Written By: Lindsay Grohs
This summer I had the luxury of visiting Spain for a week during a study abroad trip. I visited Málaga, Marbella, Granada, Córdoba, and Sevilla. Each spot now has a special place in my heart for various reasons, including the culture, scenery, memories, and food. All of this is why I wanted to share my tips, stories, and insights in case you venture to La Madre Patria (“The Motherland”) by giving you a snapshot of my trip to Málaga.
From the moment we reached the hotel in Málaga, I was amazed. We stayed in a local 4-star
hotel, H10 Croma. To call this hotel beautiful would be an understatement.
This hotel had an elegant indoor lobby bar, a fitness center, an outdoor terrace with another bar, and a pool overlooking the entire city. I grabbed a drink in the lobby before heading out for our city tour. The cocktail, Strawberry Bubbles, was a popular feature on their menu. It contained Grey Goose, strawberry, lemon, Cointreau, and cava. It was the perfect mix of fruity and sweet from the strawberries with a hint of tang and zest from the lemon.
Next on our list was finding a spot for dinner. We chose an authentic Spanish restaurant called El Trillo. We were greeted with warmth by our server. They didn’t speak any English, which is how we knew the restaurant was a local spot vs. a tourist spot. Our table ordered paella, gambas blancas (a shrimp dish), and huevos rotos (fried egg, fried potatoes, Iberian ham, and duck).
The waiter warned us that the paella would take about thirty minutes to cook. This was the second green flag of the restaurant because traditional Spanish paellas are supposed to take thirty to forty minutes to cook. The huevos rotos was my dish. When it came out, I was speechless at both the presentation and taste of the plate. The crispiness of the potatoes with the softness of the egg, duck, and ham all paired very well together. The savory notes of the dish combined with the spices made my mouth water. When the tab came, it was all on the same bill. This is common in Spain; they do not usually split the check for guests. They also bring the handheld to the table so you can pay right there. This prevents any fraud or stealing of card information. I took one for the team and paid our tab that night. We walked back to our hotel with our stomachs full and our hearts warm. That was the end of night one.
Day two consisted of visiting the Museo Picasso (Picasso Museum), touring the Alcazaba, attending a sunset cruise, and dining at Toro Muelle Uno. The art at the museum was mind-blowing. Picasso’s style was very abstract and obscure, which made it interesting to unravel the meaning behind his pieces. In between touring that and the Alcazaba, I stopped for a bite to eat, which included an empanada and cafe con leche. Signature Spanish Eats. The empanada had the perfect amount of filling with beef, peppers, and various spices, encased in a soft pastry-like shell with crimped edges. The cafe con leche contained bold flavors (from the strong coffee) paired with sweeter elements from the milk. The milk was beautifully frothed on the top, making for the first perfect sip.
Touring the Alcazaba was amazing. Alcazaba means “citadel” or “fortress” in Arabic. It was built in the 11th century by King Badis of Granada and designed for the Muslims to defend against the Christian invaders. This is why the fortress was built on hilltops; it was a defense strategy. The design also represented certain elements of the Islamic culture, such as their intricate designs, artwork, and gardens. I heavily enjoyed getting to experience a different culture through exploring one of its historic landmarks.
After the tour, we had a little free time to continue exploring the city before our sunset cruise. A few friends and I took this time to get another quick bite to eat, which consisted of patatas bravas. Patatas bravas are a typical Spanish tapa that includes seasoned potatoes covered in bravas (spicy, tomato-based) sauce. They are spicy without an overload of heat. Not to mention, they aren’t super filling, so they are a good choice as a first tapa, or as we call it, appetizer. After dining, we headed to the boat.
The boat experience is something I will never forget. Our entire group attended a sunset cruise where we drank cava (common Spanish sparkling wine) and strawberry mojitos, danced to Spanish music, and enjoyed the views of the sun setting across the water. Our hosts were also a large part of what made the experience so memorable. They got into the music, danced with us, pulled out the limbo, and were even nice enough to give us a few drinks on the house (or, should I say, “on the boat”).
We ended the night off with our final dinner in Málaga at Toro Muelle Uno. I had a lovely plate called Carrillada ibérica that consisted of pork cheeks with mashed sweet potatoes and an apple garnish. The dish had a lot of sweet flavors, with tender sweet-sauced pork and creamy mashed sweet potatoes, finished off with a crisp apple flavor. The service was very authentic in the way the host and waiter greeted us with warmth. The speed and atmosphere felt very relaxed; there was no rush to flip the table or finish our meal. It was refreshing from typical American service. We left happy and ready to take on the next country in Spain, Cordoba.
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