I was out exploring the city of Alicante when I came across the Municipal cemetery of Alicante. The main entrance was quite impressive for a cemetery and so I decided to take a walk through the cemetery and look around. I spent over two hours walking around exploring this historic and interesting cemetery.
Entrance to the cemetery of Alicante
Inside the main entrance was an area with washrooms and a sitting area. Beyond the entrance was the main road which had flowers, benches and monuments along the way.
One of the statues along the main road in the cemetery
Along the main road of the cemetery there was smaller side roads. that branched off. Each row contained many different grave stones, monuments and statues.
I walked each row looking at the many unique and interesting funeral plots. There were family plots that were hundreds of years old and some which contained interesting feature. Below are a few of the interesting monuments and grave stones.
One of the branches off the main road in the municipal cemetery of Alicante
Some of the grave stones were actually more of a piece of art than a grave stone.
A family grave site with ornate and beautiful statues.
Large cross and statue overlooking a family plot.
I saw some very large mausoleums that looked more like small churches than a mausoleum.
The cemetery was surrounded by a stone wall which also served as a columbarium wall.
Columbarium wall in the municipal cemetery of Alicanteotter wall of cemetery with Columbarium
The cemetery is quite large and contains tradition type grave stones as well as simple burial stones.
It was an interesting walk and makes you realize just how precious our time on earth is. We wish everyone good health and safety throughout this pandemic.
“Vive la vida al máximo y disfruta de cada momento como si fuera el último, porque un día lo será.”
The Christmas season is certainly different this year in Alicante. There are no major gatherings and all the fiestas are cancelled. Curfews are imposed and people are only able to gather in small groups. No more than two families with a total of 10 people can gather at Christmas. So it is just the two of us having a quiet Christmas at home. However the city has done a great job lighting up the city in a festive way. We put on our mask and decided to take a walk around some of the areas of the city to check out the Christmas lights.
Shelley and Ray at the Esplanada d’Espanya in Alicante
Along our walk through the different barrios we would find different lights strung across the road. It was beautiful to see the array of lights and styles of decorations.
Lights across one of the main roads in Alicante
Some of the narrow streets had some intricate and interesting lights. The photo below does not truly capture the ambiance of what it was like walking under the “stars” of that street.
Strings of lights along a narrow street in Alicante
Some of the plazas had displays of lights or even Christmas Nativity scenes. The plaza de la montañeta had both. There was a large ball decorated all in lights and people could go inside and walk through it.
Shelley and Ray in front of the Christmas ball in the plaza de la Montañeta.
There was also a display of a nativity scene and a village scape in the plaza.
If you look closely you may see a familiar face.
Nativity scene at the Plaza de la montañeta
Several streets had basic lights across them, while others had more intricate lights.
Shelley and Ray in front of gift box of lights
We walked down to the Ayutamiento (City Hall) and checked out the Plaça de l’Ajuntament. There was a large display of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus.
Large display with Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Overall the Christmas decorations were beautiful although the atmosphere this year is one draped in uncertainty. We wish everyone a safe, healthy Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
2020 began like any other year, we took an amazing trip to Egypt in January exploring some of the amazing historic sites.
Ray and Shelley in Egypt
We had heard about the Coronavirus which was in China but it had not knowingly gone past its borders at this point. We arrived back home near the end of January after our trip abroad. We rested and watched the news with the rest of the world as the virus spread beyond borders. The world began to change as governments reacted to the coronavirus threat. People began to panic buy and toilet paper became the new commodity. Shelves in the grocery stores of Alicante were bare for a few days from panic buying.
Meat shelf in a grocery store in Alicante
Toilet paper isle in Alicante grocery store
Here in Europe, Italy became the epicentre of the virus and thousands of people became infected and died. On March 14th the Spanish government declared a national state of emergency and ordered a national lockdown. Everyone was ordered to stay in their homes for two weeks with limited exceptions to leave the home. The two week lockdown was extended numerous times keeping us in lockdown for an extended period of 48 days.
We watched the news in disbelief at what was quickly crossing the world and forcing countries into isolation and lockdowns. The streets of Alicante became empty and major festivals and events including the Holy week were cancelled. Our planned trips abroad were all cancelled and we stayed in lockdown. The city of Alicante changed, the streets were empty, bars and shops closed.
Main walkway along the front of Postiguet Beach. Normally packed with tourist.
One of the main streets in Alicante. Normally full of traffic.
Main tourist walkway in the core of Alicante. Normally full of tourist.
When people were able to go outside for a walk, they were mandated to wear a mask. We began by making our own mask using some directions from a Youtube video.
Shelley making our mask and getting ready for our first walk outside.
We took our first walk outside of the apartment on May 9th, nearly 2 months after the lockdown began.
Getting ready to go outside for a walk in nearly 2 months. Ray wearing a homemade mask made from one of his t-shirts.
We wore our mask and watched as people would cross the street to avoid being to close to someone. We could sense the fear and sadness of people walking the streets. It was truly a sad time but also an uplifting feeling of being outside at the same time.
The stores, bars and markets were beginning to reopen with some major restrictions. Our local market was partially opened but it felt surreal watching all the people wearing mask worried about catching the Covid19 virus.
Market partially opened in our barrio, everyone mandated wearing mask and social distancing as much as possible.
