Jonas N: 10h Bus ride to ….. ,and a Sightseeing run followed by massive sleep deprevation!

Olá e sejam muito bem-vindos! (Hello and welcome!)

Welcome to my (almost) final blog post about my Erasmus adventure in Málaga.

Before I tell you about my unforgettable 10-hour bus journey, I'd like to give you a quick insight into my everyday life here in Málaga. So, let's get right into it!

I have been working together with Amelie at an accommodation called "La Casa de la Abuela de Rosy." We have very flexible working hours, which gives us plenty of time to explore the city and enjoy our stay.

This accommodation is truly unique and nothing like a hotel or a typical Airbnb. You basically live together with the host, who makes sure every guest has an unforgettable experience. Our job is to create social media content for the accommodation's Instagram and TikTok accounts, showcasing the city of Málaga, local attractions, and fun activities for tourists. So, if you are ever thinking about visiting Málaga—which I highly recommend—don't forget this place!

Outside of work, I try to wake up early every day to stay productive. Starting the day with a morning run is one of my favorite routines. I also spend a lot of time at the outdoor fitness park or at the beach, where I often play football or volleyball with random people from all over the world. So far, I have also explored three different cities in Andalucía by bicycle including a 4 hour Bike ride to Marbella.

During the last two days of my Erasmus+ stay, I even tried Capoeira, the Brazilian martial art that combines fighting, dancing, and music. It was something completely different, but I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend giving it a try.

Monday 27.07. (Tuesday was my day off), a few minutes before midnight I cycled to Málaga's main bus station. Armed with three sandwiches, a bottle of water, and the optimistic belief that I would get plenty of sleep during the 10-hour FlixBus ride, I was more than ready—or at least I thought I was.

Long story short: I got zero minutes of sleep. Somehow, it was simply impossible for me to fall asleep.

Ten hours later, and after crossing into a different time zone, I finally arrived in Lisbon, Portugal.

The first thing I did was leave my backpack at a friend's apartment. He happened to be visiting Lisbon for a few days as well. Of course, I couldn't waste any time, so I immediately headed out for a sightseeing run through the famous old town, but also through hidden alleys and abandoned streets that most tourists never get to see. Not the best idea with zero sleep at 37° but it was worth it.

After running around Lisbon for almost three hours, I met up with my friends. We enjoyed some delicious Indian food before heading to the beach for a quick swim in the Atlantic.

In the evening, we visited the famous Santuário de Cristo Rei, the enormous statue of Jesus overlooking the city. After trying traditional Portuguese food for dinner, we called an Uber to get back—but our journey turned into another adventure. A major accident on one of Lisbon's bridges caused a traffic jam, and we ended up being stuck in the car for almost two hours.

At around 1:00 a.m., I headed to the airport for my 6:00 a.m. flight back to Málaga. When I arrived, I discovered that my terminal was closed until 3:30 a.m., meaning I had to wait outside for nearly three hours.

I met two guys from Romania while waiting. We ended up playing Uno for hours, talking about our travels, and somehow made the time fly by.

After another three hours inside the airport, our plane finally took off.

At 8:00 a.m., I landed back in Málaga. After being awake for almost two nights straight, I went home, took a quick shower, had breakfast, and went to bed at around 1:00 p.m.

Looking back

Compared to my 36-hour trip to Morocco, one thing really stood out: the people. In Morocco, almost everyone I met was incredibly generous and welcoming. The people in Lisbon seemed a bit more reserved, which I think might simply come down to cultural and religious differences.

However, what made Lisbon unforgettable was its breathtaking architecture, its unique atmosphere, and the charming ways of getting around the city. From the famous tuk-tuks—often called the European version—to the beautiful vintage cars driving through the old streets, the city had its own special character.

As I am writing this, I am sitting on a train to Salzburg. My flight to Vienna was delayed by two hours. At this point, I think I'm slowly getting used to long travel days!

Looking back, my Erasmus+ experience in Málaga has been one of the best experiences of my life. Not only because of the incredible trips I was able to take, but also because of the countless people I met from all around the world. So far, I have already received invitations to visit six different countries, and I definitely plan on accepting them one day.

If you are reading this and have never done an Erasmus+ programme, I can only say one thing:

Do it.

It is an unforgettable experience that will give you memories, friendships, and adventures that will stay with you for the rest of your life.