The Vikings got this far

 

☆A warm welcome to a new follower Deborah. Please feel free to comment and could you also send me the link to your own blog. 😊

Autumn has arrived here in the Med. Temperatures have dropped nicely when I say nicely I mean not too much but definitely Autumn style. I even heard the crisp crackle of leaves under my feet as I trod on them walking along the road yesterday. It is a good job I go for a walk at a time when there are not too many people about otherwise they'd probably think that nicely aged lady who is treading from leaf to leaf just to hear them crackle has definitely lost it!  

I am so looking forward to going up into the mountains for a trek as we can get the full Autumn experience up there.  

Looking at Halloween here in Spain. 

Although the American style Halloween is celebrated somewhat at the schools here where the children and teachers dress up and decorate their classrooms, Trick or Treat has not caught on as yet. The Spanish celebrate this time of the year differently.  On 31st October and the 1st November "Dia de todos los Santos" (All Saints Day) they mostly do so by honouring and caring for the deceased members of their families. The 1st November is an important national public holiday here where people return to their towns or villages to lay flowers on their loved ones graves. It is also traditional to go and buy special sweets and pastries that are made during this time.There are many different types depending on the region but two of the most popular are "Huesos de santos" and "Buñelos de viento".

Huesos de Santos (Saints' bones) :

Google image

Little rolls of marzipan with a custard cream filling. Sweet, sweet almond joy for some but excessively sweet for my liking.

Buñelos de viento  (choux puffs) :

Google image

Fried dough puffs filled with cream or chocolate. As always very sweet! I like the cream ones once I have scraped off the extra sugar coating.

  

PART ONE.                                  Warning photo heavy!

Inland Orihuela; the ecclesiastical city. 

Orihuela, still within the Alicante province, is just under an hour from Alicante City. There have been settlements there since before Roman times. This city has seen Phoenicians, Iberians,  Romans and Vikings. It became part of Muslim Spain up until the Middle Ages and later Christian.  It is a small city steeped in history, which ever way you turn there is something to see.  Last Monday being a fiesta day was a good day to go to Orihuela. The cemeteries were packed as is the custom on the 1st November but the City and Historical centre was relatively empty. Nearly everyone was at the cemeteries so we avoided those roads and the enormous queues of cars trying to gain access and parked near to the city centre. 

Glory be!  There were parking spaces there in the centre which is not the norm!  

It is a place where photographs are a must... DOORS predominately!😀 

Just before you take the tunnel into Orihuela  you pass this huge sentinel on your right which towers over everything at the entrance to the city 

On the left the palm groves in the distance

On our way to the historical centre of the city

Looking up! 

Beautiful antique ceramic tiles on the bottom of this balcony

Crossing the River Segura which runs through the centre of the city

The very same river, much much wider in those days, that the Vikings sailed up in the 9th century to attack Orihuela Fort, loot and take prisoners and then leave as quickly as they came.  

Fabulous door!  The Episcopal palace and former residence of the Bishops of Orihuela

The Diocesan Museum of Religious Art

We didn't go in as we had been there before.  

Impressive... Our Saviour and Santa Maria Cathedral built in the 13th century over a Moorish mosque mostly in the Gothic style. 

The Door of the Chains.  

Very gothic!  I still haven't found out why it is called "Door of the Chains"  

I was actually able to get into the cathedral and allowed to take photographs before the mass but I am leaving all those photographs for my post next week. 

Can you see who was watching us from above?

CROCHET

I have finished a make but it is a Christmas gift and the person I shall be sending it to this month reads my blog so I can't show it off on here as yet.😞

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Happy blogging

Amanda :-)

Doors III

 Warning photo heavy!

We went to Elche last Sunday to visit the Sunday market. It is great to finally be able to go back to the outdoor markets. 

This market is very popular so there were loads of people and as both of us are crowd shy we did not hang around for long.This is another mostly fruit, veg and plants market.    I went for the plants of course and was very pleased to finally find a citronella plant which repels mosquitos. I was told by the lady on the stall that they are hardy plants belonging to the geranium family and need to be watered twice a week. It smells lovely and when the leaves are crushed it gives off a tangy smell which repels the mosquitos. I have placed it by the balcony doorway so we brush against it every time we go past. 

I also wanted to go to the city centre of Elche to take some photos of DOORs in the old quarter. For those of you who do not know about my obsession for DOORs please see this post .   By the way Elche, situated inland, is the second biggest city in the province of Alicante and it is about 20 minutes drive away from Alicante City.   

Elche is particularly famous for the "Misteri D'Elx" a medieval two acts mystery drama play representing the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This play has been performed in the St Maria Basilica since the mid-fifteenth century. 

Basilica de Santa Maria Elche -google image

Some other photos I took of the Basilica on Sunday

Unfortunately no blue skies when I took this snapshot

and of course the front entrance and this is where I started my search for other DOORs

I particularly liked the peep holes in this enormous door to the Santa Maria Basilica.

This building right in front of the church is I think the old rectory .

Going around the corner I noticed this building and its fabulous door. I am so glad the electric doorbell is tucked in to one side and practically hidden from view.   

All these photographs are from the same area which is the old quarter, mainly DOORs😀

A great deal of restoration has been done in this area but it still brings to mind scenes of 17th century musketeers walking these streets with their huge sombreros, thigh high boots  and swirling black capes.

Altamira Palace

Finally back over the bridge to pick up the car

A very enjoyable morning!

WELCOME to my new follower Bobbie Bonte.  Please send me your blog page link so I may view your blog as well. 

CROCHET

Cowl ready to send to sister No.4 before the cold sets in.

I used stash oddments of DK yarn and a 4.00 hook.

I posted the details about the pattern previously here

Can you spot the owl?

For want of a model Winnie Pooh bear will have to do although it looks like a jumper on him!

It was a bit finicky to make and took longer than I thought but it has given me ideas for others. 

In reply to a query received in my last post from Kathy at Hummingbird Studio at the Lake 

I had large sliding windows fitted in the balcony Kathy so no worries at all about any part of the bench getting wet. 😊

⭐Replies to comments on previous post completed.⭐

Happy Blogging to all

Amanda :-)