We went to a new restaurant in Alicante called “La Flamenco Bar” located on Calle San Francisco. The street itself is interesting because it has large mushroom figures along the street. It is referred to as “Calle Seta” Spanish for the mushroom street.
Ray and Shelley on Calle Seta (Mushroom Street)
We arrived at the Flamenco bar shortly after it opened for the evening. We were able to check out the bar and look around before it started to get crowded. It was larger than we anticipated with lots tables.
Inside the Flamenco bar in Alicante
There were photos on the walls of key attractions from each province in Spain. There are 50 provinces in total and some of the photos were very interesting.
Photos on the walls of interesting places in Spain
We walked around looking at some of the pictures before finding our seat. There were some pictures of places we have been to which made it even more interesting to see the pictures.
Ray, Shelley, Liz, Felipe and Mike at Flamenco Bar with a picture of La Alhambra in the background.
We sat down at our table and waited for the bar to begin to fill up with patrons. It wasn’t very long and the bar was full of people enjoying a drink and waiting for the entertainment.
Full restaurant waiting for entertainment
The entertainment arrived and began to play some traditional Spanish songs. Although we didn’t know the songs it was great to listen to. The singer had a beautiful voice and the people sang along with her at times during the songs.
Entertainment playing for the bar.
People enjoyed the music and in some cases would get up and dance. There was one gentleman who danced a flamenco style dance and was quite entertaining.
Patron doing a flamenco style dance in the bar
The evening was an enjoyable experience and highlighted the great culture of the Spanish people.
On Saturday, we headed down to Rambla Street to check out the “Disabte Rambler” carnival event. This is the day when people dress up in different costumes and have a party on Rambla Street. We did up a costume and prepared to venture out into the madness of the “Disabte Rambler”.
Ray and Shelley dressed for the Carnival
We headed to the bus stop to wait for our bus. When the bus arrived it was full of people dressed in crazy costumes including yellow ducks, ninjas and kitty cats. We got on a street near the Rambla and met some of our friends at a local pub before heading down Rambla Street.
Ray, Mike, Liz, Felipe and Shelley before heading to the “Rambler”.
We headed towards the “Rambler” after having a refreshment to explore the carnival. Along the way, there were large crowds of people in costumes having meals or walking towards the carnival.
People in costumes having a meal at one of the restaurants along the way to the Rambler
We were amazed at the thousands of people in the Rambla Street area. There were costumes of all different kinds and every imaginable type.
View of Rambla Street on Carnival evening
We walked through the crowd admiring some of the unique costumes. People were dressed in elaborate costumes some which must have been expensive and time-consuming to make. We would stop and get a picture taken with some of the people in costume.
Ray with Carnival drag “Queen”Shelley and Felipe with a group of carnival “girls”Elaborate costume of the girl in Exorcist on bed which she could move throughout the carnival
Entire families would dress up in a theme and be in costume. We watched an entire family of candy walk by.
A large group dressed at “Congruitos” a Spanish popular candy
Even NASA and Donald Trump were present in costume at the carnival.
Group of people dressed as Nasa space explorers
There was a group of people who did a themed costume of Donald Trump. One was dressed as Donald trump, others were dressed up as a wall and others were dressed as Mexicans. When they would see another person dressed as a Mexican or immigrant they would form a wall and Donald would ask for their papers. We were even stopped at the “wall”
Donald Trump and his wall in the carnival stopping Felipe from passing.
Other costumes were silly and fun like the man in the box.
Costume of a man in a cardboard box
There were two stages set up on Rambla Street, one at each end of the street. They were playing live music and people were watching and dancing away.
Live music on stage on Rambla Street
We walked through the crowd from one end of Rambla to the other and then headed towards home. It was a very enjoyable evening and lots of fun. Next year we will be doing an elaborate costume to take part in the event.
There is a carnival in Alicante that starts on February 23rd and continues until March 5th. The carnival is full of different activities that include fireworks, dressing in costumes and other events. The carnival begins with a parade through some of the streets of Alicante ending with a big party at the Plaza del Carmen. The parade is full of people walking through the street some are dressed as devils and setting off fireworks and sparklers.
We headed over to the Plaza del Carmen early to check out the area before the big crowds showed up. There was a stage set up for music another section with a bar and some barbecue pits. We then could hear the parade approaching through the narrow streets so we headed over to watch the parade.
Parade procession through the narrow streets of Alicante
We watched the crowds of people gather into the Plaza del Carmen. Some people were dressed in capes, with makeup and wearing devils horns, others were playing musical instruments and singing. People were pushing carts full of fireworks and they were carrying bicycle wheels with fireworks attached.
One of the many carts used to push the fireworksRay standing beside one of the carts
Once everyone was gathered in the plaza they started to set off fireworks in the middle of the plaza. It was an amazing thing to see because the sparkles were raining down on the crowd.
Fireworks and sparklers in Plaza del Carmen
They also stood on the shoulders of other people to elevate the sparklers.
climbing up on the shoulders of another person to set off fireworksStanding on the shoulders of people to set off fireworks
We stayed and watched the fireworks show for a while and left once the live music began. The experience was unique and spectacular. What amazed Ray was the use of handheld fireworks and the lack of apparent concerns for injury.
Here is a small video to give you an example of the fireworks.
