When most of us hear the word Malaga one image springs to mind before any others; a long beautiful, winding coast line, studded with beautiful beaches, loomed over by rows of elegant hotels. Indeed, this very image is what has made Malaga such a success as a popular tourist destination.
However, Malaga has so much more to offer and, by making use of cheap car hire in Spain, the whole of the Costa Del Sol, with it’s manifold treasures, opens up to you. For example, by hoping in the car you can enjoy the scenic splendour of the idyllic white villages of Andalusia. Antequera, for instance is a historical town par excellence, where you can see a network of caves, complete with ancient wall paintings, situated within very easy reach of Malaga.
Even if you decide only to afford the town a whistle stop tour, you will have a fantastic and fulfilling day as the drive itself is something of a marvel, taking in the mountain ranges of Sierra de Grazalema and Serranía de Ronda and the cork oak forests.
Then there is the Al-Isidri Route which stretches over the interesting landscape from Algeciras to Granada. Along this drive you will be able to experience first hand the lasting legacy of Arabian influence in the area. As Malaga lies roughly in the middle of the route you can choose which direction you wish to head in. Will you make for Gibraltar? Will the appeal of the orange groves of the Lecin valley drag you in? Or will head all the way to Granada with it’s Moorish cultural offerings? The choice lies with you.
There are a few things that travellers might do well to remember when venturing off of the beaten track in Spain. For one, the more rural the area that you are visiting, the more authentic the way off life you will be observing. Obviously, this is provides a wonderful opportunity for tourists to see a side of Spain that would remain veiled to them if they remained on the beach, sunbathing for the duration of their trip, however, it does mean locals are less used to tourists. Whilst the Spanish are generally good at English and happy to help travellers, in rural areas many people will not know any English, so you may have to work your phrase book a little harder in order to get by!
Your journey may start with car hire at Malaga airport but it can go a lot further!
As Ukraine’s capital city, Kiev is one of the largest and most vibrant political, economical and cultural centres in the whole of Eastern Europe. Situated on the scenic banks of the winding Dnepr River, Kiev is home to some of Europe’s most stunning architecture, theatres and art galleries, not to mention a diverse population of over 3 million people.
Referred to as ‘the mother of all cities’ by inhabitants of Russia and Ukraine, Kiev is one of Europe’s oldest settlements and, unsurprisingly, is stepped in a rich sense of history. Take, for instance, the remarkable Cathedral of St. Sophia, with its stunningly intricate mosaics and frescoes, dating all the way back to the 11th Century, or the city’s unique ‘Golden Gate.’ This monolithic structure built in 1024 provided a doorway to the city that, fortunately for those inside, marauding hordes of nomadic tribes found utterly impregnable.
Those wanting to take in some of Ukraine’s history should, after taking a tour of the city’s magnificent sights, drop into some the city’s museums and galleries. The ARTEast gallery, for example, boasts the finest art collection in the entire country and the Ukrainian Museum of Historical Treasures plays host to an array of fascinating exhibits.
Whilst Kiev’s beautiful historical trappings are undoubtedly alluring, it’s easy to forget that Kiev is every inch the modern city, boasting a wide range of cultural and recreational offerings rooted firmly in the 21st Century. Just look at the Cherny Kvadrat, or Black Square, home to an extensive range of innovative, often avant-garde forms of theatrical art. Then there’s the city’s huge range of nightclubs, from underground nightspots such as ‘Magma’, to casino clubs like ‘Maximym’. At ‘Ganesha’ visitors can even dance into the early hours of the morning in a club with the feel of an Indian temple!
However, for those who want to sample the city’s modernity at a more leisurely pace and partake of some retail therapy there is the truly vast ‘City Centre’ shopping mall, known by the locals as ‘The City Within The City.’ With over forty stores, including a great number of boutiques carrying the wares of some of Europe’s most celebrated fashion houses, you’re sure to find something to your taste. As with the city itself, there’s something for everyone.