The route I did in southern Spain included Málaga, Granada, Córdoba, Seville, Gilbert, Tripa and Cádiz, then I moved to Portugal.
In this post I will write about southern Spain.
General tips:
Lodging: Hostels, in the end, are a good solution, mainly because they allow you to meet people. And those who travel alone and are looking for company - this is the way and this is the place. Many of the hostels have a social space - living room, kitchen, balcony, etc. where you can get to know each other, talk, eat and even travel together. There are also hostels that invent trips, tours and other social evenings for their guests, which is great.
I used the hostelworld app, which is usually quite accurate. The important things for me were proximity to the center, rooms that weren't too big (I was always looking for a room for four, or a room for women only... it wasn't always available), and I especially liked beds with a curtain, for privacy... (the application always has a picture) and another thing that was important For me, it's that the shower and toilet will be in the room (this didn't always happen).
The best tip I have for using this app is to not just look at the scores, but take the time, and go into the reviews that people leave. You can also really search by categories of guests - for example by age - for me, it was mostly really accurate... (especially when I'm not in my twenties).
Mobility: In the big cities, I suggest getting around with buses - if not the regular public transportation buses, then there is an app called flixbus, the prices are usually cheap or tolerable, the buses arrive on time, and they are extremely comfortable.
Tip - book a specific seat in advance, it costs an extra euro or two, and it's worth it, especially if you have a preference for a window or an aisle.
There are places where it is not worthwhile and sometimes it is not possible to get around by bus and it is better to rent a car - I did this in Portugal, where I traveled a lot, and I reached both small towns and parks and places in nature, such as Panda-Gresh and the Douro Valley, where there is really no convenient public transportation, or at all.
Food: I can't recommend food, because I'm a vegetarian, so I can't tell you about the great hamon or the traditional fish dish.... I used the happycow app and mostly went for Indian or Vietnamese restaurants where there is a vegetarian/vegan option. In the south of Spain, especially Granada, there are a lot of Arabic restaurants so I drowned with great pleasure in the sea of hummus and falafel and Paul and a perfect tabbouleh salad.
And now - southern Spain.
A little about myself - I'm a bit of a geek, I love gothic and dark, in my eyes the Middle Ages is a beautiful period, I live and breathe art, history and mythology. I studied art in high school, I am a graphic designer, art therapist. You can't say that I don't know artists/art/history and the like.
Southern Spain left me stunned.
Why the hell did I have to learn so much about Jesus and Christianity and the Crusades and the Gothic and the Renaissance and the Baroque and the World Wars, and not learn about the crazy history of Spain?... All I know about the Spanish is that they prevented the English from conquering South America, Oh, and there was also some gentile. and Picasso. and Dali.
I mean, I learned about specific artists. But about Spain as a kingdom?
Nada Nothing really. And Spain, it turns out, is a kingdom. with a unique history. I thought maybe it's because it has a lot of Muslim, Moorish influences? Maybe. It's time to put the next immortal piece, niche I know, but it made me laugh so much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0uYJjDHeDU
In short, southern Spain is a kingdom. magical
The architecture is beautiful, buildings with Muslim influences that mix with Baroque and Gothic touches, colorful mosaics, concrete stone and gold...
The old quarter, in almost every city and village in southern Spain, is full of white buildings, small pedestrian streets, colorful paintings on the walls and flowers on the balconies, and everywhere there are cafes and restaurants.
And all this is in Spain - which means great weather (I arrived at the end of September, after a month in Germany and the surrounding area. Everyone said it was "Indian Summer" and I just asked for the sun to be brought back to me... I realized that August is really hot there. About the same as here, so take it in the account please). What more? Delicious food, nice people (very reminiscent of Israelis, in appearance and sometimes in temperament. And still terribly European) and wonderful music.
Scholarship: It's a beach town. A relatively large city.
For us it is not such a big attraction, certainly not for those who come from Tel Aviv, like me, and still.
There are several beaches in Malaga, you can also move away from the city to find quieter beaches (there is also a nudist beach nearby).
Its main street, Calle Larios, is a large pedestrian street, with many shops, cafes, restaurants and cute corners - squares, statues, etc.
Main attractions: Alcazaba - a crazy stone palace, overlooking the whole city, through it you can also reach the Giberlfaro citadel, which is higher (it's not an easy hike, you need to be equipped with comfortable shoes and water).
The cathedral of Malaga is simply beautiful. One of the most beautiful I've seen. But then again, I'm a history geek and crazy about churches.
There is also a stunning botanical garden and I am always in favor of botanical gardens, and there are also all kinds of small museums. I was in the Picasso museum - there is not a single known work of Picasso in it, what is there is his history and his lesser known works, as well as a really more intimate acquaintance with him through the story of his life. I liked.
By and large, there are much more exciting cities in the south of Spain, and this is really not a must-see city. I loved it because of the beaches (as mentioned, I needed them after my ass froze in northern Europe), what's more, I think there is a possibility of a direct flight from Israel to Malaga - so if you've already been to Barcelona or Madrid and you want to travel in the south of Spain, it's a great place to start.
I was in a really cute hostel - it's not in a central location (half an hour's walk from the city center) close to the beach, quite small and intimate, but it had a great balcony and cute people who stayed there for a long time, some of whom I'm still in touch with today._cc781905-5cde-3194- bb3b-136bad5cf58d_Terraza del Limonar
A place I haven't been but I was told it's really worth it: Ronda
Gibraltar: In order to enter Gibraltar you have to cross a border. really. Stamp and everything. This is the first time my passport was stamped in Europe, after I had passed through about six countries. It is a territory of England. What's there - it's a big rock with lots of monkeys (shitholes, most of them), an amazing view of the sea, a crazy stalactite cave, and an airport you can walk on. There is also a cute little botanical garden next to the cable car that goes up to the rock.
You can stay and sleep there - beyond the rock is a really big city. I chose not to. I slept rough.
Tripa: Wow. Maddening predation.
A small little beach town. In the old city - white pedestrian streets, small cafes, and when you leave the pedestrian street - there is a full full full full full sea. It's about a crazy stretch of beach, the end of which you can't see. It is not suitable for a backpack, because of the location (right in the south of Spain, you can see Morocco with the naked eye) and there are crazy winds. What can be found there are many windsurfers (the ones that "jump" in the air). And there are also some cafes on the beach, where you can order a beer and watch the sunset. Seeing a sunset there was one of the most beautiful things I've experienced. Just sea, full sea, and an orange sun. There is nothing to do there for more than a day or two, unless you are interested in windsurfing, you can learn it there.
Regarding the hostel - I don't remember its name, and in any case, I don't recommend it. I would recommend looking for something in the old town.
Cádiz - Cádiz is right on the border with Portugal (I made a detour and returned to Malaga, but if you want to get to Portugal then I recommend doing Malaga>Granada>Córdoba> Seville>Cádiz or give up Cádiz and get to Portugal from Seville)
I liked Cadiz less. The old city again - white houses, flowers on beautiful balconies, there are some interesting buildings - mosques that became churches, etc., a large pedestrian street with cafes and tapas and all that shtick. And there is a small strip of beach there, about thirty meters long. Again, for us who come from Israel, this is a bit of a joke. If you still come, go to plaza rocio jurado special gardens where the trees are drawn and there is a big fountain.
Granada - is a big city, beyond the pedestrian street and the old town (which looks a bit like a flea market, my dear) in Granada there is the Alhambra. which is simply a must. It is advisable and advisable to take an organized trip, it is advisable and advisable to book a place in advance (a few days before) and also take a trip to the princes' palace.
Another recommended place to visit - the Albaysin district, where there are observation points on the Alhambra, and also just, it's just beautiful there.
Outside the old city - it is a busy and modern city. Lots of shops, mostly fashion. If you like shopping - this is the place.
(recommendation - two or three days)
Córdoba - Córdoba is a combination of the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity, (spoiler: Christianity won), and is a beautiful city. Here the pedestrian streets and the white houses and the flowers everywhere are real works of art.
Where to visit? In the ancient synagogue, and of course - the stunning mosque with the endless arches, the mosque, which today serves as a cathedral. (As mentioned, Christianity won... it's quite annoying to see such a perfect work of art suddenly put in some golden statue of Jesus that has nothing to do with anything).
There is also a cool bridge, at the end of the city, and another nice thing - the houses have courtyards, on Tuesdays the courtyards are open to everyone and you can come in and stay. There is always conversation and music.
I was in a hostel called Puerta de la Luna which is less a hostel, more a hotel, but there was one shared room of 6 beds, and a nice balcony. There I also had a pleasant experience with the people I met at the hostel, we walked together in the city and it was great.
(two days are enough)
And now we've reached the cherry on top - beautiful Seville! Just wow.
I was there for three days, and I'm sorry I didn't stay longer. Beyond that there is always something to see, a must: the Giralda Cathedral, the Alcazar Palace (what is this thing? Perfection), Plaza de España (wow).
It's just an amazing city. She is simply beautiful and wonderful and above all pleasant. There are flamenco shows everywhere, the river is stunning, the houses are beautiful, the neighborhoods are pleasant, the food is wonderful.
It's a wonderful place to learn flamenco if you want. There are shows, also in the evening in clubs, also performances on the street (I saw it in the palace and it was perfect) there is also a museum and you can take lessons.
Hostel: black swan is central, clean. Downstairs there is a kitchen and a living room, every evening there is something to do - a tour, an organized trip, a cooking class, etc. A wonderful way to get to know the people who are there. The employees there are very cute and very helpful, there are rooms only for women. The only thing I didn't like was that the showers were outside the room, but that's me.
Well, I wrote the counter.
So I will finish here, and later I will write a post about Portugal
Written by Hadas Friedman
