This was the last working week of 2019, and there was also ample time for cycling. And I took some time to walk around the centre of Alicante to look at the decorations and of course do a spot of shopping.
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I keep walking past this spot on my little street, and keep taking pictures of it in various types of light, here at dawn:

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Morning colours in my neighbourhood:

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As part of a campaign against abuse of women by their male partners, a problem much discussed and lamented in Spain, these stickers have appeared on all the rubbish bins in our neighbourhood. The text reads “throw the machismo in here”:

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On Sunday I took my mountainbike to ride the Vía Verde del Maigmó. On the way to the starting point I passed under the Alicante-Madrid motorway:

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At the start outside Agost, the familiar view of vineyards and mountains:

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Four km into the ride, there is a good view of Agost:

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At around km. 10 is a favourite spot of mine, a view of the almond groves, now in their winter mode:

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Alicante in the far distance:

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Later in the week, I was in the centre, at Plaza Seneca, where a small temporary amusement park was being set up:

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This little boy was clearly interested:

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On Wednesday, our little team of economists had our Christmas lunch at Moments. This image of Michał and Carolina is technically deficient but I still like it because it shows the atmosphere:

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Our German-Venezuelan trainee Altair, studing the menu. It was her first visit to Moments:

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Then it was time for dessert; as is often the case, dessert was placed in the centre of the table, for everyone to pick at:

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Carolina, looking longingly at the dessert:

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The view outside Moments–a largely empty beach but still nice weather to enjoy:

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Back on my bicycle, in Aigües. This old man was sitting on the church steps, just watching the world and chatting with passers-by:

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Instead of a nativity scene, the church in Aigües puts up a painting made by some local artists:

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The square was decorated in a modest manner by the people who live there:

The remaining images are from a couple of walks around the centre of Alicante.
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The broad Avenida Maissonnave was altogether more impressive:

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The city’s biggest department store:

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Alicante’s Plaza del Ayuntamiento (town hall square) is also quite nice in the evening:

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Convenience store, Plaza del Ayuntamiento:

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Esplanada de España:

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Plaza Puerta del Mar:

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Surfer and pigeon, Plaza Puerta del Mar:
