Views From Lost Valley

Views from Lost Valley mountains. In the background, city of Murcia.

Crossing Mountains

At south of city of Murcia it is the Lost Valley (el Valle Perdido), a recreative place for families, friends, to make sports as cross-country cycling, football, tennis, hiking. Also for trekking.
Image: Select your way. If you're brave, cross over the tube. Otherwise, on the path. An aerial view here.
Around that area, you can find trenches from the time of the Spanish Civil War.
The entire route here. (Spanish).

Click on image to enlarge it.

Over The Bridge

When we think that we can keep our coats, clouds have come and have done lower temperatures.
Image: Pedestrian Bridge Iron.
Iron Bridge (Puente de Hierro) is also called New Bridge (Puente Nuevo) because when it was opened to traffic in 1903 was the second bridge, over the Segura river, built after the Old Bridge (Puente Viejo).
In 2001 it was closed to traffic because it was not designed to support the current traffic. In 2003 it was reopened, and since then it is a pedestrian bridge.
It was built in 1900 by Society For Railway and Construction Material in Barcelona.

Duck Eye

Graffiti of a duck head on a pillar of the Iron Bridge,over Segura River.

Segura And Barracks

Segura River passing by the former artillery barracks (background).

Sunbathing Platform

Sunbathing platform (woman sunbathing). Also for diving into the water. At Mar Menor.
Background: Mar Menor is an awesome place for aquatic sports as for sailing, with 170 sqkm. With an annual temperature average of 18ºC, This invites to go throughout the year.
Located here.

Sunbathing

The weather is now perfect for sunbathing. Springsummer. Around 25ºC.
The image: platforms at Mar Menor. At the background, La Manga of Mar Menor.

400th Anniversary Cervantes

Today, April 23 2016, is the 400th anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes death, the author of Don Quixote.
Lots of information in the official web that I really recommend to visit.

Eagles

Tribute sculpture to the Eagle Patrol (Patrulla Águila), on the 25th anniversary (2010) of its creation. At AGA (General Air Academy, in Spanish: Academia General del Aire), San Javier. It is very close to the beach of Mar Menor.

No Trespassing

At the General Air Academy (Academia General del Aire), San Javier, Region of Murcia.

Gran Hotel Detail

Detail of the tower of the Gran Hotel, made of zinc. Al the info about the time of this building, in a previous post.
"The building (owned by the wealthy miner and trader, Celestino Martinez Vidal) was commissioned to the architect Tomás Rico Valarino. Work began in 1907 under the direction of Tomás Rico, but up to the mezzanine Victor Beltrí assumed leadership and project work on the rest of the building, which is attributed to Victor Beltrí responsibility for the design of the building.
The building was already up, at least outwardly, in 1910, as indicated by the date of the vane. While working inside, in January 1911, D. Celestino Martinez Vidal died , so that the works had a considerable delay while the children clarified the complicated legacy of D. Celestino. On February 29, 1916 the grand hotel, considered at that time as the best in Spain was inaugurated." (Source: Wikipedia).

Gran Hotel

Grand Hotel: 100 years ago (February 29, 1916) this beautiful Modernist building was inaugurated.
The hotel advertising (at that time) could read: "It has a hundred spacious rooms, all exterior, fitted with all the advances of hygiene and comfort so far known in the best hotels in Europe and America."

Cartagena, besides by Carthaginians and Romans remains, is known for its Art Nouveau or Modernist buildings. This year, taking advantage of the centenary of the Grand Hotel, it is celebrating the "Year of Modernism".

Why are there so many Modernists buildings in Cartagena? "The historic center of Cartagena was seriously destroyed by the bombing of centralist troops during the cantonal revolution of 1873. It begins after this date the task of rebuilding the city. Match the end of the nineteenth century with an extraordinary boom in the exploitation of the Sierra mining Cartagena-La Union and origining, as a result of this activity, a powerful wealthy and willing bourgeoisie to show its strength and economic power through the architecture.
The city will be the subject of a profound change under the new urban and architectural ideas in vogue. The current configuration of the old town of Cartagena owes its appearance at this time: palaces, houses of the bourgeoisie, a new city hall, a railway station, factories and schools were erected in the new modernist style, with models that fundamentally inspired in the Catalan modernism.
In parallel, it was born the city of La Union, linked to the exploitation of mines, and keeping some important works of modernism in the Region of Murcia." (Source: Wikipedia)

Now this building is an office building.

