Friday 29th December - Torrevieja to Cartagena

Friday 29th December - Torrevieja to Cartagena

Well packed my car again left Kens lovely apartment, with clean clothes, into the unknown. I was not going far only about 1 hours drive to Cartagena, an old and new port. The old town complete with a bull ring and a Roman amphitheater. I drove around to get the lie of the place, parked up and went to tourist office. I found out that the Spanish were going to celebrate the new year the day before. The Saturday night, so booked almost the last room in Hotel Habaneros behind which was the Amphitheatre result. 

I booked two nights with safe parking. I would take my chance moving on to somewhere else on new-year eve. 

I took a walk down the road in front of the Hotel then up a side street and the roman amphitheater appeared. 

It was quite big

There were lots of stones just lying about. 

It looks like they are in the process of renovating it. 

 I walked right round the outside, I would investigate further tomorrow. N

 The view towards the harbour.

 As I walked down the street you could see that the whole of the building frontage was just standing there.. Reminded my of Kens shop.

I went down to the cafe and ordered my cafe Americano. As I sat there and looked around I noticed small boxes on each street corner with little figures in. 

On a wall nearby was an explanation of what they were. 

The saints of Cartagena

Which is why they are saving the building frontage.

Also came across this airplane near a universatery.

As I was driving around I came across an old bullring which was in need of repair. 

Did what the Spanish do had a bit of a lie down then started out again at 5.30. First visited a pharmacy and showed them my blood pressure pills they sold me 28 days worth for 7euros, now when I was not 60, 28 days worth of those pills cost me over 8 pounds!
Just saying. 
I could not get more than 28 days worth before my visit because I had, had 3 months worth in one go earlier in the year! 
Sounds like the NHS is either being overcharged or we are overpaying. 
Anyway wandered down town Cartagena to find the place I needed to go to tomorrow night. Took a kids train ride round which was good. 

As I walked down at 7 o'clock the places were open but empty. 

It might of said Ale but it was not! 

Not a piece of greenery about.

After my meal I moved off my table for 4 to a table for 2 and they gave me a bowel of green olives.. Suddenly I had turned into a vegetarian! 

Amazing the 3 large glasses of wine with the cheese n meat board only cost me 1 Euro each. 

The place was humming at 10.30.

 Get yourself n at

When you go to foreign clims to blend in and to get safely back.
Get yourself a local at.
Once wearing it the locals won't know what your at.
Seeing you, in you local at.
He looks like a foreigner but he's got a local at.
I am not sure how to approach him cos he might shout back.
When a local says something to you with your local at.
Just look back, tilt the at, and shake and walk on back.
They will never bother you with a local hat.

Never try this with a cat...

A poem by a world traveler Ian Ashmeade

Thursday 28th - Around the sea salt lake.

Thursday 28th - Around the sea salt lake.

While the Jolly boys in England attempted to do the Christmas cycle ride, I would be with them, but cycling in Spain instead of cold icy England. 

That was the plan.. 

The early bird. 

As I left villa Martin I could see San Miguel and the salt lake down on the left. 

Loved this artwork might put that on a tee shirt when I get home. Simple but cool.

I stopped for sugar at San Miguel and to get WiFi to find out how the Jolly boys were doing. 

Apparently due to the ice they had already had 3 crashes and decided to call it a day. 

What a bunch of lemons. 

Some old building 

The track to the salt lake seemed to be a hiking trail and was very sandy. 

I had to walk parts even with my off road tyres on. 

Some amazing old disused buildings along the way.

The whiteness is not snow but salt. 

The path was narrow in parts and saw signs for private shooting. 

The view from the tower

Some random tower signage had been ripped off and some stairs had been broken and burnt.

This is the salt marshes.

The short cut across the lake was prohibited so I had to carry on all way round lake. 

The track this side was a bit better to cycle on. 

Some English n Germans playing pitang.

Now that is a pile of sea salt! 

On the left, that is a huge caterpillar digger half way up the pile. 

Wednesday 27th December Villa Martin to Torrevieja.

Wednesday 27th December Villa Martin to Torrevieja.

Well did not get up that early again somehow switched the alarm off. It was very windy but wind blowing northwards which was lucky as that was the way I was going. I was going to go straight to coast then cycle up to Torrevieja. 

Cycling over the bridge was very blowy, 25 mph with 40mph gusts! 

My route followed the coast as much as I could 

 I stopped at this coffee shop just before the beach for a shot of coffee n sugar.

Hit the coast and started cycling as close as I could get. 

Turned a corner and this little fellow was in the center of the path. 

As I bent down to take a photo he trotted towards me. Do hedgehogs hybernate in Spain. 

I was glad I had my off road tyres on as the smooth paths turned a bit rough. 

 Between some of the Hotels there was a natural green area, no paths just rocks n sand.

Not quite sure what this was some sort of military place, was not going down to find out. 

 Still building more places for tourists.

 Path was a bit sandy and hard to cycle along.

Loved the graffiti. 

No paths next to coast so had to cycle along the beach. 

Had to cycle along the beach as no path.

The band played as I entered Torrivieja. 

They were brassed off.

A Spanish Submarine! 

Why were some parts of this brass statue more polished than others? 

Right at the south end or Torrevieja I was about to turn around and I saw a sign craft beer.. I only found a brewery! 

Amber Brewery. 

So stopped and had a late lunch. 

The sweet course was another beer. 

My route home , had to go back a bit in order to cross main road .

I cut back from the coast as it was getting dark.

Sunset from the cycle bridge on way back home.

A great afternoon, did not cycle far as kept stopping for photos and tracks were sandy and bumpy so could not cycle fast , and then who wants to.