I met my colleague Christy through this program. Since she lives in Málaga, I extended my trip to visit her and explore the city.

The bottom right photo is Plaza de la Merced square. This was the birthplace of the artistic genius, Pablo Picasso. The population of the city is estimated at 594,050.

Some shopping favorites:

• Stylr Streetwear – C. Granada, 76, Distrito Centro, 29008 Malaga, Spain
• Arabesque – C. Granada, 64, Distrito Centro, 29015 Malaga, Spain
• Second Hand & Vintage Fashion Walk – Pl. de la Constitución, 2, Málaga, Andalucía 29008

This city has the perfect amount of energy, without any heavy crowds. The vibe is very vibrant yet laid back at the same time. This stunning shopping street is known as Calle Larios. It’s beautiful to walk at night, with the streetlights glistening off the shiny floor.

Mirador de Gibralfaro is a hilltop lookout point that can be accessed by foot or bus, providing stunning views of the city, sea, and sunset.

Christy and I ate at Illari Vinos y Tapas. This restaurant has great food and great service in the center of the historic district. It’s modern, fresh and classy. The crowd was not touristy. The photo on the left is roasted aubergine with tahini, nuts & tomato sauce. The photo on the right is pulpo a la gallega, which is octopus, potatoes, olive oil and paprika. The entrees were delicious!

We found this cozy and comfortable bar called Bon Bon Jazz Bar Málaga. The bar offers excellent cocktails and amazing live jazz music.

San Andres is a nice, small, laid-back community beach.