Prowling my world, camera in hand

8 January 2018

Week 53: the year ends

Filed under: — Administrator @ 12:35

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.

53_1
Plaza Seneca in the centre of Alicante, decked out for the benefit of the neighbourhood children:
DSF0199

53_2
A typical feature of Alicante neighbourhoods–a nativity scene:
DSF0204

53_3
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:
DSF0201

53_4
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:
DSF4776

53_5
DSF4777

53_6
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):
DSF4774

53_7
The Mercado, suitably decorated:
DSF4780

53_8
A well-known fishmonger:
DSF4784

53_9
A stand devoted solely to eggs; but according to the sign, these are eggs from happy hens:
DSF4785

53_10
Fruit stand detail:
DSF4786

53_11
And the final photo from the city, a curious lottery vendor sign on Avenida de la Estación:
DSF4794

53_12
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:
DSF4773

53_13
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:
DSF4795

53_14
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:
R003127

53_15
I also stopped to photograph this neat piece of wall art on a discarded piece of concrete:
R003126

53_16
And then New Year’s Eve arrived, and the usual circle of friends gathered at the home of Cani and Nereyda to welcome 2018:
R003131

53_17
The dogs were there too, waiting for their share in the kitchen:
R003130

53_18
My wife and children–usually, our parties are informal, but we do dress up for New Year:
R003136

53_19
The hosts, Cani and Nereyda:
R003138

53_20
Iñaki and Dallal:
R003151

53_21
Tooting their horns:
R003139

53_22
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:
R003155

53_23
And the big, but gentle, Atila also gets in on the act:
R003162

And so ends my 17th year of posting these weekly blogs.

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Powered by WordPress