The two events of note this week were a department “day out” we had on Monday. It was the usual kind of consultant-designed activity but actually this one was better than most of the ones I have been a victim of over the years. The other event was the medieval market in the centre of Alicante which started on Friday. June is a month of fiestas here, with the midsummer celebrations starting in a few days and lasting until June 24th. The medieval market is one of the many warm-up events.
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But I start with a picture from my neighbourhood–a sign of the times on the door of a real estate agent:
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On Sunday, I cycled up to Benidorm, pausing for a rest on the beach in Vilajoyosa:
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View of Benidorm from an overpass on the Carretera de Valencia. One of the advantages of sightseeing on bicycle is that you can stop to photograph views with a lot more flexibility than in a car:
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This is Coveta Fumá, a very nice area just north of El Campello. There are many nice houses, with direct beach access. But look in the background–that skeleton of an unfinished apartment building has been there for at least 3 years:
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Then, on Monday we had our department day out. It was held at a place very close to where I live, a conference centre called Finca Torreta, usually used for weddings, communions and the like. This is Teresa, the person in the department who was chief organiser the event:
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One of the activities the consultant had designed consisted of each group (we were about 40 people, so we were divided into 4 groups) being given a stack of various magazines, from which we were supposed to cut out pictures that illustrate our vision, which has to do with knowledge and protection of intellectual property. You will not be surprised that the picture of Marilyn Monroe protecting her, err, IP assets, was chosen by me:
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The location of the facility was very nice, next to a citrus grove and the view of the mountains and El Campello in the distance:
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The serious part ended at 5, and afterwards we had a drink and chatted. This is Carolina, a Spanish economist whom I hired for my team in March. She is talking to Valerio, an Italian expert on IP enforcement whom we have recently poached from Europol, the EU police cooperation outfit:
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Also this week, I got my new 14mm Fuji lens for my X-Pro 1 and I set about testing it on various subjects in the office, including our hairy Swedish lady in the lobby:
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This is the old bus station of Alicante. It has since been relocated, and is now just idle. The straight lines provided a good test for the 14mm lens (21mm film equivalent):
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The square in front of the old bus station was supposed to be turned into a badly needed park in a low-income part of town which does not have much greenery. But the project has been delayed, and the locals have put up protest signs on the fence surrounding the site:
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This is my neighbourhood, Avenida Vicente Ramos, where I walk Cheeta every morning:
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On Saturday, I went downtown to have a look at the medieval market. It is held in the old part of the city, which makes it more charming than the medieval markets that are held in the outer neighbourhoods. But the stands are always the same, such as this giant BBQ:
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This is clearly not for vegetarians:
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As is usually the case, more people looked at the roasting pigs than bought the product. Just as well, since the prices are decidedly “touristy”:
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The square in front of City Hall is converted into a a giant playground, for adults and children:
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A vendor of Horchata, a local drink, talking with two customers:
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Candy stand. This stuff will probably result in a serious stomach ache:
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In-between customers, the vendors work:
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A typical narrow street in the barrio:
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Wall art. The little girl clearly wants to contribute:
