My Spanish breakfast

I know that I am obviously going to sound a bit biased in my opinion but for me Spanish gastronomy is the best in the world.

Since I have lived here I have been introduced to so many different fruits, vegetables, types of meat and fish, ways of preparation and cooking along with customs and traditions, what is eaten when and where, etc.  It has enabled me to appreciate the culture so much more in its depth and diversity and if I had to live anywhere outside of Spain I know that one of the things I would miss the most would be its gastronomy.

The breakfast that I like to order when I go to a cafetería or bar is so simple but I had never had it nor thought of it before living here.  You can only really order it in east and southern Spain because whenever I have asked for it on my trips to Catalonia or the north like Santander or Bilbao I was told it wasn't what they serve for breakfast.

You ask for: "media tostada con tomate, zumo de naranja y café con leche"... and maybe you should add "por favor" at the end.

The toast

People don't really use sliced bread over here.  You can buy it in supermarkets or in some bars or restaurants it will be the bread for a sandwich (same word as in English).  But people generally buy a stick of bread (where I'm from in the UK we would call it a French stick) or barra de pan.  There are many types of these barras but that will be another post.  This is the type of bread they typically use for the toast and it is a media because it is only one half.  If you want more you can skip the "media" part of the sentence and they will give you both halves.

Tomatoes are extremely important to this area in Spain with the Murcia region being probably the largest producer and exporter.  Also, if you see in your supermarkets in the UK the tomatoes from Muchamiel or Muxamel (in Valencian language) then they are from the huge greenhouses you can see if you go up the Santa Barbara castle in Alicante, as Muchamiel is a small town on the outskirts of Alicante city.  There are many different types of tomato with some new species being created too with commercial success.  I will highlight some in a later post.

So what's on the toast is basically a tomato pulp of squashed, peeled tomatoes, although in some areas of Spain they serve it with a lot less quantity as they simply cut a tomato in half and rub the toast with the inside part.  (In some places as an appetiser for lunch I have had pieces of toast rubbed not only with tomato but they firstly rub a clove of garlic over it a few times before rubbing the tomato to give it a kick.  It's delicious!)

You will notice two sachets on the plate too.  One is olive oil and the other is salt and if these condiments are not already on the table you have them there to put on top of the tomato to your liking.  I put salt first then drizzle a little olive oil over.

The juice

Freshly squeezed orange juice is widely available in bars and cafes in this area and the south as there are many orange groves producing oranges for domestic consumption and export.  They sometimes serve the orange juice in stemmed glasses on a little plate and also give you a sachet of sugar to add if you like the juice really sweet.

The coffee

And finally the coffee.  It's another world. Coffee can be prepared in many different ways and I will have to go over it one day in a post.  A cafe con leche is literally a coffee with milk.  If, like me, you like your coffee quite milky then ask for a leche manchada.  This means 'stained milk'.  If the waiter knows you are ordering a coffee they understand that you want them to add just a little coffee to the hot milk, enough to 'stain' it.  However when ordering this anywhere outside the south eastern corner of Spain I had to be specific because this term was not used to describe this type of preparation there.  Coffee on its own in Spain is much stronger than your usual type in the UK so be prepared that if you order a simple coffee with milk it could still be stronger than you are expecting.

The time of day

As for the time of day that they have breakfast here, most Spanish leave home without eating anything and their first break of the day in their work schedule is the breakfast (desayuno) or morning snack (almuerzo) one and is usually from 10am to 10.30am.  You can usually order this kind of breakfast or morning snack detailed above until about 12pm.  After that you might as well just go for something bigger like a bocadillo!

If you love tomatoes, like I do (as over here they are rather tasty), and want something refreshing and relaxing try to order this breakfast combination next time.

Alicante AWOL and something about property

You will usually find Alicante quite empty of its inhabitants in the months of July and August.  The funny thing is (funny for me because I can look at it from the outside and its something I haven't seen anywhere else) they pack up their summer clothes and stuff and head to their apartment at the beach... just under 7km down the road!  Alicante city itself has a beach!

Google map marking the distance between Alicante city centre and San Juan beach centre

  
I think that this could be because 'before' (I will have to explain what I mean about 'before' in another post), Spanish people in general did not travel abroad for holidays.  Why would you? The weather here in Alicante is very good so why spend money going away when you can kind of fake a summer holiday staying in your beach property down the road?  And these small apartments that they go to are nearly always in an urbanisation with a swimming pool ready to cool off in during the painfully hot months of summer.

