Flying visit to Malaga

Malaga!

In order to get two PIGSY paintings to Spain, we decided to fly to Malaga and hand deliver them rather than sending them in the mail. It was going to be my first time back in the city after spending a year there during lockdown so I was unsure how I was going to feel about it.

So last Sunday we went on an Aer Lingus flight to Malaga arriving in the late afternoon. We immediatly headed to our favourites Casa Lola for a few tapas and then on to La Classica for some Gambas and White Fish.

We packed lots in and met up with different groups of friends. Some of the restaurants we ate in included Ocho (lunch and dinner) and a little wine bar on Paseo de Redding that I can't think what it was called. 

One of the things I definitely wanted to do was eat a portion of Berenjenas which I had been dreaming of - these fried aubergines were definitely as I remembered them!

Other than that we swam (pool and sea) and even managed to have ice creams in Casa Mira for old times sake along with all of this we got a bit of art in with a trip to the CAC (along with a drop in to La Casa Amarilla to delivery the PIGSY paintings)......I also might have had a few glasses of cava and vino tinto.

In no particular order, here's a photo dump from the short trip of just Sunday to Wednesday. A flying visit for sure - but so good to be back!! 

At the rooftop bar in AC Malaga - a Marriott hotel

Just off Constitution Plaza

In La Classica near Uncibay Plaza (for the best white fish)

Pastries and cava for breakfast on a friend's rooftop terrace

Gambas

With a friend that I met for coffee - selfie time afterwards

Looking out on to Constitution Plaza

La Casa Amarilla Crew

In Ocho for lunch with friends from Ireland

Foie Gras in Ocho

Pate in Ocho

I tasted a fresh fig for the first time!

Rooftop pool in AC Malaga

Cathedral view

Sitting at the counter in Casa Lola's

Ice cream at Casa Mira

Visiting CAC

A plate of Berenjenas in a square just off Calle Larios

Big news - I've made a move to Malaga!

PIGSY in Spain

After a lot of planning and a long time (our initial plans were scuppered in March by the Covid pandemic) we have finally made a move to Malaga.

Both of us have taken breaks from our careers in Ireland and we have plans to live here for awhile with Ciaran concentrating on his art work - see www.ciaranmccoy.com

We are all set up with a rented apartment in the centre of the city (pics to follow in future blogs and studio space for PIGSY) and our flights went very smoothly - and most importantly Bones the dog arrived with no issues - he travelled in the hold on Ciaran's flight, as cargo.

I set off from Ireland on a 3.20pm Aer Lingus flight after leaving Bones & Ciaran in the dog friendly Travel Lodge in Airside, Swords. Then Ciaran checked Bones in to cargo on Tuesday morning at 4am and then made his way to Dublin Airport to put his baggage and bike on to his 7.20am Aer Lingus flight to Malaga.  We would have preferred to take Bones in the cabin with us but this is currently not possible with airlines from Ireland to Europe, it seems.  During these Covid times it could be a source of additional revenue for airlines (as passenger numbers were low on both our flights) so perhaps it will change and pets may be allowed in the cabin.  My sister's cat travelled in the cabin with her from Oman in the Middle East to The Netherlands so I am unsure what is the issue with travel from Ireland.

I arrived in to Malaga promptly on Monday evening and deplaned quickly and made my way to immigration to present my passport and after that went through a Covid check where I presented a QR code on my phone where I had completed a self declaration that I was well and gave my contact details for where I was staying in Malaga.  I then made my way to the carousel where my bag was sitting there waiting for pick up.  Honestly, it was like flying on a private jet in to a private airport.  It was pretty much deserted and probably took all of 10 mins to do the above!!!

From the airport I took the bus to Malaga and got off near Calle Larios and walked to the apartment.  It was that easy and felt very safe as everyone was wearing masks.  

As mentioned Ciaran was on the flight the next day so I got up and took the bus again to the airport and met him about 11.30am.  From the airport we took a taxi to the cargo terminal and paid a ground handling fee for the dog in the office and then went to the unit next to the office to pick Bones up.  He came through in a crate which I was under the impression that we had rented for his transport but they gave it to us to keep.  He hopped out of the crate and we put his lead on and he walked smartly to the taxi without a look back!
The taxi driver had no issue with Bones hopping in the back with us and he loaded up the crate in to the boot.

We were then on our way to Malaga with the taxi driver dropping us off at a spot a short walk to our apartment.  The bus ride in to Malaga costs €3 and the taxi cost us less than €30 and was well worth it as there was no way we could have walked to the cargo terminal with all of our baggage and in the mid day sun.  Additionally I am not sure if we could have taken Bones in the bus.

When we arrived, we had a good look around at the apartment to see if there is anything we needed to organise or buy. The place was spotlessly clean as we are the first tenants since it was refurbished and it has just about everything we need, bar two sun loungers for the terrace.  We will get that organised over the next few days.

So that's the state of play for the moment.....do keep any eye on this blog as I will post all about what we are getting up to and how everything is going.

Additionally for lots more pics follow the PIGSY insta page