Winter in Spain - Week Seven

Sunday 8th January
Barbecue

We drove to Javea town for Lyn to go to the Baptist church while I drove up to the Montgo Park and took Button for a walk. Despite the bright sunshine there was a cold wind.

I picked Lyn up after the service and we went back to the villa where we had a barbecue. It was pleasant sitting in the sun but as soon as the shade came we were too cold to sit outside.

We had a Skype call with Bob and Family. A bit chaotic with a lively three year old but it is nice to stay in touch while we are away.

View looking north from the Montgo plateau

Monday 9th January
"New" coats

We took a trip down to the Arenal to see if we could find some coats to replace those stolen. We found good quality coats in a charity shop which fitted us well. We also bought a temporary replacement for Lyn's handbag. All in all a good bargain at a total of €17 for all three items.

We went on to Spasso's for a drink and tapas then took Button for a good run on the beach. The beach was nearly empty as the children are back at school and families have returned home. On the way back to the villa we called at Nigel and Maggie's to borrow Maggie's Pilates mat as Lyn is going tomorrow with Sue.

The Parador from The Arenal beach

We had a fry-up for tea to use up some of the stuff in the fridge. Afterwards I took another star trail photo.

Star trails from the roof terrace at the villa

Tuesday 10th January
Pilates and Music

Lyn went to the hairdresser down the road from the villa while I took Button for her morning walk.

After a snack lunch we drove to Sue and Andy's to collect Sue for the Pilates session in Benitatxell. We had some difficulty finding the place but arrived just in time for their class. While they were Pilating (?), I drove down to Moraira to take Button for a walk and have a beer.

Iron sculpture on Moraira beach

And from the other side

In the evening we drove back down to travel with Sue and Andy to a bar in Moraira for an acoustic music evening. There were some good performers there and we all did a turn at singing. We had a really good evening.

Wednesday 11th January
The Cowboy and the Witches

We went to El Gaucho for lunch with Sue and Andy. The food and service were excellent. We all had very good steaks as our main course - the El Gaucho speciality. We were served with several extra taster courses as well as our chosen starters and desserts.

The El Gaucho restaurant

Lyn, Sue and Andy enjoying our steaks

Lyn and the cowboy's horse

After the meal we took Button, who had been waiting patiently in Morag, to the beach. She did her usual playful running and digging. She was a little reluctant to go in the sea as the waves were rather fierce.

Big waves at the Arenal

Sue and Andy came up for a game of "The Witches" in the evening. Lyn won.

Thursday 12th January
Scallops and DVD

We spent the morning doing some preparation of Morag for our journey onward on Saturday. We went down to Scallops for lunch and sat outside in warm sunshine. Button got another run on the beach. The sea was much calmer today.

Button digging again

Back at the villa we had a simple tea and watched a DVD, "Johnny English". It was quite funny but not a great film.

Friday 13th January
La Boheme 

We continued loading up Morag for our journey tomorrow. We'll still have some more to do in the morning but it shouldn't take too long. 

We returned to La Boheme for our lunch as a celebration farewell to Javea. The meal was just as good as last time.  We both had fish as our main course; Tempura Cod for Lyn and Thai Green Curry Fish and Seafood for me. Button got her last run on the Arenal beach after lunch and we returned to the villa after doing a little shopping for our onward journey tomorrow.

Saturday 14th January
To Cartagena 

We spent most of the morning finishing  packing Morag and tidying the villa with lots of dog hairs to remove! We left at about 11am to meet our friends at Scallops for brunch. Next time we see Sue and Andy they should have completed their move to England. 

We made our way to Cartagena following the coast road. The road was busy and progress was slow,  particularly through the towns. We found the motor home park in Cartagena very easily. It was small and rather cramped but surprisingly well equipped  with free Wi-Fi, electric hook up, dog walking area, toilets and showers and laundering facilities.  There was even a visitor lounge with TV and books; all for €10 per night! When we started to make our tea we realised that we had left all the contents of the fridge at the villa! No cheese, milk, fruit juice and white wine! We found a nearby shop and restocked. We asked Sue and Andy to go and raid the fridge in Javea.

Winter in Spain - Week Six

Sunday 1st January
New Year's Day

We got up pretty late today. I had a slight hangover. At lunchtime we drove down to the Arenal to watch the New Year swim. About 50 people, many in fancy dress, took to the water. Not us though!

