The week continued with cycling and work. The restrictions on daily life continue to be relaxed gradually as the case load in Spain declines. The time slots for exercise have been expanded so that people my age can be out and about all day except that the hours 10-12 and 19-20 are reserved for the over-70s. However, even that restriction is widely ignored. And, much to the delight of many people, the beaches are open again for sunbathing and swimming, with distance etc. I am not a beach person but I do enjoy being able to have a beer in one of the bars on the promenade again.
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Fashion statement of these times:
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The little modest bar 100 meters down the street. For the first time since we have lived here, we decided to go and have a merienda one day (kind of a second breakfast, around 11):
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The selection of little dishes turned out to be very good, and the fried anchovies were fresh and delicious. We will be doing this again:
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When I cycled to Aigües for the first time during the week, I found that the square in front of the church was now open again:
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The police tape used to close the square had been disposed of:
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The other village I usually visit is Busot, empty early in the morning:
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The cemetery in Busot is located on hill above the village:
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View from the cemetery:
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As I returned from Busot, I happened upon a herder and his animals right next to a busy roundabout in El Campello:
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The goats were busy cleaning out the weeds in a vacant lot:
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On Sunday night we got together with some friends for dinner, as always respecting the limitation of 10 participants. Here is our hostess Aurora with her little pooch:
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The next morning I was on two wheels again, as I am every morning. This concrete block is about 1 km from Aigües; some artists based there have embellished it:
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Going for my rides early, around 7-7:30, means that I am pedaling along the sea shortly after sunrise (which occurs around 6:40 right now here in Alicante). This means, in turn, that the light is often quite beautiful, both over the sea and over the mountains:
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One day our friend Eliot came by to look at a room in which we want to install a new air conditioning unit (he is in that business). He brought his little dog with him, much to Monica’s delight:
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On Wednesday morning I went for a slightly longer ride, but the start again rewarded me with some beautiful light and sky:
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About an hour later, I was on the road from Aigües to further inland, towards Relleu. The views from up there are wonderful, and by now all clouds and mist were gone:
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There were some other cyclists out and about:
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On Thursday I attended a formal meeting for which I needed to look semi-decent. But since only the upper part of the body is visible on Zoom, this was my outfit:
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Friday afternoon I went down to the beach for a look around and a beer at one of the newly opened beach bars. There were people on the beach, but social distance rules were by and large observed:
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These children were the exception, and I doubt that the goals are meant to be used in this way. But since the playgrounds are still closed, children do what children do:
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Friday was Eliot’s 61st birthday, and instead of the usual big party, we just got together for dinner with another couple and our offspring, altogether 9 people. Here is Eliot’s son Lucas working the grill:
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The birthday cake, as usual made by my wife. We could not find a 1 candle, so a 0 was turned sideways:
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And the little puppy was part of the evening as well:
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On Saturday I took my mountainbike and went to the Vía Verde del Maigmó, the abandoned narrow-gauge railroad track converted to a gravel path for cyclists and walkers. But first I have to get there, since the starting point is 24 km from my house, initially on paved roads but then on a field path running through vineyards:
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The Vía Verde runs 22 km from the town of Agost to the Maigmó mountain pass. Besides vineyards and almond groves, there are also quite a few places where vegetables are grown, like the green onions here:
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In a few places, the trail can be accessed from the adjacent paved road. This particular spot is one of those places. People who just want to walk a few km can park nearby and start their walk here:
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This little wooden bridge can not conceivably have supported the weight of the train:
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One of the several small tunnels along the trail. The altitude difference between the starting and ending points is about 400 meters, so since trains cannot climb grades above 2-3%, tunnels were needed:
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There were a lot of other cyclists on the path on this beautiful morning; most of the time I was alone though, which is how I prefer it. So I passed this group as soon as I could:
