From Valencia to Malaga by Train

Our house sit in Valencia ended before our hosts returned. But there was a plan. The hosts had engaged another house sitter to take over from us. After a thorough handing-off of the baton, we spent our last night in Valencia in a hotel. This way we could organize and get up early for short ride to the train station.



Travel by train in Spain is very relaxed and comfortable. After a nice, light breakfast at the Valencia Joaquín Sorolla station, we boarded, stowed our luggage, and were soon moving at 300 km/h along smooth tracks toward Madrid.

Getting to Madrid took less time than the plane when you factor in all the check-in and security time at the airport.

The window reflections and the train's speed made getting good photos impossible, but I'm posting these iphone images to give you the flavor of the trip. There were long stretches on the way to Madrid of flat planes punctuated by abrupt hills.

Travelling through the center of the country, we see lots of farmland.

there were also small towns built right up the side of the local hill.

But there were also hills with once mighty fortress atop it. After seeing Don Quixote in London, I spent the time thinking of how little this place has apparently changed in the intervening 500 years. Having had this train ride, it is easier to understand why Cervantes chose a demented old man to tell his story of life, the pursuit of happiness, and honor.

After Madrid, the land became very hilly, in places mountainous. As we rode, the skies continually became cloudier and the sun rose and began to fall.

Upon arrival at the Málaga María Zambrano railway station, we promptly met our rental car representative and he quickly got us into our vehicle, a Suzuki Jimny (manual transmission, naturally). We then had about 40 minute drive to Torrox Costa, a touristy place on the shore of the Mediterranean. Even though we arrived in the midsts of the daily siesta shutdown, we did find a place open for a bite of lunch. We then headed into the mountains to find our next house sit.