10/12 The Fiesta of the Christians and the Moors.

 This morning we got up very early.  This is the day the Fiesta of the Christians and Moors where the battle on the beach is reenacted on the beach.  We saw it last year for the first time with Renee Michelle.  We did not get up early enough last year and then it started raining.  So I suggested we get up in time to be out on the beach at 5am.  Nobody took me up on it.  

We had checked out this location yesterday.  It is a long way away - but has a nice view of the beach the battle will be held on.  As we walked up the hill - every body was walking down.  We were the only people up here.  The event takes place on the water and the beach on the other side of the yellow building in the upper right side of photo

I am using the 12-200 millimeter lens.  It is not that far.  But it is the longest that we have.  They started off with fireworks.  Frankly most of them were of the "pop and fizz" variety.  In other words not much to see.

Stef and John are looking very pensive - and maybe bored.  We can't see much.

A few fireworks put on a show - but at a distance.

It was at that point I asked Stef and John if they would like to got into the mass of humanity below and maybe be able to see more.  They said yes - we left Michael behind.  In the area where all the action happens - people are 10 to 15 deep - so no chance of getting close.  So we walked back towards our apartment along the beach until we could get close to the beach.  People where sitting on the wall, and we were standing right behind them.  There were a lot of people on the beach.  So no photos would avoid them.  Most photos are cropped a lot to keep as many people out as possible.

Most of the morning was spent listening to muskets being fired on the beach by the Christians while waiting for the Pirate Moors to invade from the water.

Boats of Moors are closer to us.  We could see them inching towards the beach.

Back to the Christians - can't see much except musket smoke.

One person on a horse. 

I don't know if this actually happened, but in this reenactment - so many of the Moor swam onto the beach. How did they keep their muskets dry in order to fight on the beach.

We are so far away - the boat is landing on the shore. (see center bottom of photo)

I would suggest if you are really interested - to blow up the photos to see what is actually happened.  Next year, because we have already signed up to stay in this apartment next year,  I think I will watch the entire re-enactment on tv!

At that point Michael had found Stef and I on the beach and we decided to go back to the apartment.   John had gone back so much earlier.  Back in the apartment - John had already taken a shower.  Stef took one next as they wanted to take the tram to Alicante.  We did not go to the parade that evening.