Trip to Torrox

After the procession, Ron thought we had enough time to go to a nearby town called Torrox.  It is a very quaint small town but it has its enchanting decorated floral streets and they actually have won prizes for such decorations.  The visit although short was gratifying specially because the people were nice and accomodating telling us that we can take all the pictures as we pleased.  Here is what Torrox looks like.

 

 

 

Parking on our way back to Nerja became a problem because of the procession.  Ron could not find any place to park after making several rounds so Mel and me decided to get off and buy our dinner for take out.  It took a while before Ron could park and even so it was not a convenient place since the next day we needed the car to be near the apartment to have our stuff loaded.  But then he decided to wake up early the following day to be able to park it closer for Mel and my convenience.  That is a gentleman!

Procession in Nerja

It was quite an experience to watch procession in Nerja.  I did not realize that children would be attending it carrying their own load.  I happened to be near a young girl of about 10 yrs old to ask her if the pole that she was carrying did not bother her.  And she told me it did but she had to carry it.  I was also amazed at the women portraying the bereaved widows dressed up elegantly in black with their high heel shoes and carrying their poles.  Likewise amazing is the fact that not only men but also women carry the images on their shoulders and how they swayed as they carried the images.

Last day in Nerja

In  our last day in Nerja, Norma a friend had invited us for lunch which we willingly accepted.  We  went around to discover more of Nerja while we waited for lunch  time.  We were hoping to go to  the flea market but instead we were led to  the Plaza Verano Azul,  inaugurated in 2001 in honor of a famous  Spanish TV series in the 1980's and being  filmed in Nerja, made the town known all over Spain.   Of tourists interests, we saw the boat "La Dorada" that appeared in the television series. 

Time for lunch.  Norma prepared some anchovies and potato chips while she was getting ready with the rest of the meal consisting mainly of grilled fish and vegetables.   Ron kept  himself busy with the help of the appetizers.  

 

Norma's Dog

Cooking with Norma

Mel trying to help with the cooking

We had a very good lunch after which we went for a siesta while waiting for the procession to start.  Then we went to see the procession where Norma participated.

I was amazed to see how the children had been so well-behaved while they took their own loads. I never have seen children participate before in this type of processions. I also observed the gaits and the elegance of how the young adults, both men and women separately carried the floats on their shoulders. It was a memorable sight to always recall.

Trip to Frigiliana

Ron took us to Frigiliana on the third day.  Frigiliana is within the municipality of the province of Malaga.  From this town you get a unique  panoramic coastal view.  We saw several interesting places in Frigiliana.  We had a bad experience though with a lady that owned the shop that sells pretty aprons.  While Ron and Mel were posing behind the aprons, a lady approached reprimanding them because they did not ask permission to pose behind her aprons.  (She probably thought we were going to copy her designs).  Ron and Mel did not know how to react but apologized immediately.  I did too.  The lady accepted our apologies and told me to continue to take the picture.  We really were no longer in the mood, but what the heck, after all she gave us her consent.  If not for that, the day in Frigiliana would have been perfect.

Here are more pictures of Frigiliana:
 

 

 

My Birthday in Nerja

We had lunch in the Parador of Nerja to celebrate my birthday and hereunder  is what we ate.  As appetizers, we had cold avocado soup, bread and tomato cream soup with diced Melva fish and fried floured codfish.  Among others, we had the "Pumpkin Paprika", a soup of the XVI century, added to which are the Victorian anchovies that can only be fished in Eastern Malaga.   The main plate consisted of tender goat meat with garlic and wine garnished with aromatic herbs and paprika.  And for dessert, we had sweet potato ice-cream topped with sugar cane honey.  If there is any dessert defining Nerja, this is the cane honey.  This is a local product, produced by the only cane honey factory existing in Europe, located in Frigiliana, close to Nerja. (Information taken from Arte Breve de Cocina  Parador de Nerja).

We chose from the menu the "Ruta Gastronomica", (gastronomic route)  where for 29 Euros you can eat a set menu of the typical regional food at a Parador, translated as  a  hotel situated in  rural beauty spots and  places of historical interest often in converted castles and monasteries and aiming to provide a  high standard of accomodation with the emphasis on local character and cuisine of the region.

Appetizers, anyone???

Mel's Main Course

First Plate

My Second Plate

Dessert