Intercambios in Malaga and meeting new people

Meeting people is so easy in Malaga as is finding someone to help you improve your Spanish in return for helping them with their English or whatever language but note demand for English is huge.

I went to several intercambios when I first arrived which is how I met half the people I know here (70 after a year), 40% friends of friends and last 10% chatting to people in cafes or on the street!

As well as the regular weekly intercambios other ad hoc events are organised. Here Leticia’s Tandem Club does Malaga Feria – their group probably does the most.

An intercambio which means exchange can be an informal social gathering of various nationalities or structured so that dependent on the language you wish to practice you are assigned to a table, speak one language for an hour and then switch.

REGULAR YEAR ROUND INTERCAMBIOS IN MALAGA CENTRE

Note format and days may change so always check their facebook pages and websites for the latest info. Ones outside Malaga within 5km are listed at the end.

Monday

Málaga Tándem Club / Language exchange (Leticia’s group) from 21:00: During warmer months at the stunning Room Mate Larios hotel (Calle Larios 2 very close to Plaza Constitucion) on the roof terrace (this was my first ever intercambio event and it was a black n white party the night I went – I remember thinking how decadent for a Monday night) and cooler months is at Morrissey´s Irish Pub, Calle Méndez Núñez, 5 – see https://www.facebook.com/MalagaTapasTour and there is a group too at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Malagatandemclub.

Tuesday

Expeak Up (Natalia’s group) from 21:00: my favourite as is quiet and a manageable number of people. Too many or too much noise and is not my cup of tea. Alcasabar near Cine Albeniz. Facebook group is https://www.facebook.com/groups/158456934361071/?fref=ts

Pachange from 20:00: Quick Pachanging at Teteria La Manquita (venue confirmed at their website), Calle Duque de la Victoria 8. Organised by language onto a table with set time in one language, then the other. See http://www.pachange.net/malaga.php and also https://www.facebook.com/groups/pachange/?fref=ts

Wednesday

Intercambio de idiomas en Malaga (Brian’s group) from 20:00 to midnight: a gathering of hip young things and older cosmopolitan types from all over the world in Artsenal, Muelle Uno (the bar and arts area down from the prom across from the Pompidou art museum in our swanky harbour area). See https://www.facebook.com/groups/intercambiomalaga/?fref=ts which is also a great page if looking for accommodation or someone to do a 1-1 intercambio.

Occasionally a Pachange too.

Thursday

Málaga Tándem Club / Language exchange: at Morrissey´s Irish Pub, Calle Méndez Núñez, 5 with free Spanish and English conversation kicking things off from 20:00-21:00 – see https://www.facebook.com/MalagaTapasTour

Laura says: “On Thursday there is also one called Espanglish in the Cheers Bar opposite the cathedral. It is very organised and they play fun games. You get allocated a table and given certain tasks or topics to talk about. Highly recommended!”

Friday

Pachange from 20:30: Teteria El Haren (venue may change so always check http://www.pachange.net/malaga.php), Calle Andres Perez 3. Organised by language onto a table with set time in one language, then the other.

Sunday

Tandem club does live acoustic music at 22:00 followed by karaoke at 23:00: at Morrissey´s Irish Pub, Calle Méndez Núñez, 5 – see https://www.facebook.com/MalagaTapasTour.

OTHER GATHERINGS

There are also several groups on facebook and meetup.com, often centred around certain interests. And don’t forget Internations where as a non-member for 8 Euros you get a drink and a tapa. Didn’t work so well for me because of the food intolerances and not drinking. Also very much business networking orientated which is fine for some but I’m more into arts and the social. I did meet some lovely people there though. Oops nearly forgot the  Costa Women too if business networking in particular in of interest.

JUST OUTSIDE MALAGA CENTRE

Pedregalejo

From Santi “I would like to tell you that we are organising every Thursday at 19:30 in La tortuga Pedregalejo an Intercambio as you can see in our group https://www.facebook.com/groups/tandempedregalejomalaga/.

From Pachange “Thursdays at 8pm at SWAN Pedregalejo, on the promenade of Pedregalejo, east of Málaga city, to enjoy together a new exchange.” https://www.facebook.com/groups/pachange/. I went once to this when I first arrived to Malaga and studied Spanish in Pedregalejo at the Alhambra Instituto (was great incidentally) and met three super girls. You get organised onto a table according to the language you wish to practice.

LOVE IN A HOT CLIMATE

Be aware that some use intercambios like speed dating and make their way through the never ending stream of foreign totty arriving in town. Non-Spanish women are heralded as low maintenance and errr easy (my male foreigner in Malaga friends inform me you might get a telephone number of a beautiful Spanish girl but to get a date could take months of persistence and one gave up on Malaga partly because dating was so hard here and he was not used to that). The usual pattern of promised the world, showered with attention and compliments, shagged and discarded (so I am told). Monogamy or settling down is not for everyone but in this day and age tis the done thing to be open about that up front.

If I come across a single man living in Malaga who actually wants a serious relationship I shall update this page but according to the 30+ (that is number of) women I know living here who have shared their experiences with me, they don’t. There are married men too who will chase you so ardently you will consider the need for a restraining order. Having said all that, some of my best friends here are wonderful kind men who are very dear to me. Really amazing friends.

I get a lot of flack for expressing my personal opinion here and I really don’t care. I have tried online dating here and honestly there is no conversation above being treated as an object – just a stream of “You’re hot!” “You’re hot!””You’re hot!”. Others report the same. I’m sure not everyone can be like that and they are probably married/taken. If there’s any eligible single guys living long term in Malaga wanting a long term relationship who want to know what’s in a gal’s mind and heart, and not just in her knickers, and who are thinking “what is she talking about – I don’t do that” then perhaps I can be matchmaker LOL.

 

 

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