Bye-Bye 2018

Although it does not look like it, this photo is taken in the last days of 2018. With a maximum temperature of 20 ºC, it is being a Christmas time very lonely (which is appreciated). At night, about 3ºC (in some towns of the Murcia Region, -1ºC).
For that, 2018 is gone, and a hopeful 2019 is about to begin.

Oh Brother!

Another place where music has been playing has been in the Glorieta, in front of the City Hall. In this place, craft market, including craft beer, food trucks, and lots of music.
In the picture, Oh Brother! A band from Murcia playing classics from the contemporary music, with a southern american music style. It is a "folk cover band".

Merry Xmas

Santa's in town. Yes!

Xmas' Eve Parade 2018

Thousands of children were wathing the traditional parade on Xmas' eve.

Lighting of the City

At Glorieta, and with a mapping of the Town Hall facade, the lighting of the Christmas lights has been inaugurated throughout the city (December, 18th 2018).
The best, a concert from the main balcony of the Town Hall, by the hand of Al Dual and his band. Who is Al dual. It is a Murcian musician who: "Al Dual, who performed a great show on Feb 11th 2018 at the Graceland Theater in Memphis (Tennessee), won the award of "Best Rockabilly Male" during the gala of the 5th Edition Ameripolitan Music Awards on Feb 13th. Despite the tough competition he had in his category, because of the prize was disputed with such great artists like Art Adams or Levi Dexter, but finally was Al Dual who took the well-deserved award!!" (Source: aldual.com)
Here, all the results of that contest at Memphis on memphisflyer.com

Also, El Churra Choir made a collaboration on two Christmas songs with Al Dual.

Xmas Carols

One of the novelties of this year in terms of music (and has been, a lot of music), Christmas carols. A whole day of choirs through the streets singing Christmas carols.
Inage: El Churra Choir, last December 18th 2018.

Xmas Lights Everywhere

I wish, the city was so pretty all year round.

Veronicas on Xmas Time

At background, "Mercado de Veronicas" illuminated with xmas lights.
"The market place "Mercado de Verónicas", in the place where it is located, was a customs space back in the 15th century where the tax rates or taxes applied to merchandise entering or leaving the city were charged, thus creating a place of commercial exchange. In 1899 grows with the existence of a fish market and a small square of supplies with vendors, coffee shops and taverns. Between 1912 and 1916 the architect Pedro Cerdán designed the Modernist style building that we currently know, becoming a symbol for Murcia and one of the most popular market places." (Source: official website)
On the right. Almudi Palace facade (museum of temporary exhibitions).

Jingle Bell

More Xmas lights. This big bell on a fountain it is located next to Cathedral of Murcia.

Angels on Xmas Lights

At Gran Via, Murcia city.
Angels on Chritsmas lights.

Opera at Xmas Tree

Almost every night at 20:15h at big Chritsmas tree (located at Plaza Circular), there is a musical perfomance from many styles: blues, rock, soul, gospel, Christmas songs. In ths case, opera. Beautiful music perfomance.

Xmas Ball on Blue

I love this capture.
At St. Domingo Square. On the left, bell tower of St. Domingo church.
The xmas ball is changing colours in a moment.

Red Xmas Ball

I think a christmas ball has fallen from the Christmas tree.
At St. Domingo square.
People crossing the Xmas ball.

Lighting Xmas Music Festival more pictures

More pictures from Lighting Xmas Music Festival.
Picture: Planeta Tortuga band near to Cathedral of Murcia.

Lighting Xmas Music Festival

On December 5th it was held the lighting Xmas with a music festival on many corners at Murcia City.
Picture: Bea Navarro and her band at Glorieta of Murcia.

Xmas Tree Inauguration 2018

December 1st 2018. Lights, fireworks, great audience. Xmas starts.

Altea Latticed

The last picture for this visit to Altea.
The most paid my attention it was the wood door on that picture.

The Sea Through the Window

At Altea old town.
It could be marvellous to awakening and take a coffee seeing the Mediterranean sea through the window.

Ascending to Altea Town

The most I recommend is to visit the old town of Altea, that it is located on a hill near to the beach. It is great to get lost on the alleways and discover facades, workshops and, also, bars and restaurants.

Altea Beach

Let me please to pay a vitit to Altea on next posts. It is located at 1 hour and 20 minutes from Murcia city, north-east at Alicante coast.
It is not a white sand beach (bathing shoes are recommended).

Benidorm Panoramic

Ok, this is not Region of Murcia, but Benidorm is quite near. It is only at 1 hour and 12 minutes from Murcia city (Region of Murcia is located at south east of Spain, so it is located in a privilege place to have the opportunity to visit great locations at a few kilometers from Region of Murcia).
I took this picture from Grand Luxor Hotel at Terra Mitica Theme Park.

Canoeists

I took this picture las October 19th 2018. It was amazing the sun and the temperature those days.
The bridge: The Old Bridge (see labels).
Canoeists at Segura River.

Brown River

During mid-october, there were raining days. So Segura River turned brown due to remove the mud.
Picture: at Murcia city from Manterola bridge.

More Modifications to Nature

I took this picture last October 2018. At Murcia City it is making some changes to the Segura River to be more "citizenize it". Ducks as audience.

Rainbow and Monteagudo

Maybe, from other perspective I could have taken a better shot with the rainbow over Christ of Monteagudo.
About this monument, please visit Monteagudo Label.

