Scavenger Hunt
Today was our third full day in the city of Málaga, Spain. Today we started the day by heading to the Mercado de Ataranzas close to our hotel. This market is one of the most important shopping centers in this city. The people of Málaga come to this market to purchase fresh produce, fish, meat, tapas, and more. This market carries a lot of Spanish history as this building dates back to the 14th century. It was originally a boatyard of the Nasrid dynasty, an Arab dynasty which ruled in Spain for many years. Following the Christian conquest, the building served as a warehouse, an arsenal, a military hospital, and barracks. In 1870, the building was converted into the market that it is today. At the time, the market led directly to the sea, but this is not true today.
After learning the history of the Mercado de Ataranzas, we split up into teams to begin a scavenger hunt. We began our hunt inside the market searching for the ingredients needed to make 4 traditional Spanish dishes selected by our professors. The goal was for us to find the cost breakdown for each dish in euros and convert it to USD to gain a better understanding of the cost of groceries for the locals. After completing this challenge, the following hints led us throughout the city, challenging our knowledge of the city as well as our teamwork and navigation skills. This was a fun time for all of us and definitely a great start to the day.
Tapas
After completing our hunt, it was time for lunch. Today’s lunch was something I was looking forward to. We had the chance to try a variety Spanish tapas. Tapas are a unique part of Spanish culture, so it was very exciting that we had a chance to try some of the most popular and classic Spanish tapas. In Spain, tapas are usually small plates of a food that feed one person. Usually you purchase a few tapas to try a little of everything, and in some cities such as Granada, most bars and restaurants near the city center serve a free tapa with the purchase of a beverage. Tapas are definitely more than just food. They’re an integral part of Spanish culture and are almost considered a social activity to enjoy with friends.
For lunch, we went to Taska Laska in Málaga. We tried a variety of Spanish drinks such as Sangria and Vermouth, and several popular dishes eaten in Spain like patatas bravas, gambas, Iberian ham, olives, and paella. Patatas bravas are definitely one of my favorite dishes from this trip. It is quick to make, cheap, and always delicious. This dish consists of fried potatoes covered in a reddish sauce that is slightly spicy.
Andalusian Horse Show
To end the day, we headed to an Andalusian Horse show at “El Ranchito” in Torremolinos, Málaga. We watched a show called “Ritmo A Caballo” which this equestrian center has been putting on since 1992. It is an authentic equestrian ballet along with some flamenco. We saw a variety of numbers which displayed a variety of Andalusian style outfits, music, and dances. This was definitely one of my favorite events on the trip. The show was one of a kind and allowed us to dive deeper into Spanish culture. It was my first time seeing the Andalusian horse breed in person, and we even had a chance to interact with the horses in the stables before the show. It was amazing to see the quality of these horses and their intelligence. The tricks they performed were amazing, and I’m glad we could end such a wonderful day in this way.
