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.

.

Sunday 31 January 2010

WiFi



It is quite noticeable - especially in the last 12 months that more and more cafes and bars in Spain are attracting customers onto their premises with the provision of free WiFi.

Broadband connection is very expensive in Spain and for the odd holiday visit to the Costa Blanca it is very handy to nip down to the local bar with the laptop or iPod Touch.

Problem is beer consumption tends to increase - something you just have to put up with ..

.


Saturday 30 January 2010

At last ..


Midnight - the bells start ringing at Guardamar's church ...





Was it all worth the wait - I'm not sure it was ...

.

Friday 29 January 2010

New Year in Guardamar 2


I'm afraid that there are not many others waiting for the New Year celebrations !!

What does everyone know ??


.

Thursday 28 January 2010

Shadows ..


Here we are waiting in the main square at Guardamar for the New Year to arrive.

I was rather pleased with this picture of our shadows ...


.

Wednesday 27 January 2010

New Year in Guardamar


New Year was a strange experience in Guardamar - so unlike England ... but very similar to our Christmas Day in mood.

By the afternoon of New Year Eve all the Spanish bars and shops were closing and the streets were deserted.

We ventured out in the evening to find the streets still deserted - the only bars and restaurants open were Chinese or British owned. As we passed the closed Spanish bars we could hear private parties behind the shutters - this evening is only for family and friends.

The local council arranged for a 2 minute fireworks display at midnight - this was watched by a small scattering of mainly tourists . The few locals were entertained by a band - in a marquee under the town hall arches. Whether this display was for the general public or for a selected few I've no idea !!!

On the whole a very very QUIET evening ...

.

A banner of celebration



A Christmas message high on the bell tower of the local church in Guardamar for all to see .



.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Alicante - Christmas Tree ....


We've just returned to the UK after spending the New Year on the Costa Blanca so no apologies for showing Christmas and New Year photographs.

Here we have Alicante's Christmas Tree in the main town hall square.

I get the feeling that the town councils of Spain do not like spending too much money on their trees.



.

Thursday 21 January 2010

What's happening here ...


Not much has happened here for some time ...

Originally a car park was built ( it may operate but I've never seen cars enter ) and now a sign advises that it is to be converted to a music school - but when ??




.

Tuesday 19 January 2010

River Segura


I've never seen so much water in the Segura at this point before - a combination of heavy rain and remedial work being carried out to clear the river banks ..



.

Sunday 17 January 2010

El Meson de Laura


Another pleasant bar in Guardamar - serving tapas and also meals in a restaurant at the rear.

All at a very reasonable price.



.

Thursday 14 January 2010

Hannibal woz here !!!


This Arab fort is over two thousand years old and can be found in the sand dunes at Guardamar - perhaps Hannibal visited when he was travelling by on his way to wage war on the Romans ??

The easiest way to visit this ancient site is to take the tourist train from the centre of Guardamar - visitors are allowed to walk around the area ..

.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Beach time in December ..


This picture was taken in December - pleasant weather but not many people on the beach ...


.

Saturday 9 January 2010

Walkway


This is a posh walkway down to the beach ...

I think the general idea is to keep people away from the fragile sand dune system.

Work is ongoing at the moment planting grasses to keep the dunes stable.



.

Thursday 7 January 2010

Graffitti


No comment ....


.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

No dogs


Well I think the message is quite clear - NO DOGS ON THE BEACH .....

.

Friday 1 January 2010

Guardamar - Harbour


By the time you see this photo I should be back in Spain for a few weeks - assuming that the snow allows us to fly.

The Tarbaca boat would appear to be laid up here for the winter and not going anywhere.

A trip across the Med to the Isle of Tabarca is a must if you are in this region of Spain.