The Skater and the Cathedral

It was lucky that the skater cross the camera focus because I was only looking for the reflection of the tower of the Cathedral on the water.

Building a Stage

I took this capture last October 19th 2018. They were building the stage for the concert on October 20th. Who did play there? The spanish rock band "Loquillo y los Trogloditas" during 40th anniversary tour. Here a video from that concert.
The stage it was located at former Artillery Barracks.

Beer for Everybody

All details have to be prepare for a concert, including liquids to be hydrated.

Cathedral and Firemen

Firemen for everything. Years ago, anti-dove skewers or pins were installed on the facade and around the perimeter of the cathedral of Murcia. Apparently, some of these pins fell to the ground and some pedestrians warned of this risk. The firemen were called and they checked the facade.

Face in Facade

The tallest mural in Spain is located in Murcia. A portrait of a woman made by painter Carlos Callizo (professor of painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Murcia, in 2008 he received the National Prize for Fine Arts). A mural 32 meters high and 12 meters wide. The mural was made between the end of September and the beginning of October.

Facade with Balcony

I took this picture from Royal Casino of Murcia (from first floor). I had not noticed about that building when I had been passing throw Traperia street at ground floor. Many things we can lose if we do not change the view perspective during our lives.

Arab Courtyard Balcony

Inside Royal Casino of Murcia, the first room is the Arab Courtyard. Here a picture (2016) from ground floor. Now a picture from first floor where you can see details of that interior balcony. Neo-Moorish decor style, work of Manuel Castaños, required more than 20,000 sheets of gold leaf.

From Main Entrance. Royal Casino of Murcia.

On 2014, I took a picture of main entrance of Royal Casino of Murcia from outside. Now, inside.
This the most visited civil building. It is a social and cultural centre private and public. The building was built at early of 20th century.

Echoes from Fair of Murcia 2018

As previous years, from the first Friday to the second Tuesday of September, it is held the Fair of Murcia. Since few years ago, following an old tradition from the 20th century, a flower arch is placed over the Old Bridge.

Bad Form

I do not understand why people are capable of throwing something on the ground, having a wastebasket next to it.
Background: Segura river

Scenography: Moors and Christians 2018

Trial theatrical act of surrender of the city by the Moors to Christians.
The play is performed by night.

Moors and Christians 2018

During Feria of Murcia (please, for more info visit label) it is also holding Moors and Christians Fest.
A little bit of History:
"During the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, in 713 they reached the lands of Tudmir (Visigoth territory ruled by King Theodomyr). Abd al-Azid signed a pact with Teodomiro: Tudmir was neither an independent principality, nor a land subject to the direct authority of the Arab governors, but was a land under the authority of the Visigothic king, but exercised in the name of the wali ( governor), appointed by Damascus to govern the destinies of Al-Andalus. This autonomy would continue with his successor Atanagildo. Then it would become an Islamic province dependent on Córdoba, losing its special status.
It is the first Muslim document of the current region of Murcia and is considered the act of constitution of the Kingdom of Murcia and the first recognition of its political unity.
On July 25, 825, Emir Abd al-Rahman II, in order to pacify the territory, enhance development and strengthen its authority, established a new capital in a small rise on the banks of the Segura River: the Medina was born Mursiya. (The origins would go back to a Roman villae called Murtia).
After the crisis and disappearance of the Caliphate of Cordoba in the year 1031, political and social instability is spread by Tudmir. In this context the Kingdom of Murcia is born, from a taifa around the Muslim city of Murcia. That kingdom included the current province of Albacete and part of the province of Almeria.
in 1243, the territory of Murcia was submitted to the protectorate of the Castilian King Ferdinand III". (Source: regmurcia.com)

Picture: near City Hall, swords.

300 years

On September 10th 1718, it started the construction of this bridge: The Old Bridge or Peligros Bridge.

Hanging Pedestrian Bridge

That is Manterola's bridge. I comment about it sometimes ago. Another perspective views, here, and here.
But now, I like to comment that due to some raining days, there is a little bit water on Segura river, that it is the reason why the colour of tha water is brown.

Kites are for Summer

At summertime, on vacations, it is a good momment to fly a kite.

Roman Quarry

At neighbouring town of Torre de la Horadada (Pilar de la Horadada - Alicante) you can find a Roman quarry, that you can visit, and walk over it.
Archaeological remains of a Roman quarry from the second century B.C. This opencast quarry runs parallel to the coastline along more than 60 meters (Source: pilardelahoradada.org)

Submarine Arc

Diving in Mediterranean Sea, you can find lots of treasures.

Red Rock

Red flowers on a rock under the sea.

Canoeing on the Sea

Family canoeing.

Jellyfish

Diving on the sea I found this jellyfish. It is not enough dangerous this kind of jellyfish. The worst spiece is the white one at Mediterranean sea.

Under the Sea

I love to dive. But this picture is doing snorkeling.

On the Sea

A few pictures with a sport cam.
On the sea.

Calm Days

Calm sea (Mediterranean sea). Time for relaxing.

Dawning on the Sea

It is amazing, beautiful, awesome, to see (or to watch) dawning on the sea from the beach.

Cabezo Gordo Views

At Cabezo Gordo it is located Sima de las Palomas (see post). From this site you can see this landscape. Intensive agriculture (front, Torre-Pacheco fields) and Mar Menor (back).