Vespa PK 125 XL

A vintage Vespa PK 125 XL that has been kept very carefully.
Here a photo of an older one.

Colour Contrast Buildings

Opposite the town hall of Cartagena, are these buildings. First, salmon colour, is the building of the Museum of the Roman Theatre , and gateway to see inside the Roman Theatre of Cartagena, which are accessed through a series of tunnels.
This image (how is framed) reminds me some buildings in north of Europa as Paris or Prague (more or less).

La Patacha

"Patacha", was a floating platform that housed the youth of the 40s featured a covered barges so the young ladies could swim taking care of the exquisite morality of the time.
The floating restaurant image occupies the same site as the platform, hence its name. Located at port of Cartagena.
The restaurant was built on a barge built in Seattle (USA), which was used for water storage in the Naval Station Rota. (Source: lapatacha.com)
The restaurant is open since 2006. Now I just need to come into to taste its cuisine. More about this restaurant, here (only Spanish).

Somewhere

This capture was taken at Cartagena, but I think that how is framed, it could be anywhere. Where do you think that I took this photo when you are seeing it?

Baywatch Enchanted

From point of view of The Enchanted City of Bolnuevo.
It is very close to the beach of Bolnuevo, Mazarrón (Region of Murcia).

The Enchanted City Of Bolnuevo

The Enchanted City of Bolnuevo is considered a monument of Nature. It is a Natural Heritage of the Region of Murcia since 2007. They are also called the Bolnuevo loam or Gredas of Bolnuevo.
The enchanted city is made up of yellow clay, mostly sandstone. The clay, according to Francisco Serrano studies have provided abundant microfossils dating back to the early Pliocene, ie about 4.5 million years.
The rocks have undergone a process of erosion where water and wind have been key players in evolution. This has given rise to capricious forms of great beauty and that defy the laws of gravity.
Bolnuevo is located in Mazarrón, Region of Murcia.

Two On A Ride

Riding motorbike with a calm beach background.
At Bolnuevo beach, Mazarrón. Region of Murcia.

SUP & Seagull

Stand Up Paddleboarding is a variant of surfing that requires considerable effort. But I prefer the traditional surf.
Although, at Mediterranean sea, there are not high waves to surf.

Echoes From Last Spring Festivities: XXIX International Music Festival Of Tunas 2016 Costa Calida

Thera are a lot of activities during Spring Festivities.
For instance, the XXIX International Music Festival of Tunas Costa Cálida. It was held from March 28th to April 1st. There were tunas from Spain (Murcia, Granada, Valladolid, Madrid, León), Portugal, Colombia, Perú
*Tuna: it could be use "tuna minstrel" to have a meaning of this word. Tunas, also known as "estudiantinas" are groups of students (tunos) dressed in 17th century costumes who play guitars, lutes and tambourines and go serenading through the streets.
They also make appearance at weddings and parties singing traditional spanish songs.
There is not really a word on English about "tuna" or "tunas" (except for the fish). For instance, there is not a word on English for "mariachi".

Burial Of The Sardine 2016. Morning Of The Burial.

Burial morning is a party through the streets of Murcia. The Sardineros go out giving gifts, especially to children. There is also a small parade, with lots of music. In the pictures you can see a marching band from Japan, another of Mexico. Other percussion groups from different cities (click to enlarge the image). At the end a crazy morning, to enjoy it, and to prepare for the big parade of the Burial of the Sardine (Entierro de la Sardina 2016), at night. With a final fire (a big sardine is burned), and fireworks.
The parade, in full, here.
The burning of the sardine, here (from 22 minutes)

Sardine Testament Parade 2016

Yesterday afternoon was held the Sardine Testament Parade. A colourist parade with music, dances, and gifts. Groups from Mexico, Japan, Portugal, Holland, and from many cities of Spain. This is great parade, but the biggest will be held tonight with a large parade: the Burial of the Sardine (Entierro de la Sardina), also colourist with music, dances and from Spain and foreign countries like Japan or Brazil. A million of people will see the tonight parade in live at Murcia.
More about this parade, visit labels Entiero de la Sardina, sardine, or burial.

April'16 Theme Day. The Beauty Of Simplicity

Awesome Theme Day for April. I think that you could see awesome photos of all participants here.
It is a very creative theme day. Enjoy it!
Image: a few of shade in a sunny day (a few days ago) with this pine tree shadow at Bolnuevo beach (Mazarrón - Region of Murcia)
Fantastics beaches to visit also at Spring Festivities.