MaverickRovers

MAVERICK ROVER WORLD Post #14 June 29, 2018 Valencia, Spain Sumner Solstice * Street Paella, San Juan Celebration  Street Paella Eight foot in diameter paella  created by this chef to raise funds for next year's Fallas event. Massive paper statues will be created during many months for the celebration and then burned in late March. On the other end of the street, kids are enjoying a hot summer day while everyone drinks beer waiting for the paella to finish cooking.  * St. San Juan Celebration one week later Mid-night, swim 7 waves for 7 wishes On the summer solstice,  celebration of St. San Juan, it is believed that if you make 7 wishes in 7 waves your wishes will come true. So masses of Valencianos venture to the Mediterranean Sea.  We were there to experience this as family members, young and old showed up. Many built  fire pits in the sand an...

MAVERICK ROVER WORLD Post #13 June 18, 2018 Valencia, Spain Well folks, it's that time of year again all around the world. GAY PRIDE was revolutionized after Stonewall, NYC on June 28 (my birthday), 1969, when I was 22 years old.  Thanks to all those who stood up and protested in support of gay rights, however, there is still much work to be done. Gay Rights = Human Rights The Valencia  PRIDE parade was similar in some ways,  and yet different in many ways from those that we have experienced in the US.  The differences were that attendees and marchers  in the parade were allowed to smoke, drink and walk naked if they chose, as one woman did, to support  women 's rights.  This parade had no local government officials campaigning, no contingent of local police marching, and no pet contingent.  What they did have were numerous drum core  groups rocking the parade and a large contingent ju...

MAVERICK ROVER WORLD Post #12 June 15, 2018 Altea, Spain Spanish Flag Boat art Fruit smoothie & Café con leche Ocean vista from the garden                                           l'Eglésia de Dalt, rebuilt in the 1900 from ruins of an older church of the 1600s. After the 1700s pirates no longer invaded, and thus Altea repopulated.  Just a few steps down from this magnificent church is Restaurant Obatalá Iré Restaurant Obatalá Iré is owned and operated by a young couple, Cuban chef owner and his local Altean wife, who live above the restaurant. They met over salsa; no, not food salsa, it was Salsa dancing. Now, during the winter months when the tourists are gone, they teach Salsa in the restaurant.  The half moon opening in the sliding door is a view into the petite kitchen. The chef also ...

MAVERICK ROVER WORLD Post #11 June 9, 2018 Torrevieja/Punta Prima, Spain A door / A bike What do you see first? The bike or the door? Weathered Entry Forgotten Spanish Flag Our days here in Costa Blanca have been most relaxing as we can walk to the beach in just one kilometer (0.6 Mile), many restaurants and bars, several grocery stores and two bus stops that connect us to fun little towns and marinas.  Torrevieja, SP marina Recently,  Ron and I met Parker Pope. I spoke to him in Spanish to ask a question about the marina, but in no time flat we both spoke in English, he is from St. Petersburg, Florida. He is a sailor on his way  from Spain to Greece, Turkey and then Puerto Rico with a gentleman from Portland, Oregon who has just refurbished a sailboat here in Torrevieja. A very interesting guy, another confirmation that our travels are in sync with so many interesting and unique peop...