The main event during the first week was Three Kings Day on 6th January. This is the day when Spanish children traditionally get their Christmas presents, it is a public holiday, and most schools and workplaces do not return to normality until the following week.
The weather was windy and pretty cold for Alicante. But we are a seaside community, so people look for ways to enjoy the beach year round.
Main
A couple with their baby on a bench near the Postiguet beach:
Alternates:
Alternate 1
Some people make money by busking, others by building nice sand castles on the beach:
Alternate 2
This guy was doing a balancing act:
Alternate 3
The balancing act invariably ended like this:
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Lonely girl on a windswept beach:
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Relaxation:
Alternate 6
Contre-jour on the Esplanada de España:
The day before Three Kings Day, every Spanish town holds a ceremonial arrival ceremony. The Reyes Magos arrive with presents and candy for children. Of course, the whole thing is just an excuse to have a parade and a fiesta. We chose to take in the event in El Campello. The Reyes Magos arrived by boat in the harbour and proceeded to the local church along the seaside promenade.
Alternate 7
A mother and her daughter run towards the harbour so as not to miss the Kings’ arrival:
Alternate 8
These two children were waiting to start in the parade:
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I thought they were adorable:
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Some of the musicians were getting in some last-minute practice:
Alternate 11
Other musicians needed to ensure that they were adequately lubricated:
Alternate 12
The children await the parade along the Paseo Maritimo:
Alternate 13
Candy!:
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The next day we went to the nearby town of Elche where the biggest nativity scene in Spain was on display. But I liked this sculpture better:
Alternate 15
Back in Alicante. It is winter, and the chestnut vendor outside the Corte Inglés department store was doing well:
Alternate 16
Finally, one of my usual photo places. A family looks onto the carrousel on Avenida Vicente Ramos near my house:
And so ended the first week of 2010.