This is the last weekly blog of 2017, of course ending with a New Year’s Eve celebration. But before that, there is a walk around Alicante.
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Plaza Seneca in the centre of Alicante, decked out for the benefit of the neighbourhood children:
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A typical feature of Alicante neighbourhoods–a nativity scene:
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The Christmas period is long in Spain; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are mostly devoted to eating and drinking. The gift exchanges tend to take place on January 6th, Three Kings’ Day:
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One morning I went to the Mercado Central. Before entering, I photographed this nearby mural. I have photographed it before, but the light was fairly good that morning:
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A somewhat mysterious inscription on the stairs leading to the main entrance of the Mercado Central. The neighbourhood around the Mercado is not particularly gay (there is a neighbourhood with several gay bars etc. elsewhere in downtown Alicante):
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The Mercado, suitably decorated:
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A well-known fishmonger:
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A stand devoted solely to eggs; but according to the sign, these are eggs from happy hens:
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Fruit stand detail:
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And the final photo from the city, a curious lottery vendor sign on Avenida de la Estación:
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Back home, a cat on the golf course–this is not a stray, he lives in one of the houses on the edge of the course. He just likes to roam, just like my late Taco:
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My son and I visited the “pet memorial tree” at the dog park, so he could see the ribbon I have hung for our recently departed, beloved Cheeta:
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On the final day of the year, I had to take a bicycle ride. It was a nice, crisp morning, and I enjoyed the view of Busot, a village I pass 2-3 times each week:
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I also stopped to photograph this neat piece of wall art on a discarded piece of concrete:
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And then New Year’s Eve arrived, and the usual circle of friends gathered at the home of Cani and Nereyda to welcome 2018:
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The dogs were there too, waiting for their share in the kitchen:
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My wife and children–usually, our parties are informal, but we do dress up for New Year:
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The hosts, Cani and Nereyda:
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Iñaki and Dallal:
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Tooting their horns:
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It has now gone past midnight, everyone has eaten their 12 grapes (“uvas de suerte”) at each strike of the clock, and general hugging and wishing each other a happy new year ensues:
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And the big, but gentle, Atila also gets in on the act:
And so ends my 17th year of posting these weekly blogs.