Spanish Ports Delight Even When I Forget Which is Which

Days 142-143, 2025 European Odyssey

Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 17-18, 2025; Cartagena and Málaga, Spain.

Almost immediately I noted a slight change in atmosphere on this cruise, as instead of being port-intensive, it will have many sea days the second week as we cross the Atlantic Ocean to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. More than 1,100 passengers of the approximately 2,600 on board stayed over from the last cruise.

I’ve found cruises with lots of sea days draw a different type of passenger, most notably ones who have sailed a lot, who want to relax and enjoy sea day activities and not just see the most ports for their money.

Our four ports this cruise are all familiar to me, but I found my memory faulty, as I confused the first two along the Spanish coast. I’ve done that before.

When I visited Cartagena last April, streets were full of parades in anticipation of Holy Week. None of that this time, but the stores that then were mostly closed were now open. Deb and I walked the pedestrian streets, lined with cafes and sometimes narrowed by excavations of ruins.

As in several recent ports, Christmas decorations are going up, and I attempted a sketch of some overhanging a street while we enjoyed some tapas and drinks. I don’t think my heart was in it; later I erased the whole thing and used the paper for a new sketch. It surprises me how easy it is to erase something I’ve drawn, but then I realized that I probably delete multiple paragraphs of every blog post during my editing phase.

While walking between town and the ship, I recognized a booth I saw last spring in the “pier boutique,” our name for temporary booths catering to ship passengers. The artist who paints earrings was still there, so we posed for a photo after I added to my jewelry collection. They will make fun gifts.

Malaga was the port I had expected to see when disembarking in Cartegena. I had two goals here. One was to redo a watercolor I painted in September, when I loved sitting in a café to sketch the Alcazaba palace fortifications. I even liked my sketch, but I wasn’t pleased with the final painted result.

It was too flat, without sufficient contrast, and thus not conveying the depth of the scene. I was determined to sit in the same spot and try again.

I liked my sketch this time, too, and I think I improved the painting. I’m looking forward to being on the world cruise with some accomplished artists who can teach me techniques to improve.

While I was sketching at the café, a local I just assumed was being friendly asked my name, and before I knew it, he was customizing a poster for me. I didn’t have the heart to turn it down, so paid him €5 knowing it won’t make it back to my storage unit.

My other goal was shopping. I had bought a top at the Koala Bay store here earlier, as well as at its outlet in Alicante a bit up the coast. I found a couple more today and already have them packed away for the next cruise.

I was surprised to see no line for tickets at the Picasso Museum so spent a pleasant hour there. Picasso was born in Málaga, thus the museum and interest here in his work.

Perhaps it was Picasso’s inspiration, but I took time to do a second sketch, this of the Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of Incarnation.

The ship was in port till 8 p.m., so I enjoyed a late afternoon plate of tapas at one of dozens of sidewalk cafes. We’ve had wonderful temperatures, with the high today in the mid 60s, but the locals must find it chilly. Many of them were wearing puffer jackets, even when sitting by a patio heater. I did catch sight of an interesting couple a few tables away – afraid I don’t know their back story.

Earlier in the day as I was leaving the ship, I ran into our front desk manager, Jonah, who has become a good friend on these cruises. She was leaving for home in the Philippines for the holidays with her family, but will return in early January to the Volendam for the world cruise. We exchanged small gifts and will look forward to our reunion.

More than once, I’ve caught myself before texting my nephew Colton to meet me at the Lido – I really loved cruising with him and keep forgetting he has left. Fortunately, more friends have come aboard for the crossing, including world cruise friends Kathy and Eve, so I haven’t lacked for company.