Category Archives: Spain

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Biannual Roundup: Thanks for following posts to and fro

Haunting the Graveyard: Unearthing the Story of the Coker Settlement

Know it appears suspicious that a post about the author’s book that finally made it into print popped up as the most-read by you during the past year, but you actually were that kind.

Of course, the controversial redevelopment plans for Alamo Plaza still remain of grave concern for those who love San Antonio. Will the plaza be fenced in? Will the Texas General Land Office repurpose the buildings on the west side of the plaza as a new museum or bulldoze those important historic landmarks? So many design issues remain unresolved as we enter 2020.

The author always hope postcards sent back from other places help tease out the boulevardier in you, seducing you into traveling more and serving as helpful guides when you do.

The following list represents the posts you clicked most in 2019, with the number in parentheses representing rankings from six months ago.

  1. Postcard from the Coker Settlement: Following long gestation, book finally due to arrive, 2019
  2. Has Alamo Plaza fallen in the hands of ‘reverential’ caretakers? 2019 (2)
  3. How’s the GLO managing Alamo Plaza? Welcome to the faux Alamo. 2019 (3)

    Hey, GLO. No faux Alamo.

  4. Postcard from Castello di Rivoli, Turin, Italy: History with a horse hanging overhead, 2019, (5)
  5. The Madarasz murder mystery: Might Helen haunt Brackenridge Park? 2012 (7)
  6. The danger of playing hardball with our Library: Bookworms tend to vote, 2014
  7. Postcard from Oaxaca, Mexico: ‘I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.’ 2019
  8. Postcard from Mexico City: The Lord of Poison and potent relics, 2017
  9. Postcard from Sevilla, Spain: Foods steeped in tradition, 2019 (11)

    Boquerones, fried anchovies, at El Rinconcillo in Sevilla, Spain

  10. Postcard from Sevilla, Spain: The most celebrated mother in Spain, 2019
  11. Postcard from Malaga, Spain: Street Art, Part I, 2019
  12. Postcard from San Antonio Botanical Garden: Walking across Texas without leaving home, 2019

From the streets of Malaga, Spain, pulpo y vino

Thanks for dropping by. Would love to see comments anytime.

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Postcard from Malaga, Spain: Loved rambling her streets, but time to amble on

Woman who hung out at a club down the street from us in Malaga

Along the boardwalk with sweeping views of the Mediterranean Costa del Sol or the gleaming clean streets in the historic center of the city, the beauty of Malaga is impressive. The number of museums for a city of around a half-million is amazing, and this Virginia Beach girl certainly never tires of fresh seafood. Palms and blooming jacaranda trees in abundance.

Here are parting shots from our stay in May, when we experienced 30 days of perfect, temperate, sunny weather.

vanishing ferris wheel
bullring under renovation
Plaza Mercedes

Next postcard delivery will be from southern Italy.

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Postcard from Malaga, Spain: Flavorful alternatives add depth to food scene

Mariscal, Peruvian-style marinated seafood at Aborigen Restaurante

More than any other location we visited in Andalucia, Malaga seemed willing to embrace global food influences. There were several South American restaurants in the center of the city that took full advantage of the city’s fresh seafood, translating into great ceviche. We made multiple visits to and recommend both Aborigen Restaurante and Andino Gastrobar.

Alexso Restaurante delivers an intimate contemporary experience with excellent service on a level that should soon merit stars, yet without the high prices that characterize those discovered restaurants. Our lunches there included such dishes as moist sea bass perched atop seafood rigatoni, succulent suckling pig and white chocolate flan with violet ice cream.

Radici Osteria Italiana trofie with pesto
Andino Gastrobar veggie nachos
Aborigen Restaurante fish with root veggetables and quinoa
Radici Osteria Italiana albondigas de tuna rojo
Restaurante Alexso brownie
Restaurante Alexso suckling pig
Canadu chickpea caldo
Canadu asparagus and mushroom risotto
Andino Gastrobar coconut custard
Radici Osteria Italiana spinach ravioli with sage butter
Canadu salad with fruit
Restaurante Alexso couscous salad
U Siciliano eggplant
Canadu apple and pine nut croquetas
Restaurante Alexso white chocolate flan with violet ice cream
Vegetariano el Calafate vegetable couscous
Canadu Persian rice
Restaurante Alexso smoking amuse bouche of creamy papaya curry
Aborigen Restaurante gnocchi with vegetables
Andino Gastrobar grilled salmon
Andino Gastrobar tuna ceviche
Vegetariano el Calafate stuffed eggplant
Aborigen Restaurante seafood stew tapa
Aborigen Restaurante steak
U Siciliano salad with goat cheese
Andino Gastrobar lamb burger
Restaurante Alexso sea bass perched atop seafood rigatoni
Andino Gastrobar grilled pulpo
U Siciliano vegetable pizza
Radici Osteria Italiana bruschetta
Canadu curried couscous
Vegetariano el Calafate roasted green tomato salad and garbanzo soup

The Italian restaurants we tried were good as well. The pizza and the saucy eggplant emerging from the oven at U Siciliano Bar Ristorante; the only disappointment was the supply of arancini had run out when we visited. The bruschetta and pastas at Radici Osteria Italia were perfect and the outside tables on a primarily pedestrian street were pleasant, but do not expect lightening-fast service.

Plus Malaga has some vegetarian options. Locals pack Vegetariano el Calafate for their multi-course lunch specials, so reservations are advisable.

The biggest surprise was hidden amongst a row of restaurants lining one side of Plaza Mercedes. The outdoor umbrella-shaded patios provide pleasant people-watching spots so attract a high number of tourists and drinkers. The fresh vegetarian dishes emerging from Canadu were a higher caliber than the offerings of many of its neighbors and inexpensive for such a prime location. Apple and pine nut croquetas, Persian rice, asparagus and mushroom risotto and mountainous fresh salads made us repeat customers.