Xabia, on the other hand.....

"Like Milton Keynes by the Med"

Well, some of Xabia is - planned, all built approximately at the same time, designed to be inoffensive and excruciatingly bland. This is true especially of the mainly low-rise beach development around the cove of l'Arenal. However, the old town just inland is not without character, and the port area, tucked in beneath the high cliffs of Cap de Sant Antoni, is very attractive. There are other positive aspects to the place too. It is very bicycle friendly, and pedalling along beside the dark blue sea is truly invigorating.

The old town is a couple of kilometres inland.

It has narrow streets and shady squares

An ancient church

and handsome old houses.

Weather matters as well in how we perceive a place. Today has been stunning, one of those clear blue sparkling days where strangers walk up to to one another, and instead of a swift 'hola' take the time to say "Isn't this beautiful." Then suddenly you fall into conversations about where you've been, where you are headed,where you hale from, what your children are up to, and how lucky we all feel to be here... then wish one another a safe journey and go on your separate ways. 

Simple, elemental human stuff. Today's been a great day, and here's the photos!

Morning sun on the platges l'Arenel,

Looking north towards Cap de Sant Antoni.

Looking south towards Cap de la Nau

I just love the colours and rock formations on this one.

Cafe Tango - the road ends here.

White walls, blue sea - Espagne a la Greque!

23 degrees, now what date did you say it was?

So, that was the morning, as blue a day as you could possibly imagine. So sunny that even the electric bikes perked up and seemed to work OK. Perhaps the intermittent problems we are having relate to damp and condensation - that does not bode well for using them back home in Buxton. We headed back to the camp site, had lunch and a relax in the sun - then headed south towards the other end of the bay at Cap de la Nau.

post lunch nap....

This end of the Xabia bay has some very beautiful modern villas built overlooking the bay - location, location...

Gill examines the geology

like silt stone, but by the sea...quite unusual apparently.

I just wanted to jump in, but had not brought my cossie...

Late afternoon light on the Cap de Sant Antoni

Same picture, but in panorama mode

 A few clouds bubbling up

but a wonderful late autumn day