PhotoHunt - Blue

What should we choose that's blue ?  Well after searching my photo collection I came up with this bright BLUE Turibus.

It will take you on a round trip of the Alicante city centre and deposit you at the top of the castle and allow enough time to wonder around and take photographs .

I was disappointed with the route taken by the bus and had  hoped that it would show parts of the city that  were unfamiliar to me, however the route kept to the main central area.

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Guardamar - Las Frutas

This hoarding in Guardamar is  ( I think) encouraging us to take more fruit and vegetables each day - with the help of Minute Maid of course.

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Torrevieja -The old fisherman.

Down on Torrevieja's sea front .

This stern looking fisherman can be found.

If you have arranged to meet someone it's a good focal point.

He's keeping a look out for the returning fishing fleet - though now I think he is more likely to see a tourist boat or pleasure yacht.

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Guardamar - Places to go ..

Guardamar may be a small seaside resort but there are long distance coaches carrying people to Madrid and San Sebastion and all points north from the local bus station , virtually on a daily basis.

Going south is a different matter - buses for the Costa del Sol can be found in Elche which is not too far away. Whilst waiting for a bus at Elche I saw an advert for travel to Rumania - now that must be some journey !!

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PhotoHunt - Scary

This tunnel is scary - it's cold and wet and very often there are no other people around .

Go to the end of the passage and turn a corner and you will find a lift that takes you from the ground floor up to the top of the castle in Alicante. 

Once you proceed down the tunnel you do not know who is stood around the corner until you reach it and there is nowhere to run if you suddenly come across muggers.

The entrance to the tunnel is not too good either - a narrow little pavement alongside a busy commuter ring road leads to it - no attendants or security !

This picture was taken halfway down the tunnel so you can guess how long it actually is.

The view from the castle is very good though ...

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Guardamar - El Siglo

Time to relax and have yet " another " beer here at El Siglo in Guardamar

El Siglo has a wide choice of dishes and beers to suit all tastes and you'll find it near to the park. Sorry no draft GUINNESS yet but it does have free Wi-Fi.

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ABC Wednesday - N for Night

N is for a night scene here in Guardamar.

At Autonautica the boats are lined up for lucky buyers who have the ready cash or credit card.

Expensive hobby I would think.

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Alicante - Rooting for you

Trees like this are not that unusual in Alicante city centre - there are quite a few with their roots showing like this ..

Most unusual.

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Torrevieja- Early morning

Early morning in Torrevieja - cafes are just opening on the sea front and not many people are about.

The people in the shop are busy putting their wares onto the pavement.

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Guardamar - The Marina

I guess everywhere needs a symbol or emblem to represent themselves and this is what the Guardamar Marina has chosen .

It's a sailing boat, made by the look of the rust,  in cast iron .

Sat in it's own fountain on the approach to the main marina and looking very impressive ...

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ABC Wednesday - M for Me

Today the M is Me...

I did not realise that this photo was being taken using the  " solarize setting ". I was only a few months later when looking through my photographs that I realise it was there and I thought that it was quite good - unusual anyway...

Taken whilst sitting at one of our usual cafe haunts in Guardamar..

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Spanish Proverb

No hay mal que por bien no venga

Every cloud has a silver lining ...

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Alicante - Bright Shop Shutter Number 2

Here's another highly coloured shop shutter in Alicante .

I'm not really sure what they are supposed to sell here ??

Photo taken again early one Sunday morning not far from the bus station .

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Alicante - Bottled up !

Is it a screen of green bottles or art work ?

I think it's meant to be art work - according to a display panel this screen lights up at night.

It's an unusual use to put your empty bottles to  ....

Central Alicante  is where you will find this " art work "

Torrevieja - What's this ?

I've always wondered what purpose this unusual building serves. It appears to be abandoned - no sign of life at all !

It can be found near to the port in Torrevieja.

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Guardamar - The Marina

For all those that enter the harbour at Guardamar Marina from the sea, the first sight is this vessel high and dry on the quay side.

Sailing days over, it is now a tourist attraction and certainly " attracts " many a holiday snap.

Less well known is this vessel, also high and dry and situated on the road leading into the town

Not as grand as boat number one but still a photo opportunity ..

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Alicante - People on the move.

Early Sunday morning in early September and people on the move down near the sea front in Alicante

You can often find market stalls here selling the usual tourist " stuff " and I notice a couple of Guinness bars have opened recently - I have made a mental note to return and sample some liquid refreshment.

One needs to be wary here and watch for pickpockets or bag snatchers  

Early one morning I had my haversack sprayed with cream -

The would be robber sprays the cream on your bag - you take off the bag and said robber  ( a friendly chap ) offers to help clean your bag - should you let him then  away he goes with all your goodies at a rate of knots.

Luckily I was in such a hurry to catch a bus I did not stop to clean the bag and carried on as fast as I could to the bus stop ..

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Guardamar - " Sepia "

Time for a sepia photograph - this time of a water wheel in Guardamar near to the Parque Reina Sofia.

For a near identical black and white photo see my other Blog - 

http://petrus-rambler.blogspot.com

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PhotoHunt - Sad

A sad place is certainly a cemetery but they can be fascinating places and give one an insight into other cultures and beliefs. 

This one was constructed in 1947 - ( the year of my birth )  - in Guardamar not far from Alicante

In Spain people are often buried not in the ground as in England or the USA but in niches in the wall. 

Many of the burial places are adorned with flowers and mementoes.

I think this one is really pretty with the pink flowers.

Of course the monuments are often a source of information for family historians and it is vital that they are maintained and records kept.

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Guardamar - Grass

This is a good display down at Guardamar's marina. Looks like Pampas Grass to me.

I have a Pampas just starting to flower over here in the UK but not as good as this.

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Guardamar - The boat and the dog.

Look closely and you'll see a dog resting under the boat and keeping out of the rays of the hot sun..

I've seen this dog roaming around the town so I guess he's left to his own devices ..

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Guardamar - Riverside

These dead tree branches lying on the side of the rio Segura look extremely dry and withered.

The sign of another hot and very dry summer ..

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Guardamar - The tree

This poor old tree seems to have taken a beating .. !

Very few leaves and the main branches have been cut away. Perhaps we'll see some recovery in a while.

It's amazing actually how fast some of these bushes and trees can grow - one minute a sapling is planted and a couple of years later it's quite some size.

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