“Moors and Cristians and the Region of Alicante”

Moors and Cristians in the Region of Valencian, after I saw the festival last year, I had an idea for a hack: to add a third group, the Atheists. We could make it the festival of Moros, Cristians, literally means Moors and Christians, and is a set of festival activities which are celebrated in many towns and cities of Spain, mainly in the southern Valencian Community; according to popular tradition the festivais commemorate the battles, combats and fights between Moors (or Muslims) and Christians during the period known as Reconquista (from the 8th century through the l5th century), in this festival, many groups parade in medieval or fanciful costumes.

The festivals represent the capture of the city by the Moors and the subsequent Christian reconquest special flavor by tradition and characteristics of a people who mantine its historical roots. The people that take part in the festival are usually enlisted in filaes or comparsas (companies that represent the Christian or Moor legions), and for several days, they parade with bombastic costumes loosely inspired by Medieval fashion. Christians wear fur, metallic helmets, and armor, fire loud arquebuses, and ride horses.

In contrast, Moors wear ancient Arab costumes, carry scimitars and ride real camels or elephants. The festival develops among shots of gunpowder, medieval music, and fireworks, and ends with the Christians winning a simulated battle around a castle.

My friends seemed enthusiastic at first. They know lots of local musicians, they could arrange for a band and appropriate music. (I suggested Also Sprach Zarathustra.) I also began imagining costumes; my idea was that we would dress as various kinds of scientists. The family also connected with the town government, and they said this would be approved as an official part of the festival. However, my other friends said this was too good to be true.

The most well-known Moors and Cristians festival takes place in Alcoi from 22 to 24 April, around the Feast Day of Saint George (Catalan: Sant Jordi ; Spanish: San Jorge). According to legend, after Jaime I of Aragon reconquered the city of Alcoi, the Moors, in turn, tried to recover it shortly after. But, when they were about to start the battle again, Saint George miraculously appeared to the Moors, who were frightened away.

Other remarkable Moros y Cristianos (spanish) festivals are celebrated in the towns of La Villa Joiosa (with its desembarc), Alcoy, Bocairente, Villena, Biar, Cocentuina, Aspe, Crevillent, El Campello, Elda, Benijofar, Muro Alcoy, Ontinyent, Oriola, Petrer, villajoyosa, Javea, province and some districts of Alicante city. The most ancient festival is celebrated in Caudete, Almansa (Albacete), dated from 1588.

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“Moors and Cristians and the Region of Alicante”

Moors and Cristians in the Region of Valencian, after I saw the festival last year, I had an idea for a hack: to add a third group, the Atheists. We could make it the festival of Moros, Cristians, literally means Moors and Christians, and is a set of festival activities which are celebrated in many towns and cities of Spain, mainly in the southern Valencian Community; according to popular tradition the festivais commemorate the battles, combats and fights between Moors (or Muslims) and Christians during the period known as Reconquista (from the 8th century through the l5th century), in this festival, many groups parade in medieval or fanciful costumes.

The festivals represent the capture of the city by the Moors and the subsequent Christian reconquest special flavor by tradition and characteristics of a people who mantine its historical roots. The people that take part in the festival are usually enlisted in filaes or comparsas (companies that represent the Christian or Moor legions), and for several days, they parade with bombastic costumes loosely inspired by Medieval fashion. Christians wear fur, metallic helmets, and armor, fire loud arquebuses, and ride horses.

In contrast, Moors wear ancient Arab costumes, carry scimitars and ride real camels or elephants. The festival develops among shots of gunpowder, medieval music, and fireworks, and ends with the Christians winning a simulated battle around a castle.

My friends seemed enthusiastic at first. They know lots of local musicians, they could arrange for a band and appropriate music. (I suggested Also Sprach Zarathustra.) I also began imagining costumes; my idea was that we would dress as various kinds of scientists. The family also connected with the town government, and they said this would be approved as an official part of the festival. However, my other friends said this was too good to be true.

The most well-known Moors and Cristians festival takes place in Alcoi from 22 to 24 April, around the Feast Day of Saint George (Catalan: Sant Jordi ; Spanish: San Jorge). According to legend, after Jaime I of Aragon reconquered the city of Alcoi, the Moors, in turn, tried to recover it shortly after. But, when they were about to start the battle again, Saint George miraculously appeared to the Moors, who were frightened away.

Other remarkable Moros y Cristianos (spanish) festivals are celebrated in the towns of La Villa Joiosa (with its desembarc), Alcoy, Bocairente, Villena, Biar, Cocentuina, Aspe, Crevillent, El Campello, Elda, Benijofar, Muro Alcoy, Ontinyent, Oriola, Petrer, villajoyosa, Javea, province and some districts of Alicante city. The most ancient festival is celebrated in Caudete, Almansa (Albacete), dated from 1588.

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Spanish Tapas - Bar hopping

In Spain, dinner is usually served between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. (sometimes as late as 12 midnight), leaving significant time between work and dinner. Therefore, Spaniards often go “bar hopping” (Spanish: Ir de tapas) and eat tapas in the time between finishing work and having dinner. Since lunch is usually served between 1 and 3 p.m., another cormmon time for tapas is weekend days around noon as a means of socializing before lunch proper at home.

It is very common for a bar or a small local restaurant to have 8 to 112 different kinds of tapas in warming trays with glass partitions covering the food. They are often very strongly flavored with garlic, chilies or paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, saffron and sometimes in plentiful arnounts of olive oil. Often one or more of the choices is seafood (mariscos), often including anchovies, sardines or mackerel in olive oil, squid or others in a tomato based sauce, sometimes with the addition of red or green peppers or other seasoning. It is rare to see a tapas selection not include one or more types of olives, such as manzanilla or arbequina olives. One or more types of bread are usually available to eat with any of the sauce-based tapas.

In Madrid, León, Asturias, Extremadura, and in parts of Andalusia, when you go to a bar and order a drink, you will often get a tapa for free. This happens mostly in the province of Jaén, Granada, Almería but it is not very common in the rest of Andalusia, where you generally have to pay for both the drink and the tapa. Sometimes, especially in Northern Spain, they’re also called pinchos (spelled pintxos in Basque) in Navarre, the Basque Country, Cantabria and in some provinces like Salamanca. They’re called that because many of them have a pincho, or toothpick, through them. The toothpick is used to keep whatever the snack is made of from falling off the bread it has been attached to and to keep track of the number of tapas the customer has eaten. Differently priced tapas have different shape or size toothpicks. Tapa price ranges from 1.50 to 2.00 euros. Another name for them is banderillas (diminutive of bandera “flag”), in part because some of them resemble the colorful spears used in bullfighting.

In Andalusia, tapas can be “upgraded” to bigger portions, equivalent to half a dish (media ración) or a whole one (ración). This is generally more economical when a tapa is being ordered by more than one person. The portions are usually shared by diners, and a meal made up of raciones resembles a Middle Eastern mezze or Chinese dim sum.
In the Mediterranean diet it is typical to begin the food with succulent starters to open up the appetite.

For those looking for entertainment to make an event or special occasion.

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Spanish Tapas - Bar hopping

In Spain, dinner is usually served between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. (sometimes as late as 12 midnight), leaving significant time between work and dinner. Therefore, Spaniards often go “bar hopping” (Spanish: Ir de tapas) and eat tapas in the time between finishing work and having dinner. Since lunch is usually served between 1 and 3 p.m., another cormmon time for tapas is weekend days around noon as a means of socializing before lunch proper at home.

It is very common for a bar or a small local restaurant to have 8 to 112 different kinds of tapas in warming trays with glass partitions covering the food. They are often very strongly flavored with garlic, chilies or paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, saffron and sometimes in plentiful arnounts of olive oil. Often one or more of the choices is seafood (mariscos), often including anchovies, sardines or mackerel in olive oil, squid or others in a tomato based sauce, sometimes with the addition of red or green peppers or other seasoning. It is rare to see a tapas selection not include one or more types of olives, such as manzanilla or arbequina olives. One or more types of bread are usually available to eat with any of the sauce-based tapas.

In Madrid, León, Asturias, Extremadura, and in parts of Andalusia, when you go to a bar and order a drink, you will often get a tapa for free. This happens mostly in the province of Jaén, Granada, Almería but it is not very common in the rest of Andalusia, where you generally have to pay for both the drink and the tapa. Sometimes, especially in Northern Spain, they’re also called pinchos (spelled pintxos in Basque) in Navarre, the Basque Country, Cantabria and in some provinces like Salamanca. They’re called that because many of them have a pincho, or toothpick, through them. The toothpick is used to keep whatever the snack is made of from falling off the bread it has been attached to and to keep track of the number of tapas the customer has eaten. Differently priced tapas have different shape or size toothpicks. Tapa price ranges from 1.50 to 2.00 euros. Another name for them is banderillas (diminutive of bandera “flag”), in part because some of them resemble the colorful spears used in bullfighting.

In Andalusia, tapas can be “upgraded” to bigger portions, equivalent to half a dish (media ración) or a whole one (ración). This is generally more economical when a tapa is being ordered by more than one person. The portions are usually shared by diners, and a meal made up of raciones resembles a Middle Eastern mezze or Chinese dim sum.
In the Mediterranean diet it is typical to begin the food with succulent starters to open up the appetite.

For those looking for entertainment to make an event or special occasion.

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The Epicurean - The gastronomic

I often describe myself as an Epicurean, I even have it on my business card, so, what is an Epicurean? and why am I writing about it? Lets get the definition out of the way first; an Epicurean is “A lover of ah things fine, especially food and wine”. Those readers of you that read my regular restaurant reviews will know that good food and good wine and Che experience of dining out in a fine restaurant is a real passion for my wife and I. We also find that like minded people enthuse about the good food and wine which enhances the gastronomic experience.

So the next question why am I writing about it? I think it is about time to unite the Epicureansof The World — well at least those that live within reasonable travelling distance of Sax, Elda, Petrer, Villena etc. Why this area you may ask, simple, one, it is close to where I live and as I’m organising this then I think it is my prerogative to define the area of operations. Two, there is a good selection of really good to very fine restaurants in that area that I have discovered and probably many that have yet to be discovered.

Shat I am proposing is a meeting of minds, a gelhing of taste buds, a unification of food lovers, an opportunity for other Epicureans to get together. I am going to suggest that a small band of gastronomes get together, once a month for Sunday lunch at a restaurant chosen by the members. Sometimes trying new restaurants, sometimes going back to the old favourites that will evolve as the “club” matures.

Who would want to be associated with this organisation? Anybody who can honestly say they are true lovers of the fine dining experience. I also have to say, and for those that can afford it! The one good thing about inland Spain is that you can eat really well without breaking the bank but it is usually more expensive than your normal run of the mill restaurants. So far, experience has shown me that a typical cost per person would be between thirty and fifty euro’s for most of Che really good restaurants, however I do know a few where you can have fabulous food for twentyof twenty five euros a head. Those cost’s are based on having a house wine or similar, costs can escalate quickly when exceptional wines and cognacs are added to the bill.

Are there any other people out there that love to savour the excitement of a new wine, rave about the exquisite flavour and texture of Galician Oysters, who know the difference between Sushi and Sashimi, appreciate the delicacy of lightly cooked Scallops wrapped in a fine Bellota Ham, people who’s endorphins flow at the thought of a superb Fillet Steak topped with a perfectly cooked sliver of fresh Foi Gras enhanced with and sauce of port and black truffles, connoisseurs who can appreciate the subtle flavours of an excellent Cava and dare I say the truly wonderful mix of a good Cuban cigar and a rich warm Cognac. Well if there are lets get together.

So to reiterate, Sunday Lunch, once a month, the first Sunday of each month seems like a good idea. Members to meet at a restaurant proposed and chosen by the members for good food, wine and intelligent conversation — what a joy.
  
So if you think that you may be interested in becoming one of the elite members of ”The Epicureans” All I can say now is I look forward to hearing from you.

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The Epicurean - The gastronomic

I often describe myself as an Epicurean, I even have it on my business card, so, what is an Epicurean? and why am I writing about it? Lets get the definition out of the way first; an Epicurean is “A lover of ah things fine, especially food and wine”. Those readers of you that read my regular restaurant reviews will know that good food and good wine and Che experience of dining out in a fine restaurant is a real passion for my wife and I. We also find that like minded people enthuse about the good food and wine which enhances the gastronomic experience.

So the next question why am I writing about it? I think it is about time to unite the Epicureans of The World — well at least those that live within reasonable travelling distance of Sax, Elda, Petrer, Villena etc. Why this area you may ask, simple, one, it is close to where I live and as I’m organising this then I think it is my prerogative to define the area of operations. Two, there is a good selection of really good to very fine restaurants in that area that I have discovered and probably many that have yet to be discovered.

