Woke up refreshed for first time since arriving in Spain. Good night playing a multilingual card game - Last Card (Ultima Carta) - using the 40 card spanish pack until 1am and drinking Summer Wine - a light sweet wine that comes in soft drink bottles for $1.50 per litre (muy beuno!). Carmen's mum went to work today at ten so we said our fond goodbyes then met and had coffee with Carmen's dad Vicente. Packed the car like Doctor Who's Tardis again and said goodbye to the house and a slobbery Shakira before driving to Alicante an hour away. Spent the afternoon in Alicante before flying to Barcelona tonight, where we will meet up with Ricardo and Yvonne again. Alicante city centre is on the port with great mosaic walkway and "playa" (beach). Went up to the Castle of Santa Barbara, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain, built in the ninth century by the Moors. We accessed through a tunnel under the mountain then a lift up through the mountain to the castle. Massive views over the Mediterranean, beach and city. Long backwoods dusty trail through Falconio country with Carmen freaking out about the dust and the "bichos" (creepy crawlies) that might leap out of the bush and bite her beloved car.
Ps the photo is from a souvenir shop in Cartagenna - I love the "not the K.K.K" disclaimer.