Chani's Creative Space

I am not sure how much longer the summer will last, but right now it is extremely hot and humid. It is better not to open the news channels here or abroad; the news is all bad.  I wish I could be a duck, frog, or tortoise in this pond full of water lilies.  Ducks (or frogs or tortoises) do not deal with politics. They do not have to vote, only to have nothing happen or have the opposite of what you voted for happen. They are not usually racist, nor do they kill for pleasure. Water lilies in the Parque de la Paloma (Benalmádena, Andalusia, Spain) #waterlilies #Benalmádena #CostaDelSol #Andalusia #Spain #ArtMadeByNature

I love strolling through small villages at dusk or night. I am afraid of big cities (I always have been), both day and night: too many people, too much light, too much advertising, and too much noise. In small villages like Pampaneira (Alpujarra region, Spain) at night, you only hear birds of prey, howling dogs, and cats. Nothing reminds me of the world I want to forget. I cannot not see the lies or hear the arrogance. Calle Príncipe, Pampaneira (province of Granada, Andalusia, Spain) View of the village of Pampaneira at dusk #Pampaneira #Alpujarra #Granada #spanish #Spain #romantic #ArtMadeByNature

I was walking through a (kind of) tropical forest looking for shade when I found this! What is the story behind this stuffed animal? What happened to make it end up like this? I have never thrown away a stuffed animal, but I have saved many from the trash. ;-) In Torremolinos, Andalusia, Spain #Torremolinos #Málaga #spanish #Spain #ArtMadeByNature #Andalusia #Andalucía

When summer arrives, you have to get up early or wait until nighttime to enjoy the tranquility of the sea (when almost everybody is still in bed or already in front of the TV).  Beach of Fuengirola (province of Málaga, Andalusia, Spain) #Fuengirola #Andalusia #Andalucía #Málaga #Spain #holiday #summer

It is still officially spring, but it feels like summer. You can walk through town and see flowers everywhere. However, I cannot forget that thousands of people are trapped in an open-air prison without access to basic necessities. The world seems to have forgotten about them. Or worse, the world thinks it is all right. Avda. Federico García Lorca in Arroyo de la Miel (Benalmádena, province of Málaga, Spain) #ArroyoDeLaMiel #Benalmádena #Andalusia #Andalucía #Spain #summer #Gaza #Palestine

I have the feeling of being back in South America. But actually, I am standing over the Río San Pedro in Cádiz. The holes in the sand are the work of the thousands of crabs that live there. It is so quiet—or is it? I hear only the clicking of the crabs' claws. View from the wooden bridge overlooking the Río San Pedro near El Puerto de Santa María (province of Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain #infinity #crab #ElPuertoDeSantaMaria #Cadiz #Andalusia #Spain

May is here again. The light is different. It is almost summer, but fortunately, the wind is still chilly. We would love to focus on the beauty of nature, but the state of the world prevents us from doing so. The small harbor of Sancti Petri (province of Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain) Dunes near Sancti Petri (Spain) #SanctiPetri #Chiclana #dunes #Spain #spanish #Andalusia #Cádiz 

When the world becomes too loud and dark, one must flee to nature to find peace and silence. I wish I could stay in the field and by the river for longer. Colza field near Coín (province of Málaga, Andalusia, Spain) #Colza #field #Coín #Málaga #Andalusia #Andalucía #Spain 

While walking through towns on the Costa del Sol (Andalusia, Spain), you may encounter some amusing road signs. ;-) In La Cala de Mijas (Mijas, Spain) In Arroyo de la Miel (Benalmádena, Spain) #wildboar #peacock #CostaDelSol #Andalusia #Spain #Mijas #ArroyoDeLaMiel #Benalmádena

We had many weeks of ugly weather, which caused several floods in the region (but we'll have enough water next summer). It was our first time back in Río Guadalhorce (near Coín) since October. Some parts of the fluvial trail are no longer passable and have even disappeared, having been swallowed by the water. The landscape is green and yellow now. It's time to enjoy it before it turns brown again! A couple of weeks ago, it would have been impossible to walk there... The Río Grande near Coín (province of Málaga, Spain) The Río Grande Path along the Río Grande The countryside near the river #RíoGrande #Málaga #Coín #Andalusia #Spain#spring

