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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3072 |
17th February 2017 Hiking - Walking: Around La Villa Joiosa and Alicante Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny Max Speed: Distance Covered: Friday 17th February – walks ***** Around La Villa Joiosa and Alicante – sunny Nice night at La Villa Joiosa with only the sound of the sea:) Yesterday’s waves had disappeared as the wind had dropped light. While I laid in and read Mag had a good wander around La Villa Joiosa. After breakfast Mag took me on her walk up through the lovely old town with another part in ramparts we hadn’t seen yesterday and back along the quieter rocky beach running under some cliffs. Back to the van to head off to Alicante. We needed a shop and soon spotted a Lidl sign and after going around the block a couple of times we found the entrance! Alicante is more than just an airport for thousands of tourists, there is a top castle in a commanding position overlooking the town with a big marina and nice beach:) We soon found the signs for the Castillo De Santa Barbara and the steep road to a parking place just under the walls. We packed some snacks some cheese straws and a savoury flaky pastry pie bought at Lidl (we hadn’t got a clue what it was and it ended up being an English breakfast with filo pastry on the top – very healthy!!). After a long meander up the various paths – 20% up! - we entered the castle and were looking for the pay booth but ….. it was free, we couldn’t believe it as it was great, huge, on several levels with amazing views around. We spotted a bull ring and blue tiled churches and various turrets and spires - it really had the feel of Morocco about it but there is a historic link to that part of the world as well as a Roman influence. There were several rooms to visit containing relics, pottery mainly and some fun metal sculptures in the shape of Knights in armour fighting, the kids young and old loved them! We made it to the very top and sat on a low wall having our snacks sharing them with Sparrows and gulls in lovely warm sunshine:) There were also several noisy little yellow Serins singing in the trees. There was a long wall a bit like the Great Wall of China leading down to the town which we followed and were soon in the narrow streets with street cafes of mainly Spanish enjoying a meal or a drink with Tapis. We came to a wide tiled walkway by some lovely old buildings but had to cross a very busy dual carriage way which runs along the seafront to get to the marina and the green man took ages to appear but you did get a countdown screen to keep you occupied while you waited! It was a big marina/harbour with several big expensive boats including a huge very fake wooden replica galleon which did look a bit out of place and was a restaurant. We walked past the casino and found a nice seat overlooking Alicante and finished our snacks before heading back the long winding path to the van with some serious up! We were out for over three hours covering 4 miles and were knackered but I had spotted what might be a suitable place to park for the night at the end of the prom and luckily, we managed to find it after a couple of attempts. We are right by the old station away from the busy road near the paved pedestrian roundabout at the end of the prom where everyone turns to walk back. We enjoyed a welcome cuppa watching the world go by – particularly a very small boy playing with a ball with his Dad for ages. We had Lidl prawns, vegetables with rice for tea. Then when dark we had a walk back along the prom which is paved in the most crazy 3D paving tiles which make your route ahead look like the giant’s causeway! The castle was all lit up and I took some night shots, the best being a yacht (Pirates of the Caribbean) from the Volvo round the world challenge which is high up above a roundabout! So, another good day in Spain we are warming to this tourist heaven :) Photo Gallery Here |
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