Winter in Spain - Week Two

Sunday 4th December
First full day at the Villa

We drove to the other side of Javea for Lyn to go to the Anglican church service. It was a fairly long drive. While Lyn was at the service I took Button for a walk along the nearby streets. The weather was quite poor with some heavy showers. After the service we drove back. The route we chose was very steep and we had to use first gear for most of the way. In future, I think we will use the longer, more windy way. Morag would like that better.

I watched the highlights of the England Australia rugby in the afternoon. I'm glad to say that England won.

We both took Button for her evening walk and found a good circular walk through the nearby woodland.

We had roast chicken for our evening meal and watched Planet Earth II on the TV.

Monday 5th December
Shopping and seafront lunch

We drove Morag down into Javea to do our first main shop of the trip before Bob, Lucy and the grandchildren arrive tomorrow. The supermarket, Consum, was pretty good but shopping took some time as we were unfamiliar with the layout.

Once we had completed the shopping and transferred everything into Morag we drove to the Arenal beach and had lunch in Spasso, a seafront restaurant. The sea was quite disturbed with some large breakers. So much so that several people were surfing.

Waves at Platje de Arenal

Tuesday 6th December
Bob and family arrive

After breakfast and walking the dog we got things ready for Bob, Lucy and the girls' arrival. They were quite late arriving as they had some difficulty finding us. They arrived during a heavy shower. The weather has been poor for the past few days. Not what we were expecting!

We had lunch together and chatted for a while. I made the evening meal - pork in a tomato and olive sauce. It seemed to go down well with everyone.

Rowan feeding Amber her first solids!

Wednesday 7th December
Javea port

After breakfast we set out for Javea port. We wandered along the sea front in sunny warm conditions.

We had the Menu del Dia in one of the pavement cafes. Despite the wind and cloud in the afternoon, we drove along to the Arenal beach so that Rowan could have a short play on the sand.

In the evening we played Canal Mania. Bob won!

Lucy, Rowan and Amber on Javea seafront

Waves at Javea seafront

Thursday 8th December
Tapas and views

After the morning routine we drove up to the Montgo park and along to the Cap de Sant Antoni. The weather was cloudy but bright and we had some good views of Javea and its surroundings.

Faro de Cap de Sant Antoni

Cap de Sant Antoni

Rowan

Bob, Lucy, Rowan and Amber

Cap San Antoni panorama

Arisarum vulgatum ssp simorrhinum (thanks to Dan Eggleton for the id).

 For lunch we stopped at the Restaurante Amanecer. It was quite busy with people celebrating the public holiday but they found room for us on a very well placed table. We had Tapas and Postre for a snack lunch before going for a walk at Las Molins. This is a line of 10 windmill towers on the hillside overlooking the town. Several appear to have been converted into homes.

One of the Molins

View from the Molins

 We got back to the villa at 5:30 and were all quite tired so had an early night after a Pizza meal.

Friday 9th December
Shopping and a walk

While the rest of the clan went shopping I made some progress on getting this blog up to date. The weather continues to be poor with drizzle, rain and overcast skies; disappointing!

In the afternoon we braved the weather to walk to Cap de la Nao. By the time we had walked back to the villa the skies had begun to clear! A bit late!

Looking south from Cap de la Nao

 Bob and Lucy prepared the evening meal (which was delicious) while I read to Rowan.

Saturday 10th December
Posh lunch and trip to the beach

We all went to the Restaurant at Cap de la Nao for lunch. We had very well presented starters. Lyn had a whole squid (!) and Bob had an octopus tentacle.Lucy and I were a little more conservative with a starter of beans, black pudding and quail's egg. For main course we shared a paella. All very nice and the setting was spectacular but the bill was quite large!

Faro de Cap de la Nao

We travelled on to the beach at Portixol but by the time we got there the sun was too low to give much warmth. Despite this, Lucy, Lyn, Bob and Rowan paddled and I threw sticks for Button to chase in the sea. The road down to the beach was very steep and windy but Morag coped very well with the journey.

Portixol bay and island

Button waiting for another stick throw

Bob and Lucy at Portixol