Musings on my life in Spain

It’s finally time! The Guardamar historical tapas trail for 2015 begins today, and you have three whole weeks to plan your trip. This year the theme is Roman in keeping with the historical references of recent times. Last year was Arabic and before that, Phoenician.

Call in at the Tourist Information Office for a route map and a guide to the tapas on offer, or pick one up at any of the participating bars and restaurants who will be displaying the poster to tempt you in.

The full list of participating establishments is:
Bar Restaurante La Barraca
Restaurante La Ñora
Restaurante Chema
Restaurante Pil Pil
Restaurante El Mesón de Laura
Bar Hernández
Restaurante Casablanca
Restaurante Casa Paco
Hotel Meridional-Restaurante El Jardin
Restaurante del Hotel Eden Mar
El Patio de Mi Casa
El Café del Sol
Restaurante Svarog
Restaurante Alvarado´s
Restaurante Parquesur
Restaurante del Hotel Guardamar
Bar Restaurante Galicia
Pizzeria Coppola
Hotel Parquemar- Restaurante Jorge
Restaurante Club Naútico

If you want to join me for some tapas, contact me at www.anythingbutpaella.com and we'll see what we can do!

You may have heard of Guernica, a town in the Basque region of Spain, which was bombed by German aircraft in support of Franco during the Civil War, but Alicante suffered badly too, although its suffering is not widely known. When a new bus station was built in the city, work on the old bus station revealed a large underground public air raid raid shelter. The authorities knew a shelter existed but nobody knew its exact location until it was uncovered by chance. Now a new visitors’ centre offers a glimpse into life in wartime Alicante and offers the chance to venture underground into the shelter.

Located on the intersection of two streets named after Franco’s wartime allies, Portugal and Italy (see map), the centre is inside the refurbished engineering works. It is a beautiful building with interesting information plaques on all of the walls in Spanish, Valenciano and also in very well written English. For just €2 you can wander around and take in the history of Alicante’s role in the Civil War, explore the two showrooms where a firefighting truck, some ammunition, and interesting aerial photographs wait in one and wartime uniforms and photographs in the other. At midday you may even get a guided tour. The Spanish used in the tour was clear and precise making it easy to understand for an intermediate learner of the language.

Perhaps the most disturbing tale from this terrible time is that of the bombing raid on the market in May 1938. Some 300 people lost their lives as Italian planes based in Mallorca devastated the area on a busy market day. It’s a little known story which will surely now have a wider audience.

After visiting the centre you then need to be escorted out onto Plaza Seneca and down into the shelter. Other than a new supply of electricity and some touching up of the signs written on the walls, it remains exactly as it was back in the 1930s. It is not difficult to imagine the claustrophobia which must have been felt as a hundred or so frightened residents cowered away from the bombs dropping above.

The guide told me that if a group of visitors want to have a tour in English, they can be contacted in advance and a guide will be available. Opening times are 1000-1400 and 1600-2000 Tuesday to Saturday with guided tours taking place at 1200 and 1800. On Saturdays they are only open for the early session, and on Sundays they are closed. The scheduled times state until 31 December but after so much investment it’s hard to believe that the centre will not continue operating into the New Year.

If you have enjoyed this post, why not have a look at anythingbutpaella.com and have a read about some other unusual places in Spain.

Sometimes you visit a city but always seem to miss something great, and then when you finally find that place, it’s hard to believe that you never knew about it before. That’s how I feel about the port area of Alicante. There are some intriguing sights and plenty of things to keep you occupied throughout the day.

As you enter the port from the main drag, you’ll see a curious naked man walking on water and carrying a surfboard. It’s actually a sculpture of Icarus by the renowned Madrid artist Esperanze d’Ors. Quite why Icarus has a surf board is anyone’s guess. Clearly his wings made from wax didn’t work so he took up a different hobby.

Close to Icarus is the Santísima Trinidad, a replica of a Spanish galleon which was sunk by the British during the Battle of Trafalgar. The restaurant on board gets good reviews but for €5 you can just visit the ship and get a drink to sip up on the open deck.

One thing I enjoy about visit places in Spain is finding out about local history. A plaque by the port says that many Republicans fled from here during the Civil War. Surrounded by tranquility, it’s hard to imagine what it must have been like back in 1939.

There are many bars and restaurants where you can sit out and have a coffee, or something stronger. During the day it’s a peaceful scene but in the evenings I imagine it’s rather more lively. The poles for dancing inside the Coyote Ugly bar certainly suggest that!

You can walk along the wall of fame and have your photo taken with The Beatles if you wish. Other notable faces on the wall include Madonna Tina Turner, and even Tin Tin can be found nearby.

One attraction I really want to visit is the Volvo Ocean Race museum. Sadly I always seem to visit on a Monday when it is closed to the public! Better planning will be required for my next trip into the city.

If having a flutter in a casino is more your scene then you are in luck. Check out the website for the Casino del Mediterraneo to see what’s on offer. The buffet looks to be tremendous value for just €12 including a drink. Maybe next time.

Along the esplanade you’ll often find market stalls open selling trinkets and souvenirs. There are plenty of restaurants around and it’s only a minute or two to cut into the old town which is another story in itself. Be careful as you walk though, the pavement may have you feeling a little dizzy!!

If you have enjoyed this post, why not have a look at anythingbutpaella.com and have a read about some other unusual places in Spain.