Spain 2016 - Isla Canela Marina - walking on the beach.

We went into Ayamonte this morning, more comfortable with finding and paying for parking and finding the market. Vegetables and fruit were on the shopping list but because we were there earlier we were also able to find olives (olives kept in big buckets that were ladled into plastic bags and weighed) and fish, we settled for Tuna (one of the few names we recognized) even though we had not cooked Tuna before.

Park and pay at the riverside and then walk in on pedestrian streets.

Watched this man fillet and skin a fish without even looking at it, while chatting to a customer.

Lots of pedestrian streets in Ayamonte.

Mum and Dad bought a frying pan (its tradition) and I asked the clerk about where to get a pay as you go phone. He sent me wandering through the streets, great fun.

Found the old town square, very pretty.

Church on the way back. Never found the phone store.

Heading back towards the car I found Mum and Dad at a cafe in the sun. Our first outdoor coffee.

We drove back home and had a lunch of pate, baguette, olives and apple. We then went for a walk along the beach walkway, looking for birds and just enjoying that it was warm enough to walk with a spring jacket on.
Dad stayed near where we parked the car, hoping the birds would come to him, and Mum and I walked a couple of miles. We saw a Green Finch, a Wryneck and, best of all, a Hoopoe (quite a stunning bird). I was so busy with the binoculars that I didn't get any photos so I am glad Mum was there to witness (Dad seems doubtful about the Wryneck but only because he has never seen one). We parted company and I walked out to the beach. It was warm enough to walk in a T-shirt.

Through the dunes.

The beach stretched off into the distance

In both directions.

There were a few guys "fishing" for Cockles. The pole is attached to a shovel like apparatus that he is dragging along the sandy bottom, it is also attached to his waist. He is stirring up the sand with his feet as he walks backwards. In front of him floats a basket that he fills with Cockles (tiny shellfish) when he pulls the shovel and net up.

Sanderling, also fishing.

Visitors say that Lake Erie looks like an ocean but  when there are any waves, the sand gets stirred up and the water is beige. Real ocean is blue or green or grey (depending on the sky) even when it is wavy. And it smells different (salt, seaweed, fish).

Shells at the high tide mark.

Back at the apartment we had put a load of washing on. The owners left a binder with all the users manuals of everything in the apartment. English instructions for everything except the "programme" information which was in Spanish (beyond my phrase book) so we randomly picked a number and turned it on. Then when I tried to open the door it was still locked, jiggled the dial and the whole thing filled with water again. Sigh! Back to the manual where I read that you had to leave it alone for 2 minutes after it had finished and then the door would unlock! Oh well, can't hurt to wash it twice.

Dad had a visitor while hanging out the laundry. Don't even think about pooping here!

 We face North. It's a lovely terrace but we had worried that even in March we might not get any sun.

Right at the end of the day, a little corner of sun. I think, come March, it will be lovely.

We are eating very well here. An advantage over Canada in the winter, here the fruit and vegetables have not traveled far and are therefor nice and fresh. As is the fish. Supper consisted of:

Tomatoes, goat cheese, anchovies, drizzled with Herbs de Province (bought in France last year) and olive oil.

Carrots, chard sauteed in onion and garlic and tuna pan fried in olive oil with Thai seasoning (from Lens Mills in Port Dover)

And of course a bottle of Rioja (drank a glass for you Daniele as requested).

Spain 2016 - Isla Canela - a little exploring (flora and fauna)

After breakfast Mum and I walked across to the other side of the harbour and did a little shopping at the supermarket over there, really just to see what they had. There and back and the grocery shopping took about 45 minutes so it is a nice, easy, flat stroll to take.

Ringed Plover seen on the way back.

There aren't masses of flowers like the resorts in the Caribbean but there are bushes in bloom and wild flowers around.

No idea what it is but its growing as a hedge on the property.

 We ate lunch and then went to Neptuno for cafe con leche, from there I decided to walk out to the beach and Mum and Dad decided to go for a drive. I walked out along the breakwall to the ocean.

A lovely yacht moored just outside the entrance to the marina.

A Sanderling. Its a good job Mum and Dad bought a bird book with them.

It was difficult to get a picture of them but there were thousands of fish, swimming upstream next to the breakwall. They were 18 inches to 2 foot long, silver underneath and I have never seen so many fish in my life.

