Sunday 5th January.
Epiphany Eve.
Epiphany is celebrated on 6th January. In Spanish, Epiphany is called 'Fiesta de Los tres Reyes Mages': in English this means 'The festival of the three Magic Kings'. Epiphany celebrates when the Kings or Wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
Epiphany Eve.
Epiphany is celebrated on 6th January. In Spanish, Epiphany is called 'Fiesta de Los tres Reyes Mages': in English this means 'The festival of the three Magic Kings'. Epiphany celebrates when the Kings or Wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
Children have some presents on Christmas Day, but most are opened at Epiphany. Children believe that the Kings bring presents to them at Epiphany. They write letters to the Kings asking for toys and presents. And on Epiphany Eve (January 5th) they leave shoes on windowsills or balconies or under the Christmas Tree to be filled with presents. Gifts are often left by children for the Kings, a glass of Cognac for each King, a satsuma and some walnuts. Sometimes a bucket of water is left for the camels that bring the Kings! If the children have been bad, the Kings might leave pieces of coal made out of sugar in the presents!
The kings were due to arrive in Moraira at 5.30 pm. I walked along the beach and stood near the Senillar to watch them come across the beach towards the castle. There were crowds of people lining the road into town and on the terrace by the castle. Soon Mary, riding a donkey, Joseph and various other players walked across the beach to a small encampment set up underneath the castle. They enacted the story of the nativity and soon beating drums heralded the arrival of the three kings and their entourage processing slowly along the beach. When we were here two years ago one of the kings was riding a camel but sadly no camel this year!
On arriving at the castle the kings mounted into their carriage and the procession proceeded to the church square where a stage had been set up for the rest of the evening’s proceedings.
Monday 6th January.
We went up to Teulada in the morning to go to the AGM of the U3A and to renew our subs for the coming year. Bumped into some people from our Canasta group and was told that it wouldn’t be taking place this afternoon. A bit of a disappointment as it’s always such an enjoyable couple of hours.
Had a late lunch at the Bamboo, à la carte buffet, just up the road from here. OK but wouldn’t go again.
I went for a walk, at dusk, it was very quiet after yesterday’s festivities.
Tuesday 7th January.
So that’s it! Christmas over, New Years over, Epiphany over! Suddenly the town is so quiet, many restaurants have closed and children back to school.
As I took my morning constitutional I reflected upon pedestrian crossings! A strange thing to reflect upon you may think! The law here is that if a person has a foot on the crossing the cars have to stop. Well, I don’t know what it is like in larger towns but here 99% of the drivers stop as soon as one puts a foot on said crossing. Quite strange after living in France for so long when most drivers take no notice of crossings. It’s something to get used to as well when driving. The Spanish and local people assume that one is going to stop whereas many English wait till one has stopped and then, with a shocked look on their faces raise their hands in thanks and scurry across the road.
Wednesday 8th January.
Anne and I went on the U3A day trip to the shopping centre in Murcia. We had been toLd that the bus was to depart at 8.30 and to be ready to board at 8.15. I was walking up the road to the appointed place opposite the big car park at 8 am and quite a few people had already arrived. Anne’s husband, Nigel, dropped her off and at 8.30 prompt we set off. I’m not sure how many of us there were but it was a big coach and it was full. It was an hour and a quarter drive to the centre but it seems like our driver, Pepe, was confused as we passed it several times before he was able to get off the dual carriageway and finally just after 10am he dropped us at door number 1. We were told to be back by 4.45pm when the bus would depart.
Suddenly there we were in the middle of lots of people and a huge shopping centre, not something either of us are used to. Mind you, without wanting to sound blasé, most of these big commercial centres seem to be the same in whichever part of the world one is.
First stop of course was for a coffee and, oops, a jam doughnut! Years since I’ve had one of those and very nice it was too! So we spent the next few hours wandering round, buying a few things, eating lunch before we both decided that we needed a sit down. I spotted a sign over one of the units that said relax room so we made our way over to it. A very comfortable spot with comfy sofas to relax on and a drinks machine to quench our thirst-water not wine!
