While Durham may be an exciting city what exactly can you get up to if you decide that you need a change? For me, the thing that Durham makes me miss the most is the sun and the sand, something that New Zealand is not lacking. This being said a plan was made and within weeks we were off to the sunny shores of Malaga, Spain. This was my first time in Spain and only my second time in Europe so with little experience to go off and high expectations this was going to be an interesting trip. Traveling with me was a person who could speak Spanish and this certainly helped but wasn’t necessary as many locals spoke very good English. Having arrived very early in the morning we couldn’t judge the weather but as soon as we arose it was clear that this would be a warm and welcoming holiday. Malaga itself is a very tourist-oriented city and there are many attractions to choose from both free and paid. The places we visited included the Catedral de la Encarnación, the Roman theatre, the Alcazaba, and the Castillo Gibralfaro. This was an easy day without much cost and with a semi strenuous walking schedule. All of these locations focused on the history of the city as it spanned from the Roman period into the early modern. The Catedral was large and imposing on a scale as grand as the Durham Cathedral.
Looking up at the finished and unfinished towers
The ornate interior of la Catedral
The Roman theatre had a long-standing history to it and pleased the classicist of the group, me.
The theatre being looked down on by the Alcazaba
The Alcazaba was a sprawling complex with a mix of ornate architecture, beautiful gardens, and water features.
Fauna and stone intertwine in the Alcazaba
The Castillo Gibralfaro was the perfect place to watch the sunset at the end of a long day.
You could have ended the trip there and it still would have been worth it but we decided to head off to Cordoba the next day for a change of scenery. The weather on this day was far from the blue skies and blazing sun as the grey clouds sat brooding above threatening rain at any moment. This didn’t deter us as we began to experience this very different city on a time limit. The day started with a trip to the Museo Arqueologico which is a fantastic museum detailing the archaeological past of the city. It is dominated by the roman past but there are artifacts from prehistory and the Islamic period.
An impressive statue
Then it was on to the Templo Romano, one of the finest specimens in the world for Roman columns as their history led to them being preserved extremely well.
Continuing the trip through history we visited the Palacio de Viana which is a palace located in the center of the city and it boasts some of the best gardens in Cordoba. This is not a lie as even in the autumn months and on a cold and wet day, the vibrant colors of these gardens presented themselves to the observing eye.
This was followed by the impressive combo of the Roman bridge and Roman arch. These are impressive remnants of a once-great civilisation that occupied this area.
The final place of note was the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, a fortress with a sprawling garden now more for photo sessions than for protection.
This wasn’t a relaxing holiday in the sense of sitting on the beach doing nothing but it was a relaxing break from the monotony of classes in Durham and something well worth considering. To top it all off the best part of the trip is that it didn’t cost more than 100 pounds.
Kia Kaha – Stay Strong
Samuel G
The Durham Exchange 