From the Parrot Garden to the Sea

My March itinerary might appear indulgent – and given that Europe is safe and cheap for travelers, it somewhat is. It says: a dip in the sea and a ski adventure. The former has been checked off my list with a few days spent in Málaga, Spain. While I'll delve into the city's historical landmarks in a dedicated post, for this #WednesdayWalk, let's embark on a leisurely stroll through the green heart of Andalusia's "second capital" and along the coast to the outskirts. Shall we?

Z našich březnových plánů by se mohlo zdát, že jsme pěkně zhýčkaní. Chceme se totiž vykoupat v moři a vyrazit na lyže. Naštěstí je cestování po Evropě bezpečné, levné a jednoduché. Takže zhýčkaní asi opravdu jsme, akorát to není pro dnešního Evropana nic neobvyklého. Tu první polovinu už máme za sebou, do moře jsme vlezli v Málaze. O té se ještě rozepíšu v samostatném článku, ale teď tu pro vás mám takovou ochutnávku v rámci #WednesdayWalk. Tušíte správně, je to procházka po zeleném srdci "druhého hlavního města Andalusie" a po pobřeží až na předměstí. Jste připraveni?


Andalusia, the southernmost region of Spain, is often imagined by people, including my fellow countrymen, as a sun-drenched desert-like land fringed by marvelous beaches along the coast. Indeed, while there are deserts in Andalusia, the region also boasts a renowned ski resort in the Sierra Nevada (though our skiing adventure awaits in Italy). Amidst the deserts, mountains, and beaches, Andalusia features a strip of fertile land. Nestled between the sea and the peaks, offering breathtaking views from a bird's-eye perspective. Take Parque de Málaga, where my walk began, could serve as an example of this.

Andalusie je nejjižnější španělský region, a tak si ji spousta lidí, minimálně tady u nás v Česku, představí jako vyprahlou poušť, nebo alespoň polopoušť, kde není kam utéct před sluncem a horkem. A pak už jen krásné pláže. Částečně je to pravda, poušť tu opravdu je. Ale taky se tu dá lyžovat, v Sierra Nevada je známé středisko, které hravě strčí do kapsy všechny české resorty (my se tedy chystáme do Itálie, aby toho Španělska nebylo příliš). Kromě pouští, hor a pláží je tu i pás úrodné země. Z ptačí perspektivy ta kombinace hor, pouští, moře a zemědělské půdy vypadá malebně. A pokud nevěříte, třeba vám změní názor Parque de Málaga, kde moje procházka začíná.


Speaking of the birds, don't expect to find a tranquil nook under the shade of the trees. The park is brimming with parrots. Their cacophony is even louder than an average Spaniard in a crowded bar during dinner time (well, there’s never been a crowded bar in the Spanish Kingdom; no bar has ever reached capacity there; if I were a physicist, I might consider writing a thesis on this phenomenon). Initially, I thought this post would focus on birdwatching, but these parrots are extremely shy. Unlike pigeons or photogenic seagulls eager to photobomb your holiday snapshots, these parrots prefer to keep their distance. While I captured a few, spotting them is akin to playing "Where's Waldo? Extreme Difficulty Edition." Feel free to try your luck, though; you're on the lookout for a little fellow known as the monk parakeet.

Zmínil jsem ptačí perspektivu. A právě kvůli ptákům si v tomhle parku svůj klidný koutek nenajdete. Hemží se to tu papoušky. Jsou ještě hlučnější než průměrný Španěl v přeplněném baru kolem deváté večer, tedy v čase večeře (takhle, ještě nikdy se v historii Španělského království nestalo, že by byl na území koruny plný bar; to je prostě technicky nemožné. Kdybych studoval fyziku, asi bych na tohle téma napsal diplomku). Původně jsem myslel, že tenhle článek bude hlavně o fotkách papoušků, ale oni jsou hrozně plaší. Holubi se pletou všude, rackové snad soutěží v tom, kdo se dostane na víc fotek, ale tihle papoušci si drží odstup. Pár jich na fotkách najdete, ale bude to tedy pěkně těžké. Něco jako Where's Waldo? extrémní obtížnost, jestli tuhle hru znáte. Ale směle do toho, potřebujete-li zabít čas. Hledáte papoušky mniší.


Had I journeyed back in time some 250 years, my walk would have involved fording and swimming. This area was once a bay earmarked for a port in the late 19th century. However, financial woes scuttled the plan after the area was leveled and cultivated. The city council then took over the estate and turned it into a city garden/park. Some of the oldest trees date back over a century, as the park was opened in the early 20th century. While the park's design pays homage to traditional Mediterranean gardens, its flora hails from tropical and subtropical regions across five continents. This eclectic mix makes Parque de Málaga one of Europe's foremost public parks in terms of exotic flora.

