It’s Wednesday, and as we know it’s the day for our traditional #WednesdayWalk! Although this walk did not happen on a Wednesday, it was a Sunday morning. Autumn is slowly arriving in Spain, and we can feel that during the night the temperatures are colder. However, during the day it is nice and sunny, as was the case that day too which is shown through these photos.
That Sunday morning we had an idea to take a longer walk, not just to the harbour. We wanted to do a longer route, until the river but at the seashore with met a very good friend and we were chatting for a long time. The decision came naturally then, that the walk will be shorter, just to the harbour which is about 30 minutes away from our place.
It is located in Altea, Spain, a small but picturesque place with an old part with white old Mediterranean kind of houses. That old nucleus is surrounded by new parts of the town, providing a rich cultural life for the residents of Altea. Sports centers, concert and theatre hall, schools, music conservatory, university of arts, all kinds of artisanal shops, and small businesses. Also hotels, hostels, restaurants, bars, several beaches, supermarkets, open street markets, and other services that are here because of tourism.
Once upon a time, when tourism was not the principal activity of Altea, and other coastal towns, people lived from agriculture and fishing. There are still fields in the interior and orange, olive, and almonds plantations. But the most obvious activity that we can still see nowadays was fishing. There are several harbours in Altea, although the other ones are smaller and serve just as recreational ones. In this harbour still twice a day big fishing boats are coming with freshly caught fish.
In order to keep the fish fresh, in one of the hangars in the port, the ice factory makes a larger amount of ice available to fishermen. Later, the fish is sold to smaller fishing shops and markets, for further distribution. Of course, as I have already mentioned, fishing is no longer the main activity that brings wealth to the city, but it is still maintained.
Once tourism took place as the main activity to maintain the town, the harbours ( apart from still providing a place for the fishermen and their boats) mainly give a home just to small boats and yachts. During the weekend, many boat owners come and go to the sea to enjoy the sun and the infinite horizon of the blue sea. Just, one has to be used to sea waves, if not, sickness can ruin the experience. Why do I say this? I will leave the conclusion to you...