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...

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!

My interview on BBC's Escape to the Continent

Last October I was filmed for an appearance on the BBC programme Escape to the Continent with the wonderful Alistair Appleton and the house-hunting 'subjects' Ian and Simon from Doncaster.  The final cut is just a short interview (from minute 25) about my advice and experience of living in Alicante.

They filmed in my shop, Read & Sixty, then we went to the market to buy ingredients for a paella that my friend Fede cooked for us in his restaurant La Piazza, which is in the main cathedral square.

You can watch the episode on BBC iPlayer and its available for another 30 days from now.  Here is the link to take you straight to the programme page:

http://bbc.in/1GjdEjy

The episode was originally aired on 18th June 2015 at 3pm.

More filming...

I have also been filmed recently for a similar programme in the US called House Hunters International, this time with some friends from San Francisco who relocated to Valencia.  When this programme comes out I will also post the link to the page.

I hope the information given in these tv appearances is useful and maybe even entertaining!
Let me know what you think!

Winter sun warning

Happy New Year to you all!!

I think its important to mention, especially for any of you who are planning a trip to Alicante this winter (or are here already), that the winter sun can be dangerous.

It's not a cloudy place at all and we enjoy very clear, blue skies most days - actually I met a lady a few days ago originally from Cape Town and she compared the bright Alicante sky to her home town.  As the sun is quite low in the sky during winter, you should be prepared with some sunglasses and a clean window screen on your vehicle.  It can also reflect off the road and blind you if you are not careful.  The wife of one of my dad's friends unfortunately died many years ago now as she accidentally drove off a hillside road as she turned a corner and was blinded by the low sun.  Just be careful out there.

Inland Alicante

As it is a fairly dry climate it's great for motorbikes.  It's my vehicle of choice I use to get to and from the shop every day because parking in Alicante can be very complicated (people live in flats and the buildings are quite close together and there aren't underground garages in each building) and with one I can park virtually anywhere.  They are also great for outings in the hills around Alicante so we go often with friends and stop en route for a drink and tapas.

panorama shot Alicante

Motorbike buddies

In the hills around Alicante

If you can, don't just limit yourself to visiting Alicante city... take a road trip around the outskirts of the city and in the province where there are interesting walking and hiking routes too.  

Have you been in the hills around Alicante?

Interview with BlogExpat

I had a short interview with Blog Expat last week who wanted to know a little more about how and why I came to live in Alicante. Click on the badge below to go to their website and specifically the page with the interview...

Price of petrol plummets

The cost of 'gasolina' (petrol) at the pumps has astonishingly gone down by quite a bit since the summer!  Last year and the beginning of this year the prices were rising for all types and it peaked at about 1.45€ per litre.  A few weeks ago I was amazed to see the price on the 'surtidor' (pump) showing 1.30€ per litre.

I have just filled up my little motorbike (it only costs me 5€ each week in petrol!) this evening and it was 1.21€ per litre!  I don't remember the last time it was as low as this and I'm certainly not complaining.

Something else to mention while on the subject is that over here there are lots of 'gasolineras' (petrol stations) that have assistants outside who put the hose in the tank for you during the day.  You can usually pay them if you are paying by cash but have to go inside to the till if you want to pay by card.
During the evening/night time there is never anyone outside and you have to go inside to pay.  At night you have to pay first and tell them how much you want to put in but during the day the pumps are usually open and you can put in your petrol first, then pay.

Diesel is about the same price as petrol over here which is worth mentioning as I've been told that in the UK, diesel is more expensive! 

What is the price of petrol where you are?

Check the 'cheque'

People go out to eat quite a lot in Alicante. Considering that Alicante city itself is not predominantly a tourist destination (many people have holiday homes in the towns up and down the coast either side of the city) there is a huge quantity of restaurants and bars. By 'bars' I mean the Spanish version, which is a place where you can order a beer, a bocadillo or some tapas, a coffee or even a stiff drink. They are a little different then the 'bars' in the UK.
I am sure that if you look at the proportion of catering/hospitality businesses to other types of businesses in Alicante it would be higher than most towns and cities around the world.

The mild climate of Alicante has undoubtedly contributed to this, especially when it's hot. People want to be out on the streets, not stuck at home (which is also why the local people, and generally in the south of Spain, don't bother so much with the decoration of their homes).

So as we go out more often, it is more likely that we will encounter an error in our bill.
I would recommend always checking the bill before you pay as mistakes or misunderstandings frequently occur.  You don't have to feel uncomfortable about it and certainly don't be afraid to query it if you see an error. It is most likely a genuine mistake.

I will advise you that if a restaurant puts down a plate of olives (aceitunas) or bread (pan) or anything you didn't ask for as you arrive or whilst looking at the menu (la carta), you will in 99% of the cases, be charged for it on the final bill (la cuenta). Most places that do this charge you about 1€ per person for the bread and maybe 1,50 - 2€ for the olives.

Receipt from a recent casual dinner out in Alicante.
(Try the cazón en adobo when you can find it in a
restaurant over here... it's delicious!)

The prices on the menus in almost all places are with the VAT (IVA) included and tips are not automatically added to the bill. Incidentally, you are not pressured to leave tips over here and they don't think bad of you either if you don't leave anything. But if you've had good service or just want to show your appreciation you can leave something and the waiters will be very grateful... sometimes ring a bell from behind the counter to tell everyone you've been generous!

That's all I wanted to say for this post... Oh, just to inform you that over here you can order beer in McDonalds to have with your burger instead of the normal soft drinks if you want it.