Its a Saturday afternoon and the street where my shop is should be busy with people heading to the market but its quite empty!  People are doing their summer move or organising their months holiday.  (It could be interesting to explain the typical work holidays in this area which I will do in a future post as it is influenced by certain things and in turn influences ways of life.)

Of course, nowadays, we all holiday in different ways since low cost travel opened up the world to explore.  The younger people of today are not so able to buy property since the prices rose to levels proportionally above the wage range for this area.  They holiday at different times of the year much like we do in the UK but not your typical beach holiday.  Many young 20 and 30-something-year-old Spanish are even still living with their parents as they are unable to get on the property ladder!

Property trends

The Alicantinos tend to buy property rather than rent their homes and so down the generations some can even accumulate properties by inheritance.  Its quite strange as before the economic crisis happened, people were buying the new properties that were being built in the construction boom and there were so many older properties vacant in Alicante centre.

Now though, these places are being snapped up by investors as they are getting sold off by those who cannot pay the upkeep or can afford to renovate them.  Also, they are finally getting a little more business-minded here because many who buy and renovate are for short term rentals as Alicante city is increasing its popularity for foreign visitors.

The building opposite my shop was totally empty before last year when an investor bought the whole thing and renovated it from top to bottom.  It is now holiday apartments with a reception, internet station and laundry on the ground floor, and is always full.


So if you come during these two summer months you may find Alicante city a little quieter than normal.  But this could mean its easier to find a place to stay!

Climbing Calpe

We took a visiting friend to Calpe at the weekend to climb up the Parque Natural del Peñón de Ifach (Parc Natural del Penyal d'Ifac in the local Valencian language) as we have done so many times.  It's not too hot to do an energetic walk and scramble up the rocks at the moment and we wanted to show him the lovely views.

Calpe port area

The Peñón is a huge limestone rock jutting out in the sea and linking the land by some rock debris forming two bays on either side.  It's a natural park and a trail has been created to take you up to the rock all the way to a lookout point (mirador) at the farthest end, or you can hike up to the highest tip at some 330mt above sea level, which is quite high considering you are kind of in the sea!  However a word of warning, you should go with trainers on your feet at least if you want to reach the highest point.  There are loose rocks and there are accidents every now and again, one of which I witnessed on a previous visit.  If you are careful step by step you will enjoy it and be rewarded with the satisfaction of conquering Calpe.

Go through the tunnel but be careful...
the rocks are slippery!

It is free to access but at some times of the year its closed so check before you start your ascent.  On this trip we got to the tunnel and out the other side, but we couldn't proceed any further because the seagulls are currently nesting and rearing their young and recently hatched.  There are also peregrine falcons and some semi-domesticated cats living on the rock.  It's also home to some rare plant species which have flourished in this micro habitat.

Clear blue waters

As you go up and look back to Calpe you can appreciate the lagoon that is separated by the sea from the sandy beaches either side of the Peñon.  It's what remains of a more extensive wetlands area called the Marina Alta.

If you go at a different time of the year and can get to the top or the mirador then on a clear day (and with some excellent binoculars) you can see the island of Ibiza, so I'm told.

It's funny but when I downloaded the photos I realised that I hadn't took a photo of the impressive 'Peñón' itself from down there in Calpe.  I suppose its because I have seen it so many times and didn't think about the post when I was walking towards it.  If you google 'Calpe' you will see a photo of the huge rock.  If any of you have been to Gibraltar you can imagine what its like... just smaller and without the monkeys.  Apparently the Phoenicians called it North rock and Gibraltar was South rock, guiding them along the Iberian coastline.

Frustrating fiestas and stinky streets

We are oh so that much closer to the annual local fiesta called Las Hogueras de San Juan (the bonfires of Saint John) which officially runs from 19th to 24th June every year on those dates.  However the preparations are already underway with the bonfire artists putting the finishing touches to their creations before being transported and planted in situ in the 100 or so sites around the city ready to be judged in the competition, and there will also be more 'mascletà' displays in the weekends before the main events.

But this fiesta also brings me my deepest frustrations with Alicante city and its people.
I'm afraid that there is a rant about to come...
Along with lots of fun comes lots of cleaning up to do.  No-one likes to clean up after a party as we all know, but the streets are the responsibility of all who enjoy the delights of the 24-7 fiestas.

