Sculling is a popular activity in Alicante because of our location on the Mediterranean Sea. The local yacht club has a sculling group which also competes in different competitions. Sonja and I (Shelley) decided to give the sport a try, so we joined the Royal Regatta Club of Alicante.
Shelley at the Yacht club getting ready to start her new sport.
There are different types of racing shell boats from a single person to group rowing. Shelley and Sonja began learning on a double seat shell.
Shelley and Sonja rowing on the Mediterranean
The boat shell is narrow to avoid drag, and is very tippy and unstable. The oars are attached to oarlocks at the end of outriggers extending from the sides of the boat. The oars help to keep the boat stable and takes some time to learn the best way to balance the shell. Sonja and I are taking lessons twice a week in the morning. There is a special technique for rowing in a shell. With a partner both rowers need to be in sync. The technique takes practice and is a good form of exercise.
The views are amazing as we row along the marina.
Shelley and Sonja rowing in the marina
We have been rowing for only a few weeks now and already I love the sport. It is quite the challenge, but is also a lot of fun.
We went to preview the fogueres on display and take part in the judging of the best fogueres for 2018. Each year a miniature copy of the full size fogueres are made and put on display for judging. Each ticket entry fee comes with two ballets for voting. One ballot for the adult fogueres and the other is for the children’s fogueres.
We went into the large building and came to the first room which contained the adult fogueres.
Shelley and Ray in the entrance area of the fogueres
There were rows of the fogueres on both sides of the room .
Rows of adult miniature fogueres on display for judging.
We went through the room slowing looking at each one. There was one which caught Ray’s attention.
Ray with firefighter foguere
What was unique about the firefighter foguere is what was not visible at first. The back of the foguere was surprising. The firefighter was wearing a thong and angel wings. I think the meaning behind the foguere is that a firefighter could be a women and may be the firefighter you see in gear.
The view on the back side of the foguere
We walked through the room and admired the amazing details of the fogueres. Some of them were very beautiful and extremely detailed.
One of the fogueres with amazing detail
We then went through to the children’s fogueres area. This was also a large room with fogueres on both sides of the room.
Children’s fogueres on display for judging.
The children fogueres were very interesting and there were many beautiful designed fogueres. We looked at each one and made our votes for what we thought was the best in both categories.
Each year we enjoy seeing the different and new fogueres. Some of them are made to make political statements or to make fun of a particular person or group. One which was particularly interesting was of the poisoning of the oceans through plastics and pollution.
A foguere in a tube design with a skeleton of a fish inside
At first glance it is a message about pollution but on a closer look you see a sign which makes a strong statement.
Sign with ominous warning of the pollution and plastics of the ocean.
It translates roughly in english as follows:
“just wield the last tree Follow death, the last poisoned river and the last trapped fish.
You will notice that you can not eat money”
Looking inside the container you can see the bottom which represents the ocean floor and is full of plastics, paints, hazardous materials and other pollutants.
Plastics, paints and other pollutants on base of foguere
Plastic has become a major issue here and across the globe. We see it on a daily basis living on the coast of the Mediterranean sea.
There was another foguere which made fun of a female politician named “Cristina Cifuentes”. She had made a false statement that she had obtained a master’s degree. When she was challenged by the media she produced a certificate which was later proven to be fake. It was a major issue here in Spain and caused a lot of turmoil, she eventually resigned.
Effigy foguere of Cristina Cifuentes a politician from Madrid
In the hands of the effigy are two different “certificates” which do not hold back the feelings of the public.
The “certificate” translates to state ” Master Cristina Cifuentes “major troll of the kingdom”Fake certificate which translates “Cristina Cifuentes, “a very legal blonde”
It is these type of fogueres which make seeing the different ones so enjoyable.
Below is a gallery of some of the fogueres on display for the voting in 2018.
We were walking down some of the old streets of Calpe and came across a small outdoor classroom called “Placa de mestre D Francisco Llopis”
Small outdoor classroom in the old streets of Calpe
We decided to go in and take a look at the classroom, It was very unique with tiled walls and benches.
Open arches surrounding the classroom
Each of the three tiled benches had a different table design. Each one was a specific board game layout.
Ceramic benches and tableceramic tiled benches with a centre table with board game design
In addition to the tables, there was a chalkboard and a map of Spain displayed on the wall.
Map of Spain and Blackboard in the outdoor classroom
The map of Spain was made with painted ceramic tile and was detailed with images of the mountains and rivers.
Ceramic painted tiles of the Map of Spain with mountain ridges and rivers
It was a great classroom where students could enjoy the outdoor breeze and the shade on a hot Spanish day. It was neat spot and we are glad we stopped to check it out.
We went to see the funeral procession and burning of the Sardine which was on Valentine’s day this year. We decided to head down early and meet up with friends for a drink and then see the burning of the sardine.
The funeral procession is a symbolic end to indulgence and the start of lent, People dress up in black and wear veils and walk behind a wooden effigy of a sardine.
Funeral procession of the sardine
The funeral procession walks through some of the streets and then ends in the Plaza Del Carmen. This is when they commence the burning of the effigy. There is a person who says some prayers and chants on the loss of indulgence and the beginning of lent.
Person saying the prayers at the burning of the sardine
There are people dressed in red devil type clothing who run around the effigy with burning fireworks in their hands. It is quite something to see people dancing around with live fireworks going off in their hands.
People with live fireworks in their hands running around the effigy
After some time they set the sardine on fire using the fireworks to start it.
Lighting the sardine on fire with fireworks
We watched the entire burning of the sardine near the front and had a great view.
We stayed until the end of the sardine burning and enjoyed the party for a while.
Our group of friends at the burning of the sardine
Here is a short video of the burning of the sardine.
We had a great time and enjoyed “burning the sardine”
Friends invited us to go to a class on the art of wine tasting being held in El Campello. We decided to go and check it out. We headed down to Luceros to take the Tram to El Campello. Luceros is located in the center of the city and has a beautiful monument located in it.
Monument in center of Luceros in Alicante
We took the Tram for approximately 20 minutes and arrived in El Campello. A short walk and we were at the wine school. We entered the classroom which was set up for the event.
wine glasses, water, and bucket for spitting out the wine.
The class which was entirely in Spanish was interesting at times and at other times we were lost and not able to understand the class. The instructor was speaking very fast and he also had a heavy accent.
The Instructor for the wine class demonstrating how to open a bottle of wine.
There were four different types of local wines from Alicante. A Shiraz, Merlot, Monastrell and a Sauvignon.
Wines from the Alicante Region that were sampled during the class.
Each wine was poured into a glass for sampling. The instructor then went through how to hold the glass to the details of tasting the wine. Each person had a small bucket beside them for spitting out the wine when they were done. Ray did not need his bucket because none of his wine was wasted.
Shelley sampling her first glass of wine in the class.Ray sampling his wine.
After the wine tasting we discussed the flavours etc of the wine. We would then move on to the next wine for sampling. The evening with friend was enjoyable and it was an interesting experience.
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