End of the year and orange trees

Beautiful Sevilla and Granada done, Malaga is somewhat low key but still worth a visit, a hike to the Alcazaba and higher up to the Gibralfaro for some cool shots. 

Admittedly, landing in the British interpretation of Summer Paradise was not high on my bucket list, but life is defined also by circumstances. And circumstances brought the discovery that beyond all those golf courses and big resorts, Marbella has also a very cute traditional town at its heart, whose streets and squares make wandering (or sitting with a cervecita) a sweet end of the year.

Serendipity also brought a toast to the new year (and the fast swallowing of the traditional 12 grapes) with the owners, waiters and customers of a small restaurant in central Malaga, devoted to excellent and reinterpreted tapas and medias.

Even in Costa del Sol, something left behind: can you taste the colourful fruits hanging from those ubiquitous decorative orange trees?

Granada

Another victim of a year of misfortunes? Something just not written in the stars? After the inevitable blaming one's own unpreparedness, an equally inevitable realisation: Alhambra being sold out means a trip to Andalusia is due to happen again.

Resorting to wandering without a specific destination through the romantic streets, squares and churches of Albayzin is not too bad a plan B.
Culminating on top of the tower of the church of San Miguel Bajo and its perfect view of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada.

Elegant, lively, hilly and sunny, every neighbourhood a different soul, Granada rocks. And yes, there are free tapas too.