Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Malaga

Easter is definitely a special time in southern Spain. Streets in central Malaga are closed off, grand stands are erected and balloon sellers abound. This is Semana Santa or Holy Week. Some 50 or more parades weave themselves through the city core towards the cathedral. Each church parish having practiced throughout the year to carry the extremely heavy parade icons. Little children march along with their elders and line up at sellers to buy drums to beat along with the marchers.

To the North American eye, I do have to admit the hooded people do evoke much more sinister marches from the deep south of the United States and I cannot help but wonder if the KKK members have corrupted this into their version of hate.

Gibraltar

Gibraltar is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Though, I did notice Spain doesn't exactly highlight the presence of the British enclave amongst their midst, so don't expect a lot of road signs. Understandable I guess, considering Spain hasn't exactly been happy with the British presence during it's 500 years of existence. Visiting Gibraltar has given me new reasons to explore this part of history and its singular fight to keep itself in British hands.

Aside from history, including its seminal position in each of the past centuries great wars, there are also the barbary macaques brought over from North Africa and apparently beloved of Churchill (or so they say). The geological history is also worth a check with the stalactites and stalagmites of the Caves of St. Michael.

You might be forgiven for thinking this was somewhere in southern England as you wander around the town and the botanic gardens... well the enclave definitely prides itself in its "Britishness".

About these photos

This set of photos is unique in that these are the first photos I have processed entirely in Darktable and Linux. I do have to give some thanks to Bruce Williams Photography Youtube Channel. I had to really get to grips with all the different modules to understand what was going on after years of either Adobe or Capture One. Zero regrets in moving over so far. These aren't my best photos but Darktable definitely was not the problem!