tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50599162542376297132024-03-12T18:08:02.255-07:00Civil War on the Costa BlancaGeoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-88120994195218696342019-07-10T04:23:00.001-07:002019-07-10T04:23:22.098-07:00The murder in Alicante of Miquel Grau - the last Francoist victim before the transition to democracy
I must have walked past this memorial dozens of time while out and about in the city or catching the tram from Lucheros station. The final victim of the Francoists during the transition to democracy in Alicante in 1977. Miquel Grau I Gómez. Murdered at Lucheros in October that year while putting up posters to celebrate the Valencian Day that had been outlawed under the years of the dictatorship. He was killed by a brick thrown from a balcony by a fascist supporter. His funeral was attended by nearly 20,000 people and the armed Guardia Civil broke up the procession from the church to the cemetery and seized the coffin. His killer was initially sentenced to a lenient 12 years in prison and even that was later reduced to 6 years on appeal. I am grateful to the Historical Memory group in Alicante for ensuring that Miquel is not forgotten and his story shows just how recent the days before democracy in Spain really are.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YVvvXTo2nRc/XSXHXLivrqI/AAAAAAAAIms/4zW8ndnEoPcOWUo6X1bO45Se-UNFFSE6ACLcBGAs/s1600/miquel%2Bgomez%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YVvvXTo2nRc/XSXHXLivrqI/AAAAAAAAIms/4zW8ndnEoPcOWUo6X1bO45Se-UNFFSE6ACLcBGAs/s400/miquel%2Bgomez%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="400" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3h-Sct1LE4E/XSXHlNw7U9I/AAAAAAAAImw/jGTycD6xkNAZW0isXlXcM5q-TC2Kq_4-ACLcBGAs/s1600/miquel%2Bgomez%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3h-Sct1LE4E/XSXHlNw7U9I/AAAAAAAAImw/jGTycD6xkNAZW0isXlXcM5q-TC2Kq_4-ACLcBGAs/s400/miquel%2Bgomez%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="400" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-17332140374045704642019-06-12T07:44:00.000-07:002019-06-12T07:44:23.991-07:00An exhibition marking the eightieth anniversary of the fall of Alicante<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxTQCYkva-4/XQELlQD7s5I/AAAAAAAAIfQ/vrS4sQKH-aYTLmpALVzzdYNkgzQhrYxsQCLcBGAs/s1600/alicante%2Bexhibition%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxTQCYkva-4/XQELlQD7s5I/AAAAAAAAIfQ/vrS4sQKH-aYTLmpALVzzdYNkgzQhrYxsQCLcBGAs/s400/alicante%2Bexhibition%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ukaF1TgPmj0/XQELqF_tSlI/AAAAAAAAIfU/CBHcqokj1gAY_UHK831ge3kQVpBZv88OQCLcBGAs/s1600/alicante%2Bexhibition3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ukaF1TgPmj0/XQELqF_tSlI/AAAAAAAAIfU/CBHcqokj1gAY_UHK831ge3kQVpBZv88OQCLcBGAs/s400/alicante%2Bexhibition3.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kw5oUhKl7eM/XQELzClgFyI/AAAAAAAAIfY/co_FYf6V5B43u4ad7cDgdLjTV-0pftSHgCLcBGAs/s1600/alicante%2Bexhibition4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kw5oUhKl7eM/XQELzClgFyI/AAAAAAAAIfY/co_FYf6V5B43u4ad7cDgdLjTV-0pftSHgCLcBGAs/s400/alicante%2Bexhibition4.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kDb9GKJIvY4/XQEL2nvaiUI/AAAAAAAAIfg/3oYQBAACXcUZaD6mOOhCBPZMvGz1T4UjACLcBGAs/s1600/alicante%2Bexhibition%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kDb9GKJIvY4/XQEL2nvaiUI/AAAAAAAAIfg/3oYQBAACXcUZaD6mOOhCBPZMvGz1T4UjACLcBGAs/s400/alicante%2Bexhibition%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>
I was lucky enough to be in Alicante on a saturday morning in late May when the exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the fall of the City to Franco's forces was on. Even luckier, the museum in the old fire station housing the display was open - something that you need to check in advance if you are planning a trip as the hours are seriously restricted now.
It was a beautifully created exhibition with some extraordinary contemporary artefacts and lovingly crafted displays. I found the work on the displacement of thousands of refugees, who had hoped for evacuation from the port side, to the holding area at Los Almendros before being transported to the concentration camp as San Isidro particularly moving. As was the long list of those who died immediately before and after the fall of Alicante - many from suicide as they knew what awaited them at the hands of Franco's thugs. There was a model of the Stanbrooke, the only ship to break the naval blockade and effect a limited evacuation, and I was just pleased to see that those involved in the historical memory work around the Civil War are still doing such great work.
Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-30667025636003087742019-03-12T09:12:00.000-07:002019-03-12T09:12:24.088-07:00A machine gun post up in the hills behind ArenalesUp in the hills behind the new hotels that have sprung up at the south of Arenales, rising up over the Clot De Galvany nature reserve, lies this absolute beauty of a machine gun post. It's a bit of a clamber up to reach it but it really is stunningly well preserved and well worth the effort. Although at some point it looks like the rough stonework has had some repointing it is not sealed up and you can step inside and back in time and peer out of the gun slots with their view across the road network and land to the south. It's tiny inside, probably a one man operation and possibly more for observation purposes. Alongside it runs what look like the remains of a trench network - long filled in with the sand from the dunes but with their stone lips intact. I am pleased to be able to add this important and historic relic to the overall picture we are building up.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJSTKUzM_xw/XIfaP9OX3-I/AAAAAAAAHzs/6Za8yoRD0sIbjALTw2vhrnlK6xEhhtoLwCLcBGAs/s1600/55C1FFBD-A943-4478-B850-546926541A76.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJSTKUzM_xw/XIfaP9OX3-I/AAAAAAAAHzs/6Za8yoRD0sIbjALTw2vhrnlK6xEhhtoLwCLcBGAs/s400/55C1FFBD-A943-4478-B850-546926541A76.jpeg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8RDFTysj8s/XIfaO5fBEYI/AAAAAAAAHzk/fLKz-847O_8svDgL0UbaOfzGDuejEXlIwCLcBGAs/s1600/544BFB83-6ACE-451A-81D4-953C90A0DF8E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8RDFTysj8s/XIfaO5fBEYI/AAAAAAAAHzk/fLKz-847O_8svDgL0UbaOfzGDuejEXlIwCLcBGAs/s400/544BFB83-6ACE-451A-81D4-953C90A0DF8E.jpeg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EepL0bwsqro/XIfaP82ipLI/AAAAAAAAHzo/sK6JXGW1VcEkBnFCPBVv-d9qYAlhEXZlQCLcBGAs/s1600/A5D0167E-F5F7-4D61-A6DC-4F5A533A4DB1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EepL0bwsqro/XIfaP82ipLI/AAAAAAAAHzo/sK6JXGW1VcEkBnFCPBVv-d9qYAlhEXZlQCLcBGAs/s400/A5D0167E-F5F7-4D61-A6DC-4F5A533A4DB1.jpeg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rxe4pIA2YsA/XIfaQo_3jyI/AAAAAAAAHzw/I0QpdjpmiE82Jaj1G_ykZf3ns_tvZr9iACLcBGAs/s1600/F668D6B5-E270-41DE-826D-09F01EA32F6F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rxe4pIA2YsA/XIfaQo_3jyI/AAAAAAAAHzw/I0QpdjpmiE82Jaj1G_ykZf3ns_tvZr9iACLcBGAs/s400/F668D6B5-E270-41DE-826D-09F01EA32F6F.jpeg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-27451717371513765362019-03-12T07:20:00.000-07:002019-03-12T07:20:34.680-07:00The exploration of the collapsed and hidden defences in the Clot continues<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bjcB_aDVCYY/XIe8Qcbs_nI/AAAAAAAAHzI/9AYRR1nWWHo_nxebXhDRa0wYWSw4-rU_gCLcBGAs/s1600/2A21253F-D82B-4703-B850-B78CC78D125E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bjcB_aDVCYY/XIe8Qcbs_nI/AAAAAAAAHzI/9AYRR1nWWHo_nxebXhDRa0wYWSw4-rU_gCLcBGAs/s400/2A21253F-D82B-4703-B850-B78CC78D125E.jpeg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hvBmux1Frw/XIe8QsRbIiI/AAAAAAAAHzM/3x1jb_1am74t_H0xT1bcR7wb4BOeSy4fQCLcBGAs/s1600/2B409437-69B9-4BBC-9E0A-594941E740B0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hvBmux1Frw/XIe8QsRbIiI/AAAAAAAAHzM/3x1jb_1am74t_H0xT1bcR7wb4BOeSy4fQCLcBGAs/s400/2B409437-69B9-4BBC-9E0A-594941E740B0.jpeg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEs7BIZJcsg/XIe8QQnps6I/AAAAAAAAHzE/5GMUNCGgMognj75C38XqWuQFM-kYiTuPACLcBGAs/s1600/A3D141C7-292D-4B85-B3EB-F7147B3AB091.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEs7BIZJcsg/XIe8QQnps6I/AAAAAAAAHzE/5GMUNCGgMognj75C38XqWuQFM-kYiTuPACLcBGAs/s400/A3D141C7-292D-4B85-B3EB-F7147B3AB091.jpeg" width="400" height="256" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1025" /></a>I've come to the conclusion that there is a mass of hidden and undocumented Civil War military history buried away in the Clot De Galvany and I am on a mission to uncover it. We know about the well-preserved bunkers and installations on the official trail but I'm after the areas secrets. Having found one collapsed and overgrown bunker near the lake a few months ago I now have an eye for the tell tale signs and am sure these parts of the Republican defensive wall were built in clusters and strategic lines. So, I was well chuffed to spot this the other side of the nature reserves fence and squeezed under to take a look. The straight concrete line is the lip of a trench behind what would have been a domed and camouflaged gun emplacement. The trench has been filled in with sand down the years and the bunker has collapsed but the curved wall is still visible although well overgrown. You can also pick out some of the internal concrete shell that the stone disguise would have covered. Another important discovery. Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-78886211667513118332018-12-04T07:43:00.000-08:002018-12-04T07:43:02.291-08:00More air raid shelters being opened up in Alicante - a visit to the Plaza Musico TorderaThe authorities in Alicante are slowly opening up some of the long-buried civil war architecture that lies beneath this beautiful city and which reveals its brutal past. I was hoping I might catch the team working on the large air raid shelter beneath Plaza Musico Tordera but I was out of luck and had to resort to peeling back the metal grill and trying to grab a shot of the entrance steps. The shelter was built for 700 people and is thought to be perfectly preserved since it was sealed up in 1947. It is due to be opened up to the public along with five other deep shelters over the next year or so. There was some signs of works opening up the large shelter under the steps leading up to IES Jorge Juan. I will be back for further investigations.
