Homeward bound, well after a Alicante street party or 2! …..

NYBs and I decided to opt for one last night in Alicante, basically as our flight was so late it seemed silly not to use the time to our advantage. Arriving to find our taxi couldn’t get us to our hotel door, because the city is about to go into full swing of street parties and the streets need to be closed off, meant we had to wander up and down the street to find our hotel on foot. Unfortunately as the place was called (an unflattering) Hostel on the Internet (which meant we were more than a little worried it was a dump) we ended up missing even When we actually walked past it 4 times (yes we are stupid English people) because it had a huge sign saying Hotel rather than Hostel!!! But happily the place was rather better than we had feared. Clean, adequate facilities and the staff were lovely, in fact everyone we met in this city couldn’t do enough for you.

Our first couple of drinks was sat in a lovely street cafe bar, which we had discovered a few years back ‘ Bar Soho’ a small pavilion bar with fabulous trees with lots of weird roots which Spain tends to sprout, which gives a surreal feel to it. The generous servings of drink came at a price (unfortunately for the kitty) but we enjoyed it till it came time to watch the festival processions part of the towns celebration this week.

The processions turned out to be rows and rows of women dressed in traditional costumes with brass bands (or Kazoo Bands as NYB F called them, he not being too impressed with the tunes they were producing). I think each local clan/village must have had its own tradition dress code and local (kazoo) band, unfortunately it seemed to go on on ages and lucky (or not for NYB F) repeated the next day. The NYBs were disappointed there were no floats (they deciding this was Rio rather than Spain!! Apparently). There were rather large cartoonist type statues placed around the city (in the absence of floats I expect) and big they were. To me they seemed reminiscent of Betty Boop era, mildly erotic and mad at the same time, well perhaps its the Spanish way!!

The night seemed to go on forever, this city doesn’t come alive till 11:30pm at earliest and around every corner the streets had make shift discos and seatings, where it looked like whole families were sat enjoying the music (all Spanish music – unfortunately we don’t have the ear for it we agreed). We did last till early hours before finally admitting we were too old to keep it up and treating ourselves to yet another ice cream an ‘after midnight treat’ before heading off to bed.

In the morning we packed and headed off to wander the city and sample tapas and local beers till it was time for our nighttime flight. We started with breakfast on the main street, adding to it a local Brandi with coffee as the Spanish people do around 10:30am (according to Brother that is). I found I liked this local custom and could see how it is so popular (hic). Meanwhile NYB P, pointed out everyone he thought looked as if they were on their last day too, saying “they are going home today”, this conjecture was based on no real evidence and was probably based only on the fact he didn’t want to be the only homeward bound people around. I also like how he is tackling the Spanish language this trip, with his phases such as ” hang on, hang on, one momento” which we pointed out was mostly English with only 1 Spanish word attached (which was for cosmetic reasons – we reckoned). But still none of us are very good at the language and if our teachers were marking us we would all get a “must try harder” in red pen for our effort.

We headed off to the Marina in the afternoon, as we like the ships and boats docked there, you just know that you have to be massively rich to have one of these beauties. As we took turns to point out which one we would have if we ever won the lottery (if I ever put it on that is), we agreed we would need to be rich enough to get a driver (or is it as Captain on a ship?) too as we didn’t have the foggiest idea how to sail something like a boat. We ended the marina tour with a lovely Chinese meal (well, when in Rome or what ever -as they say) and a look inside the Hotel Medinez, which looks huge from outside and is bigger (it seemed) on the inside. This allowed me to have a spin behind the bar, part of this years hobby is asking to be photographed behind interesting bars, (Barology – I call it) there is no reason to do this other than just because I can and no one ever says no). So with photo wonderfully taken by pretty barmaid we spend a little time on the rocks looking at the beautiful coast line. We suggest that photos can look very samey and perhaps we should not always look at the camera directly. A bit like those old 70s knitting pattern photos were the men stand and point off into the distance while wearing striped mint tank tops (oh where did those sexy fashions go!). Unfortunately NYB P is a bit like a Pavlov Dog when it comes to getting his photo taken. He can hear a camera getting ready from a hundred paces and immediately sets a pose, even when we tell him to look away, you can see the strain on him trying to comply. Well it’s in his blood and who are we to try and force him to change!

At the end of our last day in sunny Spain, we think about what we are going to do when we get home. Well NYB P does, NYB F seems rather like me, he is neither thinking about it or not. Instead we try and keep the relaxed atmosphere going for as long as possible inside and out. I know I don’t want to eat chips or ice cream for a while, I do know I want to catch up with family and friends, a week seems a long time for some people to get into chaos even without me. Holidays are like that I find, you leave people behind who you do life with and spend time experiencing life that can only ever be temporary. I know Brother spends a lot of time here but even he admits normal is back in the UK. For me, I never come home for the place, I come home for the people who spend their mad, bad and glad times with me. They are my home and if ever I do move away I will keep them in my heart as that they say is where your home should be.

Lorca shaken not stirred…..

“I always knew looking back on the tears would make me laugh, but I never knew looking back on the laughs would make me cry.”
– Unknown

Our last full day with Brother and Good Lady Wife was to be a local journey, spending the morning in the local town of Lorca which has recovered really well since the earthquake, just over a year ago. Brother had been there at the time in his village but apart from a little tremble didn’t really notice it, while Lorca took quite a bit in damage and people died, so quite serious.

A visit tends to be the same thing, a wander around local shops which seems like its is mostly shoe shops (or so I think – not being a good shopper) and a hell of a lot of banks. Either they grow money here or they just like banks. Today we visited the local market where the fruit and veg look like they are mutants, huge and odd shaped but very fresh. NYB P loved it while NYB F struggled, holding himself back from heading directly to the little coffee shop and opting for a early beer. But he managed to wait till we had at least done one circuit before settling down to his first beer.

