Alicante 2 - Playa del Postiguet

Sunday, so slept in as much as I could given the jet lag causing me to wake early. Streets were quiet and the shops were shut so shopping was not a viable activity. At Av Federico Soto there was a book fair in progress. Spring seems to be book fair season in Spain; back in 1993 I encountered one in Madrid and another in Sevilla.

At the Plaza de los Luceros I found this fountain. Luceros probably means inhabitants of Lucentum, the Roman name of what would become Alicante.

Underneath the plaza is the terminus of the tram service. It's strange that they didn't extend this to the train station; there is a sign at the station indicating a 300m eastward walk to Luceros. Maybe the city ran out of money. So plans to extend it to the airport and points west may take a while. I browsed the network map and remembered the information for future use.

More social media in Alicante.

It was now the lunch hour and I decided to try the restaurant 100 Montaditos, which is a chain of stores mostly in Spain but also in other countries. A montadito is a small submarine sandwich and there are 100 varieties on offer, all at €1.

You mark your selection on a form and pay, then collect when your buzzer goes off.

This is what I ended up with: a couple of subs, fried chicken wings, salad, and a beer. Not a gourmet lunch but sufficiently satisfying and filling.

Back to the sightseeing trail, this is the fountain at the Plaza Puerta del Mar.

Finally the Playa del Postiguet which is a very convenient urban beach. In the background is the Castillo de Santa Bárbara on the outcrop of Mount Benacantil.

The water looked reasonably clear too. However a signboard indicated the water temperature was 16C so I didn't go into the water. I wasn't prepared anyway; no place to store my belongings while bathing.

I could sell a postcard of this scene.

I walked on the breakwater heading south away from the beach, passing the Casino and the Melia Hotel. From this vantage point you can see further up the coast at the hinterland backing the other major beach, Playa de San Juan.

One can walk on top of the storm barrier.

The Volvo Ocean Race Museum is here. Alicante has been the starting point for the last 4 of the 3-yearly races.

Looking back at the Melia Hotel and the Castillo.

A naval rescue ship.

A concert was being set up in front of the hotel.

The harbour and marina.

Back in the city, I looked at the prices in this real estate agency window. They were about half of Sydney prices. But of course it's Sydney prices that are insane. Looked like they had customers from all over Europe.

Some of the plump pigeons.

This air raid shelter door in the park opposite my apartment is a relic from the Civil War days. I didn't try to find out if tours were given and when.

And that was my leisurely Sunday in Alicante.