GLABOW - George,Lyn and Button on Wheels: Winter in Spain

Monday 26th December
Boxing Day

A relaxing day at the villa. We had a tapas lunch in the sunshine in the garden.

Tapas lunch

Lyn getting a tan

After lunch I took Button to the Creu de Portixol for a walk. We walked along the waymarked path to Cap Prim. The weather and the views were magnificent.

Portixol island from the Cap Prim walk

Portixol Island and bay

Cap Prim

Panorama to the south from Cap Prim

Panorama of Javea, Montgo and Cap Sant Antonio

Anothe view of Portixol Island

In the evening we had Arroz Negro, black rice with seafood, for our evening meal. The rice is blackened with squid ink. It was tastier and nicer than I had anticipated.

Tuesday 27th December
A trip inland

We drove back down to Creu de Portixol to take the other waymarked path down to the sea. although quite steep in places the path was quite easy and we ended up at the Portixol beach that we had visited a couple of weeks ago with Bob and family. The Barraca Bar was not open so, after throwing a few sticks for Button, we made our way back up the hill to Morag.

Creu de Portixol and Portixol Island

Portixol Bay

Button and her stick

Sea Urchin cases on the beach

We drove on to Xalo, a little way inland. There wasn't a lot to see there though the church was quite attractive. We had a beer and a snack and drove back to the Arenal for Button's evening walk - and another beer!

The church in Xalo (Jalon)

In the evening we had a Skype call with Lindsay and Tracy.

Wednesday 28th December
A meal with friends

We met with Carol (Lyn's old school friend) and her partner Richard at the Arenal and went with them for lunch at La Boheme. We were very impressed with the restaurant. The service was excellent and the food and presentation the best we have had so far in Javea. We all started with mussels in a Thai style sauce, probably the best dish of mussels I've tasted. I followed with a dish of oxtail with a potato purée which was delicious. The others had steak and said that it was very good too. The presentation of the meals was most attractive and I would rate the experience as the nearest to fine dining we have had in Spain.

Lyn and Carol had a good chinwag and I got on very well with Richard. We parted company after the meal and Lyn and I took Button for a run on the beach.

Button relaxing after a hard day at the beach!

Back at the villa we played a game of "Canalmania" in the evening which Lyn won.

Thursday 29th December
A party

We drove to the port for a stroll in the bright sunshine. We saw quite a few yachts taking advantage of the good conditions. We had a lunch of pizza at one of the restaurants on the esplanade, then made our way to the supermarket to buy something to take to Cheryl and Roger's party this evening.

Mending nets at the port

Lyn and Button

Sculpture on the esplanade at Javea Port

We enjoyed the party and meeting new people and especially enjoyed the excellent buffet with contributions from the guests.

Friday 30th December
A longer walk

Lyn stayed at the villa as her hip was playing up while I drove Morag down to the port and went for a walk up to Cap Sant Antonio. The path up was steep and stony but very well waymarked. Once up at the top, near the lighthouse, I stopped for a snack and a rest. The next part of the walk was over more level ground to the old windmill towers, Los Molinos. I could hear shots from a nearby hunt but didn't see any of the hunters.

The start of the walk - and the climb!

View towards Cala Tango from Half way up

At the top, Sant Antonio lighthouse

From the old windmills the path dropped steeply down to the town eventually becoming an unattractive footpath along the backs of some houses. A short stretch of road walking took me back to the port and Morag.

At Los Molinos - the old windmills

Morag awaits my return

We had invited Sue and Andy for a curry in the evening. After we had eaten we played a game of "Canalmania". Sue won - I came last!

Saturday 31st December
New Year's Eve

We drove down to the Arenal and had breakfast at La Botanico. We weren't impressed with the breakfast. It was pretty basic and somewhat undercooked. We won't be going back. We took Button for her walk on the beach then drove back to the villa. We both had a siesta to ready us for the evening.

We drove back down to the Arenal and met up with our friends at Spasso for our New Year's Eve meal. The meal was good and the company excellent. At midnight we toasted the New Year in with a glass of Cava and tried to eat 12 grapes while the chimes sounded - a Spanish New Year custom. There were fireworks from several locations along the beach.