Calpe Spain

Calpe, also spelt without the “e” as Calp, is instantly recognised by the mighty “Peñon”, the huge rock which rises over 300 meters out of the Mediterranean Sea.  This has stood guard over the town and witnessed its transformation from a sleepy little fishing village into a tourist magnet.  The Rock, which has been compared to the Rock of Gibraltar, was declared a nature reserve in 1987.  It now provides a safe haven for a variety of birds and unusual flora and fauna.  There is a walking route which goes through a tunnel in the rock and takes you right to its very tip.

The Famous Calpe Peñon 

Calpe was my first stop in Spain.  I had left Perpignan near the Spanish border in the morning after spending a wonderful weekend with Fabien, one of my dearest cousins and his family.  The train took me to Barcelona where I took another connection for Alicante.  I was most impressed with the Spanish railway system.  The trains I went on were most comfortable with videos and listening devices available on demand.  I soon arrived in Alicante where my friend Christine was waiting for me.  We drove to Calpe where she lives in her ancestors' house.  Calpe is situated some 50 or so kilometres from Alicante.  I hadn't been back to that part of Spain for nearly 50 years and the changes to the place during that time were absolutely amazing.  The roads are now nothing like what I remembered and construction of houses and apartments were everywhere.  After settling down at Christine's, we drove to the harbour for dinner and enjoyed some succulent fresh seafood cooked on the spot. 

Apartment Building Facing the Beach at Calpe 

Calpe is best known for its fine sandy beaches and great value fish restaurants.  There are two stunning beaches to choose from, one either side of the mighty rock. Both beaches have beautiful long promenades and a great selection of bars and cafes.  The excellent fish restaurants are found mainly around the marina and they all offer a superb selection of freshly caught fish dishes of all sorts; cooked in a myriad of ways.

The Beach at Calpe

Pleasure Cruise Boats at the Calpe Marina 

A few days later, we spent a full day visiting the two sections of Calpe.  The old town is a lovely and enchanting place to wander around and  is by far the most attractive for me with a charm all of its own, narrow streets, colourful houses; pretty much the Spain I remembered from the 60's when I last visited this region.

Decorated Walkway in the Old Calpe

Colourful House Fronts in Old Calpe

Ceramic Tile Decoration under a Balcony in Old Calpe 

Although the town centre is quite different from the old part of Calpe, it still offers the visitor some excellent local shopping facilities, restaurants, including a large street market.  We spent some time at an open air auditorium which was quite impressive.


Calpe Street Leading Down to the Beach

Open-Air auditorium in Calpe

We also wandered along the beach which offers visitors a walkway where one can enjoy the sea air and watch the people fishing, swimming, sunning and enjoying Life in a very special part of Spain.

Fishermen by the Calpe Peñon



All this walking and visiting gave us a healthy appetite and after much deliberation about which one of the many enticing restaurants we would select, we opted for the El Cantal Restaurant where we had a delicious meal as the following images will testify. 

 

Carpaccio of Octopus with a Drizzle of Olive Oil and Mixed Pepper Berries

Fried Sardines

Mixed Salad with Croutons and White Goat's Cheese

Fideua; a Paella-Type Dish Prepared with Noodles Instead of Rice 

 



Altogether, a very special day with beautiful sights, delicious food and excellent company.  Thank you Christine and Calpe and see you again soon.