On Saturday we went to the local market and there on display were some fafa beans. These beans are very poplar in Spain and every market or grocery store sells them fresh. We decided to buy some fresh fafa beans and try to make a meal with them. They are a very big bean and don’t look very appetizing.
Fafa Bean AKA broad bean
We took them home and tried a Spanish recipe for the bean. There are a few steps that needed to take place before you can eat them. First you need to get the bean out of the pod. I thought there would be more beans in the large pods. Each pod contained maybe 3 or 4 beans in total.
Our total beans amounted to approximately 1/4 cup. We were expecting more beans than that.
All of our beans from the pods
We rinsed the beans and then boiled them for approximately 5 minutes. Once the outer skin of the bean turns white you remove the skin.
removing the outer skin of the boiled bean
Once the skins were removed we rinsed the beans and then crumbled them up. We added some crumbled feta cheese, fresh mint and olive oil in with the beans.
The mix is put on top of a toasted baguette with a drizzle of olive oil. The end result was a very tasty meal.
There are numerous areas in Alicante that have outside exercise equipment. There is a concept here of promoting fitness using outdoor exercise equipment. We see the equipment in almost every park we walk by. There are even some outdoor exercise equipment on the walkways right in the heart of the Alicante business area. It is not uncommon the see some people using the equipment, especially on the weekends.
People exercising at local park
A while back we were walking through the Palmeral park and came across a section of the park that had outdoor exercise equipment. We decided to try it out and get a bit of a workout.
Wheel fitness for upper bodyRowing machine which uses your own weight as the resistance
All of the equipment is designed to use a person’s weight as the resistance for the workout.
Leg strength machines
After the quick test of the equipment Shelley took a well deserved break.
Shelley taking a well deserved break.
People here enjoy the outdoors and we can see why they like to exercise outside. The weather here is conducive to having outdoor exercise equipment. There is no need for a membership at a gym when you can simply walk to the local park and work out.
Palm Sunday in a major event here in Alicante. A few weeks before Palm Sunday, the open markets are selling palms for the upcoming event. There are numerous vendors selling unique palms that are handcrafted with some very detailed and beautiful designs.
Palms being sold at Open market
We bought two palms from the market in preparation for the procession that was on Sunday.
Shelley displaying her decorative PalmOrnate palm
In Alicante Easter parades begin on Palm Sunday and continue daily until Easter Sunday. This is known as Holy Week and every day during that week there are procession parades that take place. They have different starting locations within the city and most pass through the main Avenue Rambia de Mendez Nunez. We headed out to watch one of the main processions which started at 11:30 am. There was a very large crowd of people gathered to watch the start of the procession. People in the procession carry large palms and the walk is very slow and deliberate with a live band playing music.
Crowds gathered to watch procession
The procession starts with a single person at the from leading the process. They carry a symbol representing the procession.
The beginning of the procession on Palm SundayPerson leading the procession carrying a flag.
There is music and a band playing a slow drum beat as the procession moves slowly forward.
Procession band playing music
There are hundreds of people who follow along in the procession carrying their palms. At the end of the procession is a single parade float with a religious representation on it.
Float at the end of the procession
The images above were from the first procession we saw. The second procession we saw was quite different. There were ladies dressed in black as if in mourning leading the procession.
Dressed in black and leading the procession on Palm Sunday
There were people wearing blue and white cloaks and white hoods and they looked a little like the KKK. I have no idea what the hoods represent but it was a bit eerie to see. For us the white hood is a symbol of the KKK and represents evil and intolerance.
Palm Sunday procession in Alicante
At the end of this procession there was also a float. This float was surrounded by people in white cloaks and hoods.
Float in Procession on Palm Sunday
The processions last about 2 1/2 hours each and then there are other processions that start at 6pm and run into the evening. We stayed downtown after the processions and enjoyed the rest of the day. We took a walk out on the pier looking at the sea and then stopped for a relaxing drink.
The other day we went to a restaurant called “Katagorri” it is a tapa restaurant. The restaurant is quite popular and there were good comments on the trip advisor. So we decided to check it out.
Restaurante Katagorri
Normally when you go to a bar you usually get a free small tapa when you buy a drink. This place was different because you paid for the tapas. You would order a tapa from the numerous choices displayed in front of you on the bar. Each tapa display had a specific coloured dot.
Tapas on display
Each coloured dot represented the cost of that particular tapa. On the wall was the listed price for each coloured dot.
Tapa price list
There was great assortment of tapas from squid, octopus and other sea type creatures to the more traditional hamburg, pork ,chicken and fish. We decided to be somewhat safe this time and ordered some very tasty pork burgers, a bread and cheese with spices and a few other traditional ones. They were very tasty and filling. That “snack” turned into our main meal of the day.
Ray done his tapas
Of course you really shouldn’t have tapas without some wine or beer. There was a great selection of wine and so we ordered a nice glass of red wine and enjoyed the tapas. The wine was more expensive than other restaurants and cost $2.65 for a 9 ounce glass.
Some of the wine selections
The restaurant had a great atmosphere and we had a great tapa “meal” overall it was a very pleasant experience.
We attended the art exhibit when we were at the Santa Barbara Castle. The exhibit was titled “The fortress of the ring” and focused on the Author JRR Tolkien and his books “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”. The exhibition was displayed inside of three castle rooms and contained an array of interesting and unique features. There were life-size figures on displayed along with costumes from the movie.
Full size figures from the movie “Hobbit” and “The Lord of the ring”Costume from the movieFull size figure from movie
There was a room which contained an amazing collection of miniatures. the miniatures were so detailed and exact that it was hard to tell they were not real.
MiniatureMiniature castle with “giant” RayMiniature Castle with great detail
Miniature dragon and wizard
There was also a collection of weapons and clothing, lithographs and original drawings from the comic illustrator. We walked through the rooms and enjoyed the unique displays. Our favourite display was the full size “Ent” which is a tree like creature in the fables. Notice the two little elves on its shoulders.
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