From Inland to the Sea

On Friday, which was a national holiday in Spain, we left Grenada and headed for the coast.  Luckily, we managed to drive out of the downtown area where our hotel was located before the celebrations started.  There were policemen and soldiers on most of the corners of the streets near the hotel and it looked like there was going to be a parade or something.  Whew!  We managed to miss that although driving the very narrow streets with policemen watching was a bit stressful!  Finally, however, after passing by our hotel twice, we gave up listening to "Mindy" and just used our instincts to "get out of Dodge".  It worked as before too long, we were on the freeway.  

The drive from Grenada to Alicante was easy and spectacular.  Unfortunately, the auto-estrada had no places to pull over and take photos.  If we had, seeing them you would have assumed that we were in Arizona, New Mexico or eastern California.  Not only was the land arid but some of the hills and rock formations were dramatic and fabulous - pointed pinnacles, arroyas, mesas, etc.  It was beautiful in its starkness.  As we continued along, the grey rocks and mountains changed to ochre.  At one point, even the clouds appeared pink then we realized a wind coming up through the valley and stirred up the soil and made the sky such a weird colour.  Again, no photos which is a shame.  

It took about 3 hours to arrive at the coast and what a contrast.  One the one side were the dry, arid hills and on the other, the Mediterranean.  The hotel we booked was right on the sea overlooking a beach and a marina.  Because of the holiday, the beach was packed and the whole area reminded me of Waikiki.  Below are photos of the hotel and the views from my room.

We decided on a casual dinner and the promenade along the seafront called Esplanade de Espana is very much like Promenade des Anglais in Nice, lined with palm trees, wide walkways and buildings of a similar style.  So, we found a casual cafe there which worked.

The following day, we went to a multimedia exhibit of Van Gogh's work.  That was interesting but not of the same calibre as the Klimt one I saw in Paris in the spring.  Still, it was interesting and very well done.

Walking back to the hotel, I walked past the marina and then closer to the beach to check it out.  As it was a holiday weekend, it was packed.  Glad I had no interest in carving out a place in the sand for myself!  There certainly wasn't much room!

Later, we ate at a restaurant recommended by our hotel.  I really enjoyed my meal; starting with fried cheese with tomato jam followed by a small filet mignon with mushroom sauce and a selection of perfectly cooked vegetables.  I have been finding the portions here ridiculously large - but maybe that is just me as most people clean their plates!