Shat I am proposing is a meeting of minds, a gelhing of taste buds, a unification of food lovers, an opportunity for other Epicureans to get together. I am going to suggest that a small band of gastronomes get together, once a month for Sunday lunch at a restaurant chosen by the members. Sometimes trying new restaurants, sometimes going back to the old favourites that will evolve as the “club” matures.

Who would want to be associated with this organisation? Anybody who can honestly say they are true lovers of the fine dining experience. I also have to say, and for those that can afford it! The one good thing about inland Spain is that you can eat really well without breaking the bank but it is usually more expensive than your normal run of the mill restaurants. So far, experience has shown me that a typical cost per person would be between thirty and fifty euro’s for most of Che really good restaurants, however I do know a few where you can have fabulous food for twenty of twenty five euros a head. Those cost’s are based on having a house wine or similar, costs can escalate quickly when exceptional wines and cognacs are added to the bill.

Are there any other people out there that love to savour the excitement of a new wine, rave about the exquisite flavour and texture of Galician Oysters, who know the difference between Sushi and Sashimi, appreciate the delicacy of lightly cooked Scallops wrapped in a fine Bellota Ham, people who’s endorphins flow at the thought of a superb Fillet Steak topped with a perfectly cooked sliver of fresh Foi Gras enhanced with and sauce of port and black truffles, connoisseurs who can appreciate the subtle flavours of an excellent Cava and dare I say the truly wonderful mix of a good Cuban cigar and a rich warm Cognac. Well if there are lets get together.

So to reiterate, Sunday Lunch, once a month, the first Sunday of each month seems like a good idea. Members to meet at a restaurant proposed and chosen by the members for good food, wine and intelligent conversation — what a joy.
  
So if you think that you may be interested in becoming one of the elite members of ”The Epicureans” All I can say now is I look forward to hearing from you.

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The Mediterranean in Region of Valencia

The Region of Valencia has lots of scenic variety across its 23,255-km2 area. Just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean coast are the districts of the interior - little - known areas for many that offer an extensive cultural lineup and attractive landscape. Can be divided into two parts: inland and coast. Mountains and rock formations integrated into the Iberian mountain range and the Subbetica range dominate the landscape inland.

In the hinterland we can find impressive mountains, sometimes snow - capped during the winter months, forests of Mediterranean pines, oaks and cork oaks, shrubland carpeted witha variety of aromatic plants such as rosemary, sage, thyme and juniper… Higher up on the meseta, stretches of land are dedicated to growing olives, grapes and carobs…

Rivers capriciously cross the land to the sea, at times running shallow across the plains, or deep through narrow mountain gorges. Footpaths, fountains and wayside chapels are the perfect places to stop along the way during a country hike.

Time seems to run to a different rhythm in the lands of the interior, and streets and squares are usually quiet and peaceful. Rock shelter paintings, the remains of ancient civilisations, castles and palaces, churches, paintings and fine metalwork are a few examples of what visitors can find here. History and tradition can also be appreciated in local festivities, to which visitors are always made to feel welcome. Regional cooking is one of the major attractions as well. Try some of the local dishes made from products from the fields and mountains they’re sure to delight the palate.

Staying at rural houses and hostels in the Region of Valencia is one of the more attractive alternatives, enabling you to get better acquainted with these lands and the way of life of the local people. We hope the information provided in this blog will help you to choose the ideal site in which to stay for a few days and have a marvellous time.

The Valencia Region is located along the east coast of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea. The Region is home to more than 4.6 million inhabitants, about 11% of Spain’s population. The Region of Valencia is divided into 3 provinces: Valencia – Alicante – Castellón. The region of Valencia lies in the east of Spain. It borders Catalonia in the north, with Aragon and Castile-La Mancha in the west, with the region of Murcia in the south, and with the Mediterranean sea in the east.

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The Mediterranean in Region of Valencia

The Region of Valencia has lots of scenic variety across its 23,255-km2 area. Just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean coast are the districts of the interior - little - known areas for many that offer an extensive cultural lineup and attractive landscape. Can be divided into two parts: inland and coast. Mountains and rock formations integrated into the Iberian mountain range and the Subbetica range dominate the landscape inland.