If it's your first time in the city during the time of the fiestas you could come away with a positive and a negative view.
On one hand is the positive fact that the whole city converts into a big, happy party.  You can't escape the music and there is always something to do.  Not just partying but there are cultural and religious elements to these fiestas that are important to maintain.
However there are negatives.  Many of the streets, especially those in the centre of the city are cut off to all traffic as the barracas and party tents take over and the sculptures dominate the intersections and plazas.  If anyone wants to continue a normal working life during these dates its virtually impossible.  Don't even consider bringing a car into the centre at these times as you won't find parking or be able to move about easily.

What bothers me most of all is the stench!  Alicante is a dirty city to me in general and as it hardly ever rains the streets don't get washed down anywhere near as often enough.  Throughout the year people with dogs (and there is a large amount of households with one or two little doggies here because that's all that can fit in the small flats that are built) let their pets wee everywhere: up any corner, lamp post, litter bin, public bench and shop facades, especially mine!  They are too lazy to look for an alternative because most of the time they don't really want to walk the dog anyway.  I have calculated that I spend an hour a week just mopping the pavement outside my shop and its facade because of the dog wee that awaits me every morning.  Public spaces are drenched in it and when the sun gets hot it really draws out the stink and the whole town smells.  I am not exaggerating.

Now you can imagine this, coupled with the whole of Alicante out on the streets drinking: where do they go to relieve themselves?  Where do you think? Men AND women.  They do put some portaloos out on some of the streets but its not enough.  So its bound to happen, you get caught short and cant find a place to go.  I understand.  But the least I expect is for each and every one the streets to be cleaned at least immediately after the fiestas or even during.  Especially the quiet side streets because thats where people go to pee.  But no.  The aroma is overwhelming.  It's disgusting and not enough is done about it.  I'm sure with what extra is brought to the coffers during the fiestas a special cleaning service can be put together.

That's all I really wanted to say in this post because I wanted to warn people of the reality of the situation especially during these upcoming fiestas.

What is your impression of Alicante?

Best blue flag beaches

One in 5 beaches in Spain given the distinguished 'blue flag' grade are found on the Costa Blanca.
There are 62 beaches and 13 ports with sporting facilities in the province alone.  Three of the criteria for the recognition are unpolluted sand, quality of the water and good services and access.  The 4 jewels in the crown of the Alicante coastline have been given the 'blue flag' every year without fail for the past 30 years.  These 4 unbeatable beaches in Alicante are:  Fossa de Calp, the Racó de l'Albir (l'Alfàs del Pi), the Carrer la Mar del Campello and the wonderful Playa de San Juan in Alicante.

Playa de San Juan in Alicante

The Playa de San Juan is always our preferred beach.  Its a whopping 6.2km long with a 100m depth in some areas.  It is used all year round in the winter the volleyball teams set up their nets and in the summer the whole of Madrid comes for their holidays to the area.

There are restaurants on the seafront with some 'chiringuitos' (small bars) right on the sand so you can hang around and chillax way after the sun goes down.  It is a quieter area in terms of nightlife and shops so it is recommended for those who really want to get away from it all.  Alicante city is just a short 5-10 minute drive away so its not exactly in the middle of nowhere.

However if you want to go snorkelling or prefer rocks to sand then, if you have a car or motorbike, head to the Cabo de las Huertas.  I think there is a small part or one of the coves that is a nudist beach (I was told that as we were sailing around the cape on my uncle's boat but I didn't try to pick it out with the binoculars).  Unless we go with friends I try to stay away from the sand as it just gets everywhere.  And if Im feeling really lazy, just to pool in my urb...

Pine Processionary pests

Every year the Pine Processionaries come out of their nests high up in the local pine trees in April time and march along... Im not sure where to though.  Ive read that they burrow just below ground to make a cocoon and then emerge at the end of summer as moths. This 'procession' gives these little hairy caterpillars their name as they go along tip to tail, all joined together.

I'd not heard of these types of caterpillars before and thought the whole thing was really cute until people told me that they are one of the most destructive species to pine and cedar trees in the area especially if mild winters assist their development.  They are responsible for most of the defoliation in Southern Europe though as they come out at night and feed on the pine needles.  Also, their little hairs also cause harmful reactions to humans and animals.  They tell me that if dogs and cats get too close to them and come into contact with their hairs the allergic reaction can kill them!  So be careful!

