14 January 2025 Denia
Had a super day great found some new streets to look around.
In the afternoon another 2 cycles a lovely place to be no coffee n cake today the coffee shop I used the other day coffee was not hot enough and the one I tried this morning everone was on another planet so after a few mins. I walked out and carried on searching but gave up and went shopping?
XX
13 January 2025 Denia
Cycle into Denia the old town this morning then through the Castle tunnel for coffee.
In the afternoon had a cycle looking for new streets and ended up at the market it was huge.
Wow a cool Fish spotted on the harbor.
and this fish you can see what it ate for lunch!
Love this cool dude see him every year.
If you like a house with lots of flowers and find theme to expensive why not just fill it with Cacti.
12 January 2025 Denia
An early start as a 3 Hour drive down to Denia passing Valencia roads lovely and Quiet. Got to the site 1300 got the same pitch as last year. Decided to have a cycle down into town along the seafront. At the harbour spotted a lovely super yacht one of those with masts that go up forever and a massive catamaran. Love the view of Montgo from here I am glad that I have run up it twice what a mountain.
The seaweed here almost looks like cliffs the way it builds up but they do remove it I think they use it for fertaliser.
I do think the guy who posed for this statue was pushing his luck.
Spoke to someone I know and a couple of ladies living the dream.
Wal into town again but visited the old town under the castle streets empty as I like it. A very windy day today but still 28 degrees. You won’t think so looking how this is wrapped up.
I think I have spotted why there is a water shortage in Spain.
Graffiti time Hooray.
I ‘am not sure what this says you decide?
My walk round the old town this morning.
El Faro (light house)
The Magic Museum.
2 cycles into town and one cycle up to Benicola in the afternoon for coffee.
10 January 2025 Peniscola
Walk into town with a coffee cake stop takes me about 1Hr 10 mins.
Back for the cycle to the supermarket for some shopping lunch then a cycle up to Benicarlo for afternoon coffee at my usual place near the market great place for Graffiti (on tomorrow’s blog) yes just wait!
Cycle into town again for some more shopping and look around.
The washing area here is now controlled by an App just like Beverly Park in Paignton or card and also doubles up as a book swap.
9 January 2025 Peniscola
The castle here is FAB and worth a visit very small inside.
The earliest evidence of habitation in the area were Ibero-Roman remains excavated in the port of Peniscola; they date to the 1st–2nd centuries BC. Arab writer Al-Idrisi described Baniskula in the 11th century AD, and briefly described a Moorish castle overlooking the sea. There are no detailed descriptions until the 13th century, when James I of Aragon briefly summarised the Muslim defences. The castle was transferred to James’s control in April 1229, after the last Almohad governor of Valencia, Zayd Abu Zayd, signed an accord surrendering various castles in eastern Spain.
The current form of the castle is essentially that developed by the Knights Templar, who planned to develop a kingdom centered on Peniscola. James II of Aragon gave the castle to the Templars in 1294, together with the nearby castles of Pulpís and Xivert. The Templars began work that year, demolished the Muslim fortifications, and completely rebuilt the castle; the work was completed in 1307. In common with other Templar fortifications, the castle was laid out around an inner ward and possessed a chapel. Architectural features included barrel vaulting and round arches. The basic Templar core of the castle remains intact; some changes were made by Antipope Benedict XIII in order to modify it for use as a papal residence in the early 15th century. The castle defences and the associated town fortifications were significantly upgraded from the early 16th century onward, in line with advances in military technology. The castle was massively redeveloped by military engineer Giovanni Battista Antonelli in the 16th century
The castle was involved in various military conflicts of the Kingdom of Aragon, and later in the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 18th century, the Peninsula War and civil conflicts in the early 19th century, each of which impacted upon the state of the castle defences in some form. The castle garrison was finally disbanded in 1890.
The castle where Benedict lived from 1417 until his death in 1423 was restored, improved and new walls were added in 1960 when Anthony Mann’s film El Cid was partially filmed there. The town and castle of Peníscola played the role of Valencia. The castle is now a popular tourist attraction and the beaches and surrounding area are a popular family holiday resort.
A good drive down sea on one side mountains on the other and good roads. On arrival got booked in lunch then a cycle into town lovely and quiet. But they do lovely sized ice creams yummy.
Temperature down here after a 2 hour drive up at 23 0utside in the van 32 Ouch!
8 January 2025 Barcelona
Usual coffee cake and shopping back for the bike and a cycle into Villanova.
These fountains are still used by many of the locals as water is so expensive.
A new law in Spain says that all English on bikes must carry a fire extinguisher as they are such a flameing pain in the neck.
Another lovely day got of the bus a stop earlier to look around a few streets after the stunning houses in Sitges thought I would show you what living in the streets of Villanova could be like.
A washing day and Van wash to get the dust off ready for moving soon.
6 January 2025 Barcelona
Usual coffee thing and still exploring new streets in Villanova loved the door knocker.
These are the traditional cake for 6 January about 12 euros each.
On my cycle to Cubelles a girl was sat with her dog on the table when it peed on the table. FAB Eh?
5 January 2025 Barcelona
A lovely sunset last night.
On the eve of Three Kings’ Day, January 5, almost all Spanish cities and towns hold the traditional Cabalgata de Reyes, a large parade through the streets. The Three Wise Men give sweets to the children, and they give them the letters they have written.
When this happens after walking about in Villanova your shoes collect sticky sweet papers and you will grow an inch and take an hour to get them back of your shoes?
Walk along the beach this morning in Villanova to have a look at the bull.
Cycle into Sitges in the afternoon to get a piece of pizza for tea. Love the houses here.
