This morning in
Málaga we strolled through the winding gardens of the Paseo del Parque. We saw
parakeets gathering twigs, sudden flurries of acid green against the deep blue
sky. The sun shining through the leaves of the lady palms. Through the foliage,
glimpses of big white ships in the harbour at Muelle Uno.
We've seen visitors from the blue-eyed lands in cropped shorts and vests, walking past pillow-haired Málagueña matrons encased in fur. The pharmacy thermometers showing 25ºC.
We’ve visited the belén of the Diputación de Málaga, complete with tiny village bakery where the oven glows and the blacksmith is hammering jerkily at his forge. We’ve seen Fabergé-pink paté ducklings at our favourite deli, nestling among hundreds of cheeses, patés, cold meats and stuffed dates.
We’ve ‘done’ the Vegas-bright Christmas lights walk along Calle Larios, threading through noisy, happy crowds gaping at the man on stilts/clowns/living statues, levitating gurus.
Office parties sitting at long tables outside, pleasantly and politely p……ed. singing happy formless villancicos, (Tuqui Tuqui Tuquituqui, Tuquituqui Tu qui Ta, apúrate mi burrito, vamos a ver a Jesús…). Almonds roasting, chestnuts roasting, incense adding a darker note. Classical quartets, carolling kids…the Three Kings Santa Grotto... everybody seems to be walking, talking, laughing and eating.
In a week or two, we can go back to worrying about the austerity measures and the electricity bills, the whiffy drains and ‘Se Alquila’ (‘For Rent’) signs in empty shopfronts. But while Xmas lasts, for as long as it lasts…Happy Malagueños to all our readers!
Dear Maureen, great to hear from you and thanks for the comment! I hope 2013 will be full of warmth and colour for you too - I hear you are doing really well on the photo frontline! All the best, Arpi
Posted by: Andalucinda | December 31, 2012 at 03:59 PM
Lovely post, beautifully-written. The little patitos are just too cute to eat really and I like the sentiments you express: back to reality soon but for now enjoy the beauty of Christmas. Haave a wonderful New Year!
Posted by: Maureen Dolan | December 29, 2012 at 12:09 AM
Hi Steve, great to hear from you. The ducklings were a surprise to me too! I have often wondered what Xmas must be like in that kind of heat - surreal. Spoke to a dear friend in Queensland on Xmas morning...might visit one of these days though I never get further than London normally. All the best Steve, for the holidays and the coming year.
Posted by: Andalucinda | December 26, 2012 at 06:37 PM
Pate ducklings - is this a Spanish tradition? They look too innocent to eat. I love pate but i could also go the whole duck.
Here in Oztralia we're still cooking hot xmas lunches in 33 degree heat and eating on covered decks while praying for a cooling breeze or, even better, rain. and rain it did last night. Santa did his delivery and followed up with a drenching. Best xmas present he could have offered. Now for the mountains of leftover ham and turkey and sweet things. Happy Xmas and a Malaga New Year.
Posted by: Steve Capelin | December 26, 2012 at 06:41 AM