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 BodegaThe 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
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 ElcheRound 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 ElcheBirds 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 ElcheSome 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 ElcheMonument 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 ElcheThe 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.
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 ElcheWalkway 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.
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 routecrowds 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 routePolice 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.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.