Malaga, Spain

One long flight (Calgary to Amsterdam – 8 hours) and two short flights (Amsterdam to Paris and Paris to Malaga - total 3.5 hours) managed to change the temperature from -22C (thanks for the send-off Calgary!) to +20C (hello Andalucia!). We were surprised there wasn't a typical customs procedure to get into Spain with our luggage. After collecting our bags at a luggage belt for noneuropean travelers we were simply asked by the border guard where we were from and waved through. No passport check or stamp as that was done when we passed through immigration in Amsterdam.

As usual our biggest job this evening will be to try and stay awake until at least 9 pm in an attempt to acclimatize to the 9 hour time change. Our hotel is conveniently located downtown so we went for a walk before dinner at a local restaurant. We were both surprised at the size of the city (almost 600,000 according to the net) and the upscale shops downtown – Norma found a Pandora shop to add to her travel bracelet. Many coffee shops/tapas establishments and one bakery per block. The smells are amazing. Europeans love their breads, pastries and coffee. We will have to try one out tomorrow when we can appreciate it more. Yum! Not too many panhandlers or buskers but there was an elf making balloon animals for the kids. Tomorrow we will explore more of the city. Then in the evening we will meet with the rest of the tour participants and the guides before going out for an introductory dinner.

Malaga, Spain

One of the many bakeries

Elf making balloon animals for children