The story of our adventure in Spain



In October 2002 we purchased a holiday flat in Guardamar on Spain's Costa Blanca - not far from Alicante and Torrevieja and we try to spend a good part of the year in Spain.

This blog hopefully will contain our thoughts and impressions of Spain - the good and the bad and lots and lots of photographs of not only Guardamar but the rest of Spain as we eventually get to explore it.

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Tuesday 29 December 2009

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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Saturday 26 December 2009

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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Friday 25 December 2009

Happy Christmas



Happy Christmas .......


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Thursday 24 December 2009

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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Wednesday 23 December 2009

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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Tuesday 22 December 2009

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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Monday 21 December 2009

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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Sunday 20 December 2009

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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Thursday 10 December 2009

Spanish Proverb



A lo hecho, pecho


What's done is done ....



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Saturday 5 December 2009

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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Tuesday 1 December 2009

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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Monday 30 November 2009

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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Sunday 29 November 2009

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Spanish Proverb




Oficio quita vicio


Work helps you to stay out of trouble ..


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Monday 23 November 2009

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.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Guardamar - Fountain







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

It must be my lucky day !







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Saturday 21 November 2009

Guardamar - More pampas !!


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


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Friday 20 November 2009

Guardamar - Servipizza ..



Hungry ??

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


Thursday 19 November 2009

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Tuesday 17 November 2009

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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Monday 16 November 2009

Torrevieja - Promenade ..


Unusual building situated on the sea front at Torrevieja ..


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Wednesday 11 November 2009

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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Tuesday 10 November 2009

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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Monday 9 November 2009

Guardamar - Pine forest ...



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



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Sunday 8 November 2009

Saturday 7 November 2009

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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Thursday 5 November 2009

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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Tuesday 3 November 2009

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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Monday 2 November 2009

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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Sunday 1 November 2009

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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Saturday 31 October 2009

Friday 30 October 2009

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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Thursday 29 October 2009

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 ..


Wednesday 28 October 2009

Calatayud



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



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Tuesday 27 October 2009

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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Monday 26 October 2009

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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Sunday 25 October 2009

Guardamar - Graffiti


We certainly like our graffiti in Guardamar ....

Here's some more for your delight and pleasure .



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Saturday 24 October 2009

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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Thursday 22 October 2009

Torrevieja - Harbour and boats ...



Torrevieja's recently extended harbour and marina ..




Here we have part of the local fishing fleet ..

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