SPAIN ..... Dec 2013 / Jan 2014
After a get together on the previous night at a restaurant near Sue and Pete's, I set out early on a frosty Dec 10th for the Hotel Port Denia - an old haunt. The first few days were spent settling in, renewing old aquaintances and meeting new people.
|
On Friday morning I went to the rastro ( held where they hold the Monday market ), before walking to Las Rotas in the afternoon .... catching the bus back.( A videoclip of Las Rotas is already on patrickclips from a previous year ) |
| Sunday was a particularly sunny day, and use was made of the coastal Ttram railway. Two got off at Teulada for a Christmas Market, I carried on to Altea, and after a coffee went for a walk along the promenade for a brief visit to The Kaktus Hotel, at Playa del Albir, to renew aquaintances, to learn about the free wifi - and where there was an invasion of about 100 or more Harley Davidson riders all dressed as Father Christmas. |  |
 |
 |
There was just time to get the bus for a quick visit to the El Cisne rastro outside Benidorm for a wander around and taster of the lunchtime music before returning to Denia.
On the Monday of the second week I went into Benidorm - partly to check out the Gran Delphin hotel on the Poniente beach. For me it was too far out of Benidorm .
...
Levante Beach ............................................... Poniente Beach
A "Living statue "
The weather deteriotated during the second week, with patchy sun, some drizzle and rain, but not before I had taken some video of the new Port area of Denia, El Raset parking and the newer developments - all in the stages of being built on previous visits.
.... 
A morning visit to Moraira market was diverted to the Ondara shopping mall because of the weather - not a place I would normally choose to visit. At least it was fine in the afternoon and some videoclips were taken at the Jamaica Inn ( and where there is flamenco on a Friday night ). With better weather I went down to Albir again on the Sunday, seeing other friends who were staying at The Kaktus Hotel - and visiting the market.
A pleasant day was spent in Benidorm on the Monday - with a fish and chip dinner at Rays 1, in the old town between the Poniente and Levante beaches, after having coffee and listening to the pan pipes on the Placa del Castell promontory above the old town.
.... 
The following week was taken up mainly with eating, with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, and the International Christmas Pudding Throwing Contest on the beach.The Hotel had a special entertainment ( animation ) programme over Christmas and the New Year ( and a New Year's Eve dinner ! )
.... 
Leaving for the Christmas Pudding throwing ........................ On the beach during the throwing competition
I took more pictures and video at the Simat and the Monastery on the Saturday.
And so into the New Year, with the inevitable eating, and rounding off the holiday with a Coast and Country trip ( videoclips of Javea, Calpe and surrounds are already on patrickclips from previous years ).
..... 
The Cable House - Javea........................................................... The Lonja in the harbour area - Javea
I was able to take some pictures of the run up to Three Kings Parade in Denia on Sunday the 5th January, after returning later from yet another visit to Altea.
... 
...
.......... The main parade street - Marques de Campo ................................ One of the " Kings "
Often local research is required to establish what events are on locally, e.g. Jazz on Sunday at the Arena Bar/Restaurant ( just behind the Hotel ), and Flamenco on Fridays at the Jamaica Inn. Indeed, further afield, there is a Sunday market at Playa del Albir ( Altea station and No 10 bus ), and a Rastro and music at El Cisne ( Benidorm ) on Saturdays and Sundays ( transport as for Albir market ).
RETURN TO PHOTOS and TRAVEL INDEX
RETURN TO MAIN INDEX