Spring is here now, and Andalusia is greener than I have ever seen it in twenty years. Living by the sea is a blessing, and it always will be.  Even an exaggerated number of tourists will not alter this feeling. ;-) A path through nature in Torremuelle (Benalmádena, province of Málaga, Spain) #Torremuelle #Benalmádena #Málaga #Andalusia #Spain

In the province of Málaga, six storms have deserved a name so far this year: Goretti, Harry, Ingrid, Joseph, Kristin, Leonardo and Marta (today). The situation is extraordinary. We have gone from being a province plagued by constant drought to being like a saturated sponge.  The good news is that water will not be a problem this summer (and next). The bad news is that about 11,000 people (and counting) had to be evacuated those last days in Cádiz and Málaga. The damage along the coast is limited. However, the situation is different in the inland area. For instance, the village of #Grazalema had to be completely evacuated two days ago. Let's hope for the best! Bajondillo Beach in Torremolinos (Málaga, Spain). There used to be a long stretch of beach beneath those stairs. #storms #rain #marta #beach #torremolinos #grazalema #málaga #cádiz

Despite the cold (but everything is relative, such temperatures would be warm in Germany for January), it is always a pleasure to take an evening stroll by the sea in winter and look up at the sky. Such skies! They distract you from the many problems in the world, both here at home and in so many other countries. I dedicate this picture to the memory of Dr. Mustafa Elmasri, psychiatrist in Gaza, who passed away at the end of January last year. You will never be forgotten. Carihuela Beach (Torremolinos, Spain) yesterday evening Carihuela Beach, yesterday evening, ten minutes later #Carihuela #Torremolinos #beach #winter #sky #Gaza

Happy New Year to you all! I hope 2026 will be  better for the world than 2025.  I wish you good health and many interesting experiences.  After the storm, at Carihuela Beach in Torremolinos (Andalusia, Spain) #Torremolinos #Carihuela #beach #storm #Spain #Andalusia

There was a strange light last night. Almost as if sand from the Sahara was back in the air ("calima"), but then hail came.  These days are quite humid, which is actually a good thing. Rain is needed. Happy Holidays to you all! Just before the hail storm at Carihuela Beach (Torremolinos, Spain) #hail #December #Christmas #Torremolinos #Andalusia #Spain

December brings us a few stormy days, some rain (though not enough), high waves and strong winds. This is nothing special for visitors coming from Northern Europe or North America, but here, this kind of scenery is rather unusual.  Deserted Bajondillo Beach in Torremolinos (Andalusia, Spain) Stranded buoy at Bajondillo Beach in Torremolinos (Andalusia, Spain) #torremolinos #málaga #spanish #spain #bajondillo #stormy #december

We will soon be able to harvest oranges, except for the ones that fell to the ground due to the heavy rain. Still, they are beautiful lying on the street.  Oranges lying on the street after the rain in Torremolinos (Andalusia, Spain) #oranges #fall #Torremolinos #Andalusia #Málaga #Spain

Quite heavy rain is expected today and tomorrow, which is good. If it does not rain now, we won't have enough water in the summer (again). Less crowded beaches are nice too, and since the clocks changed, it is finally dark and cozy again in the evenings. Carihuela Beach today (Torremolinos, Spain) #Torremolinos #Carihuela #Andalusia #Andalucía #Málaga #Spain #rain #beach

Nature is often the only thing that can heal you when you feel powerless. Next to our path in the Salina de los Desamparados (province of Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain) #ElPuertoDeSantaMaría #Cádiz #Andalucía #Andalusia #Spain

Lanjarón! About 140 km from Málaga and 40 km from Granada. ;-) You may know some landscapes by heart, but being there again will fill your heart with even more joy than discovering something new. There is a special feeling being at a place you almost could call home, as you know every stone and tree. Lanjarón may not be as beautiful as Pampaneira or Pitres, but a piece of my heart will always be there. Enjoy! Typical narrow alley in the old center of Lanjarón  During a hike near the castle in Lanajrón Field with mountain view in Lanjarón