One Week In!

 

We've been here in Santa Pola for a week now.  We are still getting our bearings!  It has been smoking hot the whole week!  Our apartment has a/c, but other than that first day, we haven't had to use it.  We have a fan to keep the air moving, and it cools down nicely at night.  

There have been local celebrations going on all week.  It appears Santa Pola is a very popular vacation spot for both foreigners and Spaniards alike!

Here is a bit of info on the festivals/celebrations of September:

From the 31st of August to the 9th of September, the Moors and Christians festivities and the Patron Saint Festivities of Santa Pola in honor of the Virgin of Loreto take place, with disembarkation, conquest and reconquest of Moors and Christians, parades, fireworks, flower offering to the patron saint, procession, children's games, and sports competitions. What else do you want?

The firing of the lighting is the starting point to the most authentic festivities of the Baix Vinalopó. A proclamation by a relevant authority and a musical show by the municipal band is the appetiser of the first day of the festivities, in which the neighbours are thoroughly involved, and tourists have a great time.

Entering the embassies

The moment of entering the embassies arrives. The Moors and Christians fight in a symbolic duel on the coast of Santa Pola during the week of the festivities. The spectacle of lights and the smell of gunpowder marvel everyone who walks through the streets of the town of Alicante.

The Moor and Christian comparsas are the real protagonists on September 1, 2 and 3. They participate in the morning parades, the disembarkation, the embassies, the conquest and reconquest of the castle, and of course, in the parades. The highlight of these days is the entry of Moors and Christians on day 3. A visual and thunderous spectacle for all audiences.

Another act that catches the attention of passers-by is the colourful parade of floats that takes place on the 6th of September, in charge of the Unió de Festers. Before, the popular 'Sopar del Cabasset' is celebrated, which usually has musical entertainment and children's workshops. Correbous and correfocs are also part of the agenda of events during the festivities.

Honours to the patron

The last two days of the local festivities of Santa Pola are devoted exclusively to veneration and acts in honour of the patron saint of the town, the Virgin of Loreto. Throughout September 7th and 8th they pay tribute with a flower offering, masses sung with sermon and a solemn procession. A large fireworks display sets the end of a week full of activities and fun. The fun is over, and we have to wait for more until next year.

There were fireworks displays as well, but at 1am, a tad too late (early) for an old guy like me!

Munchie is back in the kitchen, much to my delight!  Eating out every day in Amsterdam made me appreciate how much I love my darling bride's culinary prowess!  To say the least, I am eating well!

We are getting to know the owner of the little grocery store that occupies a corner of our building, "Pepe".  His english is about as good as my spanish, but we are both improving each day!  Brenda has already dropped off muffins and soup to "Pepe" much to his surprise and delight!  He responded by giving us a bottle of wine, a generous unexpected gesture!

We have also found another supermercado, a bit bigger than Pepe's, but close as well.  Munchie loves the meat counter, and has befriended the butcher, go figure!

I was at the pool Wednesday evening cooling down, Munchie was up in the apartment slaving away preparing dinner!  I met a fabulous family who share a family vacation apartment in the complex.  Alberto and Lidia and their two boys, Samuel (9yrs) and Max (12yrs).  The boys were a bit shy at first but soon were practising their english on me (which was much better than my spanish!) We were discussing favourite foods and cookies were mentioned, so I promised the boys some of Munchie's (then broke the news to my darling bride that I committed her to baking!).

I picked up my mountain bike from Pacco on Wednesday evening (Sep 7) and on Thursday morning took it for a spin up to the Mirador Del Far De Santa Pola.  It was a great ride, although I did take a side trail that would have been no troubles, if I were a few years younger!  I need to keep exploring and see what trails I can find that better suit my age induced limitations!  I did bring along my gopro camera so if I can figure out how to post some videos I can share some of my trail rides.

The Mirador De Far, was pretty cool!  I was up there at sunrise, it was pretty awesome!

Awesome sunrise!

Munchie would not like this view!  A number of her phobias would come into play!

That is the city of Alicante off in the distance.

Cheers to all!  Please keep checking for new posts (I'm trying for weekly updates!)