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Spain

A day in Elche

The city of Elche is approximately 30 kilometers away and it is a short 45 minutes train ride from Alicante. We headed there to check out the city of approximately 225,000 population. Elche was settled by the Greeks around 600 BC and later occupied by Carthaginians and Romans. Today the city is known for its many shoe factories and the orchard of over 200,000 palm trees.  The Palmeral of Elche was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000.

We arrived on a sunny day and enjoyed walking through the beautiful Palmeral park.

Palmeral Park in Elche

There were the numerous trails that led us into different areas of the park. We explored the park trails for a few hours finding some beautiful views and scenes along the way. We came across a water feature which led to an Islamic style architecture building.

A section of Palmeral Park in Elche
Round dome Islamic style architecture building.

We walked along an area of the park which had a small fountain area surrounded by ceramic tile features and park benches. We stopped to admire the area and watched as some pigeons enjoyed a bath in the fountain.

Ceramic tiled fountain in Palmeral park in Elche
Birds enjoying a bath in the fountain in Palmeral Park

We came across a path that was parallel to a small creek called “Vinalopó”. The creek flows through the city of Elche separating the city into two parts and there are trails that follow along the creek. We decided to leave the park and walk the creek path.

The paths along the Vinalopó creek which flows through the city splitting it into two parts.

What was interesting walking along the path was the colourful designs painted along the creek overflow area. There were numerous themes and paintings. It appears that community groups were given a section of the basin to pain a theme related to Elche or Spain.

We enjoyed stopping and looking at all the different paintings, some of which were very creative. Don Quixote with the Quote “A las familias manchegas que vivan in Elche” Which translates To all the manchegan families who live in Elche

“Don Quixote painted on creek basin in Elche
Some of the paintings along the basin of the Vinalopó creek.
Paintings on the basin of the Vinalopó creek.

We walked approximately 3 kilometers along the path and then headed into the main section of Elche.

There was a bridge known as the “Virgin Bridge” which had a monument on both edges of the central part of the bridge.

Monument on bridge in Elche
Monument on bridge in Elche

We walked through the old quarter of Elche looking at the architecture and other sites. We stopped at city hall where they had their Christmas decorations still on display outside.

Ray outside of city hall in Elche
The copy of the stone bust of the “Lady of Elche” in plaza

We walked throughout the city and enjoyed the day before heading back by train to Alicante.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

Spain

The Three Kings Parade

On January 5th,  we went to see the three Kings parade called “Los Reyes Magos”  or Cabalatas. This is a major Christian festival in Spain and a highlight for the children. In Alicante, the Three Kings arrive by boat and are greeted by hundreds of Children on the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea.

Parents and children waiting for the arrival of the Three Kings

It was a beautiful day and we went to the Volvo museum at 4:30 p.m.  This gave us the perfect vantage point to watch the arrival of the three Kings. We could see the three Kings coming to dock on a Guardia Civil boat.

Police boat docking with the Three Kings

There were hundreds of children and parents of all ages there waiting to greet them.

The Three Kings getting the waiting children.

Once the three Kings came ashore they walked through the crowd giving small gifts and talking to the children. It was amazing to see how many children were there trying to get a chance to speak to the three Kings.

One of the three Kings going through the crowd of children

The three Kings walked slowly through the crowd and it took them almost an entire hour to get out of the marina area. They then went by vehicle escorted by the police to the Plaza de Toros. There the three kings did activities with the children before the start of the Grand Cabalgata at 7 p.m.

We walked along the parade route weaving through the heavy crowds of people until we came to the start of the parade.

Crowds of people along the parade route
crowds waiting for the three Kings

There were tens of thousands of people along both sides of the road waiting for a chance to see the three Kings. As the parade moved along there were candy, chocolate bars, gifts and other treats thrown out to the crowd. Children were calling and waving in the hopes of catching some candy or a gift. There was a frenzy of activity with the children grabbing and jumping for candy.

One of the three Kings float and candy being thrown to the crowd

We stopped and watched the parade go by. It took almost three hours for the parade to finish. We were often hit by flying candy and we even caught a few candy for ourselves.

The parade was well-organized and there were lots of police security throughout the parade route. Main routes were secured with tow trucks and police cars blocking the way.

Police controlled intersections of the parade route
Police controlling crowd access to the parade route

There were police throughout the parade and some walking in the parade. Although there were large crowds, we felt very safe knowing the security was in place.

Medical response units on standby along parade route

The newspaper reported that there were over 100,000 people at the parade. We have never experienced a Grand Cabalgata, it was an exciting, and fun event. The emotions of the children and the atmosphere of the crowds made it a very memorable event.