In the autumn, people with pine trees in their gardens get them sprayed with insecticides to stop them nesting in their first and second stages of growth.  You can see them on lots of rural pathways in the spring and I know that when people come across them they try to get rid of them in a safe way.  If you do see them over here, just do not pick them up or handle them.

Have you seen them before?

The Alicante coast in 1958

I came across this video on the local newspaper's website (diarioinformacion.com) and it's shocking (good or bad... I'll let you decide) to see how, in a little under 60 years, the Alicante coastline has changed in terms of development.

Maybe I'll take some photos of the views featured and do a 'before and after'.  Those of you who are familiar with the beaches and coastline of especially Calpe, Benidorm and Playa San Juan will be left gobsmacked.

It is a short 10 minute film from 1958 where two ladies visit the Costa Blanca from Denia down to Alicante.  The narration is in Spanish but the images speak for themselves. 

Here is the link to the page where the video is featured:

http://www.diarioinformacion.com/multimedia/videos/alicante/2016-05-02-101181-costa-blanca-antes-urbanismo-depredador.html

Thanks to the Filmoteca Española and RTVE.es these videos can be appreciated now and for many more years to come.

Featured in SWISS AIR Magazine!!!

I was recently contacted by people at SWISS AIR Magazine who were arranging a city report for their online magazine about Alicante.  They wanted to do a little spot on the blog and also my shop.  What an honour!

I have just received a copy of the magazine and the report they did on Alicante is really good.  Here is the front cover:

They highlight some really interesting things and places to go and the photos are fantastic (apart from my mug shot on the highlight about my blog ... sad face.).  This is the page dedicated to my blog (left):

My shop, Read & Sixty, is also featured on the SHOPPING page along with a photo that the photographer took here the day they came to interview me (right):


Im very pleased that my rantings about Alicante can be interesting and maybe even useful to people.  Let me know if you want to see any posts about certain things and I will try to make it happen!

Warning: the 'jealousy' alarm just may go off...

I saw this post on Spanish BuzzFeed about Alicante and when I saw the photos, I realised that the title was merely sarcastic.  If you can read Spanish then you will understand the irony otherwise just enjoy the gorgeous photos showing the Alicante province.

Click on the link further below to go to the post.
(Sorry, wonderful couple from Newcastle/London, you know who you are... I know you are going to be angry with me for posting photos like this hahaha... and thank you for the Marmite.  Please come and say 'Hi' again soon.).

https://www.buzzfeed.com/alfredomurillo/razones-para-no-visitar-alicante


I will say that I have been to almost all of these places and seen these sights with my own eyes and they are as true as you see.  In some respects, its even better in real life because you get the whole panoramic vision, feel the climate, taste the wonderful cuisine, experience the atmosphere, etc.  But to bring you back down to earth, nothing is perfect for everyone.  Maybe there are sounds or smells you don't like, maybe the people are not as you thought, maybe you can't get on in a culture with another language, maybe... there are a whole lot of maybe's.

Alicante isn't for everyone and I understand that as I have my own moans about the city too.  So for now lets just enjoy these sights of the city and the province but keep posted if you want to find out the good, the bad and the ugly sides of life in Alicante city.

Happy May!

Partying by the water

One of my favourite places to go, especially in the summer, is the Isla Marina.  It's a bar/nightclub situated in a stunning location where on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the summer you can take a dip in their pool listening to some cool beats in the background or on a Saturday night enjoy an evening in the open air with a pumping DJ session.  Its on the waters edge where you can appreciate views similar to this:

View from La Cantera

 There's a good atmosphere in the afternoon.

Inside the Isla Marina

 
Just recently they held a little food truck festival with various vehicles set up in the open air space where during the day or evening you could go along and try some tasty, original tapas.  There were also some monologues, craft workshops and, of course, DJ sets.

Food truck

Food truck

 If you are coming to Alicante in summer its well worth a visit.

 

When is a good time to visit Alicante?

I'm sure this is a question those of you planning a trip to visit Alicante or to come and study Spanish ask yourselves so I thought I'd give my opinion.  However there may be different reasons for visiting so I'll give you different aspects to consider.