They were all swimming close to the surface and every now and then would swirl so you could see their undersides.

When I reached the end of the breakwall I was still amazed by the sheer numbers and size of these fish. I spoke to a fisherman. Of course my limited Spanish was totally useless in asking "what are all these fish?" and his English was also non existent. So with many gestures and facial expressions this is what I learned:
Its called Lisa in Spanish. On the internet it translated this as Mullet.
He gestured to his mouth and to the garbage at his feet. I translate this as either "it is garbage to eat" or "it eats garbage". Either way he didn't seem as impressed as I was.

My fish consultant at the end of the breakwall.

It wasn't a particularly attractive walk, at this point, but I amused myself with the fish....

the returning fishing boats...

and the birds. A Cormorant.

A Turnstone.

I walked back along the breakwall and on to the beach.

Beach from the breakwall

Flowers on the beach

Between the beach and the developed area is a wide swath of land that is being returned to its natural state.

Naturalization is resulting in some lovely flowers.

I walked across one of the broadwalks,

after passing one of the unoccupied lifeguard stations. No- one is swimming this time of year although some are wading into the water to fish.

The naturalized buffer zone is full of birds. All flitting around, singing and very difficult to see.

An English Robin

A Magpie

A rather blurry Black Redstart.

Not sure about this one, maybe another Redstart?

Its very flat but great to be walking around. We have "sussed out" some Tapas Bars that we may try this week and by reports the area is supposed to be more lively on the weekend. Weather has been in the 20s during the day but with a cool north wind. Down below 10 at night. But it is early February and I am sure we will get warmer weather as we move into March.

Spain 2016 - Isla Canela Marina - 1st impressions

It took a day and a half of travel to get here; drive from home (thanks Simon), flight Toronto to Heathrow, bus Heathrow to Gatwick, flight Gatwick to Faro (delayed), drive Faro to Ayamonte. We got here in the dark (inside car light on with Dad reading the e-mail instructions and me driving) and found the agents office to pick up the keys and after calling him (thank you Bell, my phone worked) to get the right lock box code, keys let us in the gate and we parked in the designated spot, up in the elevator and into a very cold apartment. After a brief look around we went looking for food. The only place open was Neptuno Cafe/Bar. The only food on the menu was tostadas con jamon. This turned out to be a large toasted bun with a little container of olive oil to drizzle on and a plate of serrano ham. That and 2 glasses of Rioja and we were much happier. Oh yes and a chocolate eclair.

This morning it was foggy and cool when we woke to the sound of renovating next door. Renovating in a cement and tile building is noisy. I headed straight out to find coffee and ended up at the Neptuno again. Breakfast was one of those excellent toasted buns with butter and jam and dos cafe con leche. Mum and Dad joined me there.

Our terrace after the sun burned the fog and cloud off.

From the terrace looking towards the right, North East.

To the left is a small area of tidal marsh.

We wrote a grocery list, had to stock up with essentials for the 2 month stay and the next few meals. We drove into Ayamonte and found the tourist office for directions to the market, supermarket and advice on parking.

There is a dedicated market building but we were there late in the morning and there weren't a lot of stalls open. We weren't sure if that was because of the time of year. Have to go earlier next time.

We bought 3 oranges and a lemon from this stall for 1 Euro. After the transaction was complete, he, with a charming smile, handed Mum and I each another orange. Good marketing, how can we help but buy from him again.

Next was the supermarket and we stocked up on everything from olive oil to wine and then headed home, exhausted from a morning of shopping (oh yes, and a day of traveling). Lunch and then, while Mum and Dad rested and read, I decided to go for a walk to the other side of the marina.

Ours is the terrace just above the Cafe Dante sign (its supposed to be open on weekends)

From the other side of the bit of tidal marsh.

Don't think this is going out fishing any time soon.

Our side of the port is a marina and docks for pleasure craft, sailing and motor. The other side is a small fishing village with small and large commercial craft.

I love it when the tide is out and the boats are slightly a-kilter.

Deck of one of the larger commercial boats.

Bay of little fishing boats and lighthouse behind.

Good fishing for egrets too.

I also got a picture of a Curlew in the shallows but it was on digital zoom and not good enough to post. Good enough to identify in the bird book though.

The pool at our building. Even though it has water in it, it is closed so I don't think I will get any swimming here.

Home and it was time for a drink and making supper.