We put a video below of some of the parade and hope you enjoy a snapshot of the Grand Cabalgata.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

 

 

Spain

A Different Tradition

In Spain, the Christmas tradition is different than in Canada. Here in Spain and in other latin American countries, the holiday season ends on the Epiphany. In Alicante, they have two parades to celebrate the Epiphany. The first parade was on January 4th and began at the Ayuntamiento (City Hall) in Alicante.

City Hall Alicante

We headed down to city hall early to see the start of the parade. People and children were gathering around excited for the start of the parade. There were different parade characters waiting for the parade to start.

Character heads on the sidewalk waiting for the start of the parade

We saw different characters walking around and Ray managed to stop and get his picture taken with some of them.

Ray with some of the parade characters

The parade also had different bands and a sleigh with “helpers to the three kings”.

Gathering in preparation to start the parade

There was also a group from the “Correos”  which is the government postal service in Spain. The parade travels through the main sections of the city collecting letters from children for the Three Kings. The letters contain the children’s wishes and requests for gifts to the Three Kings.

Correos van and motorcycles to pick up letters

As we waited for the parade to start the “Kings Helpers” stepped out onto the balcony to wave to the crowd.

Shortly before the start of the parade, the “helpers” exit city hall and climb on the sleigh to start the parade.

Helpers on the sleigh to start the parade.

We watched the parade and enjoyed seeing the children handing in their letters for the Three Kings.  It is a very different tradition from a Christmas parade in Canada. The parade is a prelude to the main parade on January 5th.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

 

 

Spain

Unique Wine and Liquor Store

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We went for a walk and came across a wine and liquor store called “Bernardino”. The store is located on a narrow side street in our neighborhood. The place looked interesting so we went inside to check it out.

Shelley checking out the different wines

The inside of the store was lined with rows of unique liquors, beers, and wines. We walked through the rows looking at different types of items on display. We came across a section of local beers made in the Alicante region as well as other beers from around the world.

What was interesting was the selection of unique liquors and wines. We even came across the Crystal Head Vodka which is made in Canada by Dan Aykroyd and John Alexander.

Crystal Head Vodka made in Canada

Some other very interesting bottles included a crystal sail ship, which was beautiful.

Alcohol in unique designed bottles

There were other interesting types of liquor, including other skull bottles and even the devil was there.

Different alcohol containers
Collection of the Devil alcohol

There was one type of wine called “Envidia Cochina” which translates to mean Jealous Envy. The label had an interesting story on it entitled “Eat your heart out” and an image of a naked woman going into the water with the devil. The story speaks of a Spanish saying “Envidia Cochina”  and how it is used in Spain.

Envidia Cochina bottle of wine

The Store was also a Bodega which sold wine from barrels into different size bottles from 2 liters to 5 liters in size. We watched people come in and buy several 5 liter plastic containers and have them filled with different types of wine. They even sold small barrels of wine.

Wine sold in small wine barrels

We found the store very interesting and enjoyed walking around looking at the different products. This store was tucked away on a back street and we came across it, simply by chance.

One of the many great gems in Alicante.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

Spain

Alicante Fiesta

Today December 6, 2016, is an official holiday and fiesta in Alicante. It was a beautiful sunny day and we decided to take a walk downtown.  Along the way downtown, we came across an artificial hill made for sliding. It was decorated to look like a snow hill and people were using tubes to slide down the hill.

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Artificial hill made to look like a snow hill for sliding.
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View of artificial sliding hill in Alicante

The sliding area of the hill was made with white plastic and provided a slippery surface for the tubes. It worked fairly well and the children were enjoying the slide.

We then headed to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento which is located beside city hall. Christmas music was playing and a large Christmas tree was on display in the center of the plaza. We also found in the center of the plaza an outdoor skating rink with real ice!

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Outdoor skating rink at city hall in Alicante

People could rent ice skates and go skating on the ice rink. We watched as people enjoyed skating on the ice. It was strange to watch because the sun was shining and the temperature was 19 degrees celsius.

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Ice rink with Christmas tree and orange tree in Alicante

After watching people skate for a while we started heading home. As we reached the main street there was a parade taking place. We stopped and watched the parade which consisted of a religious procession. They played music and carried a large religious statue.

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Religious procession in Alicante Spain
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Religious statue being carried in parade

At the end of the parade was a truck which was throwing into the crowd small gifts to the children.

It was a nice and relaxing way to enjoy the holiday in Alicante.

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”