Alicante

In Alicante we stayed in this lovely place in the old town. La Milagrosa Hostal was in a very old building but the room was beautifully modern. However, we recommend against electronic flushing toilets since ours went on the blink and began flushing every 30 seconds. It as fixed however so we could press the button and watch the light blink while it flushed!

Our place had a lovely rooftop terrace where breakfast would have been eaten if had not been so cold. 

The view was good. This is the Castillo de Santa Barbara. 

From our side window we looked at this lovely old church.

On the facade a statue of Santiago of pilgrim fame. 

And directly below our window on the street side, these signs. The blue one says Camino de Santiago. Inicio. (Beginning)

And here two pilgrims are starting out. The second one is actually not the guy on the far side. He is wearing the black backpack just going around the corner, but his Santiago shell is visible, as is that of the smiling man looking up. We had just called to wish them a Buen Camino. 

Across the street was this wonderful staircase. 

And up another street an amazing view of the Castillo with that suspended guard tower. 

We visited the Castillo using the elevator after walking through this long tunnel which was probably about 500 feet long. 

To arrive here at the base of the Castillo proper. 

Which, surprise, offered expansive views. 

And a look at that suspended guard tower. 

A passageway. 

This great piece is actually a collection of broken pottery, many of the pieces decorated since it a collection of shards of old saucers and plates. 

Two rustic (rusty) Knights battled it out on the plaza. 

And a sentinel stood guard at the suspended guard tower. 

Here's a view over the seaside aspect of the town. Our hotel is visible just to the right of the boxy grey building on the centre lower left, across from the tower. 

There's a well at the very top too. 

I tried a panorama with my camera. 

And here is Geordie being nonchalant on top of the Sant Jordi Tower. 

A lovely vista. 

The delicate arches used to support the walls of a chapel.

Wherein you will find this small niche. 

A very rustic set of steps. 

These pictures show the extent of the castle over time - 1575.

1709

1986

Down at sea level, a beach scene. The wind was blowing creating mini sand dunes on the beach. 

But this man stood placidly in the water looking to shore. 

Near our hotel was a small pottery shop with this plate which we did not buy. 

There was also a great Tapas place nearby with creative food. This was a simple way of keeping the napkins in their place. 

Our waiter gave us a small snack of jamon serrano while we waited for other food. It's sitting on the menu. 

This slate held two popsicles of rolled jamon which had been grilled, glazed and torched, then topped with a sweet jam. 

They specialized in sandwiches, each for €1.30. These two were peppers on melted cheese with a quail egg, next to one with bacon and ham. 

And patatas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) served with a dark spicy sauce called mojo from the Canary Islands, and several dollops of Ali-oli also known as garlic mayonnaise. A confession, that day I ate mayonnaise for the first time in my life - twice - and survived. And had it again at a different restaurant the next day on another meal. And again tonight. Seems I can't avoid it. 

Remember that grey blocky building in the photo where I said you could see our hotel? That was the Art Museum across the street from our hotel too. It was partially funded by an artist named Sempre who was a strong collector and had amassed quite a few pieces by well known artists which he donated to the city. Interesting to note that he was from a well connected local family and lived with his long time male companion. 

Here is one of the pieces from the collection. This is one of several by different artists of the same man. They were pieces done by local artists who had been funded with scholarships by the city to study art in Italy. Many of these artists returned to their natal city and created wonderful work, many of which were also acquired by the city for future generations. 

This was a portrait of the very famous Spanish painter Goya done by one of these artists. 

And this scene is in the Alicante harbour. 

Down on another street, this municipal building had these gorgeous pillars. 

While on a search for a shop to buy socks (unsuccessfully) I walked on this street that had been decorated rather whimsically. 

And found this shop. I didn't try them out. 

I also found a yarn store on the same street. It was closed, but I asked next door and was redirected to its new incarnation where I bought some yarn as a souvenir. 

This yarn, by a Spanish company called Katia. 

Along a street between our hotel and the Sento Tapas Cafe we found this building with its Poem of the Barrio. And socks. 

Finally, a night time view of the Castillo from our hotel street. 

And that was Alicante.