I’m getting a bit behind so Friday’s and Saturday’s itineraries are being combined in this post.Friday was spent in and around Javea. Following a leisurely breakfast we drove into Aranel which is the holiday maker’s end of Javea with an imported sandy beach and more coffee places than you could shake a stick at. (have a look on Google earth for Pje del Amanecer, Javea).
Eunice and Nina went shopping while Richard and I went for a short walk along the front. Lunch comprised a typically Spanish affair with tea and crumpets for Eunice and Nina and ham and cheese toasties for me and Richard served by a waitress with a Yorkshire accent – well it was the touristy end of Javea!
The plan had been to have a short walk after lunch, go back to the
Villa (which by the way has been named Casa del Valle) and then to go for another walk after tea, but the temperature had dropped a little (22 deg) and so we decided to stop out as it might be too cold later on. You may 
consider us fair weather walkers, and you’d be right.
It was well worth it with fantastic views across the bay to the port in the north and Cap Prim (where we’d
walked on Tuesday) to the south . (Google earth ref Paseo de l’Ecsala Ampuries - walk south from the end of the road along the beach and then up the cliff to Calle de Casablanca and Ctra del Portixol for a while).
The plan had been to have a short walk after lunch, go back to the
Villa (which by the way has been named Casa del Valle) and then to go for another walk after tea, but the temperature had dropped a little (22 deg) and so we decided to stop out as it might be too cold later on. You may 
consider us fair weather walkers, and you’d be right.It was well worth it with fantastic views across the bay to the port in the north and Cap Prim (where we’d
walked on Tuesday) to the south . (Google earth ref Paseo de l’Ecsala Ampuries - walk south from the end of the road along the beach and then up the cliff to Calle de Casablanca and Ctra del Portixol for a while). 
Lots of wild flowers too (Tony - the flowers shown in the photos were all
shot in the wild and didn't appear to be graden breakouts). We spent quite a long time watching a bird splashing about in the sea apparently having a real good scrub, before climbing out onto a rock to dry off. There's a photo of it somewhere in this post - quite where I'm not sure as anyone who has tried using will know, it is infruriatingly difficult to locate them properly in Blogger. 
Anyway, todays question is - What is it?
Back to Casa del Valle for supper followed by computing and piano recitals. The computing consisted of two frustrating hours trying to get
my photos on Richard and Nina’s laptops and Richard’s onto mine. Anything that could go wrong did.
While this was going on Nina entertained us with a selection of classic pieces and a rendition of Yesterday played with a split keyboard (strings left hand and piano right) on her new Roland digital piano (photo taken Saturday afternoon).
Today (Saturday) we went into Aranel again for some domestic shopping and another vanilla slice for Nina and then back home for lunch. We had intended to go for a walk up to Granadella Castle but (horror of horrors) it started raining, and although temperatures are holding around 20 deg we decided to stop in and do some chores and hope for better weather tomorrow.
Back to Casa del Valle for supper followed by computing and piano recitals. The computing consisted of two frustrating hours trying to get
my photos on Richard and Nina’s laptops and Richard’s onto mine. Anything that could go wrong did.While this was going on Nina entertained us with a selection of classic pieces and a rendition of Yesterday played with a split keyboard (strings left hand and piano right) on her new Roland digital piano (photo taken Saturday afternoon).
Today (Saturday) we went into Aranel again for some domestic shopping and another vanilla slice for Nina and then back home for lunch. We had intended to go for a walk up to Granadella Castle but (horror of horrors) it started raining, and although temperatures are holding around 20 deg we decided to stop in and do some chores and hope for better weather tomorrow. 
So the photographs have finally been successfully transferred and the blog is nearly up to date. Tonight we're eating out at Terra Cota and it's time to go and get ready, so what I've missed today I'll try to get in tomorrow's post.......
Gosh - I was only expecting one photo of the weeds! Thanks, I will search in my field guides try and name some of the flowers before you go home! Fortunately the bird is more certain - it is either a cormorant or a shag. Both dry their wings like this. Cormorants are bigger and have white cheeks (can't tell from the photo).
ReplyDeleteObviously an excellent time of the year to visit, it looks gorgeous out there at the moment.
Your views on the bird confirm Richard's. It was a bit too far away to get a good view, the photo was blown up from a max zoom (only 3x with my camera). It did, however, have yellow legs and feet if that helps at all.
ReplyDeleteLovely piano that!....Oh heck, neither cormorants nor shags seem to have yellow feet - maybe wellington boots? Tentative ID on terrific flower photos: 1 Pine - I think Aleppo Pine. 2 Red things by the sea - haven't got a clue!! 3 Mallow/Lavatera. 4 Red Hottentot Fig. 4 Yellow Wort (Blackstonia). Pink plant - I would guess Marjoram...
ReplyDeleteAny chance of you nipping over to Barcelona as Jenson is just about to start off the Grand Prix from pole (again).....
More great photos & Nina looks to be a natural at that piano! Hope you have a lovely final evening - we're looking forward to your return and seeing the rest of your photos. Have a safe journey x
ReplyDeleteThanks for your ideas on the flowers Tone, the yellow feet caused Richard some concern too .. He suggested that maybe this was a young bird.
ReplyDeleteDidn't make Barcelona - too busy as you'll see from the latest posting.