TC1 Day 14: Malaga, Spain, and the infirmary

Roman ampitheater

Malaga. This is a beautiful little port city with some great ancient fortifications and very interesting downtown and port areas. But it will always be associated in my mind with illness and loss because the day that started so well ended in disappointment in the infirmary.

Jett’s illness was unabated in the morning and we had agreed that she would see a doctor if she wasn’t better. But I didn’t get down to client services to find out how to get medical attention until 9:55 am and learned that the infirmary was closed between 10 am and 4:30 pm when the ship was in port. So I went into town and Jett went back to bed.

I spent about 4 hours in Malaga. I had attended the port talk aboard the ship but had forgotten what the main attractions were, so I just started to wander. It didn’t take long to find the cathedral, which is huge. It also charges an entrance fee and I was feeling both cheap and cathedraled-out after Fatima, so I skipped it.

Cathedral

I also skipped the Picasso Museum. I recalled that the museum contained mostly early works, before he became a cubist. Some people I talked to later said that there were some cubist paintings there, so I have a tiny bit of regret for not going in.

I spent most of my time in the Alcazaba, an 11th century Moorish palace and fortress. It is huge, beautiful and well worth the uphill walk. However, I couldn’t find my way back, so I ended up taking the elevator to the street.

Inside Alcazaba

Alcazaba walls

Alcazaba gate

11th century pavement

At the base of the Alcazaba, in the heart of Malaga, is a Roman amphitheater dating from the first century. I treated myself to a cup of toffee caramel ice cream (not very creamy but very tasty) while admiring the ruins.

Toffee and caramel ice cream

I made my way back to the ship on foot, first through a nice waterfront park, then along the marina itself. The surprise was the presence of The World, a “residential cruise ship” or “the largest yacht in the world.” We had read about this ship. It is basically a floating condo where the cheapest unit runs about $5 million, plus a huge HOA. The cool thing is that residents can have pets and ports are chosen by vote of the residents. Very cool to actually see it.

I then continued on to the beach – our first and only glimpse of an actual Mediterranean beach. Then back to the ship to take a nap, then go to the infirmary with Jett.

Waterfront park

The World

Marina

Malaga beach

Oosterdam and Costa Favolosa

Which is basically where our cruise ended. Jett went in thinking she had pneumonia and was shocked to learn that her blood hemoglobin levels were so low that they didn’t even register. The doctor insisted that she get to a hospital for treatment ASAP, which meant in Cartagena the next morning and not, as we would have preferred, in Barcelona the day after that. The doctor said that her condition was very serious and “could turn on a dime.”

Jett in the infirmary

The most optimistic view was that she could get to a hospital, get an immediate blood infusion and return to the ship by the 1 pm departure. However, as I learned later, she would not be let back on board unless a doctor completed a “fitness to sail” form which certified that she was healthy enough to travel. Even without knowing that, it seemed highly unlikely that we would be able to reboard in Cartagena, so the most optimistic scenario would have her being treated and released the next morning and we would be able to scamper up to Barcelona to continue the trip. In any case, we had to act as if the cruise was over, which meant that I had to go back to the cabin (after a wonderful dinner with our tablemates who were very distressed to hear of her illness), pack up and be ready to disembark at 7 am.

I got to bed around 2 am and got, maybe, 3 hours of sleep.