Tag Archives: Retirement abroad

Spain

Fogueres parade

The Fogueres parade was held on Saturday in Alicante. The parade is made up of all the different neighbourhoods who have created a foguere for the festival. This year there is a total of 89 different neighbourhoods creating a foguere. We headed down early to the centre of Alicante to watch the parade procession.

The parade route was lined with chairs which could be rented for a few euros. Some people rented the chairs while others looked for seating in outside pub areas.

IMG_20160618_190307455_HDR
Chairs aligning the entire parade route

We had some time so we walked to Alicante city hall and checked on the progress of the foguere being constructed there. They have added a lot more to it, but there is still quite a bit more to finish it.

IMG_20160618_184759085_HDR
city hall foguere being built

After checking out the progress of the foguere we went back to watch the parade. The parade started with the official elected children (ninos) and women (mujeres) of the 2016 Fogueres.

IMG_20160618_192608956_HDR (1)
The official women of the 2016 fogueres
IMG_20160618_192541494_HDR (1)
The official children of the 2016 fogueres

The procession of official women and children dressed in their ornate dresses and hair pieces led the parade. After the official women and children procession, each neighbourhood foguere group was in the parade. There was a total of eighty-nine different groups. They each had a specific banner identifying their specific  neighbourhood.

IMG_20160618_193812748
Banner of specific Foguere group

Each group was dressed in their own colours and had a music band playing along with them in the parade route.

IMG_20160618_194806791_HDR
Parade of Fogueres in Alicante

We moved along the parade looking at the many different designs of dresses and enjoyed the parade immensely.

IMG_20160618_195413531
Selfie at the parade

The parade was very long and went on for quite a while.

IMG_20160618_194543307_HDR
View of part of the parade procession.

There was a mix of ages, from the very young to senior members in the parade.

IMG_20160618_194813056_HDR
Young child in parade sleeping through the event
IMG_20160618_192816844_HDR
Children of all ages were participating in the parade
IMG_20160618_195128991_HDR
walking in the parade young boy and girl in traditional clothing
IMG_20160618_193958623_HDR
wearing traditional shoes and clothing

The colours of all the different groups were spectacular. The traditional dress and clothing were very ornate, colourful and amazing to see. Below are a few of the groups in the parade and a short video of one of the groups band. We definitely enjoyed the parade and all the wonderful traditional dresses on display throughout the parade.

 

IMG_20160618_192822261_HDR
Young girl wearing traditional blue dress

IMG_20160618_194604772_HDR

IMG_20160618_195334947_HDR (1)

 

IMG_20160618_194309494_HDR

IMG_20160618_194852966_HDR
parade members wearing traditional red dresses

https://youtu.be/j0OTw1GM7HA

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”

Spain

Teatro Principal in Alicante

On Wednesday evening, we went to a show called “The Hole” which is a live burlesque style adult comedy in Spanish. It was being held at the Teatro Principal located in the old quarter of Alicante. The theater was built-in 1867 and has massive pillars at the front entrance area.

IMG_20160615_195000709_HDR
Teatro Principal in Alicante

There is also a statue of a bronze torso located in the front of the theater.

IMG_20160615_193653355_HDR
Bronze statue at Teatro Principal in Alicante

We headed down to the theater early and stopped into the Teatro bar located right beside the theater. We enjoyed a drink and tapa then headed to the theater.

IMG_20160615_191427380_HDR
Shelley enjoying a glass of wine before the show

We entered the theater and could see that the entrance area was fairly small with only two doorways into the theater. There were two side areas which contained a bar and restrooms.

IMG_20160615_193939270
View of inside entrance area of the theater.

We headed to the door and presented our ticket to the ticket person. We then told us something in Spanish “???????? Segunda planta…”  We knew segunda planta means the second floor, so we smiled and head to the second floor to find our seats.  We were not able to find our seats and there were other patrons having the same problem. We walked around looking for our seats and finally found an usher who took us to our seats. Our seats were plush, roomy and provided a lot of leg room. It was the best seating in a live theater we ever sat in. The view was excellent and we could easily see the whole stage area.

IMG_20160615_212659864
View of the stage from our seats

We were surprised at how small the theater was. There were two small balcony areas and the main floor for seating. The small theater made it easy to see the show regardless of where your seat was.

IMG_20160615_201446971
Balcony areas of the theater

The show was quite interesting and there were lots of acrobatics on ropes above the stage. There was a woman’s character who narrated most of the show.  She was apparently quite funny because the crowd was laughing a lot, we didn’t understand much of the dialogue but it was still quite funny and enjoyable.

“adios y que tenga un gran dia”

Spain

A Friday night in Alicante

The Hogueras de San Juan festival is getting ready to ramp up. We took a relaxing week and enjoyed the weather and quiet time before the big fiesta. On Friday night, we went downtown and walked around the boardwalk.

IMG_20160610_192236203
Boardwalk in Alicante

There were lots of people enjoying the weather and  taking in some of the vendors selling their wares along the walkway. There was a birthday party and music going on as well. We walked the entire length of the boardwalk taking in the sights and sounds.

IMG_20160610_193703597_HDR
Children’s Birthday party along the boardwalk

Once we walked the entire boardwalk, we headed into the old quarter of Alicante. We walked around the cobblestone streets and found a Thai restaurant called Thai Corner.  and decided to go in for dinner.

