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Spain

Wine Tasting in Alicante

Last Friday evening, we went to a local Bodega called” Esteban de la Rosa” What makes this Bodega special is a feature they have on the first Friday of the month. They have a wine tasting event where you pay 5 euros and enjoy the evening tasting the large section of different wines.

Esteban de la Rosa Bodega in Alicante Spain

We decided to enjoy Friday the 13th by going to the wine tasting event at the Bodega Esteban de la Rosa with some friends. We arrived and entered the Bodega which was quite large. They had a very large selection of quality wines from all over Spain.

Rows of Spanish wines at the Esteban de la Rosa Bodega
The inside of the Esteban de la Rosa Bodega

We paid our 5 euros and we were given a wine glass to use for the event. The process was fairly easy, you could simply walk around the Bodega and sample any of the wine bottles which were in a bracket on the pillars throughout the Bodega.

Wine bottles in brackets for tasting

We helped ourselves to some of the wines trying the different varieties. There was also pails and pitchers of water throughout the Bodega to pour out the wine and rinse your glass.

Ray, Liz, Mike, Shelley, and Denise at one of the wine testing stations

We also had some tapas to go with the wines. We enjoyed some local cheeses and other delicacies.

Assorted Tapas at the Bodega

We enjoyed Spanish wines, made some new friends and had a great evening.

Denise and Shelley at the Esteban de la Rosa Bodega

Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

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

Live Nativity Scene in Elche

Elche is a city about 45 minutes away from Alicante by train. Each year they have a live nativity scene. We decided to take the train to Elche and check out the Nativity scene.

We could see the beautiful walkways that led along the road towards the Nativity scene.

Walkway with Palm trees in Elche
Walkway in Elche

When we arrived at the Nativity scene it was unique and interesting to see. The setting was in the old quarter of Elche and the backdrop was a 16th-century church.

Elche live Nativity scene with old church in background

We strolled through the Nativity scene looking at the different structures. They had a Sheppard guarding his flock in one area.

A Shepard watching over his flock

Other areas we walked through had different structures.

A building in the live Nativity scene in Elche

There was a market area where you could buy some food and beverages.

Merchant selling tea and fruit

Merchant selling roasted nuts

We walked through the Nativity scene admiring it and came to the final section. We saw donkeys in a stable beside a manger.

There were donkeys in a stable beside the manger.

Then we came to the manger and we saw baby Jesus with Joseph and Mary.

Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus in the Manger

The recreation of the Nativity scene in real life was impressive and interesting. It was well worth the train ride to Elche.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

Spain

Huevos de Codorniz

We have been trying out new food since moving to Spain. One of the foods we have seen on many occasions is Quail eggs. I do not recall ever seeing them in Canada but they are popular here in Spain. We decided to try “Huevos frescos de Codorniz”. which means “Fresh eggs of Quail”.

Common Quail

They sell the small cartons of Quail eggs at most grocery stores and markets. We went to our local market and our vendor Christina told us they are very good served on toast with cheese.

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Quail eggs which are sold in Spain

We bought a dozen of the quail eggs and headed home to give them a try. Quail eggs are much smaller than chicken eggs about a quarter the size of a regular chicken egg.

Carton of a dozen quail eggs

Quail eggs are higher in protein and nutrients than chicken eggs. Their small size makes it very tricky to crack them open without breaking the yoke.

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Shelley cooked up four of them for breakfast in a small frying pan. The eggs were so small that there was lots of room left in the pan.

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four quail eggs in a small frying pan
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Two fried quail eggs on cheddar cheese and a half of a toasted baguette

We made some toasted baguette and enjoyed the quail eggs with cheddar cheese and a sprinkle of olive oil.

The meal was very tasty and the quail eggs taste very similar to chicken eggs.

“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”