Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Calpe Old Town

As some of you will know I spent Christmas in Spain and despite becoming ill (a la the Exorcist) I managed to explore and take some photos . I stayed in a small and vibrant town called Calpe in the Mediterranean area of the Costa Blanca. The town consists of beaches, shops, beachfront apartments and residential areas including the Old Town. The Old Town area of Calpe consists of lots of small plazas and narrow streets with bars, restaurants, shops and houses. The pic above is of a long flight of steps that have been painted with the Spanish flag down the length of them. This photo was taken from about half way up and there were narrow doorways all the way up the steps with lush pots of plants and flowers.

The next two photos are of typical streets in the Old Town area. The top one shows a fountain and there were many water features dotted in small plazas or in front of buildings. Although it was warm and sunny for the majority of the time I was there (apart from the days it rained!), it wasn't particularly hot, but I could imagine that when it becomes very hot in the summer these fountains would provide a cooling effect. Walking around the Old Town they provided a soothing sound in the quiet streets during siesta. Apparently in the high tourist season it can get very busy in the Old Town so I was pleased to seemingly have the place to ourselves, apart form the local residents going about their business.

In the photo above you can make out the start of the mountains in the background that provided a scenic backdrop to the town. The photo below shows another small plaza with apartments and on the right is a church. I very much enjoyed walking around the Town which rises from sea level, and climbs steeply up the main street to the Old Town. I took many more pictures which I will share with you next time...

I would also like to thank all of you who were kind enough to leave supportive comments on my last post. They were greatly appreciated.

15 comments:

Roxie, Sammy, Andy and Shermie said...

You take such wonderful pictures and your narrative is perfect. We can't wait to see what else you have in store for us!

Roxie, Sammy & Andy

Katherine said...

Fabulous pictures - I especially love the first one. What a quaint and charming town. I hope you had a wonderful holiday despite getting sick.

Preeti Shenoy said...

Wonderful pictures.A friend of mine lived in Spain for a few years.When she left Spain, I made a painting (water colour)very similar to your first picture.She loved it, and has framed it.

chrysalis said...

Wow, lovely shots!
Hope your holiday turned out OK even if it did a number on your stomach.

chrysalis said...

and hi from Michele's!

Erin said...

Sent here by Michele!

Spain looks amazing, and your pictures are gorgeous. I've never been but it's definitely someplace that I'd love to go.

Becky68 said...

What lovely pictures, I am so jealous I want to travel & I have to wait until my kids grow up!
Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier, Happy New Year.

barbie2be said...

those pictures are beautiful. they make me want to be there right now!

michele sent me. :)

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Beautiful pictures of a very Beautiful place....I LOVE those painted steps and the whole look of the buildings and plants...How wonderful to spend Christmas there in this very scenic and special area of Spain---outside of being so very sick, my dear...it feels like you were enjoying being a "tourist" sort of...You have such a wonderful eye for the beauty and the uniqueness around you and therefore WE are the recipients of your lovely talent through the pictures and the descriptions that you share with all of us....!

Michael K. Althouse said...

Nice shots. Like Naomi, I liked the painted stairs - they had a way of pulling me into the photo. Thanks for the comments on my blog too!

Mike

Em said...

Christmas in Spain?!?! Fantastic. The photos are terrific.

Michele sent me...

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
Your pictures make me want to knock on one of those side doors and at least for a brief time, meet the people who inhabit those homes.

You have a gift. Thank you for sharing it.

Melody said...

What stunning photos. You have a good eye for photography. Well done. Makes you realise what a wonderful and diverse world we live in doesn't it?

Jean-Luc Picard said...

A beautiful town, illustrated by your excellent pictures.

Michele sent me this way.

Carli N. Wendell said...

ooh, perty. I wish I was there, and I hate to travel.