Beach holiday

If you want to stay in Alicante or San Juan Playa when its warm/hot and laze on the beach all day and go to restaurants in the evening then its best to come from June to September.  It may even be hot in May or in October but its not so reliable.  If you are lucky enough to have a little secluded terrace that blocks out the wind then you can probably sit outside for a couple of hours in the afternoon even in the winter as its sunny most of the year.  The sea is at its warmest in August and September if you like watersports.  But if you can't handle a humid, hot atmosphere then its best to avoid mid July to end of August.

Hiking in the hills, cycling or walking visits

If you want to specifically go walking in the hills or go cycling then May and June or October and November are your best bet.  The weather is not extremely hot as it can get especially in August.  If you want to go to the Sierra del Maigmo, or the Sierra Helada for instance when on your summer holiday here then make sure you go early in the morning, planning your route well to be able to return back before the hottest part of the day.  Its extremely important to take enough water and wear sun block.

Partying

The local fiestas are at the end of June with the main event of Hogueras running from 20-24th June.  The city is in full party mode and you must be able to put up with crowds as the centre of the city is blocked off to traffic to allow the various activities during the day and night to take place safely for the hundreds of thousands of partygoers.  Other than the Hogueras de San Juan, Alicante is a very sociable place to be and especially at weekends the bars and restaurants fill up with locals of all age ranges enjoying themselves.  Alicante is very popular with Erasmus students as there is a very 'balanced' work/play ratio.

The year at a glance

The local and national holidays are governed by date not day of the week as it is in the UK so this list might be useful in case you want to catch a specific fiesta or activity:

January:

-1st New Years day, a national public holiday.

-6th day off for the celebration of the Kings, or Los Reyes Magos.  A celebration like when Father Christmas visits in the UK.  There are parades in the streets on the evening before.

-Not the best month to visit, cold with some good days.

Febuary:

-Carnival. It is celebrated on a Saturday but the date depends when Easter is.

-Not the best month to visit, usually cold.

March:

-19th is the day of San Jose (fathers day), a national public holiday.

-Easter could be this month or next month.

-Not the best month to visit, usually cold and could rain.

April:

-Easter could be this month or next month

-Santa Faz.  This falls on the second Thursday after Maundy Thursday (the Thursday just before Easter).  It's a local holiday for the Alicantinos.

-Not the best month to visit, usually cold and could rain a lot

May:

-1st is labour day, a national public holiday.

-The weather gets warmer and a little more reliable.

June:

-24th is the day of San Juan, and is the day when the local fiestas oficially end.

-Towards the end of the month it gets very hot.  It's good weather in general and is hot for those who are not used to living in a warm climate.

July:

-Usually hot all day every day.  Queueing up to buy an icecream at midnight will make you kiss your diet goodbye.

August:

-15th is a national holiday but is not a widely celebrated religious festival.  It's used as a strategic day off mid-summer.

-August is hot, hot, hot.  If you can't handle too much heat, avoid visiting this month.  Beaches are busy and Alicante city itself is empty as locals go to their beach apartments.

September:

-Things get back to normal even though it is still very hot.  If you want to avoid crowds its a good month to come although a torrential storm could happen any moment.

October:

-9th is the holiday of the Valencian Community

-12th is the Hispanic Day or National day and is a public holiday.  It commemorates when Christopher Columbus set foot in the Americas in 1492.

-The weather this month is usually nice, not too hot and certainly not cold.

November:

-1st is All Saints Day.  It's a day reserved for the whole family to visit their deceased loved-ones in the cemeteries. 

-The weather is chilly in the evenings but the days are lovely when its sunny.  It's usually not hot but not cold at lunch time.

December:

-6th is Constitution Day and is a national public holiday. 

-9th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  A Catholic religious festival and national holiday. 

-By this month the weather is generally cold but if you don't mind the temperature (around 9-15oC), the beautiful blue skies of Alicante will brighten your day.

I hope this has helped you think of when you might like to visit, or not.

The pilgrimage to Santa Faz

Today was the annual pilgrimage to Santa Faz, a small village within Alicante city.  It always takes place on the second Thursday after Maundy Thursday, the Thursday of saints week, and is said to participate some 260,000 people.