We went to the central market and decided that we would buy an Ostrich egg to try it. We went to an egg market stall called “Huevos Yolanda” that sold ostrich eggs. We asked for an egg and she explained that they are ordered and she would call when it arrived. We ordered one which took three weeks before we received it. We picked it up at the market and was surprised at the size and weight of the ostrich egg.
Ostrich egg being sold to us from the central market
We walked home carrying the egg like a football, being careful not to drop it.
Ray bring in the ostrich egg into the apartment
The egg was bigger than we expected and weighed 2.6 kilograms. Apparently, one ostrich egg is equal to approximately 2 dozen chicken eggs.
Ostrich egg compared to an extra-large chicken egg
We invited some of our friends over to enjoy an ostrich egg brunch. The brunch began with Champaign and orange juice and the breaking of the ostrich egg. I gathered up my hammer and a screwdriver to gently crack the egg. Everyone gathered around the table for the event. It was quite the adventure cracking the egg.
We put the egg into a medium-size stainless steel bowl.
Stainless steel bowl for the Ostrich egg.
We whisked the egg in the bowl and then cooked scrambled egg.
Cooking up the egg required two large frying pans.
Ray cooking up one scrambled Ostrich egg
After cooking the ostrich egg everyone enjoyed brunch. The egg was similar to a chicken egg but was a bit creamier in texture and taste. The one egg was big enough to provide enough scrambled egg for eight people.
Liz, Barbara, and Denise eating Ostrich egg brunchMike, Filipe, Ray and Mike having Ostrich egg brunch
Although the experience was very enjoyable and fun, I am not sure I would buy an Ostrich egg every week. The cost of one Ostrich egg is 33 euros or $46.5 Canadian dollars.
Muro is a quaint little town of 9000 people in the foothills of Sierra Mariola mountain. We took a small tour group to Muro to explore the unique little town. Our first stop in Muro was at a local family company called “Pericana de Muro”. The family business which is dedicated to the enhancement and elaboration of “home canning” has been established for generations. We were greeted by the owner and his brother and provided multiple samples to try.
Group at the Pericana with Owner Miguel
The owner “Miguel” is pictured in the original image of the business when he was a small child.
Family business logo and the photo of the original family Miguel is the small child in the photo.
Miguel treated us to a very warm and enjoyable experience at the Pericana. We sampled many different canned products with only locally grown organic produce. The different samples were extremely tasty. Miguel also made sure everyone was treated to a sampling of local wine. There is a tradition of sharing wine using a neat wine decanter with a large spout. Miguel demonstrated how the decanter worked.
Miguel demonstrating the use of the wine decanter.
Some of the people enjoyed the wine using the decanter while others drank the wine in a glass.
One of the people in our tour group enjoying the wine using the decanter method.
We sampled about six different types of canned items.
Some of the samples at the Pericana business
We tried all the samples, using bread and enjoyed them immensely. There were different products such as tomato jam, cod, and peppers even aromatic herbs with virgin oil and tomatoes. All of the products were locally grown and without any preservatives. Miguel was very proud of the products and was a very gracious host to the group.
Miguel and Ray at the Pericana.
After tasting the different products Miguel insisted that he take us for a tour of his hometown of Muro. We headed out for a walk of the downtown area of Muro.
Muro was celebrating their annual medieval festival and the entire downtown area was converted to a medieval theme.
Main Plaza area of Muro, Spain
We walked through the narrow streets looking at the various merchandise on display.
Vendors at Medieval Festival in Muro
We walked along the streets and we came across a group of people playing music.
Musicians warming up in preparation for the parade
They were part of the parade which was going to start shortly. We were greeted by a counselor who was part of the group leading the parade. We were invited to participate and walk with her in the lead of the parade. We walked with her to the main square as part of the head of the parade. It was considered an honor to be in the lead of the parade.
After the parade, we headed to a very old Bodega in town, called “Celler La Muntanya”. We toured part of the Bodega and went into the original cellar of the Bodega.
Stairway down to the original Bodega La Muntanya Cellar in MuroCellar of the Bodega La MuntanyaCellar hallway to different area in cellar
It was very interesting walking through the Cellar of a Bodega which was established for centuries. We then headed back to the courtyard of the Bodega for a rest before heading out to see the remainder of the town.
Liz, Shelley, and Barbara taking a break in the courtyard of the Bodega.
We then continued our walk into the center of town. There were numerous displays and shops along the way. One which we stopped at was very unique. The shop contained some great antiques and the owners were celebrating the festival and providing free drinks and snacks.
Antique store in Moro, Spain
Some of the interesting antiques included a Roman scale, old phone, tools and other old household items.
Scale from the Roman timesAntique phoneOld guy with an old mirrorFilipe and the owner of the antique store
The owner was very friendly and welcomed us into the back of the store to show us his favorite antique. In the back of the store, he had an antique street music box which played music when you crank the handle.
Antique Street Music box
He gave us a demonstration of the music box which played a traditional Spanish tune.
We had a great time with lots of laughs at the store. He treated us like a family guest which was very humbling. We then headed to the main square and checked out the Medieval festival.
Ray looking at the pastries in the MarketFresh dates being sold at the market
The entire town of Muro seemed to be very pleased to have us visiting their town. In fact, the local television station came and did an interview. I was trying to stay out of the media spotlight but they asked me and after only one year in Spain, I was on television again.
Ray being interviewed by the local Spanish television crew.
Muro is a very beautiful town and we enjoyed our visit immensely. It felt like we had a nice visit with close friends.
You must be logged in to post a comment.