Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Sunday 22 June 2014

Mediterranean fiesta

It is the second day of Alicante's midsummer festival! It is a wonderfully beautiful day although it did try to rain a little at 10ish this morning ...... As I said it tried!

We set off this morning to walk down to the Town Hall plaza to admire the Hogueras float erected there.Each suburb in the city presents a float ( a monument) in the competition the city gives for the best monument.  The monument all represent something that has happened throughout the year usually caricaturing politicians or other famous people. The Town Hall monument is not included in the competition as it is built using public funds.It is therefore always the largest one and the last one to be burnt in the Bonfire on St john's night on 24th june, so everyone goes to admire or criticize it before it disappears in the flames.

It took us about 30 minutes to get down to the Town Hall with a few distractions on the way to stop and greet friends who were walking down as well. It's crazy to even think of driving down as streets are closed for some of the street parties or for the floats which do take up a lot of space. Although there are many car parks they are packed full with all the visitors' cars who come to enjoy the festival! The locals know it is best to leave the car at home or park in the suburbs. There are buses of course but they have to take an alternative route and the stop is out of the way.
We walk and it is enjoyable ..... It is hot coming back but there are lots of places to stop off to have a cool drink of limon granizado or leche preparada on our way home.
My but the city is packed! It is quite impressive as you come around the corner and enter the plaza and see the size of the float.


Impressive work! It seems a shame it is going to all go up in smoke!



Wonderful mass of colour!

I asked Sr P to hold my bag while I took photos,with so many people around you do have to be careful! The camera caught him hugging my bag so hard that any possible thief would think he had gold bullion there! Mind you I think they'd have a hard time getting hold of it!

We stopped and sat down on a park bench on our way back.
The following snapshots have nothing to do with the fiestas ...... Or perhaps they do have....perhaps these pigeons were having a fiesta of their own!



Enjoy your sunday

Amanda x


Friday 20 June 2014

Down to earth!


The excitement is over and I have to come back down to earth now and carry on......

but ....... I have lots of things to enjoy thinking about and will do so for a very long time. It was the most wonderful birthday ever. The most wonderful birthday present ever too!!!
Thank you so much everyone for your birthday wishes. I do wish I could have shared my happiness with all of you.   My sisters were only with me for five days and then they were gone again ....five much too short days!
 We wined and dined :-
Cookie and Great Auntie H

 at our favourite restaurant El Varadero and although they had both been to Alicante before I managed to grab a few hours from work to show them some of my favourite places in the city

I of course took them to visit Santa Maria Church as it is the oldest church in Alicante after all!

Looking up at the castle and taking photos!


 admiring the beautiful mosaic tiles under the eaves of a house here...


turning back to take photos of the Miradors in this old building....



My sister B said she wanted a knocker for her new front door in NSW and she liked this one....

Unfortunately it was on this door ....

 

which was the entrance to this ......




monument or rather San Nicholas Cathedral .....so sorry B!!!!




The weather was absolutely perfect!!!


However the thrill and excitement hasn't dispersed totally as Sr P and I have quietly celebrated our 42nd Wedding anniversary today.



Thank you all once again for your very kind words and best wishes 

Amanda :-)

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Emotion can make you shiver!!!


Short post but just have to shout this out from the roof tops!!!!
60 today!!!!
I just wanted to show you all very quickly my 60th birthday present!!


These two "gals" are my sisters (sorry about the blurred photo my hand was trembling!). The one on the left lives in Lincolnshire UK the one on the right lives in New South Wales,Australia and as you know I live in Spain!

These minxes concocted this plan to arrive on my birthday as a surprise!  





and it WAS A SURPRISE!!!!
 All the family kept it so quiet even Sr P ...incredible!!!! 

I am lost for words !!!!!   




I am going to have a  WONDERFUL day!!!!    


Amanda xx