Alicante & the Curious Case of the Slightly Damp Air
okay, so alicante. it’s…a thing. i wasn’t really planning on alicante, honestly. it was a last-minute detour after a gig in murcia fell through (drummers, man, always chasing the sound). i just checked and it's feeling kinda clingy out there, like a damp hug, hovering around fourteen degrees. feels like thirteen though, which, honestly, is a mood. the pressure’s a bit much, like everyone’s expecting something, and the humidity? forget about it. hair’s a disaster.
i’ve been wandering around, mostly getting lost in the *casco antiguo (old town). it’s all narrow streets and whitewashed buildings, very postcard-y. i spent a good hour just watching a guy try to parallel park a ridiculously small car. it was…art. seriously.
someone told me that the tapas place on calle mayor is a tourist trap, but the paella is worth risking food poisoning for. i haven’t tried it yet, i’m still recovering from the questionable chorizo i had in murcia. speaking of food, i found this amazing little bakery near the explanada de españa - Panadería La Hostia - seriously, the name! - and their ensaimada is life-changing. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187525-d1079999-Reviews-La_Hostia-Alicante_Costa_Blanca_Valencia.html
i’m staying in a tiny airbnb overlooking a plaza. the neighbors are…enthusiastic. there’s a lot of shouting, mostly about football, i think. if you get bored, torrevieja and elche are just a quick bus ride away. i overheard a couple of old guys arguing about which city has the better salt flats. it was intense.
i’ve been trying to get some photos, but the light is…challenging. everything looks washed out. i’m thinking of switching to black and white. maybe. i’m also seriously considering buying a beret. don’t judge me. https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Photographers&find_loc=Alicante%2C+Spain
i stumbled upon this cool little vintage shop yesterday, called Retro Alicante. it’s crammed full of stuff, mostly clothes from the 70s and 80s. i found a velvet jacket that i need. it’s slightly too small, but i’m convinced i can make it work. https://retroalicante.com/
i heard that the castle, castillo de santa bárbara, is amazing, but you have to hike up a really steep hill. i’m a drummer, not a mountain goat. maybe tomorrow. or maybe not. i’m currently prioritizing finding a decent coffee. i’ve tried a few places, and they all seem to think “espresso” means “slightly burnt water.” it’s a tragedy. https://www.thespainscoop.com/alicante/castillo-de-santa-barbara/
honestly, alicante is growing on me. it’s not glamorous, it’s not perfect, but it’s…real. and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. plus, the beach is pretty decent. i saw a guy building a sandcastle that was more structurally sound than my entire life.
i’m off to find that paella. wish me luck. and send coffee. seriously, send coffee.
oh, and i almost forgot! someone warned me about pickpockets around the port*. keep your stuff close, apparently.
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