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcLkBrFVPIw/XAaePoFz2LI/AAAAAAAAHZI/9GDZdYAH6PErDlAdIU4K6FqA4o4hGxlqwCLcBGAs/s1600/plaza4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcLkBrFVPIw/XAaePoFz2LI/AAAAAAAAHZI/9GDZdYAH6PErDlAdIU4K6FqA4o4hGxlqwCLcBGAs/s400/plaza4.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="540" data-original-height="960" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a0Vl7KfK3Zc/XAadv9CiNEI/AAAAAAAAHY8/fOHs4P3Tdxg2s7JZRfIRFNr2oMhOCBADACLcBGAs/s1600/2018-11-14%2B13.04.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a0Vl7KfK3Zc/XAadv9CiNEI/AAAAAAAAHY8/fOHs4P3Tdxg2s7JZRfIRFNr2oMhOCBADACLcBGAs/s400/2018-11-14%2B13.04.12.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkWWq_Xr8NY/XAaeFmQ42fI/AAAAAAAAHZE/PcJ3OO5kZbMWs1cifrUwm9lp6LtICdLRwCLcBGAs/s1600/2018-11-14%2B13.05.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkWWq_Xr8NY/XAaeFmQ42fI/AAAAAAAAHZE/PcJ3OO5kZbMWs1cifrUwm9lp6LtICdLRwCLcBGAs/s400/2018-11-14%2B13.05.32.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-71250563507099200662018-11-27T04:18:00.000-08:002018-11-27T04:18:39.165-08:00The Civil War air raid siren in the Santa Pola castleI must have wandered through the square of the castle in the middle of Santa Pola dozens of times but I had a friend with me who had never been and as he looked up at the bell tower he casually asked "is that a siren up there?". I had never clocked it before and the grey mushroom-shaped metal piece jumped out me as I focussed in. I did a quick check on a previous blog entry and it is very similar to the siren on display in Alicante Market and definitely a throwback to the Civil War. It makes sense, Santa Pola was in the front line for the airborne raids of the Condor Legion bombers and the bell tower would be the logical place to place a siren. And there, over eighty years on, it still sits. I owed Tony a lunch down by the harbour for spotting it and his eagle-eyed vigilance reinforces the motto of the amateur historian - look up!
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1P7yik0TREo/W_0ztNMbZmI/AAAAAAAAHVo/o_dpiI0hkdsy19YYiOfL0oV3rUgKegwOwCLcBGAs/s1600/santa%2Bpola%2Bsiren%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1P7yik0TREo/W_0ztNMbZmI/AAAAAAAAHVo/o_dpiI0hkdsy19YYiOfL0oV3rUgKegwOwCLcBGAs/s400/santa%2Bpola%2Bsiren%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="397" data-original-width="769" data-original-height="764" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gX15L2l4TWc/W_0zz7cCg3I/AAAAAAAAHVs/Db6pdPSpk1AcJ8KJfnBLZs4EsWefnYzzACLcBGAs/s1600/santa%2Bpola%2Bsiren%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gX15L2l4TWc/W_0zz7cCg3I/AAAAAAAAHVs/Db6pdPSpk1AcJ8KJfnBLZs4EsWefnYzzACLcBGAs/s400/santa%2Bpola%2Bsiren%2B2.jpg" width="399" height="400" data-original-width="315" data-original-height="316" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-16610199946009619512018-09-26T08:23:00.001-07:002018-09-26T08:23:08.517-07:00The Clot throws up another undocumented piece of Civil War archaeologySometimes as an amateur historian you just get lucky. It's happened to me a few times but occasionally you get the shock of your life when a landscape you are familiar with suddenly throws up some signs of something lurking in the undergrowth that hasn't jumped out at you before. I'd been taking a walk around the Clot De Galvany, more exercise than anything else, and was leaning on the railings on the photo point for the bird spotters overlooking the lake. It's a beautifully tranquil spot and there wasn't a soul in sight other than some wildlife out on the water. As I scanned the surroundings I noticed a glimpse of curved wall that needed checking out. Much of this area was terraced with local rocks by farmers many years ago to conserve water, it's a familiar sight but this was something different. I clambered down the hill and was knocked out to find the partly collapsed remains of a machine gun nest with the rusting anchors of the gun mount still visible. Another one I've not seen documented elsewhere. I was chuffed to bits to log it and photograph it before heading off for some cold beers to celebrate.
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAh_fD1PR9k/W6uXR3lpF8I/AAAAAAAAGgA/POxzl6MvvVkoOkVh6TYzZZH9sDUJSGB5wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180920_112954.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAh_fD1PR9k/W6uXR3lpF8I/AAAAAAAAGgA/POxzl6MvvVkoOkVh6TYzZZH9sDUJSGB5wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180920_112954.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acxNFI2JbUI/W6uXWwi9k1I/AAAAAAAAGgE/Ket0zmeP5w4myHsvFyJ0cg2SI7QYLiuGgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180920_113131.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acxNFI2JbUI/W6uXWwi9k1I/AAAAAAAAGgE/Ket0zmeP5w4myHsvFyJ0cg2SI7QYLiuGgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180920_113131.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZaPv7dVVSA/W6uXbscl5-I/AAAAAAAAGgI/aJxF7aqKVIkswfjuWlWPLHOHiStxnAAwACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180920_112803.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZaPv7dVVSA/W6uXbscl5-I/AAAAAAAAGgI/aJxF7aqKVIkswfjuWlWPLHOHiStxnAAwACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180920_112803.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qnJwnWoTUk/W6uXhYoNU4I/AAAAAAAAGgM/KqLEqSdpOVgJeCKNvl1DrXSq76_nPpLwACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180920_113228.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qnJwnWoTUk/W6uXhYoNU4I/AAAAAAAAGgM/KqLEqSdpOVgJeCKNvl1DrXSq76_nPpLwACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180920_113228.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-77531898261256904402018-09-26T08:12:00.001-07:002018-09-26T08:12:37.148-07:00A return visit to an old friendI sometimes get asked what is the closest piece of Civil War archaeology we can take a look at if we are in Gran Alacant and pushed for time, or don't want to spend hours clambering over rough ground and mountains trying to locate something that may not be there. Well, if you enter the Clot De Galvany at the Carabassi end and then take the first left turning on the track after a couple of hundred yards you will come across the splendid, camouflaged bunker in the first picture. It's a belter and I hadn't dropped by for a while and was pleased to see it is still in fine condition. Just in front of it there is a concrete trench installation that would have guarded the old main road now replaced by the sprawling urbanisation of lower GA. The trench is a bit overgrown not but apart from the obligatory graffiti remains in excellent condition with it's thick, buttressed walls and you can still see one of the old machine gun mounting positions. A remarkable survivor more than eighty years on.
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dOjuQVloTZc/W6uWvUhRieI/AAAAAAAAGfg/eNwoclse6Vsuu9VSEXWbtBZfalpBiLFsQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180920_110931.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dOjuQVloTZc/W6uWvUhRieI/AAAAAAAAGfg/eNwoclse6Vsuu9VSEXWbtBZfalpBiLFsQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180920_110931.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d65uflIpuHs/W6uW0KY1vnI/AAAAAAAAGfk/bJe9YorZxKcBFpViIO4DncVFGLUYLpmlQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180920_111018.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d65uflIpuHs/W6uW0KY1vnI/AAAAAAAAGfk/bJe9YorZxKcBFpViIO4DncVFGLUYLpmlQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180920_111018.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tLHSyimL1EY/W6uW8FqouaI/AAAAAAAAGfo/Gr5b-WEsIzcseN66q_TYpYK9JUEivTqOwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180920_111134.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tLHSyimL1EY/W6uW8FqouaI/AAAAAAAAGfo/Gr5b-WEsIzcseN66q_TYpYK9JUEivTqOwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180920_111134.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ctNmSAOH_p4/W6uXAvnX9hI/AAAAAAAAGfw/0itpbwGI-ncMPKWYYQNaMsHJ0eTQSFTbACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180920_111210.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ctNmSAOH_p4/W6uXAvnX9hI/AAAAAAAAGfw/0itpbwGI-ncMPKWYYQNaMsHJ0eTQSFTbACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180920_111210.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-66717739779381013622018-09-26T08:01:00.000-07:002018-09-26T08:01:35.403-07:00A bust of the heroic Archibald Dickson is added to the memorial at the Alicante portI'd been well pleased to hear that a beautifully sculpted bust of Archibald Dickson had been added to the Civil War memorial by the port side in Alicante and it looked fantastic in the sunshine when I stopped off on a gorgeous September day to take a look. Dickson was the skipper on the ship The Stanbrook which was the only vessel to break the nationalist blockade as up to 20,000 Republicans gathered to escape in the days and hours before Alicante finally fell to Franco and his Italian allies. At huge personal risk to both himself and his crew Dickson managed to cram over 2,600 evacuees onto his badly listing vessel. Due to some disastrous shenanigans in the final weeks of the Negrin Government, covered superbly in Paul Preston's book "The last days of the Spanish Republic", the Stanbrook was the last ship out of the port. Those left behind were herded to Los Almendros and then onto the San Isidro concentration camp to face torture, starvation and death. Dickson, a Welshman from Cardiff, has now been honored as the international hero he truly is.
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1AQn90BKqGY/W6uV3HRFnkI/AAAAAAAAGfQ/PGGob-utKmEvIHdMzVFjII9BFV0WwjmpACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180919_133851.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1AQn90BKqGY/W6uV3HRFnkI/AAAAAAAAGfQ/PGGob-utKmEvIHdMzVFjII9BFV0WwjmpACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180919_133851.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-evY3ZddQKS4/W6uWCPfBo2I/AAAAAAAAGfU/034lNPJpb3IKMRNXyrtT_9YFdaXCuWNuACLcBGAs/s1600/STANBROOK%2BALICANTE.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-evY3ZddQKS4/W6uWCPfBo2I/AAAAAAAAGfU/034lNPJpb3IKMRNXyrtT_9YFdaXCuWNuACLcBGAs/s400/STANBROOK%2BALICANTE.jpg" width="400" height="250" data-original-width="620" data-original-height="387" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-57588711610408660852018-07-09T03:46:00.000-07:002018-07-09T03:46:56.176-07:00Shrapnel damage and the air raid shelter in Plaza BalmisYou don't have to look far to see the lasting signs of the Civil War in Alicante. My general advice is to make sure that you look up! The railing around the old fire station, which is now the home of the Civil War museum, are a classic example. Just look closely and you will see where shrapnel has bent and gouged the uprights. A couple of blocks away the air raid shelter in Balmis Square now has a proper entrance. I've still not been able to get in there as the hours for access are limited and depend on having enough visitors to make it worth while. Just something else that I need to sort out.
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJgmLJg5AP0/W0M7sZiW2yI/AAAAAAAAGYo/L9Xxp4LAjcEaOye49fEMpszC3naFNgFFgCLcBGAs/s1600/shrapnel%2Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJgmLJg5AP0/W0M7sZiW2yI/AAAAAAAAGYo/L9Xxp4LAjcEaOye49fEMpszC3naFNgFFgCLcBGAs/s400/shrapnel%2Bone.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DITavNpDztE/W0M7xJ1GB4I/AAAAAAAAGYs/lz4O6m6XY10_7kBdadFlqsp-3TGewZz4QCLcBGAs/s1600/shrapnel%2Btwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DITavNpDztE/W0M7xJ1GB4I/AAAAAAAAGYs/lz4O6m6XY10_7kBdadFlqsp-3TGewZz4QCLcBGAs/s400/shrapnel%2Btwo.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvEZ_XOM7Jw/W0M72PJaIGI/AAAAAAAAGYw/PvRISyNB9cINv_Zl94DlvCflD36_GeN2QCLcBGAs/s1600/balmis%2Bshelter%2Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvEZ_XOM7Jw/W0M72PJaIGI/AAAAAAAAGYw/PvRISyNB9cINv_Zl94DlvCflD36_GeN2QCLcBGAs/s400/balmis%2Bshelter%2Bone.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AbQqGNhNkdU/W0M76UHBmnI/AAAAAAAAGY0/MMDpo-9NDpQaThbPioPWKHkozZfAHDNIgCLcBGAs/s1600/balmis%2Bshelter%2Btwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AbQqGNhNkdU/W0M76UHBmnI/AAAAAAAAGY0/MMDpo-9NDpQaThbPioPWKHkozZfAHDNIgCLcBGAs/s400/balmis%2Bshelter%2Btwo.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-27296459453435433662018-07-09T03:19:00.000-07:002018-07-09T03:19:27.554-07:00The remains of trenches in the Sierra overlooking the Alicante road On a hot June morning I spent the best part of two hours walking in searing heat and then clambering about on the steep slopes of the Sierra that sits just to the West of the Clot De Galvany. This is not a trip for the faint hearted as you need to climb up through the pines as you try to get your bearings. I had a rough idea of the location but was beginning to think it was a wild goose chase when I stumbled on it. Overgrown and partly buried, republican defensive trenches hacked out of the rock and overseeing the old Cartagena/Alicante road. The expected sea borne attack never came from the South. Alicante held out to the end before eventually being over run by Italian troops from the West and the North. As The Clash sang in Spanish Bombs.......can I hear the echoes from the days of 39? Trenches full of poets, the ragged army.......<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DwsRaBvGPWk/Wzo76eA6EnI/AAAAAAAAGXI/h9JtkwvlXk0As8j5Ak_FObYMd9hB0MMQwCLcBGAs/s1600/trench%2B1%2Broad.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DwsRaBvGPWk/Wzo76eA6EnI/AAAAAAAAGXI/h9JtkwvlXk0As8j5Ak_FObYMd9hB0MMQwCLcBGAs/s400/trench%2B1%2Broad.jpg" width="220" height="400" data-original-width="528" data-original-height="960" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z2jDYhiUaUU/Wzo7_Npk-wI/AAAAAAAAGXM/S_XFQsac_UgKloGWnL6bxkO9Lc2W52MWgCLcBGAs/s1600/trench%2B2%2Broad.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z2jDYhiUaUU/Wzo7_Npk-wI/AAAAAAAAGXM/S_XFQsac_UgKloGWnL6bxkO9Lc2W52MWgCLcBGAs/s400/trench%2B2%2Broad.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="960" data-original-height="540" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zSX4gdTSMM/Wzo8DZkR1cI/AAAAAAAAGXQ/B1Oaun8yhjIzeDanZEki8t0rbSdJl_OogCLcBGAs/s1600/trench%2B3%2Broad.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zSX4gdTSMM/Wzo8DZkR1cI/AAAAAAAAGXQ/B1Oaun8yhjIzeDanZEki8t0rbSdJl_OogCLcBGAs/s400/trench%2B3%2Broad.jpg" width="400" height="220" data-original-width="960" data-original-height="528" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mxxApGlabIo/Wzo8rJZkAiI/AAAAAAAAGXk/bJXQLBdH1worOiBrN5b93GVFb77oVGXBwCLcBGAs/s1600/trench%2B5%2Broad.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mxxApGlabIo/Wzo8rJZkAiI/AAAAAAAAGXk/bJXQLBdH1worOiBrN5b93GVFb77oVGXBwCLcBGAs/s400/trench%2B5%2Broad.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="960" data-original-height="540" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-37307022573951991862018-07-09T03:12:00.000-07:002018-07-09T03:12:06.421-07:00The Alicante Market clock and siren - permanent reminders of the bombing raidI've looked before that the horrific events on the 25th May 1938 when Italian bombers based in Majorca under Franco's direction launched a raid on Alicante market. 300 men, women and children were killed. Another thousand were injured. As you enter the ground floor of the market building from the front you will find a class case that contains the original market clock which stopped at the time of the blitz. The air raid siren you can see next to it failed to operate. The contemporary news coverage clipping <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okuQzX1jwtk/W0M0p6uwB-I/AAAAAAAAGYc/LG3mvdJ4kGQUhG3GiLKDLrlMlQBBxMWlwCLcBGAs/s1600/alicante%2Bmarket%2Bbombing.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okuQzX1jwtk/W0M0p6uwB-I/AAAAAAAAGYc/LG3mvdJ4kGQUhG3GiLKDLrlMlQBBxMWlwCLcBGAs/s640/alicante%2Bmarket%2Bbombing.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a>is courtesy of the Restos de la Guerra blog. <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPaN49iiT_c/W0My3bhvzqI/AAAAAAAAGYQ/J2mxtYvsSgk5Ob6ZdWcW95UOk6X6H-UWACLcBGAs/s1600/market%2Bbombing%2Bpress%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YPaN49iiT_c/W0My3bhvzqI/AAAAAAAAGYQ/J2mxtYvsSgk5Ob6ZdWcW95UOk6X6H-UWACLcBGAs/s400/market%2Bbombing%2Bpress%2B1.jpg" width="233" height="400" data-original-width="279" data-original-height="480" /></a>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qj2zzhUwznU/Wzo7ZPtja_I/AAAAAAAAGXA/tq56tr-lceUvUHdFBfNp2LNqMTyJHbHGQCLcBGAs/s1600/alicante%2Bmarket%2Bclock.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qj2zzhUwznU/Wzo7ZPtja_I/AAAAAAAAGXA/tq56tr-lceUvUHdFBfNp2LNqMTyJHbHGQCLcBGAs/s640/alicante%2Bmarket%2Bclock.jpg" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-90268263545527002222018-04-25T07:46:00.000-07:002018-04-30T02:44:35.779-07:00MORE CIVIL WAR ARCHAEOLOGY BURIED DEEP IN THE CLOT DE GALVANYI thought I knew like the back of my hand all of the old Civil War relics strewn across the Clot De Galvany but, as so often on this journey through Spain's past, there is always something lying hidden away that is waiting to be brought back into the picture. I'd been Googling something else when all of a sudden a picture of a ruined, yellow stone building with machine gun slits still in evidence popped up on my screen. It was marked as being on the Clot but the only form of identification was an impressive clump of palm trees. So I set out on the path that takes you right to the back of the nature reserve where it butts up against Arenales. Just as you wind round towards the section you have to climb up you will see the palm trees on your left. You really can't miss them. Head in off the beaten path and you will see the curved concrete of a Civil War-era structure. It's impressive and in good nick. Not so what I guess must have been some sort of guard house behind it. All that's left now is a couple of walls that could come down at any time. The picture at the bottom of this post shows the same structure six years ago when it was more complete and you get a much better feel for it. There is a deep well next to it that's fenced off. Was this the water source and reservoir for the Republican 225th Mixed Brigade who manned the various defences set out to guard the Cartagena/Alicante/Madrid road? Possibly, it would certainly make sense. The original picture is c/o the fabulous http://restosguerracivilenalicante.blogspot.co.uk blog.
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3q9jegAuxCY/Wt9CuE6dt8I/AAAAAAAAGRE/EgmGw4PusUs_AMZHRafNzt__MShkmFHOACLcBGAs/s1600/clot%2Btank%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3q9jegAuxCY/Wt9CuE6dt8I/AAAAAAAAGRE/EgmGw4PusUs_AMZHRafNzt__MShkmFHOACLcBGAs/s400/clot%2Btank%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1C0am9IPxo/Wt9Cy4cBF2I/AAAAAAAAGRM/Gq-u9yXeAn8VU1x0R7Oue8S1VbK7PluuQCLcBGAs/s1600/clot%2Btank3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1C0am9IPxo/Wt9Cy4cBF2I/AAAAAAAAGRM/Gq-u9yXeAn8VU1x0R7Oue8S1VbK7PluuQCLcBGAs/s400/clot%2Btank3.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-mVqwONq6E/Wt9C2vIlP0I/AAAAAAAAGRQ/u7kJXJONPvETjYeOOWXhrIDMllM8Cwx0QCLcBGAs/s1600/clot%2Btank4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-mVqwONq6E/Wt9C2vIlP0I/AAAAAAAAGRQ/u7kJXJONPvETjYeOOWXhrIDMllM8Cwx0QCLcBGAs/s400/clot%2Btank4.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dvvua8bq-24/Wt9C8YXBtmI/AAAAAAAAGRU/T08aiPPtFhk3uvbiCztpshF2wkS2MEoIwCLcBGAs/s1600/clot%2Btank5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dvvua8bq-24/Wt9C8YXBtmI/AAAAAAAAGRU/T08aiPPtFhk3uvbiCztpshF2wkS2MEoIwCLcBGAs/s400/clot%2Btank5.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXUrmnsb6hg/Wt9GQYCdltI/AAAAAAAAGRo/oCW9dadGUdA1eWUMKC895cUMc2kol09NQCLcBGAs/s1600/CLOT%2BTANK%2BOLD.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXUrmnsb6hg/Wt9GQYCdltI/AAAAAAAAGRo/oCW9dadGUdA1eWUMKC895cUMc2kol09NQCLcBGAs/s640/CLOT%2BTANK%2BOLD.JPG" width="640" height="480" data-original-width="640" data-original-height="480" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-36726684433205657882018-04-25T07:18:00.001-07:002018-04-25T07:18:48.493-07:00THE ITALIAN ARMY BASE IN VILLAJOYOSAIf you head south along the beautiful sea front bay of Villajoyosa you will reach a rough coastal path, eventually this comes to an end at the Playa de los Puntos de Moro and you need to briefly head back in land before you can pick up the rough path that takes you back up to the cliff top and a superb, panoramic view across the bay. If you carry on along the path you will see looming large the ruins of the Villa Giacomina. You really can't miss it. The villa was built by Dr Alfonso Esquerdo who was the leader of the Republican Party in Villajoyosa and a major benefactor. The villa was named after his Argentinian wife, towards the end of the conflict it was used as a hospital but after the final fall of Alicante it was seized as a base by the Italian Fascist troops operating under Franco's direction across the region. When those troops left the villa fell into disuse and disrepair and has remained that way ever since. It is now a ruin, daubed in graffiti but there's a strange and ery feel to the place which now seems to stand as nothing more than a monument to the ghosts of Spain's Civil War past on this part of the Costa Blanca.
