hotel relying on Google.
"My name is [Name]. I have a reservation."
"Oh, so you can speak Spanish?"
"...No, just greetings. Please speak in English."
I chided myself, thinking I should have just used English from the start. The young man at the front desk was in a good mood and said, "I gave you a room with a terrace." I wonder if he upgraded me because they had vacancies. I had to register my credit card, but I was relieved when it went through properly.

Malaga is a base for sightseeing in Andalusia, and I was supposed to just sleep here, but I have some time. First, I confirmed the bus terminal I would use tomorrow and the day after, then followed Google to take a city bus to the old town. The temperature is 31°C.

Soon, the cathedral came into view. Relying on Google, I jogged to the Picasso Museum. It was supposed to be open until 6:00, but even though it was a little past that, they let me in. Maybe it's extended for the summer season?

The Picasso Museum in Malaga is wonderful. There were many works I had never seen before. The building is also very beautiful. I strongly feel that I have really come to Spain.
After leaving, I ate ice cream while wandering through the maze-like old town and arrived at the Roman Theatre ruins I was looking for.

It's amazing, things from the Roman era are just there normally. The Alcazaba above it had a last entry at 7:15, and since it was 7:00, I decided to go in.

This is Islamic architecture, right? It looks just like the Alhambra. From the Alcazaba, I could see the port of Malaga.

A bright, tropical atmosphere. It's completely different from Madrid. The tourists coming and going in the old town all look cheerful and happy.
I took the bus again and returned to Maria Zambrano Station. Once again, this is a large station. Renfe national railway, Metro subway, and a bus terminal. The station is air-conditioned and even has a shopping mall. The temperature is 29°C.
I should be exhausted from not sleeping for about two days, but the first day in Spain passed with great satisfaction.

2025.7.7. (Mon)