Places to visit in Javea

Javea presents its Mediterranean character in FITUR

A tourist campaign offering weekend getaways outside the summer season to discover the true essence of the town.

Madrid Wednesday, January 29th. The Mayor José Chulvi, and the Councillor for Tourism Antonio Miragall, today presented at Fitur2015 the holiday off-season campaign "Xàbia, a Mediterranean memory," a project which involves Xàbia’s tourism sector, such as hotels, restaurants, and businesses engaged in entertainment, especially water sports.
Under the slogan "You deserve more than just a summer holiday" the campaign promotes the Mediterranean character of the population and the town as a destination that can be enjoyed throughout the year thanks to its friendly atmosphere and spectacular environment.
A TV commercial has been produced starring citizens of Xàbia showing its best natural areas, leisure and gastronomy options, created by Sol de Invierno. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Iqto-yBg4)
The campaign consists of seven off-season week-end packages with two nights’ accommodation with breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of 15 participating restaurants and a thematic activity for the break: cultural and leisure (theatrical or historical) routes, culinary (gastronomic route) and active recreation (hiking on Cap Prim). Everything included from 55 euros per person, a price that varies depending on the hotel selected.
In addition, brochures are available with other interesting services or activities to do in the town and other special offers for those who enjoy these breaks, from renting a car at the airport, to a raffle of gift items.
These offers are marketed in the two travel agencies in Xàbia (I Love Trips and Jambo Travel) .
Besides the presentation of the campaign, Xàbia had its desk open on the Costa Blanca Tourism stand during all fair days and today enlisted the help of representatives of Fogueres 2014 which attracted the attention of many visitors. The girls have worked to promote Xàbia fiestas, and wore their traditional dresses.

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Mediterranean Cruise 2006

It is almost one year since our trip on the Voyager of the Seas. A seven night cruise from Barcelona to Marseille. Visiting, Pompeii, Florence, Rome, Monaco.

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Solana's to Aleluya Bar

We set off with friends old and new to the Jalon Valley to visit Solana’s restaurant, on the first cloudy day since Christmas. The restaurant has been trading since we first arrived in Spain in 1987, so those older than us, can inform us of the exact opening date of Solana’s in Alcalali.

We have never been disappointed with the quality of the food, value for money and the ‘nothing is too much to ask’ politeness, of the Solana’s Restaurant, situated in the small village of Alcalali. It is always best to book in advance, when you want to sample the delights of this well established venue.

The food is superb value, well presented and tastes as close to home cooking as you can achieve in a restaurant. No surprises there, as Solana’s has been trading since we first arrived in Spain, 20 years ago. We have many favourite restaurants in Javea, Moraira and the Jalon Valley. Solana’s delivers the best of the best, every time we visit it.

After the three course meal of roast lamb, roast pork and rabbit stew, served with wines, coffee and after lunch liquors, we headed off to the famous bar in Jalon village called Casa Aleluya. Juan the owner sang, ‘Aleluya’ and ‘Oh my God’ as we entered the bar and ordered drinks. The place is filled with bottles of wine, honey and other goodies to purchase. Juan also performs his well practised trick of drinking wine from a glass decanter spout, pouring it into his mouth then slowly letting the wine flow travel up, then down his cheeks, in two channels and one down his nose. How Juan found he had this unique talent, you have to wonder.

Juan was later accompanied by his bare chested friend for a duo drinking act. Not to be out done, the girls had a go, sadly, not bare chested, each enjoying the ‘free’ flowing wine, and a kiss on the forehead from Juan. Next, Nick rose to the challenge and performed a first time duo, minus the bare chest and the kiss. This will surely change the way we all drink wine in the future.

I gave Juan’s drinking trick more thought, then realised that as a young lad, he must have missed his mouth on many drinking sessions, and must have decided that his forehead was a bigger taget than his mouth, and chose to drink this way in the future. No problems here for the girls then…..

As a finale, Nick went outside and poured water over his head, just to make us laugh? No, really, we all enjoyed another great afternoon out, with good company and good food.

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Javea, El Montgo. A walk on the wild side

During the summer months in Javea, it is wise to stay close to a pool, the sea and a cold beer. Once the warm days of October and November had settled in, we decided to ascend the Montgo mountain for the third time in 20 years. It proved a harder challenge than we remembered.

Setting off from the Javea to Denia road, drive from Javea up the winding road and when it levels at the top of La Plana and you can see a lane to your left. Drive a few hundred metres and park the car. We were well equipped with good walking shoes, lots of water, a chicken sandwich and a banana. I joked and proceeded to load rope and tackle and a few spikes and a shovel onto my back, this was met with a surprise from our climbing companions and quickly turned to laughter, as I told them in was a gentle climb, needing only good walking shoes and plenty of water.

