TLDR- Xmas slides in Malaga, Saint Stephens day at the beach, Friday work and beach day then home. – Everyone is healthy just in time to fly home.
Xmas morning
Michelle is at 80% today – Mila and the girls woke around 0600 and we started opening socks as soon as they turned on the lights and saw them. Michelle warped some stuff and put gifts in the kid’s actual socks last night before bed. She sure enjoys wrapping and setting up for the kids. We voted and went with the have at it approach vs the one at a time opening method. A few seconds later everything was open and someone had smeared chocolate on the couch bed.
Huge slide park
After Xmas morning set off for the slides of Malaga. We made it through the train ticket thing just in time to crawl through the tunnel under the tracks and make the train. Pretty sure the driver waited for us; thanks, train driver. We got off the train the first stop after the airport. GPS told us a 55-minute walk to the park; maybe we should have taken the next stop. We did not follow the GPS, we knew a better route from last year and made it in less than 40 minutes. When we saw the big green hill with slides the kids got super excited, screamed and ran up the hill for the slide!
Sliding down the turf on cardboard appears to entertain the kids more than sliding down the slides. Either way, they are having a blast. We hit two of the other three playgrounds in the park before the hour walk back to the train station. On the walk we picked up some ice cream and found three more playgrounds. One of the playgrounds had a large pirate ship in it; fun.
Naps and beach
Back in our new home town, we found a Burger King that was open and picked up lunch as take away and ate at home. Michelle crawled into Maddexs bed after lunch and passed out. Around five we tried to wake her but she was not having it. We’d worn her out. Oh well, we’ll go without her. Down the secret squirrel stairs to the beach to swim and dig holes. We played till the sunset and walked home in the dark. Maddex complained of being cold due to being drenched from his swim.
No one rode in the stroller yet I carried it down and up the stairs. Thinking no stroller tomorrow when we head to the beach.
Healthy Saint Stephens day
New day – Michelle is at 90%, no one else is sick, I don’t have to work, and places are open. Time to go out and enjoy the day. First, stop battery park for some slides and the spinning teeter-totter things. The kids played on the spinning thing for a good half hour making up some games involving water bottles. It’s always pleasing to watch them play so well together like this; getting along, and being a family.
At the end of the park is a large white tower surrounded by anti-aircraft batteries, must be why they call this battery park? We climbed the ramp up the tower and took in the view for a bit. I picked up Khaleesi and moved her too close to the railing causing her to scream. I felt like a dick scaring her. Was just trying to help her see over the solid railing- Lesson learned. Down the hill from the park across a few streets we made it to the beach.
Beach time
Everyone ended up wet, covered in sand and worn out from the fun. There was a thin cloud cover out. Enough to take the bite off the sun but still let enough sun in to keep us warm. Perfect day for hanging out at the in the sand. Some couple was asking us “how are you not freezing” as we were showering the kids off after playing. We told them we come from Ireland 22 is the height of summer for us. They said “oh that makes sense”
We’re in a beach town with loads of restaurants and shops on a walk along the beach. Along the walk, we counted a good 30 stray cats all along the walk. So many cats in this town. We’ve been counting cats when we go out. We walked a good 2k along the water before turning left into town and walking up about 10,000 stairs. The stairs felt like they were never ended. First, stop in town a Chinese bazaar to purchase MIla a gold waving cat. Next stop chips and kababs for take away for lunch.
The chips did not last long we stopped in at Mcdonalds for a few more orders of chips to eat on the walk home. After lunch and afternoon nap time we walked back to the beach for some more time in the sand. Many holes were dug and filled in with kids in them before sunset and we walked home.
Last day here – work and the beach
Friday is our last full day here and I have to work. Michelle and the kids set off for a park first thing in the morning. Michelle texted me from the park “close parks are not that great, and the kids are being snots coming home” Back at home the kids were nuts; can confirm they are being snots. Lucky for me no calls and not many tickets. Michelle took the girls to Carrefour for some shopping and Maddex stayed back with me to play on his switch. He had private time in his room while I worked.
The girls made it back around two, watched one Full House then we took off to the beach for our last beach visit. The waves were crashing hard on the beach tonight. At first, we did not want the kids near the water other then Maddex. Eventually, we gave in and let the kids play in the surf. They were digging holes and letting the waves fill in their holes. Another kids playing together so well we did not want it to end. We let them play for a long time. – Great night at the beach.
From the beach, it’s back home to eat everything else in the house, pack and get annoyed at the kids jumping all over the place before bed. Then they were sleeping.
Headed home
0500 out the door for the train station to the airport. Sad face train station does not open until 0630am. This could be an issue as the airport is an hour and a half walk away and we flight leaves in three hours. Oh well, let’s start walking; it’s a nice morning. A short walk away we ran into a Van taxi in front of a hotel waiting for a fare. For 15e he drove all of us to the airport less than 20 minutes away by van.
The last time we were at the airport there was a burger king under construction; Today it’s all done. Chips for breakfast, yes, please! The flight home was not too bad. The passport line was longer than normal. About 20 minutes from the end someone asked if anyone had a GNIB card “Yes we do. We would love to skip ahead” That saved us 20 minutes. We walked out of the airport and there was a 700 leopards town Aircoach right there waiting for us.
Aircoach was a no vomit ride home. We were going to get off at Sandyford and LUAS home, but the LUAS was shut down due to a power issue at a different stop. Guess we are walking home from the Clayton- Trains have failed us today.
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3 thoughts on “Xmas Malaga – part IV”
Looks like you had quite the Christmas adventure. What is flying like with that many children? What airline did you take?
RyanAir of course. We were every seat in Row 22 both directions- The kids have grown up flying. 3 hour flight it was not that bad at all. They napped, played games on their phones, played on the Nintendo switch. It helps that we bring entertainment.