Thursday, 29 January, 2015:
Out of La Hacienda at a decent hour for a Thursday excursion to Spain's Mediterranean coastline and the city of Alicante.
It took about 80 minutes by train
Alicante is located about 50 miles northeast of Murcia but our train was a Cercanía or local that makes several stops along the way. For a mere 6.90 Euros (about $7.80 USD) roundtrip, the pleasant train ride vistas were just fine with me.
A train station WITH a Tourist Info Center
What a novel idea on the Iberian peninsula!
Alicante has about 335,000 inhabitants that definitely caters to the tourist crowd seeking warm weather, cool beaches and great cuisine.
I found a lot to like about this city, like the art shown here in three pieces.
Piece One
Piece Two
Piece Three
A little early for dessert
Did I really just say that?
A ceramics store of interest
"God was the first potter and
man was His first pot"
Huertana
Alicante's Mercado Central
This looked quite interesting.
Butchers Shops on the Ground Floor
Sausages and Chorizos
Cheeses too
Seafood one floor below
Lots and . . .
. . . lots of seafood
Egg City
Verduras
Grapes
Strawberries
Peppers
A veritable Garden of Eden!
We need posters like this in Murcia
Armed with the detailed Alicante city map that I picked up at the Tourist Information Center, I saw another sight worth visiting just a few blocks from the Mercado Central.
Alicante's Plaza de Toros
Alicante's first bull ring was erected in 1732. This current Plaza de Toros dates back to 1849 but was rebuilt in 1884 and inaugurated in 1888.
Here they come!
It's a Bull Rush!
Over the Plaza de Toros' main entry doors
They had a museo!
And the entrance was free!!!
I love bull fight posters
Elegant
Colorful
Sultry
Matador Sculpture
Matador's hand on the sword thrust
Women love matadors in España
The pageantry of the corrida
An old Suit-of-Lights
Ceremonial Cape
And another one
I liked the spotted neck
That's a kill
1839 cartel about
"The Bulls of Death"
A model of Alicante's Plaza de Toros
The Arena from ground level
And from the good seats
They even have a bull fighters school
It was nice January day
to take your shoes off
So this man did.
I like blue buildings
While walking in search of a highly recommended place for lunch, I stumbled upon the Museo de Hogueras dedicated to Alicante's Fiesta de Sant Joan held in late June every year with fireworks and satirical effigies be burned all over town.
They have GIANTS at this festival too
Local groups create
the effigies like these . . .
Three Faces
Sea Creatures
Typical Family Life
A Sorceress
Mermaids
Penitents
Deranged People
Dragons
Fawns
The museo was definitely different but enjoyable and once again, free!!!
Now, I need to find the street where this good restaurant is located?
The right street at last!
That's it, the Cervecería Sento
I started slow with a caña and a chorizo tapas sized sandwich while making the acquaintance of my newest best friend/chef/waiter Alexander.
See, Alexander made this for,
and I quote, "My Friend George"
In 2013, the Sento won an award for the best new tapas creation in the city, the Lollipop.
It is a meat dish is delicious sauces . . . WOW!!!
I ordered a glass vino tinto to go with Alex's next tapas, a mini, mouthwatering hamburger.
Alexander hard at work
The Sento serves out the window
to the passing crowd as well
What is the name of that Real Estate Office across the street?
Pedro and Alexander
The two amazing chefs who run the Sento.
With the caña and the vino tinto gone, it was time for a café and a second Lollipop.
Alexander added the digestive on his own to help everything go down smoothly.
What a great, great place and experience!
When you're in Alicante, DEFINITELY go to the Cerveccería Sento located at Career Teniente Coronel Chapuli, 1, in the center of Alicante. Closed on Sundays.
Gelato next door?
Maybe later.
Did I just say that too?
A walk along the Med should help with all of the tapas digestion I would think.
Man Thinking
La Explanada de España
Beachfront Buildings
Man in Med
The Castillo de Santa Bárbara
on the hilltop
Multi faced Numbers
Alicante's sand beach
Playa del Postiguet
It was calm today
Dizzying Playa Sidewalk
Or maybe it was the caña, the vino tinto and the digestive.
Enjoying the Sun and the Sea
Time to head up to the Castle
Model at Work
It was a professional shoot of some kind do I joined in the action.
Old Doors
Not hungry again . . .
yet
Interesting Street Signs
Castillan and Catalun languages,
I believe
Colorful Bishop
Blue again . . .
. . . and again
Scary
Cool Vespa
I like Sundials
Blue from a new angle
I think it is pronounced Choyo
It was now officially "Later"
Gelato Time
Thank God for Elevators!
But a long tunnel to get to it
Alicante
"The Best Land of the World"
Vistas from the Castle
The Castillo de Santa Bárbara is still heavily fortified by . . .
Archers
Men with Spears
Men with Crossbows
and more Archers
Mano a Mano
Vista of the Castillo and the Med
Just the Med
More defenses
The Spanish flag flying proudly
Why is He so sad?
Heraldry!
Lots of . . .
Heraldry!
And a cactus too
Once I was done touring the Castillo, it was back down to the seaside after a thrilling elevator ride back into the bowels of the hilltop and the long tunnel walk back to the Med.
Green
What everyone will be wearing this Spring.
I took my time walking along and enjoying the seacoast as it was time to board the train back to Murcia.
I really loved Alicante and will plan for an overnight stay or two there when Laurie arrives, just not on a Sunday as the Cervecería Sento is not open on the Sabbath.
