Guardamar - Fountain

We were walking back home late one afternoon and I caught the sun bouncing on and off the fountain in the local park.

That's it now for the latest photos I took on our last trip to Spain - I'll have to dig deep into the archives and see what I have until we return in March.

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Guardamar - Wet day

A cold and wet day in January - the beach is deserted and only a few brave people brave the walk down the promenade. How's that for two braves in a sentence !!

Plenty of room in the cafe - take your pick of the tables.

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Copa del Rey

First leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final saw Real Madrid beat Sevilla 1-0 with a goal from Benzema in the 17th minute.

Rivals Barcelona managed to put 5 past Almeria without loss in their semi-final first leg.

Second legs to be played next Wednesday but it looks like it may be a Real Madrid and Barcelona final.

Now that will generate a lot of excitement. !!!

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Ryanair

Ryanair have announced that they are reopening their Manchester to Alicante route during the summer months.

Let's hope that there will be plenty of cheap fares.....

Other new routes from Manchester are Madrid, Tenerife and Faro in Portugal

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La Mata - Ancient jetty ..

I understand these ruins of an old jetty date back from Roman times - how true this is I do not know but they do look old and a bit knocked about.

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La Mata

I think this lighting is quite new - within the last year anyway. It looks very modern in style. To be found on the seafront in La Mata.

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La Mata - Cruz Roja

The Red Cross or Cruz Roja does a lot of work providing lifeguards for the beaches but I have yet to see a helicopter in action.

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La Mata

You'll find this statue near the bus stop on the N332 ( direction Alicante/Guardamar ) at La Mata.

Seems an odd place to have it ...

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Guardamar - Playa dels Vivers

Green for go ???

These steps are not exactly wheelchair or pram friendly ..

This area was at one time a car park - now filled in with sand in an attempt to stabilise the dunes.

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Guardamar - Playa dels Vivers

A lot of work has been carried out recently to safeguard the dunes from attack by the sea here at the playa dels Vivers.

New walkways to take the sun lovers down to the beach.

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La Mata - do you farm ?

Even if you farm I guess you will not want to use old things.

On display in La Mata.

Guardamar - Marina

Lots of apartments here overlooking the marina - not sure how many have been sold. There never appears to be many people moving around.

Good views though ....

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Guardamar - moving the boat ..

Take care - do not drop it !!!

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Guardamar - No fishing

No fishing !!

Guardamar - Fishermen's Houses

These are certainly not improving - soon to be demolished I would think.

It looks like someone has bedded down for the night here.

If the demolition chaps don't get them then the sea will ...

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Guardamar - Marina

Many a photo has been taken of this boat which stands at the entrance to the marina in Guardamar.

I would appear to be getting a little tacky - rust has appeared and a new coat of paint is needed.

There used to be a bench at the foot of the boat - well used after a long walk but that seems to have disappeared some time ago.

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Foreigners in Spain

The number of EU residents living in Spain rose during the first nine months of 2010 by 5.81%

The number one slot was taken by Romania with 817,460 immigrants - UK residents total 228,108 immigrants.

To counter balance this the number of immigrants from outside the EU fell by 6.5% to a total of 2,395,704. The highest fall was in Madrid 13.51% and then the Valencia region 9%.

The majority of non EU residents come from South America 44.22%. - 343,797 from Ecuador alone. However the number one slot is Morocco with 728,234 immigrants.

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Anti-smoking laws

FACUA - Consumers in action was founded in 1981 to champion the rights of the consumer.

Their website can be accessed in Spanish, English, French and Italian.

If you find an establishment in Spain flouting the new anti-smoking laws then you can report them to FACUA.

See www.facua.org

Good luck ...

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Guardamar - Calle Alcalde Rosalino Perez Hernadez

View from Calle Alcalde Rosalino Perez Hernadez.

The shape of the building on the left reminds me of a large ocean liner.

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Smoking Ban

How's the Smoking Ban in public places working ??

Riots in the streets ??

The air in the bars and restaurants of Spain should be pure and refreshing by now.

Have the little groups of smokers found somewhere to hide ?

I'd be interested to know.

Yes I am a non smoker. I understand that 70% of the Spanish population do not smoke but find these figures hard to believe.

When we next return to Spain it will be interesting to see what the situation is and whether the law is being flouted.

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Guardamar - Christmas lights

Guardamar's main square all decked out for Christmas with tree and fancy lights - always a low key affair - not masses of money thrown about ..

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Happy New Year

2011 will soon be here ...

Let us hope that 2011 will not be plagued by wars and natural disasters.

These faces can be found in the main square of Guardamar and I assume represent the peoples of the world.

A " Happy New Year " to you all.

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