Alicante, Coasta Blanca, Spain

Playa del Postiguet

Over 7000 years ago hunter gathers migrating down the Iberian Peninsula from central Europe stopped and made settlement on Spain's Costa Blanca. Establishing their base on the dry foothills of Monte Benacantil, they had discovered a gem: a clear blue ocean bountiful in fish and seafoods. 

Whoa- Alicante! 

Monte Benacantil

Centuries later the small city of Alicante is a flourishing Mediterranean port. An area without much defence it was continually conquered and stood no resistance to the influx of rulers flexing their muscles and taking over the desirable trading port. Rival armies, the Romans, the Carthaginians, the Goths, the Moors, the Castilians and eventually the Kingdom of Valencia all took their hands in ruling; fighting battles against each other on the hot sandy landscape.

The city specialised in rice, wine, olive oils, wool and oranges however in 1609 King Felipe expelled thousands of moors who were charged with cooperating with pirates (this was 400years after the Spanish reconquest), as they left so did the skilled labour which sent the city almost into bankruptcy until the late 19th century.

Today the beautiful and quiet port city focuses its interests on tourism, sharing its history and culture with not only Spain but also the rest of the world. The port is inactive but is a welcoming gate for cruise boats. Its soft sandy beaches are packed during the summer months, littered with cheerful umbrellas, white deck chairs and bronzed bodies. Barrio de la Santa Cruz, the old city quarter, with its narrow cobbled streets has an active nightlife scene and is decorated with flags and pots of flourishing flowers. 

Old town colour

Something smells fungi... 

Looking West 

Looking North (see the bull ring?)

We visited on the last Saturday or August, when many shops are still closed for summer vacation. 

It was a stunning morning, the sky with lines of pink strewn across a hazy baby blue grey. It was also still early so after stopping at the city's tourist information we decided to climb the towering Monte Benacantil and see the Castle of Santa Barbara which watches over the region. Keen not to get side tracked our map was sufficiently helpful and we quite easily scaled the Southside looking down over the city's entirety. The castle was built during the time of Muslim control and has an amazing location. 

Waving up Explanada de España

Waving down Explanada de España

In town, breakfast was finishing up but local tourists lingered over their coffee and tomato toasts. Slightly peckish we ordered a garlic potato brava dish and on a parallel road, claros and tapas. What a treat, ohh how we had missed the Spanish food. Hearts soaring, giddy and tipsy we waved ourselves along the Explanada de España, lined with palm trees and made from small squares of marble, people were walking up and down taking in their paseo or casual stroll. We ended up perfectly at the beach front (playa del postiguet) and scoured ourselves a spot next to hundreds of other beach goers.

Clothes on people! 

Visiting a Spanish beach is quite an experience as the Spanish really have far more body confidence than other nationalities and it seemed very normal for woman and men of all ages and sizes to wear as little as possible. Tops? Who needs them? Modesty? Nope- not here! Horrified at our paleness against neighbouring naked sun worshippers we spent lots of time in the clear warm waters of the Mediterranean bobbing in the waves.

This whitey won't be white much longer! 

Several hours of bathing in the sea, drying in the sun, bathing again, drying, bathing....and then we headed off for a late lunch. 

Feeling a little adventurous and excited we went on a self-made Spanish tapas tour, heading where our noses took us and probably one of the best ways to try lots of small portions of the local foods within a limited time! Alicante could be the home of tapas, with fewer restaurants than tapa bars! 

Cold wine, free tapa! 

Ordering our new favourite for lunch- eggplant with a molasses honey! The best part of impromptu tapa touring is you never really know what you'll get with your beverage! We tried mouth watering pork, crab salad, salmon and juicy garlic prawns and washed down with vino blanco or a small local beer!

Our bus home drove through the western desert-looking land but we missed it, sitting back, eyes closed, lost in our dreams of returning back another summer. 

Tot siens,

John and Kara