Going anywhere with NYBs and Brother tends to be the same, wander for 30 minutes, then enter a little taverna/coffee shop for a beer/coffee (I am resident driver this holiday it seems, so only non alcoholic for me!). All the while the four of them are sharing stories, while I tend to amuse myself by photographing anything that’s looks interesting.

Brother has never stopped talking since we got here and Good Lady Wife is fearful he will get a sore throat from the onslaught his vocal cords have taken this week. I suppose living in a foreign country means you miss the easy conversation with your fellow Brits. Or put it another way Brother is a professional, it’s in our genes and no stopping us. He and Good Lady Wife are such a committed couple, accepting each other for who they are, they are normal, but where other people tend to niggle about each other they seem to accept each other no matter what. Both of them want the other one to be happy, even at the expense of themselves , and neither of them could ever accept a life apart. This seems such a rare thing today, but you can’t help hoping that although rare, it is still a possibility with the right people, who are willing to be accepting and have the ability to love the other person more than themselves.

I always like to go looking at the rich houses of Lorca, its a pretty walk through a tree lined avenue. I like to imagine the Lorcan people who live there, wondering what do they do for a living, do they have a big family born from Spanish royalty, I will never know but maybe one day will get inside one of those houses. This little gated estate tucked just behind Lorca High Street is a treat to visit, and can be easily missed if you don’t know it’s there. I love a little tapas pavilion tucked right in the middle which reminds me of our pavilion in the local park at home (it bares no resemblance but it still reminds me), sadly today it was shut when we arrived, but never its not a fail, as we find another tapas bar at the end of the avenue, here Brother tries yet again to get us chips/fries returning instead with plain crisps (failed again), he really needs to learn Spanish better!!

Spending our last night in the village, partaking of Pepe’s large measures, I go looking for the sunset again across the Campo (a large open space behind the village, where you can see across to the mountains). I love doing this alone, the village is quiet, friendly villagers say Buenos Nachos as I walk past not caring that I am obviously a stranger (more strange than most, some would say), taking photos of stray cats and dogs as I walk by. Sunsets never fail to get to me, they seem to say “you have had your day, be grateful for it, it was made just for you. Never forget the beauty each day offers, it was meant to be enjoyed so hope you made the most of it as its never going to be repeated exactly the same. But remember as this sun disappears, if you need to make amends on what you didn’t or did do today, remember to pray to God, thank Him for today and ask Him for another day to put things right, and if thats not to be, pray that those you spent the day with, were left knowing how much you loved them, after all that’s the point isn’t it?”

Getting back to one of Good Lady Wife’s delicious suppers (including real chips – diet next week), we talk about how lovely both of their houses are and thank them for making us so welcome . Being in their company is relaxed and fun so much that you can’t feel sad at leaving and feeling very tempted to book to come back next month! Tomorrow we will hug and say goodbye and be grateful we have shared their dream, homes and company even if it’s only been for a short time and we always have the memories to take with us and the hope of another time in this little Lorcan retreat…….

Growing up is only an option ….

Flying into Alicante instead of the local airport nearest to Brothers has an advantage – its call Alicante night out. Landing at 8:55 pm means operation ‘get to hotel as quick as possible, dump cases, change clothes (well me at least) and be sitting outside a taverna with a local brew by 10:30pm! ‘ Add to this a traditional festival procession walking by, close enough to see the details of the beautiful outfits, be amaze that the kids are all up so late, including babies which would all still be out till at least 1am.

After a stroll along the harbour stopping a couple of times to partake in further local brews, including a very romantic stop, close by the harbour side. Well romantic if it hadn’t been me and the lads! Plus if NYB F hadn’t spent most of the time fretting NYB P and myself we sitting perilously close to the edge (would never be allowed in good old UK- such is our caring health and safety laws – and the dumb dumbs that frequent the drinking places).

Heading home (well realising we were lost and seeking Spanish assistance to tell us where we were). We found ourselves in the middle of a thriving area full of people laughing, drinking and hanging out. Our equivalent to the Bigg Market ( but more up market). This was now 2am and the place looked in full swing. We of course were shattered, but were happy to finish off the night with a ice-cream treat as we walked along. This is so continental (and calorie free being on holiday).

Before going to Brothers we spent the day around Alicante town which never fails to please. Walking along the harbour again to have breakfast at the romantic stop this time with the boys sitting near the edge and in the sun and me sitting at a table behind hiding from the sun ( such a English rose as I am or a red beacon in the sun).

Finding a craft fair with stalls and about 100 people sitting making fine lace, (there must be such a thing as lace clubs here). It looked so complicated and something we decided we wouldn’t take up. With our fill of local culture (all 10 minutes of it) we find a real pirates ship to visit, it turned out to be a pub/restaurant with a recreated feel of a Spanish war Galleon (a pirate ship NYB P insists). Who cares for 5 euros entrance which includes a drink I am in!!!!

Enjoying the photo opportunities inside playing royalty (or whatever I didn’t want to play slaves and master). We plan to have lunch across the harbour at a favourite place called Fosters (home from home). NYB P opts for the kids menu (uh oh, looks like he will be sharing NYB F as it will never fill him). Seems us treating ourselves to ice-cream and a pirate ship has brought the child out in him. To make his day when we started our walk back to the hotel to drive to Brothers, we find an adult rocking horse!!!! Yes there is no reason to grow up, this is shouting at us as we put in our euro and feel the gentle rocking, made even more special because we can get on it together, what a bargain!!! We know growing up is only an option and we are not going to do it anytime soon.