After completing my assignment for my agency in the Netherlands – editing video scripts about medicated abortion for Medecins sans Frontieres – I decided to walk into to town (city?). The descent from my lofty Parador perch (del Gibralfaro to be clear as there is a second on in Malaga called Golf) is supposed to take 20 minutes so I set off, However, as I’m going to a concert tonight I’ve scrubbed up a bit and am in shirt, jacket and shiny shoes. The descent is mostly on granite and sandstone slabs which with the drizzle are extremely slippery so my footwear is wrong and knowing the problems of the elderly breaking limbs, I descend slowly and circumspectly,. It’s a pleasant walk in fine weather but as I arrive at the foot of the hill I need sustenance, So, a swift cerveza in a neighbourhood bar and I’m all set. I’m. bound for the Picasso Museum which is amazing and banished any thoughts of him not being a total genius. The temporary exhibition shows 166 paintings, sculptures, objects and ceramics owned by the Picasso-Ruiz family. Excellently curated it follows a chronological line so the development, regressions and recurring themes are evidenced in a truly enlightening way, I never knew he always had a dog or dogs about him and that he could never paint Dora Maar with a smile. As I leave I am diverted into a clean-looking bar which specialises in churros con chocolate, I appall the waiter by ordering coffee (I don’t really like chocolate even if it’s the done thing here). I then make my way via a craft beer pub – well you owe it to them don’t you?
Not bad beer either. Then on to Plaza de la Merced with oranges and fairy lights for a further beer and tapas ahead of my concert at the Teatro Cervantes.
The concert was great – Beethoven’s Piano Concerto 2 followed by Symphony 9. They were both played very well but the Ninth made me cry – it is after all the European anthem and most readers will know where I stood on Brexit. It’s a fine hall with a good acoustic and apart from occupying the wrong seat because I hadn’t climbed enough stairs, it was a fun evening, Seating issues were resolved without blows.
No photos allowed during he concert.
It’s always great to hear that magnificent work but especially poignant given the previous week’s events, The conductor Virginia Martinez, pianist and soloists were all Spanish and the chorus from Malaga Opera were superb. Not the best version I’ve ever heard but a privilege to be out with the Malaga cognescenti suitably clad.
My walk from the. theatre took me past the Teatro Romano one of Malaga’s highlights.
Wait till tomorrow!
It’s now in a bar with a glass of Rioja that I realise I’ve been up for 18 hours and at the age of 76 I should probably be in bed. Taxi up the hill, quick nightcap and bed,
mikeandmurakami.com 
nice blog mike, keep on riojing!