A park of light and shadow – Sara Cisneros Park 📷 Málaga – Spain

The best thing about exploring the city on foot is the chance to discover spaces or places that don’t seem to be on the map but turn out to be charming.

A few days ago, I had to go to a neighbourhood in the west of the city, quite a way from the centre, and the task I had to carry out meant I had a long wait on a boulevard lined with trees, benches and very special lighting filtering through the foliage. As the wait was going to be a long one, I decided to explore the area and its surroundings to get to know the neighbourhood a bit better.

Actually, I’d first come across the Teatinos district, home to all the city’s university campuses and various faculties, a few years ago when I was working as a sales representative, offering a telephone service to local businesses. But there are countless neighbourhoods, and they’re all very different from one another. I hadn’t been to this one before, so it was all the more interesting to explore it.

I looked at Google Maps and saw that, from where I was standing, there was a roundabout further on and then, a few metres beyond that, another boulevard. It was a lovely afternoon – just a little warm, and the sun was setting, but it cast a special light over this tree-lined neighbourhood.

When I reached the spot indicated on the map, I was in for a big surprise: there wasn’t a boulevard, but a park. A park that stretched out lengthways, with paths on either side and a central path where you could stroll and enjoy both the sun and the shade. I looked at the map again to try and work out what it was, and three names appeared: one was ‘Sara Cisneros Park’, though I couldn’t work out why it was called that, and then two more names, both of which had to do with food. I told myself that those couldn’t possibly be the names of parks, but they’re listed as two squares within it.

I started exploring it along one of the side paths and, to be honest, it was marvellous; there were so many trees, and the sun filtered through their branches and leaves, casting incredible patterns on the ground in a play of light and shadow.

The whole area is full of different shades of green, the grass, the trees, the bushes, many of which are in bloom, and the hedges dividing the different areas. On the pavement, as I said, the interplay of light and shadow was creating patterns; the fact that the sun was setting a little made it even more special than if I’d walked there at midday.

To my right I could see buildings, with various shops and restaurants beneath them, and to my left a residential area with buildings. As I mentioned, these are mainly university neighbourhoods, as just two or three streets away is a main avenue where the various faculties are located. But as well as students, of course, there are families and local workers living there, and this park is a lovely, spacious green area amidst all those buildings.

I also spotted a children’s playground, called Teseo Playground, within the park itself, where parents were spending a lovely afternoon with their young children.

I love tres, I always say so, they give so much to a city: that essential oxygen, places to relax, the chance to have a picnic, or simply to sit under one of those trees to rest or enjoy feeling the earth beneath your feet. And with all that, as I always say, you can find a moment’s peace of mind, take your mind off things and recharge your batteries.

I loved strolling around and exploring this place in its entirety, and what I liked most was the bright sunlight as it began to set and how it illuminated the area in such a spectacular way. Different types of trees, sizes and shapes, casting varied shadows and providing a sense of coolness.

Once I reached the end of the route, which consists of two streets, albeit very long ones, approximately 300 metres in length, I turned round and walked along another shaded section, but in the opposite direction. The views changed quite a lot, particularly in terms of getting a better look at the park from a different perspective.

The shadows were now much longer. I took my time on the walk, stopping quite a bit in each section to enjoy the afternoon; as a result, on the way back the landscape took on a different glow, as the sunlight refracted off the buildings and returned to the park. I took this route through an area of full shade, further away from the main path. It was a quiet, deserted path where I could really appreciate the energy of those trees.

I love discovering all the green spaces, parks and squares the city has to offer, and what I like most is that priority is given to ensuring they exist in many parts of the city, bringing colour and life to it, so it isn’t a grey and dreary city, but one full of joy.

Thank you very much for joining me today; warm regards to you all. See you soon.
Amonet.