All Good Things ...

I forgot to mention in the previous post our evening in the Terra Cotta. For less than 10 euros you get a great 3 course meal AND entertainment all evening. As you'll see from the photo, the entertainment was live music with songs from the 60s and 70s including Dylan, James Taylor and Jim Croce plus one of his own numbers thrown in - plenty to sing along to..

Well all good things come to an end, and our holiday finished on Monday at about 11:15 as we arrived at Alicante airport to find the check-in staff were late and passengers were queueing almost out of the terminal building.

We'd been told that there was no simple bag-drop for those already booked in on line (which included us), but Eunice would not accept that and managed to get us into the priority check-in queue which was much smaller.

A week ago we'd left the rain behind to arrive in Spain in glorious sunshine and expected the reverse for our homeward journey, but to our great suprise and satisfaction, the weather in Blackpool, as we left the plane, was sunny and warm (by UK standards anyway) and even appreciated by Mickie who was sunbathing on the back patio at home and didn't even notice us arrive.

We've had a really fabulous week and want to thank Nina and Ricard so much for all the hard work they have put in to keep us occupied and to give us a holiday never to be forgotten.

I only took a few photos on the journey back, so I've added a few more of Richard's from earler in the week. Not quite asa well laid out as they deserve I'm afraid but I've been playing around with this for half a hour and cant get it any better. So that's it folks, time to say "adios, nos divertimos mucho, gracias por todo".

Peter and Eunice

Day 7 - Mission Accomplished

First a trip into Javea to collect Eunice's winnings. Euromillions lottery fever had struck our group on hearing that the jackpot had reached more than €100,000,000 and we splashed out a week's spends on 4 lottery tickets.  

Tensions were running high as we checked the numbers on Saturday morning to find we had a winner!  Yippee, but would it be enough for us all to give up work and live the life of luxury. 

The numbers were typed into the prize calculator on the Euromillions web page and there it was - €9!  Well not enough to retire on, but enough for coffee later that afternoon, so a result anyway.

Although the weather was looking a little dodgy (only 20 deg and a little like rain) we decided to tough it out and headed off to Granadier to do the castle walk that we'd abandoned on

 Friday. 

By the time we arrived, the weather had taken a turn for the better and 

we set off on the first part of the climb in sunshine.

The leaflet mentioned that there were a couple of difficult sections but as you will see from the photos these involved a certain amount of serious  mountaineering, hanging onto chains for dear life whilst hanging over the cliff edge.  

We all survived though and as our goal came into sight it was obvious that it had all been worth it.  

The castle itself was mostly in ruins having been all but destroyed by the British (hooray) in the

Napoleonic wars - but the views were magnificent.  

There was also a fine selection of wild flowers, far too many for the blog, I'll have to think of another way to get those to Tony.

The return journey was accomplished with relative ease now that we were hardened climbers, but refreshments were needed and these were taken in the cafe/restaurant which in Grenadier itself which has fabulous views across the cove.

Another cup of coffee and soup/sandwiches were taken back in javea outside Atica (I think that's how it's spelt) which also has great views out to sea.  

This was followed by a short walk into town to look at the newest church in Javea which (I believe) is dedicated to seamen.  

The ceiling (which was a bit difficult to photograph due to the lack of light) is built in wood in the shape of the hull of a boat and you'll see from the photograph that did turn out, the outside also has a nautical theme.

For dinner (or tea depending where you come from) we went out to a retaurant located at the foot of Montgo (Nina / Richard I've forgotten the name - can you help out?) where we had another superb meal.  The food in this part of Spain is so good and fantastic value

 for money, but it doesn't help the waistline ....

Days 5 and 6 - At Home

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).

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.

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.......

Day 4 - Hello Sailor

Just to make it clear about Wednesday night and our little party, it wasn’t a boozy teenager type do, this was a mature well paced affair that left us perfectly able to go for an evening stroll afterwards to watch the sun go down followed by an ice cream and a night cap…

.. and we all managed to get up in time to check out of the hotel, have breakfast at a small café just round the corner from the hotel and be off on our journey to Cofrentes by 8:30 am.

After a little problem over the booking, which was overcome with great diplomacy by Richard and David (avoiding the need for Nina to shed the blood of 52 Dutch people - single handed) the boat trip was a great success.

The Jucar river at this point is in fact a long reservoir created by a dam somewhere down stream (you can see it on Google maps if you’re interested – just search for Cofrentes, Valencia).

The old river valley has very steep sides with a few castles on the tops and is very picturesque. Again the photos don’t do it justice, but I’ve a short movie which shows it much better, but is too big to upload. After the boat ride, with temperatures soaring, we headed into one of the small villages nearby for some lunch, but could only find a bar where the hosts appeared to be still suffering the after effects of their party the night before – in fact it looked like it was still going on. We didn’t stop there long …

Lunch, or dinner really, was eventually taken down the road in Ayora, in a little café with a very affable host and although a little hot inside, was very enjoyable. It was hot inside because temperatures outside, at 4 o’clock, reached 32.5 deg C!

