Guardamar - Harbour

Well the boats are still here in the harbour in spite of the recent debt problems and court orders - business as usual by the look of it ....

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Guardamar - Hoops Bar

Celtic fans will be made welcome at the Hoops Bar near the sea front in Guardamar - another plus point for this bar is that they sell draught Guinness !!

You'll also be able to follow all the Scottish and English football matches on the TV.

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Guardamar - Christmas Tree

Happy Boxing Day .....

Guardamar's very own Christmas Tree in the central square ...

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Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas .......

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Guardamar - Christmas Lights

Guardamar usually has a good show of Christmas lights which cheer up the dark winter nights.

The nights are not as dark and miserable as those in the UK at this time of the year.

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Guardamar- Father Christmas ..

A balcony is a good place for Father Christmas to enter one's home - this one is accompanied by a Wise King ....

This is a common sight in Guardamar and a popular way of decorating the balcony.

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Guardamar - Red carpet ..

Christmas time is the time to get out the red carpet and entice your customer into the shop ..

This is quite a common sight in the town and I think a nice gesture ..

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Guardamar - Bike race ...

Around this time of the year various bike races are held - some are nothing more than a family ride around the town but good fun all the same .

Here are some of the bikers enjoying the morning sunshine ...

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Guardamar- After the rain...

Just returned from two weeks in Guardamar and on the whole the weather was good apart from a couple of days of heavy rain.

Here debris from the rain has been swept up and awaits collection from the beach.

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Spanish Proverb

A lo hecho, pecho

What's done is done ....

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Did you know .... ????

El Cid ( he of the great beard ) a Castillian knight was born Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar in 1043 and spent most of his life fighting the Muslims.

Cid comes from the Arabic " sidi " meaning lord.

His most important achievement was when he defeated the Almoravids and took the city of Valencia from the Muslims in 1093-4.

He died in 1099.

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Guardamar - Near the Mercadona

The rear entrance to the Mercadona - this is usually a quiet street with not too much traffic.

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Fútbol

A sad day on Sunday for Real Madrid as they lost to their arch rivals Barcelona by one goal to nil.

The goal was scored by Ibrahimovic in the 56th minute of the game and to add injury to insult Diarra was sent off in the 90th minute - this in addition to 5 yellow cards !!

Barcelona are now league leaders with a 2 point margin ..

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Guardamar - A quiet corner

A quiet corner of Guardamar one Sunday morning before the hustle and bustle starts ........

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Streets of Guardamar - Calle / Carrer Manuel Lucas Macia

Calle / Carrer Manuel Lucas Macia

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Spanish Proverb

Oficio quita vicio

Work helps you to stay out of trouble ..

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Guardamar - South Park

Another view of the park - the last time I was here it was looking a little sad.

Many of lights have been broken and all the seating has been sprayed with a silver paint which melts in the sun - just where you happen to be sitting.

Guardamar - Fountain

It's not often you see these fountains working ..

It must be my lucky day !

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Guardamar - More pampas !!

It's difficult to get away from the pampas grass in Guardamar .......

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Guardamar - Servipizza ..

Hungry ??

Shutters are down - you'll have to wait a bit longer for your pizza !

Streets of Guardamar - Calle / Carrer Rosalino Pérez

Guardamar - Carrer Rosalino Pérez

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Streets of Guardamar - Calle / Carrer La Fonteta

Guardamar - Carrer La Fonteta

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Guardamar - River Segura

River Segura at Guardamar .

Much has been done recently to widen and deepen the river - the banks have been cleared of dense undergrowth .

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Torrevieja - Promenade ..

Unusual building situated on the sea front at Torrevieja ..

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Guardamar - Sit down !!

Time to have a rest - sit down but carry on talking !!

View down a side street - I've forgotten what this official looking building is ... perhaps you can zoom in and read the sign ??

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Guardamar - Town Hall

A side view of the town hall in Guardamar

And below the usual front view ..

Recently painted by the look of it ..

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Guardamar - Pine forest ...

Guardamar's pine forest - looking hot a dusty in the summer sun.

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Streets of Guardamar - Calle / Carrer Basilio Paredes

Streets of Guardamar

Carrer Basilio Paredes

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The local campsite ..

This is Guardamar's local campsite - seen here from the banks of the river Segura.

On hot summer nights we can hear all the " action " and the noise of the Tannoy - though not too loud I must say.

The entrance to the site is nearer La Marina than Guardamar centre.

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Facts !!! -River Ebro

Some facts about one of the most important rivers in Spain - the River Ebro - ( Ebre in Catalan ) it flows for 982 km in length.

The Romans named the river Iber but it probably derives from the Greek Hevros.

It's source is in Fontibre - Cantabria and it flows through Zaragoza before meeting the sea as a large delta in the province of Tarragona.

The delta is one of the largest wetland area in the western Mediterranean region - a total of 320 square km and is an important area for over 300 species of birds as well as a region of intensive farming.

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Spanish TV - RTVE

Do you like watching television ??

If you're away from Spain and want to catch up with your favourite programmes from RTVE then log on to http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/index.html

The big bonus is - no adverts !!!

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Spanish Proverb

La mejor medicina es la buena comida -

The best medicine is good food

( or - an apple a day keeps the doctor away )

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Guardamar - Graffiti

This is the last of the current pictures of graffiti - no doubt there will be new examples to photograph soon ..

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Streets of Guardamar - Calle / Carrer Alfonso Marin

Streets of Guardamar

Carrer Alfonso Marin

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Did you know .... ????

Did you know ??

Miguel de Cervantes was born 29th September 1547 at Alcalá de Henares - the fourth of seven children of Rodrigo de Cervantes a surgeon and Leonor de Cortinas.

Alcalá de Henares is twenty kilometres north east of Madrid and his place of birth was Calle de la Imagen 2 in the old centre .

The house is now fully renovated and is open to the public as the Museo Casa Natal de Miguel de Cervantes .

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Real Madrid - Humiliation !!

Last Tuesday saw Real Madrid lose 4-0 to Alcorcon in the Copa de Rey.

This was highly embarrassing as Alcorcon play in the Segunda B ( third division ! )

Heads will no doubt role ...

Perhaps they are still missing Cristano Ronaldo who is still out of the game after an injury during the Championship game against Marseille at the end of September .

Ironic !!! While at Manchester United Cristano had very few injuries and was considered very fit ..

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Calatayud

It's a steep walk up to here but the view is great ...

The statue has the best view !!! Anyone know who the statue represents ?? No prizes for knowing the answer ..

Calatayud

Across the roof tops of Calatayud the scene is dominated by the tower of the church of Santa Maria.

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Calatayud

Calatayud is in the province of Zaragoza Aragon - with a population of 22,000 it lies on the River Jalón and has AVE rail links to Madrid and Barcelona.

We visited in September this year and due to digital camera problems we had to take photographs with a "throw away " cheapy camera ...

Here are the back streets of this pleasant like town ... on a hot sunny day.

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Guardamar - Pampas

This Pampas grass is growing really well - most envious - I can not grow anything as good in the UK ...

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Guardamar - Graffiti

We certainly like our graffiti in Guardamar ....

Here's some more for your delight and pleasure .

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Guardamar - Shamrock Pub

The Shamrock is another Irish pub to be found in Guardamar .

Not far from the centre it attracts it's Irish and British clientele .

And of course it serves Guinness !!!

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Torrevieja - Harbour and boats ...

Torrevieja's recently extended harbour and marina ..

Here we have part of the local fishing fleet ..

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