New Year swim

We met Sue, Andy, Maggie and Nigel in Spasso for a drink then went to Scallops for lunch. We had a good meal for very little cost. After lunch we took Button for her walk before heading back to the villa.

As sunset approached, I drove to the Cap de la Nao to take some photos.

Golden sea at Cap de la Nao

Sunset at Cap de la Nao

Monday 2nd January
A quiet day

After some shopping at the small Saladar supermarket we drove to Maggie and Nigel's. We met their dogs and I was able to print out my insurance documents for Morag. Lyn was in her element surrounded by eight dogs.

Tuesday 3rd January
Highway to Hell

We drove up to Pinasol to meet Sue and Andy and visit a clearance shop called Highway to Heaven who were having a sale of stock. Our friends in Javea affectionately know it as "Highway to Hell!" The shop is at an English pub and bowling green. The green was in good use. We all grabbed some bargains at the sale.

Bowling in the sun

We went from there to Scallops restaurant for our breakfast.

In the afternoon we drove up into the Montgo park and went for a walk with Button from the picnic area.

The Ibiza ferry returning to Denia

Wednesday 4th January
Pimms

After another Scallops breakfast we took Button for a walk near the Parador. This section of the coast has blocks of the sandstone cut away forming what at first look like ancient walls of buildings. I think that they are actually the result of quarrying the stone for decorative use locally. There were several rock pools here and Button had great fun chasing the fish!

Chasing fish!

The stone quarry

We went to the Arenal for a drink then on to Andy and Sue's apartment for Pimms and a snack. It was very pleasant sitting in the sun and chatting with Sue, Andy, Maggie and Nigel.

Lyn at the Arenal

In the evening I had a go at using the live comp facility on my camera to take star trails from the roof terrace.

Star trails from the roof terrace

Thursday 5th January
Three Kings

Our third Scallops breakfast was followed by another walk for Button in the rock pools near the Parador.

In the evening we drove down to the Port to see the festival of the arrival of the Three Kings, a major festival all along this coast. It was very interesting with spectacular costumes, drum bands, dancers and live animals.

The Kings arrive - by boat, not camel!

Joseph, Mary and Jesus

Gifts for all the children - I didn't see one for Jorge

King Melchior

Geese, part of the parade of farm animals

King Caspar throwing sweets to the children

King Blathazar

Once the parade had passed, we went for a drink then Andy, Sue, Lyn and I went to Scallops for a steak.

Friday 6th January
Robbed!

We drove via the motorway to the Albufera de Valencia, a large lagoon about 50 miles north of Javea. We were disappointed that we were unable to find any good bird watching or walking areas. We stopped at one viewpoint where it was possible to take a boat trip on the lake. We passed up on the opportunity because of Button.

Tourist boats on the Albufera

We drove on to El Palmar, the main town in the Albufera park, and walked through the town. We were surprised at the huge number of restaurants, all set out for meals in the sun. The car park had been empty when we arrived. Where were all the customers to come from? We stopped for a drink at one of the bars and returned to the car park to find it absolutely full. It seems that the whole of Valencia comes here on Three Kings day for lunch!

Restaurants along the canal in El Palmar

We started on our way back and stopped at El Perellonet for a picnic on the beach. The extensive beach was all but deserted. We threw the ball for Button who had a good time on her birthday.

Button on her eighth birthday

When we returned to the van we were surprised to find the passenger door unlocked. We didn't realise until much later that the lock had been forced and Lyn's handbag and our coats had been stolen! Luckily they had not taken our passports, which were in the glove compartment, or Lyn's binoculars which were under a cushion on the back seat. The thief must have forced entry and taken the handbag and coats and scarpered quickly.

Once we got back to the villa the evening was spent ringing banks to stop credit cards

Saturday 7th January
Javea Town

We went down to the Arenal to meet Sue and Andy for a drink. Button had a good run on the beach. There were a few less people around today now that the Three Kings festival is over. We did a little shopping for the evening meal as we had invited Sue and Andy to join us.

We drove into Javea Town to report the theft to the police but arrived too late as the police station had closed at 2 pm. We walked around the town for a while and had a hot drink at a bar.

A street in Javea old town

An interesting take on Christmas decorations

Javea market hall. It looks old but was built in 1948

Sue and Andy arrived at the villa in the evening. We had a fish and chip meal and played a game of "Canalmania". I won - at last!

Winter in Spain - Week Five

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.

New Year fireworks with Montgo in the background

Andy and Lyn

Lyn and Nigel

George and Sue

Lyn with New Year decoration

Sober as the next man!