Back on the Road

Judy. After a week of last minute family hugs, doctor visits, and scurrying around the house making sure we'd packed everything, we took the transport to the airport to head to Málaga via London. We've done this so often now that it's definitely easier, but still exhausting.

We'd booked our flight to Málaga separately from our flight to London, but didn't think twice about that till we'd checked in and were on our way to security. Suddenly Ted stopped, looked at our boarding passes and luggage claims, and did a complete turnaround. We forgot to make sure all was checked through to Spain! Dashing back to the counter, we explained our situation, and the wonderful gate agents moved all kinds of heaven and hell to change things and catch our luggage in time. Whew! With only two hours in London, we'd never have been able to get the luggage onto the next flight--or worse--have it stranded in London while we tried to figure it out! It was our gaffe, but British Airways took care of us in a heartbeat. Love that airline.

Since we were so early, we headed up to the lounge for a snack and drink before our 10PM flight. While sitting there, we got into a conversation with a British family sitting next to us. Of course we had travel as a mutual interest, and one of the adult sons, Jack, is an engineer, so he and Ted had lots to talk about. The second son, James, is studying graphic arts, so since Stefan is a graphic designer, we had lots to talk about. The whole family was into rugby, one of Ted's interests, so while we intermittently watched the football playoffs, we enjoyed talking to them. Turns out they have a second home not too far from Málaga! We gave them our contact info, and before we parted ways after the flight, Sandra, the mom, said, "I have a feeling we'll meet up again!" Boy, I hope so.

The flight--at least business class--was pretty empty, so it was easy to pull out the lie-flat beds, watch a movie, and catch a snooze. We had enough time when we arrived in London to go through security again, walk around a bit, and hop on the super crowded flight to Málaga. This time we'd chosen to save money and sit in regular coach. I guess I hadn't realized how spoiled we'd become! In the first row of coach, the curtain separating us from extra comfort kept hitting me in the arm, and the rather large gentleman next to me kept me pulling tightly into myself. It was a great reminder of how fortunate we are. We've come a long way from the days when we didn't fly often. Now we're much pickier, and, with the help of frequent flyer miles, can usually fly much more comfortably.

But on the flight to Spain, I got a huge gift. I never learned the name of the gentleman sitting next to me, but he shared his story--something I will never forget. He had flown coach from Nova Scotia (we chatted a lot about Halifax, where he grew up, and which we really enjoyed), but was too excited to sleep. 

It seems his wife died last year. They had planned to do lots of travel, and she was the one who did all the internet planning, just as Ted does for us. At the urging of friends who spend the winter every year on the Costa del Sol, he had decided to go to the town where they stay and spend a month. He said he had a hard time figuring out all the online paperwork for travel, booking the appropriate tickets, and finding an apartment, but had finally done it. He seemed to alternate between being thrilled and terrified, saying, "I'm so excited I can't sleep," and "What if I hate it? Well, I guess at least I'll hate life in southern Spain, and not in the snow." I told him he had wonderful friends who would make sure he DIDN'T hate it, and I hoped it would be the first of several trips. Every now and then he'd turn to me and talk more about it. My dear friend Patty who is from Alberta, says that in her experience, the Canadians who live in the Maritimes wear their hearts on their sleeves. He was so dear and so vulnerable that my heart really went out to him. His friends were to pick him up at the airport, and the last I saw of him he was standing by the baggage carousel. I so hope he's having the time of his life. 

Arrival in Málaga and the taxi to our little apartment overlooking the Mediterranean was a breeze, and our landlord took lots of time to explain things to us. Although we walk out to a street and have a beautiful view from every room, we are actually the basement of their home above us, which is accessed via another street. Later they lowered paperwork and a bottle of wine from their terrace to our window via a basket on a rope. Well done!

Good  morning, Mediterranean!

This visit we moved from the center of the old town to further up the beach. The weather is warm (70 degrees today for my US friends, 20 for the rest of the world), Málaga is masked and not as busy as last time, and we've had time to walk the beach, go through town to get a coffee, and see how the Christmas decorations are being repurposed for Carnaval later this month. We found a little snack bar nearby for coffee or a light lunch, and a grocery store that's a bit of a disappointment. Better to walk to the Mercado and take the bus back. Our friend Ben, whom we met in Oaxaca, is flying in from Prague later this week for a visit. We're settling in for a long stay!

Coffee away from the tourist area

Málaga prepares for Carnaval!