We’ll be grateful in the long run!
MOVE to Spain they say for the sunny weather – it almost seems timely that today is April Fool’s Day to say that!
But we’ll look back on this extended period of precipitation in the middle of July and August with longing, and gratitude that the water hasn’t been cut off due to shortages. At the moment it’s anything but – with swimming pools overflowing, landslides commonplace and roads closed in numerous locations due to flooding.
Red flags were a permanent feature on the beaches and the waves constantly crashing down in anger, yet it was strange to see the poor lifeguards still out, wrapped up, with no sign of anyone daring to venture anywhere near the shoreline.
Yes, we really really needed the rain, but I certainly cannot recall it ever continuing for this long and so relentless. I believe, if the weather forecast can be believed, that we are virtually over it now, with a possibility of a few odd days at the beginning of next week then I see a strange image on my phone – an orange ball. For those that have forgotten, it is meant to be the sun!
The main drawback of all the recent rain here is that the weeds are now growing in abundance – I know what I'll be doing this weekend.
The Guadalest reservoir is full to the brim; in fact, they had to open the dam to release some water. The ever-popular Fonts Algar waterfalls turned into something out of a film set with torrents of water cascading down and was closed off with police tape. Not that I can imagine anyone with any sense going there in those conditions, but the video images looked pretty scary.
Both Altea and Albir’s dry riverbeds are currently anything but dry and will take some time to return to their normal state.
Mind you, the only people
that wander along them are dog walkers and I hope that they are responsible ones otherwise the mess that they fail to pick up will have been swept out to sea and potentially end washed up along the beaches – not something anyone would want to come across.
Although as residents we were getting a little fed up, at least we were in our own homes. There was always something that could be done, tidied, ironed, etc. Imagine the poor holidaymakers that came out – especially as they left weather is better in the UK than it is here, as we often like to remind them with never-ending streams of WhatsApp images of a glorious blue sky and people walking about in shorts. But just as suddenly and unexpectedly as it arrived, the weather there has also turned this week with temperatures back in single digits plus sleet and snow in some places. The bars and restaurants must have taken a battering as very few people wanted to venture out in such conditions. Those with inside space could at least still welcome customers, but many bars here are geared up for dry sunny weather and predominantly have only outside terraces. With Easter just two weeks away, most are now open and hoping for an influx of holidaymakers.
Lent is halfway done, although I didn’t give up chocolate this year, as is evident from the Lindor mini egg and Cadbury cream egg wrappers in the bin. Well I like to see it as supporting the local economy.
Despite it being dreadful for St Patrick’s Day a few weeks back, the bars inside were absolutely heaving with Irish and Brits, and the resort looked very much like its old self again – green plastic macs were very much part of everyone’s costume.
The bars, cafes and hotels will be hoping for more of that again, and with Easter parades back on the cards it will certainly attract many domestic tourists, from the capital in particular.
I do find it rather odd though that the likes of Carrefour will be open on Easter Sunday, the most religious day of the year, especially being a Catholic country, yet in the UK all shops – with the exception of newsagents and convenience stores, have to close.
Just for your information, we Ukrainians follow the Julian calendar and will celebrate Easter, or Velykden the week after, on April 24.
Traditionally we take a basket of symbolic food to the church to be blessed the day before and eat it on Easter Sunday.