We bid sad farewells to Anne and David who made their way back to their home in Cehegin while we set off back to Javea, calling off at a couple of DIY stores to get some strimmer wire for Richard and a tea and coffee for us all.

After a quiet supper inside (temperatures outside had dropped to a rather chilly 18 deg by 8:30) and putting the world to rights (again), it was off to bed

Day 3 - Doing things the Spanish way

First of all apologies for the late issue of today's activities but as you'll note we're having a night away and I won't be able to get to the internet. Also thanks to Lucy and Tony for the butterfly information. Nina would like to know if it's rare in this part of the world.

Ok, on with today ....

Up at 8 and on our way to Requena. This is an ancient Spanish town with origins dating back to the first iron age and with buildings dating back to the 14th century .

Requena is to be our staging post for our foray up the Jucar river tomorrow. We've come with Richard and Nina and met our dear friends Anne and David here this morning. We will spend the night in Requena and drive over to Cofrentes early tomorrow for the boat trip.

Late morning and early afternoon were spent looking round the old town. There are many old buildings here which have changed little in the past 500 years, but some don't look like they will be here much longer! Zoom in on the photo of the church on the right and you'll see a huge vertical crack. Large steel beams are now the only thing preventing collapse. What the photo does not show is the row of terraced houses running down the side of the church on the right hand side only 2 metres away. I'm not sure I'd be able to sleep easy if I lived in one on those!

Just down one of the streets from the church, hanging on a nail on a house wall was a tatty old bit of leather which looked like it had been there for many years. It looks like a bridle with blikers and a nose bag, but I'm sure Sally will put me right if its not. You might have to look at the picture full size to make it out properly (just double click on the picture Sal).

At David's suggestion we decided to do things the Spanish way by having our main meal in the afternoon followed by a siesta and then a little party in the hotel lounge (at least the siesta's traditional here but I'm sure they party a bit too).

The restaurant was located in a very quiet little square (well it was till we got there) and we ate outside but under a canvas sun screen (I don't think I've mentioned yet that temperatures today were around 27 deg C - how's the weaher back home?). Everyone was taken with the very attractive young Spanish girl who managed the place , but only Nina with the somewhat less attractive older woman (or man depending on who you were listening to) who sat at the next table, but that's another story ....

Lunch (or should I call it dinner?) lasted a leisurely two and half hours and we're now half way through our siesta - thought I'd better write the day up before the party, just in case ...)

Tomorrow's update might be a little late too.

Day 2 Shopping, Pepe's and Cap Prim

This blogging business is not as easy as it seems. I've just re-read last night's eforts and found it a bit dull so tonight's will be a bit snappier.

We hear from Lou that the weather isn't too good back there, but here it's perfect - 22 deg C with no cloud.

First job today was to get something sorted for dinner tonight and this was sourced from an indoor market in Javea. Not your typical UK indoor market mind you. As you'll see from the photo it's located in an old refurbished church and very nicely done.

After lunch in Pepe's and an hours relaxation for us on the sun beds (not unfortunately for Nina who was stuck with preparing the tea - she's very good, never complains..) it was a short drive out to Cap Prim for a late afternoon walk, Cap Prim is a small peninsula jutting out into the sea. The last bit is a very narrow path with steep sides straight into the sea. It's very difficult to capture on film and the photo on the left is the best I could do.

Despite it being almost exclusively formed from a shale type rock there was quite a bit of vegitation including a lot of flowering plants (mostly vetch) which was attracting butterflies, the most exotic of which was this yellow one - any idea what it might be Tony?

Well that's it for today. Not quite as snappy as I'd hoped, but I'll get better........

The Adventure Starts Here

Well, we set off from home in the rain, flew out of Blackpool in the rain but arrived in glorious sunshine.

Picked up the car, a Ford Focus estate (deisel unfortunately) and managed the hour and a half journey to Javea without incident - right hand gear changes do take a bit of getting used to though.

Had afternoon tea in the sunshine and caught up with a few things beside the pool.

Then unpacked and spent an amusing half hour chasing the robot vac around trying to get a decent photograph (that's the futuristic looking thing in the last photo), before setting off for evening meal at the Montgo restaurant. You get really good value for money on meals in Spain, €9.50 gets you a very tasty 3 course meal with half a bottle of wine thrown in!

Then to finish off our first day we took a walk along the sea front in Javea (temp 20 deg C at 9:00pm) and had a coffee sat outside one of the seaside bars.

Wel, that's all for tonight - thanks for the comment Tone - I know Lucy has been having problems commenting, if any else is experiencing difficulty please email me and I'll see if I can sort it out.