Submitted by Sibel Tekmen on the 2016 spring semester program in Granada, Spain…
This past weekend I traveled to Nerja, which is a small town in Málaga. Málaga is known as the beach destination in Spain and is in the province next to Granada. The weather was going to be warmer that weekend, so I took the opportunity to see a Spanish beach and possibly swim in the Mediterranean. Luckily, Nerja is only a couple hours away from Granada and my friends and I were able to spend two full days exploring the town. Nerja is so small that we found our hostel and the town center within minutes. Nerja, like most Andalucian towns, is defined by white houses with flowered windowsills and winding cobbled streets. The most breathtaking feature of Nerja was El Balcón de Europa, which was essentially a cliff facing the Mediterranean Ocean. From this location, you had a 360-degree view of Nerja and a sapphire blue sea.
I heard that the natural caves of Nerja were a wonder to see as well. The second day in Nerja our group walked to the caves following the coast of the Mediterranean Ocean. The walk was approximately an hour and at times strenuous, but we were accompanied by the view of the ocean dazzling in the sunlight. The ancient caves of Nerja were unlike anything I had seen before. Massive stalagmites towered from the ground and stalactites hung from the ceiling.
I was also fortunate enough to see a live performance of a flamenco group. El Burro Blanco is a bar that hosts a performance of flamenco dancing and we had front row seats to the show. As I watched the live performance, I gained a greater appreciation for this Spanish art form and the curiosity to attend more performances. Nerja is definitely a stop in Spain if you’re looking for natural beauty and true Andalucian culture!