According to legend, the Clarisas nuns at the monastery keep guard of a religious relic that is supposed to be a part of the cloth that Veronica used to wipe the face of Jesus when he was on his way to the crucifixion site of Jerusalem.  The sacred cloth is taken out of the monastery once a year to preside over a mass that takes place outside the temple, in the square at Santa Faz.
 

Pilgrims on the route to Santa Faz - image courtesy of El Mundo

The pilgrims start at 8am at the CoCathedral of San Nicholás in the centre of Alicante and walk the roughly 8km to the Santa Faz monastery along the roads which are closed off to traffic for the event, accompanying the religious procession.  In the town hall square people can pick up (if they get up early enough) one of the 15,000 canes which they attach a sprig of rosemary to the top.  Also traditional is wearing a tunic and neck scarf.  Once at Santa Faz a Mass takes place, then people who want to see the relic queue to get inside the monastery.
 

The Mass at Santa Faz - image courtesy of Diario Informacion

After visiting the church, people hang around to have a bite to eat at one of the many stalls that are set up for the day or to browse the small market of artisan products from the area.  Some really prepared families bring a picnic and find a spot around the grassy areas of Santa Faz and make a day of it as it is an official holiday in Alicante.

Alternative ideas

If you don't fancy/can't walk the 8km there is a special bus service that leaves and comes back to central Alicante every 5 minutes.
Also, if you like walking part of it but not the religious part of it, you can fill up your trolley with food and drinks (usually the alcoholic type, as the Alicantinos like to party), join the pilgrimage to the end of the Avenida de Denia and then take a right towards San Juan beach.  When the weather happens to be good on the day of Santa Faz, there can be up to 15,000 people on this part of the beach, it's been estimated, usually the younger generation though.


Have you ever been on a pilgrimage?

Easter: Resurrection elsewhere

Although it's not Alicante, I thought it might be interesting to show you an insight into one of the ceremonies performed during Easter in Spain.  This weekend I was in the south of Spain in a small village and thought I'd go to see how they celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I am not a religious person myself but I always like to witness ceremonies of the Catholic church in Spain that have formed the country where I'm living.  It helps me to understand the people and culture a little better.

I don't think it is necessary for me to explain what the Resurrection is all about so I will only describe the basic activities of the ceremony that they celebrate in this particular church in Andalusia.  Every church has its own way of celebrating.  (I will apologise for the quality of the following photos in advance... they looked alright when I took them on my mobile phone at night, but now I look back at them in daylight they are not what I was expecting.. sorry).

Firstly, at about 11.30pm a bonfire is lit outside the doors of the church.  This is a blessed flame representing the light of God and is what is used to light a huge candle that, after the ceremony, sits in the church at the alter, lit during the whole year until next Easter.  This huge pillar candle is about 1.20mt tall and as the church representative holds it at the entrance to the church everyone lights their own personal small candle from it as they enter the church.  The lights are off in the church at this point.  Its all dark except for the candles each person holds:

Entering the church with the year-long candle

The congregation by candlelight

Then, many psalms are read from the Old testament, after which, being well after midnight, Jesus is resurrected represented by the main lights in the church being lit progressively and the congregation blowing out their small candles whilst the church bells ring.  Its a small but well-maintained church inside which you can also see from these photos:

Lights lit progressively...

Lights on.

Then after some more passages read from the bible the ceremony continues outside:

The front door of the church

A representation of the Virgin being carried

Firstly a statue of the Virgin is carried outside atop a wooden float loaded with flowers on the shoulders of designated people.
It's carried down the steps and turned around to face the doors of the church again.
 
The wafers representing the Body of Christ (taken during Holy Communions) are placed inside a staff or long cross and carried outside underneath a textile cover (here it's yellow) to protect it.  It is taken down the steps to the square in front of the church where the statue of the Virgin is then carried towards it and is made to bow before it 3 times approaching and 3 times going backwards.  This all takes place in complete silence apart from some small children who ring tiny bells to signify the various stages.  Its very respectful.  Then, they all walk around the town square and back into the church to return the wafers to the holy box at the alter.  People say their goodbyes and wish each other well and go home:

It's the end of the Easter celebration in Andalusia and they don't have Easter Monday as a holiday like they do in many other communities in Spain.  Instead, there are processions during the whole week representing different situations at Easter and they have holiday days when shops and businesses are shut on the Thursday and the Friday before.

Have you seen any 'Semana Santa' (week of Saints) processions in Spain?