We started the walk along a gravel path leading to the base of El Montgo. We named this base camp one. The path soon turns into a stony, rocky surface which could easily snap an ankle or break a leg. We were very careful to watch every step and stopped to catch our breaths and to admire the views towards Denia and the bay of Javea. After around an hour of zig zag climbing, the walk bears south around the trunk of Montgo and starts to turn into a scramble across large rocks and narrow foot holds, using our arms to balance. Another 30 minutes climbing and you reach the 753 metre summit.

All the way up we were blessed with warm breezes and the views just got better. At the summit we could see Denia and north to Valencia, west out to sea and south Javea, Gata and Pedreguer. The Penon de Ifach and the Las Sierra Bernia mountain range stretched further south.

We stood on the peak for 15 minutes, just being amazed at the views, lots of photos and a repair to Anthony’s boots, which had decided to loose the soles, we prepared for the easier decent. We still had to watch every step on the way down, but it was a lot less work coming down. The knees and backs of some of the party, started to take the strain and started to ache.

The thought of a cool drink and the paella mixta, that we had preordered at the Amanecer restaurant, kept us all going. Except our tired legs, a few blisters and soleless boots we made it safely back to the cars.

Within five minutes we were seated in the restaurant and the drinks appeared, bread and alioli and a fresh salad were consumed rapidly.

The paella was marvelous and had lots of flavour, it was a little short of content and could have included green beans, butter beans and a little more chicken, but it still tasted excellent washed down with cool white wine and agua con gas. Needless to say it was a great day out and another one they can’t take away from us, whoever they are.

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Sierra Bernia

A gentle stroll is the best way to describe our afternoon walk, upwards and onwards to the west ridge of the Sierra Bernia mountain range, just north of the famous coastal town of Benidorm.

Drive from Javea to Benissa, travel up the main street, through the town and at the top of the hill take the right hand turn off, CV 750. At the next T junction, turn right then first left. Its a 20 minute drive to the start of the walk, travelling up the winding road, with views on your left down towards Calpe and the Penon de Ifach.

Parking is easy, by the old building, Casa Fabian, situated on your left. There are plenty of shady areas to park your car, which is essential on a hot sunny day. We picked a warm, November afternoon, which was forecasted light rain, but we were lucky and it turn out to be sunny and only slightly misty at the top.

There is a sign at the start of the walk which you can take an 8 kilometre circular route that takes you through a tunnel to the east of the ridge and back around to the old fort. We had decided to head west and do a gentle climb to the fort and back down the same way, which would take us about 3 hours.

The views are just as dramatic on this route, also the path is easy under foot, unlike the El Montgo assent, which we walked three weeks ago. The grape vine leaves are changing into their Autumn colours of browns, bronzes and yellows, highlighted through the sunlight.

After 35 minutes the track narrows and bears to the left and the villages of Tarbena, Polop are clearly seen in the distance. The temperature was perfect for walking and the forecast for rain didn’t happen. The sun was shining and at the peak the clouds and mists rolled in.

The old fort was abandoned, due to lack of the enemy bothering to climb the Sierra and invade the fort, so it became redundant. Stone arches and ruins are clearly visible and there are some information plaques that explain the forts layout. Its a good place to sit and have a drink and look down towards Altea and the Benidorm skyline.

There were some lambs in the distance marinating themselves, on the wild thyme and rosemary herbs that grow across the slopes.

The stroll back was easy, down hill and by now the sun was behind the summit, providing shade. A quick drink in the Casa Fabian, then we got back in our cars, to meet some more friends, waiting in the Restaurante Pepe’s, in Alcalali.

Roast pork with crackling was ordered for 6 people and the others dined on Pepe’s wonderful, steak, mushroom and kidney pie. Others, had the lamb which was tender and you could taste those herbs. Plenty of the three wines, red, rose and white were washed down with our fine fare. Desserts were excellently presented to those that had enough room.

So, until the next time, that’s another one, they can’t take away from us!

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Moors and Christians

Hi,

Anyone that hasn’t seen this display of light, costumes and culture, must visit Javea. In the last week of July, the festivities of Moors and Christians are held in the Javea Port. Their celebration is relatively recent, but important in the region. These festivities represent the confrontations in the past between these two religious communities. The Christian re-conquest of the land held by the Arabs is commemorated. These festivities are among the most noteworthy, for their spectacular nature.

Mauro Derqui Zaragoza

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