MALAGA, SPAIN

NOW I AM UP TO DATE. WE PASS THROUGH THE STRAIGHTS OF GIBRALTAR THIS MORNING AT 3 AM. I WAS NOT UP TO SEE IT. I AM NOW ON THE BEACH IN TORREMOLINOS WHERE IT'S DELICIOUSLY WARM. WE DOCKED IN MALAGA AND TOOK THE TRAIN FROM THE CENTRAL STATION EARLY THIS MORNING BACK TO THE PLACE WE STAYED TWO YEARS AGO. EVERYTHING IS THE SAME EXCEPT NOW THERE ARE MORE FRENCH PEOPLE THAN ENGLISH. WE HAVE BEEN WALKING THE SEASIDE BOARDWALK AND WILL SOON HIT ONE OF THE LOCAL CAFES FOR A GOOD SPANISH LUNCH. I LOVE THIS PLACE. WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT RENTING ANOTHER APARTMENT HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO RETURN TO THE SHIP TILL 6:30 SO WE HAVE LOTS OF TIME TO BLEND IN WITH THE LOCALS. THE ONLY THING WE DON'T DO IS SMOKE, WHICH EVERYONE ELSE DOES. THAT PART IS DISGUSTING.