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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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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Wednesday 21 October 2009

Torrevieja - Cafe


This cafe on the sea front at Torrevieja has some distinctive tiled pictures which catch the eye immediately ..






A pleasant enough place to sit and watch the world go by ..

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Tuesday 20 October 2009

Guardamar - Masymas


I'm afraid a lot of our money goes into this place - recently built we find it highly convenient being only a couple of minutes walk from our flat.

It saves us the long walk to the Mercadona at the other end of the town .


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Monday 19 October 2009

Guardamar - Marjal


Not an apartment block but offices of the Marjal Group - sitting in the middle of an otherwise wholly residential area ..

Marjal for those that do not know are a construction group.



The palm growing on the roof is a nice touch ..

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Sunday 18 October 2009

Streets of Guardamar - Calle / Carrer Eusebi Sempere


The streets of Guardamar

Carrer Eusebi Sempere.




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Saturday 17 October 2009

Guardamar - Playa



Even on a hot summer day the sea is looking a little choppy - seen here from the promenade at Guardamar ..


Friday 16 October 2009

Guardamar - Plough the fields ...


This is what is left of the orange groves that once occupied what is now a huge construction site in Guardamar.

One small piece of land on which farm implements are stored.

I guess the farmer now has to "commute" to his land - I've seen him driving down the road on his tractor ...



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Thursday 15 October 2009

Guardamar - More graffiti ..


More " art work" for your delight ......



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Wednesday 14 October 2009

Guardamar - The place to be ..


This is the place to be - the heart and centre of Guardamar .



These seats and the sun shades are a welcome place for a rest - especially when it is hot .

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Tuesday 13 October 2009

Guardamar - A place to live ...


These small houses in Guardamar were typical of all the housing in this small town some years ago - quite quaint but lacking some modern amenities I would think.

During the housing construction boom of recent years these houses would be snapped up as soon as they became available - knocked down and a block of flats erected .

I'm afraid those days are gone - builders are no longer interested and these properties stay on the market for some considerable time.



Modern Spanish couples seem to prefer the new flats that have been constructed and shy away from these old properties.

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Monday 12 October 2009

Guardamar - The Pine Forest


The pine forest at Guardamar looks very hot and dry here at the end of August.

Not too many people walking about - far too hot




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Sunday 11 October 2009

Looking desolate ...


Looking towards Guardamar's marina and across this rather desolate strip of land - an area I've seen Bee- eaters ( Abejaruco Común ).


Had it not been for the crisis in Spain's construction industry I think that this area would already be covered in shops, bars and flats.

There is actually "newspaper" talk of expanding the marina - perhaps this area is earmarked for more berths ??

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Thursday 8 October 2009

Nature's Bounty ....


Summer is coming to an end and "Nature" is getting ready for next year - hence the abundance of seed on this palm tree..




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Wednesday 7 October 2009

Spanish Proverb


Soñar no cuesta nada -



Dreaming costs nothing -

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Tuesday 6 October 2009

Zaragoza



The one and only photo I took on our digital camera during a recent trip to Zaragoza - there was a mechanical problem and no more photographs could be taken !

It was only on our return and the web was accessed for information could we resolve the problem - quite quickly as well - it always is when you know how !!


Another camera - with a zoom x 10 if possible - is going to be my birthday present - hopefully.

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Monday 5 October 2009

Cones


It may be hot, dry and sunny weather here in Guardamar during late August but this tree looks very green and has produced quite a few large cones .




One of the many new trees planted down by the river's edge.

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Saturday 3 October 2009

Guardamar - Green fingers


This bush is brightening up the street here in Guardamar.



The council I guess planted the trees but I am convinced that it's the residents who have added plants and shrubs where they can find a space ...

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Friday 2 October 2009

Torrevieja - Choppy sea ..



Even in summer the sea can be choppy - just get the wind in the right position and the waves can come crashing in.



Here the sea front at Torrevieja.

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Thursday 1 October 2009

Did you know .... ????



Did you know .... ??

The great Spanish playwright Miguel de Cervantes died the same day that the English playwright William Shakespeare did.

April 23rd 1616

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