IMG_20160610_203036924

We ordered a selection of appetizers which were very tasty. There were two of each kind of appetizers on their menu.

IMG_20160610_204206235
Thai appetizer plate with two appetizers of each type

We then decided to share the steamed sea bass with Thai sauce.  It was also very tasty and even Ray enjoyed the fish.

IMG_20160610_210226169
Steamed sea bass with Thai herbs chili and lime juice.
IMG_20160610_213005900
Shelley enjoying the Sea Bass

We enjoyed the meal and finished off with one of their famous  desserts.

IMG_20160610_212811852
tasty dessert

We shared the dessert and did not waste any of it. We truly enjoyed the ending to a perfect meal.

IMG_20160610_213235265
finished off the dessert.

We then headed home to rest and prepare for the upcoming festivities which are going to be very busy time for us. The schedule is quite busy and we plan to try and take in as many events as possible. The Hogueras de San Juan is one of the most important events in Alicante. They have been ramping up and getting ready for the big festival.  Stringing lights and getting ready to display the over  200 large satirical paper mâché statues all over the city.  It will be a busy time and we are looking forward to the festivities.

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”

Spain

Wine canting summer festival

Monday evening we went to the annual wine canting summer festival. It is held in the gardens of  the Museo Arqueológicohe in Alicante.

Entrance to wine canting festival in Alicante
Entrance to wine canting festival in Alicante

We met up with the InterNations group and headed into the garden area. Each of us received a coupon which provided us with a free wine glass and three sampling coupons for wine. Some of the InterNations group posed for a picture before heading off to find the perfect glass of wine.

IMG_20160606_194754754_HDR
InterNations group at the start of the wine festival

There were over 20 different wineries known as “Bodegas”  from all over the Alicante region. There is a very long and rich wine history in the Alicante region dating back to the 15th century.

IMG_20160606_200457283_HDR
Some of the many wines available for tasting at the festival

With only three coupons the challenge was finding the best wines to taste. We went to the first bodega and had our glass filled. They did not want our coupons and so we knew it was going to be a good evening.

IMG_20160606_194350112_HDR
One of the Bodegas providing samples at the wine canting festival

There were lots of people at the festival and we mingled with the crowd. We met some interesting people and learned all about the wine industry in the region.

IMG_20160606_194346712_HDR
people socializing at the wine canting festival

The organizer of this InterNations event was Felipe who was very helpful and introduced us to restaurant owners, winemakers and other people from the area.

IMG_20160606_210203889_HDR
Shelley, Liz, Felipe and Mike at wine canting festival

At the end of the evening, we headed home with our wine glasses and two remaining coupons. It was a great evening and very enjoyable.

IMG_20160607_194517331
Our Wine canting Festival glasses

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”

Spain

Sailing the Mediterranean Sea

3 Comments

Friends of ours were going sailing on Sunday and invited us to come along. Sunday was a beautiful sunny day with a nice breeze, perfect for sailing.  We headed down to the marina to meet them and go out onto the Mediterranean sailing for the day.

The marina in Alicante
The marina in Alicante

We arrived around 11 a.m. and climbed aboard the “Hegaldi” sailboat. Mike and Liz were preparing the sailboat for the launch. We wanted to help but not knowing anything about sailing we were more of an observer than a worker.

IMG_20160605_110216112
Mike preparing to launch the sailboat

Once we were underway it was a slow maneuver out of the large and crowded marina. There are boats of every  shape and size in the marina.

IMG_20160605_111059275
Different boats in Alicante Marina

IMG_20160605_155608177_HDR

Once we were out of the harbor Mike and Liz raised the sails and we were underway. We stayed within sight of the coastline and sailed east. The water in the Mediterranean sea is a beautiful azure colour.

IMG_20160605_123717344
Azure colour of the Mediterranean Sea on coastline of Alicante

It was such a peaceful and quiet way to travel on the water. There was only the sound of the waves lapping at the boat and the wind in the sails. We travelled around six or seven knots on average and had a beautiful view of the coastline.

IMG_20160605_143059728_HDR
Shelley and Ray with the coastline in the background

We sailed for approximately two hours and then anchored at a nice beach area. We enjoyed lunch on the boat and chatted for a while before heading back to Alicante. On the way back Mike gave us the helm and let us steer the boat, (not really there is an autopilot that kept the boat going the right way) but it made for a good picture.

IMG_20160605_143138053
Ray pretending to sail the boat

Like any good team, my co-pilot also gave it a try.

IMG_20160605_143210606
Shelley at the wheel of the boat.

We had an enjoyable sailing trip and saw the Alicante coastline from a different vantage point. I brought along my brand new selfie stick and tried it out. Mike and Liz were good sports and let me take lots of pictures.

IMG_20160605_142303936
Ray, Shelley, Mike and Liz sailing on the Mediterranean sea

We were sailing for about four hours and the sun was quite hot. When we finished sailing and docked the boat we decided to head to a local bar for a nice cool and relaxing drink.

IMG_20160605_162957362_HDR
Ray, Shelley, Mike and Liz at local bar having a nice drink

The bartender was quite attentive and generous with the alcohol. There was plenty of gin in the gin and tonics.

IMG_20160605_170129273_HDR
The bartender poured the gin and tonics using a  freehand guess as to an ounce of gin. He wasn’t very good at guessing correctly.

We finished off our drinks and said our goodbyes. It was a wonderful day and very enjoyable.

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”