As I am about to apply for Spanish citizenship – deadline end of January – the country is doing its best to put me off going ahead!
First of all, two of Spain’s police forces have p**sed me off big-style and on top of that two places have convinced me never to visit again.
What’s the story?
I have made an agreement with another “guiri” immigrant that we shall both apply for Spanish citizenship before the end of January.
However, As I get my bits and pieces together, a few things have happened recently that have made me have second thoughts.
The police
The policía local fined me for a parking infringement in Marbella (Málaga), and in the same week I received a fine for dangerous driving by post from the guardia civil in Benaoján (also Málaga).
Both are mistakes, which I can prove, so I intend to make alegaciones.
Places I shall avoid in future
Added to my issues with the constabulary, I visited a couple of places on New Year’s Eve that will never ever benefit from my presence again.
Plaza Mayor, a shopping centre near Málaga airport, is a joke!
Driving in to park takes ages and leaving even longer!
The shops are only designer outlets, so of no interest to me. My tailors shall remain Aldi and LIDL.
I also lost my keys and it took me several hours of being sent from pillar to post to get them back.
Up to now I’ve held a positive view of Málaga City – not any more! This jewel in the crown of Andalusian cities turned me off on New Year’s Eve, possibly for ever.
The capital of Málaga province is amazing. The Casco Antiguo, Picasso’s legacy and the renovated port area, not to mention its beaches, make this one of the best of the eight Andalusian capital cities.
Málaga City from above [Wikipedia] Costa Press Club with Picasso [KS]
Málaga City [Spain Info]
However, going there on New Year’s Eve was a BIG MISTAKE.
I was heading for The Shakespeare, an English pub with an amazing range of beers plus live music run by an Englishman, Peter Edgerton, who is also a writer and musician.
Unfortunately, there’s no parking nearby, but I found a space in a multi-storey car park, allegedly 10 minutes’ walk from said pub.
I parked just after 7.30 pm.
Well, I walked for miles and for hours looking for this pub. Google Maps could not take me there! I never found it!
I was due at Málaga airport to pick up my missus at around 11.30 pm.
So, I gave up on The Shakespeare and decided to retrieve my car and head for the airport, a mere 20 minutes away.
Google Maps was also unable to take me back to my car park.
Rita rang me. “I’m just going up to the pick-up point,” she said.
I had to apologise that I had lost my car, and it might be a while.
Eventually, Google Maps decided to co-operate, and I found my car.
By this time, it was way past 12.30 when I eventually got to Rita. So, we missed celebrating Nochevieja together. Good job I hadn’t bought grapes!
***
With hindsight, Málaga City was not to blame for my disastrous evening, the place was buzzing with revellers and the atmosphere was, as ever, good and not at all threatening, despite the many intoxicated people out and about.
It was Google Maps fault! Time and again this app has let me down:
Google Maps cannot bring delivery drivers and first-time visitors to our house just outside Ronda.
Google Maps could not take us to the Mezquita in Córdoba. The Arab Mosque is not only one of the most famous landmarks in Córdoba, but also Spain and the world.
[Image courtesy of El Confidencial]
Google Maps tries to bring visitors from Montejaque (Málaga) to Grazalema (Cádiz) through the narrow streets of the Casco Antiguo in Montejaque, instead of along normal local roads. This happens on a regular basis.
Google Maps is not fit for purpose!
Back home
Rita had every right to be cross, but she wasn’t. However, when
we got home at around 2.30 in the morning, she hit the roof. She didn’t like the way I’d decorated the house for Christmas!
[Image courtesy of Freepik]
Conclusion
Not the best New Year’s Eve I’ve ever spent! But it is what it is!
BTW, Rita and I are best of friends again!
Rita and Paul, best of friends [selfie]
¡Feliz año!
© The Curmudgeon
Photos and images:
El Confidencial, Freepik, Gobierno de España, guardia civil, Karl Smallman, Olive Press, Paul Whitelock, policia local, Spain Info, Spanish Passport Office, Wikipedia
Links:
Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner
De Rodríguez – at Christmas?
"DINNER FOR ONE" - A New Year's Eve Phenomenon
Fish for Christmas and no gifts? - Help me, Ronda
MALAGA CITY - Help me, Ronda
Mini-break in Malaga - Help me, Ronda
Tags:
Aldi, alegaciones, Arab Mosque, beaches, Benaoján, Cádiz, capital of Málaga province, Casco Antiguo, Córdoba, dangerous driving, designer outlets, El Confidencial, Englishman, English pub, ¡Feliz año!, Freepik, Google Maps, grapes, Grazalema, guardia civil, Karl Smallman, LIDL, live music, Málaga, Málaga airport, Málaga City, Marbella, Mezquita, Montejaque, New Year’s Eve, Nochevieja, Olive Press, parking infringement, Paul Whitelock, Peter Edgerton, Picasso, Plaza Mayor, policía local, range of beers, renovated port area, Rita, Ronda, Spain Info, Spanish citizenship, The Curmudgeon, The Shakespeare, Wikipedia, www.eyeonspain.com, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.secretserrania.com, www.theolivepress.es
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