Back at door number 1 and the coach arrived promptly as well as all us passengers ready for the return journey. All went smoothly until, just past Alicante, there was a tremendous bang at the rear of the coach, a tyre had blown. Pepe slowed carefully to a halt and parked on the hard shoulder. Eventually the police came and put up warnings for other drivers on the motorway and the the breakdown truck came to change the wheel. Thankfully they were able to do this with all of us in situ. After 2 hours sitting patiently we were on our way again. Luckily we were soon able to stop at the service station at Villajoysa as many of us were pretty keen to get to the loo! We finally arrived back in Moraira at 8.30pm, 2 hours later than programmed.
Thursday 9th January.
A quiet day recovering from yesterday.
Heavy rain in the evening.
Friday 10th January.
Market day again. Not too many stalls there after last nights rain and now a showery morning.
Saturday 11th January.
Coffee and conversation as usual in the morning. Walk afterwards.
This weekend is the fiesta of St Antoni and tonight is the ritual burning of the Christmas tree in the church square. We went out to watch as we had done 2 years previously. It’s quite impressive as it’s quite a big fire and in a very confined space. I’m happy to say that the fire brigade were in attendance.
I went for a walk, at dusk, it was very quiet after yesterday’s festivities.
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| Waiting for the Kings. |
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| Crowd at the castle waiting for the Kings. |
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| Kings arriving along the beach. |
Tuesday 7th January.
So that’s it! Christmas over, New Years over, Epiphany over! Suddenly the town is so quiet, many restaurants have closed and children back to school.
As I took my morning constitutional I reflected upon pedestrian crossings! A strange thing to reflect upon you may think! The law here is that if a person has a foot on the crossing the cars have to stop. Well, I don’t know what it is like in larger towns but here 99% of the drivers stop as soon as one puts a foot on said crossing. Quite strange after living in France for so long when most drivers take no notice of crossings. It’s something to get used to as well when driving. The Spanish and local people assume that one is going to stop whereas many English wait till one has stopped and then, with a shocked look on their faces raise their hands in thanks and scurry across the road.
Wednesday 8th January.
Anne and I went on the U3A day trip to the shopping centre in Murcia. We had been toLd that the bus was to depart at 8.30 and to be ready to board at 8.15. I was walking up the road to the appointed place opposite the big car park at 8 am and quite a few people had already arrived. Anne’s husband, Nigel, dropped her off and at 8.30 prompt we set off. I’m not sure how many of us there were but it was a big coach and it was full. It was an hour and a quarter drive to the centre but it seems like our driver, Pepe, was confused as we passed it several times before he was able to get off the dual carriageway and finally just after 10am he dropped us at door number 1. We were told to be back by 4.45pm when the bus would depart.
Suddenly there we were in the middle of lots of people and a huge shopping centre, not something either of us are used to. Mind you, without wanting to sound blasé, most of these big commercial centres seem to be the same in whichever part of the world one is.
First stop of course was for a coffee and, oops, a jam doughnut! Years since I’ve had one of those and very nice it was too! So we spent the next few hours wandering round, buying a few things, eating lunch before we both decided that we needed a sit down. I spotted a sign over one of the units that said relax room so we made our way over to it. A very comfortable spot with comfy sofas to relax on and a drinks machine to quench our thirst-water not wine!
Back at door number 1 and the coach arrived promptly as well as all us passengers ready for the return journey. All went smoothly until, just past Alicante, there was a tremendous bang at the rear of the coach, a tyre had blown. Pepe slowed carefully to a halt and parked on the hard shoulder. Eventually the police came and put up warnings for other drivers on the motorway and the the breakdown truck came to change the wheel. Thankfully they were able to do this with all of us in situ. After 2 hours sitting patiently we were on our way again. Luckily we were soon able to stop at the service station at Villajoysa as many of us were pretty keen to get to the loo! We finally arrived back in Moraira at 8.30pm, 2 hours later than programmed.
Thursday 9th January.
A quiet day recovering from yesterday.
Heavy rain in the evening.
Friday 10th January.
Market day again. Not too many stalls there after last nights rain and now a showery morning.
Saturday 11th January.
Coffee and conversation as usual in the morning. Walk afterwards.
This weekend is the fiesta of St Antoni and tonight is the ritual burning of the Christmas tree in the church square. We went out to watch as we had done 2 years previously. It’s quite impressive as it’s quite a big fire and in a very confined space. I’m happy to say that the fire brigade were in attendance.
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