100 days since selling up! Paul Twocock recording.
Your usual avid reporter is completely pooped from three days running around Barcelona, so you've got the spare driver instead. We've had a two week WiFi blackout - and so much has happened. We thought it was going to be a quiet two weeks, little did we know we'd hit our first full blown Spanish fiestas of the whole trip around Spain.
My Mum and Dad flew in on 17th July to Alicante, and we rented a villa back in Benitatxell (see May for our last visit). They came out to celebrate their 40th Anniversary on 25th July.
I think they thought they were in for a quiet fortnight too... but on the first full day we got wind of a fiesta in nearby Xabia, and I whisked us all all down to the port - rudely waking Dad from his siesta.
It was a Moors and the Christians extravaganza!
A riot of amazing costumes, brilliant brass bands, big thighs in tights and cigar smoking, sword wielding senors! It lasted hours and after a lovely portside dinner we were treated to a midnight firework display to rival any. Well that's what we thought until the little town of Benitatxell started it's fiesta a few days later. Events and bands every day and not one but two huge firework displays, one on Mum and Dad's anniversary! There I was getting up tight about coming to Spain for three months and not bumping into any major fiestas, and then two come along at once.
Anyhoo, it all got a bit serious towards the end of Benitatxell's 10 day long fiesta. Police cars and helicopters scoured the countryside for an escapee bull. And frankly we weren't surprised. The bull ring, what there was of it, was improvised in the town square. Hooray for the bull for getting out! We don't know if he's still ranging around the Valencian countryside as we speak.
So, there were a lot of fiestas, and a bit of excitement but don't worry we found time to relax; and Mum and Dad had a fantastic anniversary and break. Well that's what they told us! Despite the compulsory water volleyball which meant Dad had to miss his siesta on many afternoons.
We even found time to zoom up the coast to Valencia to see the wonderful city of arts and sciences, the musical fountains and had lunch in our favourite square - the Plaza Rodrigo Botet.
So, fully recharged we said hasta luego to Ma and Pa at Alicante Airport, and began our last leg of phase one of our round the world tour. Just one more week in Spain, four days in France and a three week break in the UK beckoned. More on that in the next blog. David's just told me over my shoulder that this is getting too long. So I'll leave you with a couple of images from Valencia. Adios amigos!
Hola Paul and David, to say we are envious is an understatement. LOVING the story so far, looking foward to more news and pics!
Posted by: malcolm & lesley | 08/05/2010 at 10:18 AM