Kdybych se zkusil na stejném místě procházet tak před dvě stě padesáti lety, musel bych se napůl brodit a napůl plavat. Původně tu bývala zátoka, ze které se měl na konci 19. století stát velký městský přístav. Navezli se zeminu, zpevnili ji, postavili vlnolamy... A pak došly peníze, takže pozemek převzalo město a vybudovalo tu zahradu/park. Nejstarším stromům je lehce přes sto let, park má totiž svou podobu zhruba od desátých let minulého století. I když je koncipovaný jako tradiční středomořská zahrada, moc rostlin a stromů z Pyrenejského poloostrova tu nenajdete. Místní druhy jsou tropické a subtropické a pocházejí z pěti kontinentů. Díky tomu je Parque de Málaga jedním z nejvýznamnějších evropských parků, pokud jde o exotické druhy.


As enchanting as strolling around the park was, it hardly suffices for a #WednesdayWalk. Thus, I extended my jaunt along the coast to the east. It's impossible not to harbor affection for the sea, particularly one as serene as the Mediterranean, fondly dubbed Mare Nostrum (Latin for "Our Sea") in the languages of the nations that border it. For a landlubber Czech like myself, the sea is always astonishing. So without further ado, let's proceed to the next leg of my walk.

Procházka po Parque de Málaga by na #WednesdayWalk stěží stačila, a tak jsem si trasu prodloužil podél pobřeží směrem na východ. Moře je prostě krásné, zejména to klidné a mírné Středozemní. Není divu, že mu snad ve všech středomořských jazycích přezdívají stejně jako kdysi Římané - Mare Nostrum, Naše moře. Nu, a my ze suchozemského národa vídáme moře třeba jen jednou dvakrát ročně, a tak je potřeba si to pořádně užít. Takže tady je pár fotek z procházky promenádou.

Centre Pompidou Málaga.

This post is for #WednesdayWalk by @tattoodjay :)

Posted Using InLeo Alpha



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a wonderful post and one I enjoyed as I met my wife online she was living in Spain and me in BBosnia and Herzegovina, and when we first met it was in Malaga :)

Thanks for joining the Wednesday Walk :)
Have a great day :)

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Yep, Málaga is a well-connected hub :) And apparently the place for the first date :))

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Beautiful place for sure! You mentioned something very important that I envy a lot Europeans! Travelling is cheap! I have a friend who lives in the UK and every weekend once in a while he visits different places. While here in Canada, I can't even think in visiting the place that I used to live because the air ticker is expensive hehe

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On the other hand, Canada is about twice the size of the EU ;) Besides, I always thought that the domestic flights there are quite cheap. I once flew Portland, Oregon to Minneapolis, Minnesota and it was a bargain.

It's true you can get a return flight for like $25 here in Europe, once you're a bit flexible and don't mind flying off-season.

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US is much different from Canada, there is a bit of competition between airlines in the US...
Since I live close by the border many people prefer driving to the nearest big US airport if you need to fly to other US cities than driving less to Calgary airport for example, which can make things more expensive sometimes... hehe

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Well, we could do so with Viena, the Austrian capital has larger airport than Prague and thus better prices, say 20-30% cheaper. I don't find it worth it, though. It's better to pay a tad more and save few hours in a bus/train. Besides, I know Prague airport like the back of my hand, so I can leave home a single hour before my flight takes off and still be on time. (Yes, we do have a reliable and affordable public transport)

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I remember those loud parrots 😂

Look, here , I was also mentioning them, in the same park :D

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Oh, bird watching! No? that's because I wasn't there. Those parrots sure had their way with me. I've actually come to chatter on here a bit and tell you I'm glad you enjoy in Malaga.
El Centro Pompidou de Málaga is so beautiful and colourful. Me preguntaba cómo y por dónde entrar ahí y encontré una foto en Google.
I love the mare nostrum too. 😍

Espero que te estés bien. Lindo jueves! Para mí es hora de hacer la cena.

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Well, you're Mare Nostrum is the Caribbean Sea, isn't it? ;)

Yep, I am great, getting ready to hit the road again, this time to Italy to ski, finally.

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(Edited)

Yo soy de cualquier mar...

...tengo alma de marinero. No nací en el Mediterráneo, pero jugando con la marea me voy pensando en volver y soy como una mujer perfumadita de brea. jajaja... estoy cantando y parafraseando GodFish!

(Mediterráneo, de Ana Belén y Joan Manuel Serrat)

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Saludos, Cuando me hablan de jardín allí estoy yo soy amante de la naturaleza y de las playas ni se diga.

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