In the hinterland we can find impressive mountains, sometimes snow - capped during the winter months, forests of Mediterranean pines, oaks and cork oaks, shrubland carpetedwith a variety of aromatic plants such as rosemary, sage, thyme and juniper… Higher up on the meseta, stretches of land are dedicated to growing olives, grapes and carobs…

Rivers capriciously cross the land to the sea, at times running shallow across the plains, or deep through narrow mountain gorges. Footpaths, fountains and wayside chapels are the perfect places to stop along the way during a country hike.

Time seems to run to a different rhythm in the lands of the interior, and streets and squares are usually quiet and peaceful. Rock shelter paintings, the remains of ancient civilisations, castles and palaces, churches, paintings and fine metalwork are a few examples of what visitors can find here. History and tradition can also be appreciated in local festivities, to which visitors are always made to feel welcome. Regional cooking is one of the major attractions as well. Try some of the local dishes made from products from the fields and mountains they’re sure to delight the palate.

Staying at rural houses and hostels in the Region of Valencia is one of the more attractive alternatives, enabling you to get better acquainted with these lands and the way of life of the local people. We hope the information provided in this blog will help you to choose the ideal site in which to stay for a few days and have a marvellous time.

The Valencia Region is located along the east coast of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea. The Region is home to more than 4.6 million inhabitants, about 11% of Spain’s population. The Region of Valencia is divided into 3 provinces: Valencia – Alicante – Castellón. The region of Valencia lies in the east of Spain. It borders Catalonia in the north, with Aragon and Castile-La Mancha in the west, with the region of Murcia in the south, and with the Mediterranean sea in the east.

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The city Alcoy

Alcoy is well known all over Spain as a city with many bridges.

Alcoy stands upon a singular relief of ravines which have been carved out by several rivers, offering its visitors a spectacular orography The history of urbanism in Alcoy goes back to the l3th century when the Christians came to repopulate the town; they used the river banks as natural defensive barriers. The same rivers, that had protected the town in the past, were very useful for developing an incipient textile and paper industry. The local industry soon adopted European technical breakthroughs to use watermills to provide energy for the new factories.

However, Alcoy’s singular geography didn’t help the commercialization of its manufactured goods, so the locals racked their brains and built a network of bridges to solve the communication problem. Today these bridges are a testimony of the evolution of the town, viaducts of different styles and architectonical varieties which show the effort and tenacity of the people who knew how to overcome their natural limitations.

For most tourists the city of Alcoy in the interior of the Costa Blanca will be little known. Alcoy is a medium sized city “some 61.307 inhabitants” located at the east in Alicante Province of Spain, It has an area of 129.9 km), creating a confluence beyond the city limits and forming the river Serpis, otherwise known as riu d’Alcoi, which meanders through hilly terrain all the way to its mouth, by Gandía, on the Mediterranean.

The weather in Alcoy is mostly warm and sunny all year round and the town enjoys a fabulous temperate Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. While Alcoy is generally cooler than its coastal neighbours, being in a mountainous area it still has a pleasant climate.

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The city Alcoy

Alcoy is well known all over Spain as a city with many bridges.

Alcoy stands upon a singular relief of ravines which have been carved out by several rivers, offering its visitors a spectacular orography The history of urbanism in Alcoy goes back to the l3th century when the Christians came to repopulate the town; they used the river banks as natural defensive barriers. The same rivers, that had protected the town in the past, were very useful for developing an incipient textile and paper industry. The local industry soon adopted European technical breakthroughs to use watermills to provide energy for the new factories.

However, Alcoy’s singular geography didn’t help the commercialization of its manufactured goods, so the locals racked their brains and built a network of bridges to solve the communication problem. Today these bridges are a testimony of the evolution of the town, viaducts of different styles and architectonical varieties which show the effort and tenacity of the people who knew how to overcome their natural limitations.

For most tourists the city of Alcoy in the interior of the Costa Blanca will be little known. Alcoy is a medium sized city “some 61.307 inhabitants” located at the east in Alicante Province of Spain, It has an area of 129.9 km), creating a confluence beyond the city limits and forming the river Serpis, otherwise known as riu d’Alcoi, which meanders through hilly terrain all the way to its mouth, by Gandía, on the Mediterranean.

The weather in Alcoy is mostly warm and sunny all year round and the town enjoys a fabulous temperate Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. While Alcoy is generally cooler than its coastal neighbours, being in a mountainous area it still has a pleasant climate.

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