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.

.

Thursday 30 April 2009

Benidorm - Down by the harbour.


Time to pull your boat ashore - with the help of a tractor.


Benidorm has a busy little harbour complete with local excursions around the area and also as far as Alicante in the main tourist season.

.

Wednesday 29 April 2009

Benidorm - Let us not forget ..


Let us not forget that not too long ago Benidorm was just a small fishing village .

This statue I think is dedicated to those seafarers who were saved from a watery grave or indeed did not survive.



.

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Benidorm - Time to go to church.


Parroquia San Jaime - Benidorm

Parroquia means parish in English.


Here we have two views of the church - above the main entrance and below a side view .

This church is found in the old town not far from the harbour..

.

Monday 27 April 2009

Benidorm - Looking down !


Looking down over the cliffs and  into the sea at Benidorm .



Blue sky and a blue sea ...

.

Sunday 26 April 2009

Spanish Proverb



Todo tiene solución, menos la muerte  -


Nothing is certain but death and taxes ..

.



Saturday 25 April 2009

Madrid - Retiro Park


Parque del Retiro - looking towards the Prado .



Fancy trees and bushes - ornate urns and statues ... a place to stroll and soak up the winter sunshine .

.

Friday 24 April 2009

Madrid - Ornate ???


Catedral Sta Maria la Real Almudena.

Certainly very ornate with all the gold leaf ....



I've no idea who this lady is - someone very important no doubt ...

.

Thursday 23 April 2009

La Mata - Parque Molino del Agua.


A small lake in the "Sea Park" La Mata.  A pleasant and quiet area in which to retreat from the midday sun ..




Un pequéno lago en el parque. Un lugar agradable a sentarse en el calor del día.

.

Wednesday 22 April 2009

La Mata - Plaza principal...


La Mata's main square - church, bars and bus stop ! What more do you need ?


La Mata, plaza principal - Plaza Encarnación Puchol.

.

Tuesday 21 April 2009

La Mata - Church Bell Tower


The Bell Tower of La Mata's church. A small church found in the centre of the town.


Campanario de la iglesia - La Mata.

.

Monday 20 April 2009

La Mata - Not graffiti !


Not graffiti as such but deliberately painted on the wall of a restaurant in order to attract would be customers - here in La Mata.




No pintada como. La pared del café tiene pinturas vibrantes para atraer a clientes.


La Mata, Costa Blanca,España ...

.

.

Sunday 19 April 2009

La Mata - Fisherman ..


A solitary fisherman on the rocks at La Mata - fishing from the beach is very popular on the Costa Blanca.


Un pescador solo aquí en La Mata.

.

Saturday 18 April 2009

La Mata - Graffiti !


More graffiti near the seafront at La Mata - not very good - not the usual high Spanish standard.



Más pintada en La Mata - ¿ mal ?

.

Friday 17 April 2009

Madrid - Street market


This street market can be found in the centre of Madrid not far from the Plaza Major.



Mercado callejero cerca de la Plaza Major.

.

Thursday 16 April 2009

Madrid - Light up the Palace !!


These ornate lights can be found in the parade ground or yard even of the Royal Palace in Madrid.



Luces de calle adornades en el Palacio Real de Madrid.

.

Wednesday 15 April 2009

Madrid - Need a haircut gents ?


Barbers shop and chair here in Madrid near the Plaza Major.



Peluquería de caballeros y silla ...

.

Tuesday 14 April 2009

Madrid - Dig it up !!


Road works in Madrid - a sight quite normal in the majority of cities ..!


Obras por carretera en Madrid.

¡ Normal en la mayoría de las ciudades..!

.

Monday 13 April 2009

Madrid - Tall trees


Tall trees in the Retiro .. a pleasant sunny day in February.



Arboles altos en el Parque del Retiro. 

Un día soleado en febrero.

.

Sunday 12 April 2009

Spanish Proverb



Al que madruga Dios lo ayuda  -

The early bird catches the worm


Literally the Spanish translates - "God helps the one who gets up early".

.

Saturday 11 April 2009

PhotoHunt - Triangle


Triangle equals sail - 

I've lots of pictures of sailing boats but this is the only one where the sail is raised.


Sailing past the pier at Alicante.

Hope everyone at PhotoHunt is having a good Easter ??

.

Friday 10 April 2009

Torrevieja - time for a walk !


Let's go for a walk - here on the promenade at Torrevieja.



El paseante aqui en el paseo marítimo a Torrevieja.

¡ Damos un paseo !

.

Thursday 9 April 2009

Torrevieja - passing ships !


A ship lies out to sea here at Torrevieja...


Un barco en el mar a Torrevieja..

.

Wednesday 8 April 2009

La Mata - Russian Advertising Board !


Are you Russian ? Do you want to live in La Mata ?


¡ Está ruso !

¿ Quieres vivir en La Mata ?

.

Tuesday 7 April 2009

La Mata - the Prom !


The promenade at La Mata.

El paseo marítimo en La Mata.

.

Monday 6 April 2009

Benidorm - who's for a boat ride ?


Barco Vision Submarina in Benidorm ... take a trip around the bay !


Tome un viaje alrededor de la bahía a Benidorm.

Sunday 5 April 2009

Benidorm - a place to stay ?


Tall flats   !!!!



¡ Edificios muy altos en Benidorm !

.

Saturday 4 April 2009

Madrid - Blue and Red !


More cows - blue and red - here at the Puerta del Sol - the centre of Madrid and a very busy place.



Vacas - azul y roja -a Puerta del Sol - el centro de Madrid y un lugar muy concurrido.

.

Friday 3 April 2009

Madrid - Interesting cow !


This cow causes some interest from the passers-by !


¡ Más vacas !

¡ Muy interesante !

.

Thursday 2 April 2009

Madrid - Crystal Palace


Built 1887 by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco the Crystal Palace was originally a greenhouse for exotic plants from the Philippines and is now an exhibition centre.




Construyó 1877 de Ricardo Velázquez Bosco - el Palacio de Cristal fue un invernadero por las plantas exoticas de Filipinas - ahora un centro de exposición.

.

Wednesday 1 April 2009

Madrid - Retiro Park


Retiro means retreat - it's a pleasant place away from the noise and traffic of Madrid.



Parque del Retiro - Madrid.

Un sitio agradable muy lejos del ruido y tráfico de Madrid.

.