Mostly Spain 2023 - Radio Silence Is Not Indicative Of Lack Of Activity

 The opposite. We have been going like crazy people. Well, we've been going like Eldership commandos who should know better than to be going so much! But we wanted to be sure that the grandchildren got a good experience of both the area we were in Spain and of our way of traveling (which they'd never experienced before). 

On Sunday, 1.2 wanted to do the major amusement park in the area (which as fate would have it was only 10 minutes from where we were staying). He and his sister did that on Sunday. 

On Monday, we went back to Alicante. We went by tram, went back up to the castle where the kids wandered all over. Then we took the elevator down to the waterfront (didn't do that the first time we went), and wandered all through the town until we got back to the tram line and came home. We had a rather interesting culinary experience which I will relate below in the pictures.

Tuesday was drive to Valencia day to go to the City of Arts and Sciences, and amazing architectural complex, and specifically to go to the Aquarium, the largest in Europe. Wife and I had hoped to do some photography, as well, but the sky was ominous as we were exiting the Aquarium and starting to rain. We managed to get to our car and make it out of Valencia (with the usual navigational chaos - had to give the grandkids the REAL Eldership Euro driving experience) before the heavens opened up. I had a good 20 minutes of very hairy driving before we broke clear. 

Wednesday, we drove to the beachfront of Benidorm for one last Mediterranean coast experience. Benidorm, is major expat and tourist destination. It has its own vibe compared to El Campello and La Villajoiosa.

Thursday, the grandkids had a 12:20pm flight back home from Madrid. So we were on the road at 5am for the 4 hour drive back. Actually longer, because I planned for and absolutely needed a number of stops along the way to rest, get caffeinated, and refocus as I was very tired from the prior days and the only driver. 

But we had got to the airport with plenty of time, got them checked in, saw them off through security, waited until we knew the flight was off the ground. Then we went to our hotel and collapsed. We leave tomorrow for our next stop, Florida.

Photos

City of Arts and Science (a fascinating place and story. For more information go here.)

We only had a time to take a few quick pictures on our way to the aquarium

 

 

 I didn't even notice there was a guy repelling down the face of this building until I was looking at the pictures afterwards.

In the Aquarium

It is a very challenging environment with the combination of dim light,  shooting through glass, and capturing moving objects. I took a lot of pictures but most were Meh.

Rays. Love Rays.

And I was able to get some good Jellyfish shots too. Love Jellyfish!

An Alicante Culinary Tale

After the long tram ride, getting up to the castle, and running around the castle when we went to Alicante again, it was mid-afternoon and lunch time when we got down. We were on the waterfront so we knew things were going to be touristy. We stopped at a place that had enough things for all the varied tastes of our group. It was pretty busy. We were outside, at a table that was partially in the sun and it was hot. We placed our drink order, then our food order. The drinks came out. A table opened up that was completely shaded. We asked if we could move. This for some reason got our waiter completely out of joint. From that point on we were fully ignored. We tried to get his attention. Finally after 20 minutes, I just had us bail. I left some cash for the drinks and we headed out.

Now we were looking at the various places with a different eye altogether. None of them were appealing to us. Wife and I remembered the excellent meal we had on the waterfront our first visit to Alicante. It was on the opposite side of the waterfront. I found it but it was closed on Monday (Boooooo). We sat at another place. But I took a close look at the prices and realized they were almost double the going rates. So we got up and left again. 

Now we decided to get off the waterfront. Just a couple of blocks inland, we bumped into this small place advertising real Alicante food. There were a few tables outside on a side street that were full but nobody inside. We went in. The waiter was so nice, so pleasant. The food was very different and very, very good. There were a couple of toppings for bread that defied my ability to analyze them (like the sauce I had on the chicken at Lami in El Campello). Then we went into our main meal.

A homemade falaffel

Fried Potatoes with a Mushroom Stroganoff topping. Very good flavor. A bit heavy considering the main course 1.1 and I got

Wife had salmon on a bed of potatoes and a cream sauce. She thought the sauce was a bit too much but the fish was very good.

 

And then the star, a rice dish with salt cod and a slew of vegetables. This was for at least two people.

Rice is a big deal in the Valencia - Alicante region. But there is a ton of mediocre versions, so I'd been reluctant to try it. This was off the charts.

The texture of the rice was firm but filled with the flavor of the fish broth. Each vegetable was cooked to its right texture and filled with flavor. I really wish I had skipped the potato dish to have more room for the rice!

When the meal was over, the waiter gave us each a small glass of sweet wine (and a fruit juice for my 13 year old 1.2). With wine and sangria, soft drinks and coffee, it was 71 Euros or $78.