Casa Del Monte


The villa we hired in the Jalon valley was called Casa Del Monte.

The Villa (1)


The Villa (2)


The Villa (3)


The Pool & View


As you can see, the villa had a lovely pool and spectacular views down the valley.

The Spanish Bull


You can't go to Spain and NOT see one of these bulls.

The Villa (4)


The Naya


Traditionally a naya was a south facing covered terrace with open arches used to dry grapes. These days they're mostly used for relaxing and alfresco dining.

The Patio


I'm sure the Spanish would call this a naya too, but it's a patio to me.

The Kitchen (1)


A well kitted and functional kitchen.

The Kitchen (2)


The Living Room (1)


The living room with lovely high ceilings.

The Living Room (2)


The Living Room (3)


Looking up to the raised level with the passage to the rooms on the left and the dining room on the right.

The Living Room (4)


The Dining Room (1)


We never used the dining room. It would be a waste with lovely warm weather outside.

The Dining Room (2)


Master Bedroom


This is a huuuuge bed. The master bedroom also had a large en-suite bathroom.

Second Bedroom


Like the master bedroom, the second bedroom also had an en-suite bathroom.

Jalon Valley View (1)


The view from the naya.

Jalon Valley View (2)


Jalon Village


You could just see Jalon village in the distance from the villa. My super-duper 200mm lens allowed me to zoom right in for this shot.

Pool After a Day's Swimming


Sunset over Jalon Valley


Peñón de Ifach and Beach (1)


The Peñón de Ifach is a massive limestone outcrop in Calpe and is considered the symbol of the Costa Blanca. This picture was taken from Playa de la Fossa on the north-east side of Calpe.

Playa de la Fossa (1)


Playa de la Fossa (2)


Playa de la Fossa (3)


Playa de la Fossa (4)


Peñón de Ifach (1)


Peñón de Ifach and Beach (2)


Peñón de Ifach (2)


Playa de la Fossa (5)


Peñón de Ifach (3)


This time taken from the beach to the south-west of the Penon - Playa del Arenal Bol

Playa del Arenal Bol


Whilst a nice beach, I don't think it was as nice as the on the other side of the Penon.

Pool Reflection


Getting arty taking photos of clouds in the reflection of the pool.

Sunset Clouds (1)


One evening we had the most amazing sunset over the valley with some impressive cloud formations. I got a bit trigger happy, but it was worth it. Some lovely photos here.

Sunset Clouds (2)


Sunset Clouds (3)


Sunset Clouds (4)


Sunset Clouds (5)


Sunset Clouds (6)


Sunset Clouds (7)


Sunset Clouds (8)


Sunset Clouds (9)


Sunset Clouds (10)


Sunset Clouds (11)


Breakfast View


This is the view we experienced every morning with breakfast.

Spider (1)


We had two rather large visitors between the palm trees next to the pool. This is the first.

Spider (2)


And this is the second, with breakfast.

La Marineta Casiana Beach (1)


One of the beaches to the south of Denia port. This side of things reminded me so much of the Cape in South Africa.

La Marineta Casiana Beach (2)


Kayakers in Denia


Promenade (1)


The promenade to the south of Denia port that leads to the port and marina.

Promenade (2)


Marina de Denia


Lego Pirate


Strange what you find in the streets of Denia.

Street of Denia (1)


Street of Denia (2)


Street of Denia (3)


Street of Denia (4)


Street in Denia with the old castello (castle) in the background.

Que No Embrute


I love these little signs. And for those who don't speak Spanish, remove the "que" and you have the english translation.

Denia Castello Turret


Street of Denia (5)


A Plaza in Denia


Thirsty Cat


We had a regular visitor to the villa and she was quite a fan of drinking pool water. After seeing this, I started putting down a bowl of tap water for the cat.

The Rastro


The rastro (flea market) in Jalon town operates every Saturday morning and they sell almost everything there, including the kitchen sink.

Church on Jalon


Church Dome


Carrer Benissa


Lovely decorative road name signs.

Church Bell Tower


Top of Bell Tower


Jalon Plaza Mayor


Jalon Street


Bar Paqui


Lilac & Cream (1)


Beautifully painted house we encountered in Jalon.

Lilac & Cream (2)


Lilac & Cream (3)


Windows & Statue


Jalon Cooper


Valle del Paraiso


Hillside cluster of villas overlooking Jalon.

Bodegas Riko


Tiled sign for one of the bodegas (wine shop) in Jalon.

Jávea


Jávea Beach Bar


A beach bar - Moskito - on the beach in Jávea. It was there the first time we went to Jávea and gone the next. Think it may be a seasonal bar or possibly just closed for renovations when we went back the second time.

Jávea Beach (1)


As you can see the beach at Jávea is a pebble beach, but the water is very clean and a beautiful turquoise colour.

Jávea Rocks


Jávea Port-end Promenade


The restaurant lined beach front walk at the Port end (nearest the city) of Jávea

Claire & The Waves


Metal Mickey


Strange sculpture spotted in Jávea.

Jávea Beach (2)


Jávea Port


Look at that water. It's like the Caribbean.

Tapas Munching


Optica de la Mar


I'm not sure what this is, but it's in Jávea.

Sailing Boat


Sailing boat spotted en-route to Jávea port.

Sailing Boat Entering Port


Sea-side dining


My attempt at a catalogue photo.

Church in Gata de Gorgos


Àgora (1)


How's this for a multi-purpose event building? It's the Àgora which is part of the La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (The City of Arts and Sciences) in Valencia.

Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (1)


The Science museum in Valencia has got to be one of the most spectacular science museums I've ever seen.

Àgora (2)


Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (2)


Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (3)


Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (4)


The museum with the huge Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in the background.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (1)


Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (5)


Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (2)


This is the arts museum. Another very impressive building.

Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (6)


Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (3)


Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (4)


La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (1)


Blue Domed Roof


Doggie Pool


Dogs need to cool down too.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (5)


Gulliver


A huge climbing jungle gym thing for kids to play on. Looks like great fun.

Gulliver Slide


Now that's a big slide.

Pasea de la Alameda Statue


Statue by Juan Ripollés. I've seen some of this guys work in Madrid too.

Green Lights


A straight busy road in Valencia with all the lights on green. This could be somewhere in America.

Red Lights


Toros en Valencia


Bull fighting poster on the wall of the bull fighting ring in Valencia.

Plaza de Toros de Valencia (1)


This bull fighting ring is a bit of a disappointment compared to those I've seen in Madrid and Seville.

Estació del Nord


Valencia's main train station.

Plaza de Toros de Valencia (2)


Ticket Hall in Estació del Nord


Ticket Desk
 In Estació del Nord

Stainglass Window


Interesting stainglass window in Estació del Nord

Estació del Nord Clock


Building


Estació del Nord Front


Tesoreria General de la Seguridad Social


Casa Consistorial de Valencia (1)


Valencia town hall

Casa Consistorial de Valencia (2)


Casa Consistorial de Valencia (3)


Casa Consistorial de Valencia (4)


Correos y Telegrafos (1)


Valencia's main post office.

Correos y Telegrafos (2)


Casa Consistorial de Valencia (5)


Flags of Valencia


Plaza del Ayuntamiento (1)


Plaza del Ayuntamiento (2)


Valencia's Flag


A Bank


Believe it or not, but this is actually a bank and not a church.

Central Market (1)


Unfortunately it was closed when we went as it was a Sunday.

Tiles on the Central Market


Church Bell Tower (1)


Church Bell Tower (2)


La Lonja de la Seda


A Gothic building.

Iglesia de los Santos Juanes


Inside La Lonja de la Seda (1)


Only one hall was open and it's quite impressive and really shows off some of the gothic architecture.

Inside La Lonja de la Seda (2)


Inside La Lonja de la Seda (3)


Inside La Lonja de la Seda (4)


Valencia


Taking photos of local artists' artwork isn't bad is it ;-)

Plaza Redonda


Catedral de Valencia (1)


Valencia's cathedral.

Catedral de Valencia (2)


Catedral de Valencia (3)


Catedral de Valencia (4)


Catedral de Valencia (5)


Plaza de la Virgen (1)


Plaza de la Virgen (2)


Catedral de Valencia Bell Tower


Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (6)


Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe & L'Hemisfèric


L'Hemisfèric

L'Hemisfèric is a "laserium", planetarium and IMAX cinema.

Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (6)


Jalon Valley View (3)


Claire and Muffin


Claire and our friendly guest who we named Muffin (because cat in Spanish is gato which sounds a bit like gâteau).

Brit Bar in Guadalest


Yup, even the inland tourist traps aren't safe from Brit bars. This one is in Guadalest, just opposite the route into the old enclosed town.

Terracota Roof Tiles


Not Local Produce


Loads of the shops in Guadalest sell metalwork like this as if it were locally produced, but it's not.

Guadalest Bell Tower (1)


The bell tower for the church is Guadalest is one of the very few in the world that isn't actually attached to the church.

Path into El Castell de Guadalest


The castle, El Castell de Guadalest, is actually "hidden" away behind the rocks on which the bell tower is perched and is accessible via a single gateway cut in the rocks.

Portal de San José (1)


The gate into El Castell de Guadalest

Portal de San José (2)


Guadalest (1)


Guadalest (2)


Ironwork Menage


Guadalest (3)


Guadalest Resevoir (1)


The Guadalest river has been dammed which has resulted in this gorgeous resevoir.

Guadalest (4)


Guadalest Resevoir (2)


Guadalest Resevoir (3)


Guadalest Resevoir (4)


Castello San José


Guadalest Gaol


I'm sure the TV wasn't there when this was in use ;-)

Guadalest Gaol Dungeon


Guadalest Gaol Door


Even after all these years, that door still looks rather solid.

Guadalest Rooftops


Portal de San José (3)


Portal de San José (4)


Parklife (1)


Parklife (2)


Guadalest Bell Tower (2)


Guadalest Bell Tower (1)


Guadalest (2)


Guadalest From Afar


Taken on the road back towards the sea.

Las Esclavas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús


The spires of this church can be seen from most parts of Gandia.

Church Spire


Church Spires


Blue & White Tiles (1)


Blue & White Tiles (2)


Tilework

Spotted on the beach front at Platja de Daimus

Tileswork Up Close


Seaside Tapas Lunch (1)


On our last full day on holiday we ventured back to Javea for a spot of seaside tapas for lunch.

Seaside Tapas Lunch (2)


As you can see, quite a selection: calamares, chopitos, gambas, albondigas, croquetas, patatas bravas, boquerones, ensalada, pan, alioli y bebidas

Mediterranean Coastline (1)


Mediterranean Coastline (2)


Lighthouse At Cabo de la Nao


Restuarant & Lighthouse At Cabo de la Nao


Terracota Rooftops


Rooftops


Mediterranean Coastline (3)


Mediterranean Coastline (4)


Mediterranean Coastline (5)


Mediterranean Coastline (6)


Teeny Weeny Aeroplane


Our lift back to Madrid.