The Wobbling Sprocket

We are getting set for Andalucia.

Our tour begins and ends in Malaga, but the Vuelta a Espana is there today! Today’s stage will end at the very dramatic Castillo de Gibralfaro. Our hotel is not that far away from the Gibralfaro so we usually visit it. The final climb of the third stage of this year’s Vuelta is up to the Gibralfaro.

The Castle Gibralfaro was built to provide better protection than the Alcazaba below it offered with the advent of canon fire. The Alcazaba which dates back to the first century is among the largest and best preserved Roman and Moor ruins in Spain. . The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro were connected by a series of tunnels. The history of Malaga goes back much further than that to Phoenician and Greek eras.

The Gibralfaro:

The place is very cool at night

Here are the ruins of the Roman Theatre just outside the Alcazaba and below the Gibralfaro:

The Picaso museum is another fantastic place to visit, not only because of the artwork, but because the basement of the museum has been excavated to show the ruins beneath it.

There are plenty of other things to recommend Malaga:

The Paseo....it will be full of people all night.

El Tintero for Seafood on the beach

I' not in favor of bullfighting, but I do like this shot of Malaga

All this to say that I am GETTING PSYCHED to head back to Spain. Our tour, begins Sept 25 and we are all set.

So many pics, its hard to choose:

Jim played Rugby in college (NIU – Northern Illinois University- where we met). That can mean a lot of things. Among them is the knowledge of how to knock some heads. I don’t think he’ll be doing much of that in Spain…unless he has to.

Jim is going to be our support crew. I like that. I get an enforcer AND I can spend ALL my time on a bike.

He played rugby and his nose is still straight!??!!

There is one solo spot left for Spain if you want to join the scrum!