The Spanish Sun Came Out!

Our day trip up the Mediterranean coast of Spain from Alicante to seaside Calpe began with clouds and wind and temps in the low 50s when we shot our video below, but an hour later it was warm and sunny, with blazing blue sky and blue sea. At last, the Mediterranean the way you see it in the movies!

We made the trip with our friend John Burt, who is visiting from Florida. John has rented a car for his week-long stay, so we are enjoying touring the countryside outside Alicante while he is here. He’s not only a great friend and great driver, but he is also a handy tripod holder when the winds threaten to blow our camera to the ground.

Here’s a shot of the three of us huddling together for warmth early in the day.

And here are a few shots of Calpe’s Roman ruins, which are fenced off temporarily for further exploration. The ruins mark the site of thermal baths and seaside fish farms built by the Romans during the first and second centuries A.D.

What a life those Romans must have had! It’s fun to envision their seaside paradise. But even with the 21st century’s stamp on this place, it’s still awe-inspiring.

Next stop was coffee at a beach hotel while we watched blue sky emerge from the gray.

And then we found a perfect spot for lunch on the sun-drenched beach at Algas Restaurant and Bar. Towering over the sand is the rock of Ilfach, a giant limestone outcropping that is resort-chic Calpe’s timeless signature.

Over our lunch of grilled fish and vegetables, we talked about the attraction of Alicante and surrounding areas. John and his husband Steve Sievert discovered the city several years ago when severe flooding doused their plans for a trip to Valencia. So they shifted their sights a little farther south. (Alicante is 170 km down the coast from Valencia.) It was love at first sight.

With the gorgeous views, the friendliness of the people, the world-class public transportation and ease of access to all of Europe by rail, Alicante became Steve and John’s #1 choice for retirement.

Ted and I understand the appeal.

But there is more than these qualities that make any city in Spain particularly enticing at this time in history. With LGBTQ+ rights enshrined in the country’s constitution, it is a joy to visit a country where our legitimacy as human beings isn’t debated day in and day out, ad nauseum, as they are in the U.S. Ted and I are frankly sick and tired of it, dreading the day when the blood-hungry Maga gang rolls back our marriage rights.

As John said at lunch today: “I feel more comfortable in Spain than I do anywhere in the United States.”

Amen, John. Amen.

And thank you for helping Ted and me set our retirement sights on Alicante, too.

Note: To view the video, simply click on the photo at the top with the white arrow in red at the center, or find it here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EVHaPbG8Es.

Thank you for following our Alicante adventure!