It was a strange watching the news and seeing the way the world was changing.
We were using social media to connect with the world and family as the virus spread. Images on social media of major tourist attractions and cities that were empty. Cartoons and other media was used to express the fear or frustration of the events happening with the virus.
Image from Facebook by Paco Roca Chorques a local artist in Alicante
The world environment itself was changing and beginning to heal. CO2 levels were down 17%, animals migration changed and the ozone layer was healing. The world was changing and we could see history unfolding before us.
By July the city of Alicante was somewhat back to the “New Normal” shops and restaurants were starting to open. The outdoor markets were now open but with major changes to the way business was conducted. The people were mandated to wear mask, use hand sanitizer and to social distance as much as possible. Signs, floor markings and plastic tape etc was used to ensure people followed the guidelines.
Tape on the floor in front of stores that states basically “when you value the future, buy local, wear a mask and social distance”
Police were visible ensuring people followed the new rules. It was with a sense of apprehension that we were out shopping and doing our regular activities.
At the end of August we headed back to Canada under major duress because of a death in our immediate family. The flight and travel was uniquely different with airports empty, security taking temperatures and planes half empty of passengers.
Airport nearly empty as we travelled back to Canada.
We arrived in Canada and were mandated into a two week quarantine. During the quarantine we were contacted by the Canadian government several times ensuring that we were ok and remaining in quarantine. A second family member passed away while we were in Canada. Both of these deaths were not related to the Covid19. We stayed in Canada until early November before heading back to Spain. Our flight back was surreal with a plane that was nearly empty of passengers. Arriving back home to Alicante safe and sound we are happy to be home but sad to be far away from family.
The holidays are soon upon us and the end of 2020 is almost here. Like most people we are looking forward to an end to this year with the hopes of a better year to come.
(Video from John Oliver show)
Hopefully the end of this year will bring a new beginning of a healthier, normal year. With the hope of a vaccine coming over the next 6 months or so it is our hope that travel and life will come back to a sense of normal. We wish everyone a very safe Merry Christmas and a happy healthy New Year.
“Te deseamos salud, felicidad y el mejor Año Nuevo posible.”
We began walking early every day at around 8 am or earlier.
Mark and Ray on the Camino de Santiago
Heading out early to beat the heat and enjoy the peaceful walk on the camino. The trails are well marked and easy to follow.
Typical marker along the camino trail.
We began our camino journey by walking along the streets of the camino leading through the town of Sarria and then along country paths.
Walking through the streets of Sarria on the Camino
Church in Sarria
We soon reached the countryside and began walking into some fields and walking upwards on some hills. The vistas were beautiful all along our way.
View of the roaming hills on the trail of the camino.
One of the many trails along the camino.
During the eight days we walked the camino, we came across some unique and interesting people and buildings. We walked through old Spanish hamlets and towns admiring some of the buildings and churches.
Old buildings along the camino de Santiago
One of the many churches along the camino
Old ruins of a building on the camino
There were religious crosses and other symbols along with some interesting animals.
One of the crosses along the camino.
Ray with a donkey along the camino
We would walk along with other pilgrims on the trail and chat with them about different aspects of the camino. Finally saying good bye with the common phrase of “Buen Camino”.
Some of the many people we encountered on the Camino.
All along the camino we came across areas which had makeshift shrines. These shrines small stones, images of people and notes written to loved ones who had passed away.
One of the many shrines along the camino de Santiago.
We stopped to look at the shrines and read some of the notes left there by loved ones. It was a very moving experience to see so many along the camino trail. Below are just a few of the camino memorials or shrines along the way.
One of the ad hoc shrines along the camino
One of the many signs along the camino.
We walked a total of 115 kilometres on the Camino from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. Over that distance we saw many beautiful vistas and towns. Here are just some of the interesting things and vistas along our 8 day trek on the camino.
We arrived at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela around noon on the eight day.
Ray and Mark at the Cathedral of Santiago
It was a very rewarding and emotional adventure. The Camino de Santiago is an emotional, spiritual and physical adventure. You have to experience the camino to truly understand and appreciate the adventure.
The Camino de Santiago is a religious pilgrimage which has always been of interest to me. It is known as “The Way of Saint James” an important pilgrimage that dates back to the middle ages. There are many different pilgrimage routes that lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela. Some of the routes are considered main routes for the pilgrimage. All routes however lead to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great where his remains are located in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
I began my preparations for the pilgrimage nearly a year in advance. Walking and training with my camino partner Mark for the journey which would inevitably take me through steep hills, valleys and other challenges. Reading many articles and conducting research it became obvious that planning and the right equipment was key.
Packed and ready for the Camino de Santiago
The day finally arrived and we set out by train to our starting point of Sarria Spain.
Once we boarded our train, we settled in for the eight hour train ride. We toasted to the adventure that would follow.
Ray and Mark toasting to the Camino de Santiago
We enjoyed the train ride and we met other great people heading to Sarria for the Camino adventure. We arrived tired but excited to start our camino the next morning.
At the start of the Camino de Santiago I felt that the adventure would be a challenging walk and a hiking experience. I did not realize that the camino de Santiago experience would change me forever.
Once we boarded our train, we settled in for the eight hour train ride. We toasted to the adventure that would follow.
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