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D4Cl02riy6c/Wt9BzPinOOI/AAAAAAAAGQo/sIlH9X7E6M0zIQX4u-552fPm5Zz-9dNFACLcBGAs/s1600/villa%2Bjoyosa%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D4Cl02riy6c/Wt9BzPinOOI/AAAAAAAAGQo/sIlH9X7E6M0zIQX4u-552fPm5Zz-9dNFACLcBGAs/s400/villa%2Bjoyosa%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XcJ21latB_k/Wt9B4fDHheI/AAAAAAAAGQs/TAxike34fFQpwi4AY1F7Ys_5WLRD4agoACLcBGAs/s1600/villa%2Bjoyosa%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XcJ21latB_k/Wt9B4fDHheI/AAAAAAAAGQs/TAxike34fFQpwi4AY1F7Ys_5WLRD4agoACLcBGAs/s400/villa%2Bjoyosa%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWpr1ffPUYo/Wt9B_esMESI/AAAAAAAAGQw/i14dlmVFbAczDd659sRG3eqUWtiKajY5gCLcBGAs/s1600/villa%2Bjoyosa%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWpr1ffPUYo/Wt9B_esMESI/AAAAAAAAGQw/i14dlmVFbAczDd659sRG3eqUWtiKajY5gCLcBGAs/s400/villa%2Bjoyosa%2B3.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PlMN3V2lr9Y/Wt9CEv92IfI/AAAAAAAAGQ4/qmiqmONyyVwoOjR_j4kOjQ78pkGzL7PTQCLcBGAs/s1600/villa%2Bjoyosa%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PlMN3V2lr9Y/Wt9CEv92IfI/AAAAAAAAGQ4/qmiqmONyyVwoOjR_j4kOjQ78pkGzL7PTQCLcBGAs/s400/villa%2Bjoyosa%2B4.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-66708753724505949752018-04-25T07:00:00.000-07:002018-04-25T07:00:10.561-07:00THE CNT CIVIL WAR HOSPITAL IN VILLAJOYOSAVillajoyosa is a beautiful town. You can get there in about forty minutes on the tram from Alicante and it's a few short stops before you get to the terminal in Benidorm. Set into a large gorge carved out by a river it's famous for its chocolate museum and also the colourful houses that cling to the steep sides of the old river bed. Stunning, but I was here on Civil War duties and that meant searching out some relics from the conflict. I didn't have to look far. In the centre of the town you will find the tourist office, it's a beautiful building with lovely shaded gardens but during the Civil War it served a different purpose and was requisitioned by the anarchist CNT as a hospital. From the exterior I doubt much has changed in the past eighty years. Digging deeper into some old records there are reports that the anarchists in Villajoyosa were in regular conflict with other groupings on the Republican side and were accused of hoarding weapons and dishing our random assassinations. Divisive and damaging stuff when the enemy is banging at the door. I managed to find a contemporary picture of Villajoyosa's 72nd Mixed Brigade from the Republican side - if I can find a picture credit I will post it up.
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0D9ZEemBzHo/Wt9BCEXd3BI/AAAAAAAAGQI/bVh9Io2E0zIFfRlOPVd6O4Ze1bUk_aljACLcBGAs/s1600/cnt%2Bhosp%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0D9ZEemBzHo/Wt9BCEXd3BI/AAAAAAAAGQI/bVh9Io2E0zIFfRlOPVd6O4Ze1bUk_aljACLcBGAs/s400/cnt%2Bhosp%2B2.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPHkF7T8SU0/Wt9BHWDCH_I/AAAAAAAAGQM/JmUD_yhNrRgCWOc0M42p5JHTq5DgI3-UwCLcBGAs/s1600/cnt%2Bhosp%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPHkF7T8SU0/Wt9BHWDCH_I/AAAAAAAAGQM/JmUD_yhNrRgCWOc0M42p5JHTq5DgI3-UwCLcBGAs/s400/cnt%2Bhosp%2B3.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9cOC7iVwfk/Wt9BPaWbX0I/AAAAAAAAGQQ/jsDAz8upvy8vrIyoEF0L2Qq5K7QxRy47wCLcBGAs/s1600/cnt%2Bhosp%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9cOC7iVwfk/Wt9BPaWbX0I/AAAAAAAAGQQ/jsDAz8upvy8vrIyoEF0L2Qq5K7QxRy47wCLcBGAs/s400/cnt%2Bhosp%2B4.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd6rroxJ_pY/Wt9BUpD12gI/AAAAAAAAGQY/Otm88COuZ4ERKIjSJ7HPEK2WcgMqFB6ZQCLcBGAs/s1600/cnt%2Bhosp%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd6rroxJ_pY/Wt9BUpD12gI/AAAAAAAAGQY/Otm88COuZ4ERKIjSJ7HPEK2WcgMqFB6ZQCLcBGAs/s400/cnt%2Bhosp%2B1.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8_Z2vNLygg/Wt9HAP6Q6tI/AAAAAAAAGRw/_bk8r65_Yu06_We5vbDL9NTvK6FPizB3gCLcBGAs/s1600/villa%2Bjoyosa%2Bmixed%2Bbrigade.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8_Z2vNLygg/Wt9HAP6Q6tI/AAAAAAAAGRw/_bk8r65_Yu06_We5vbDL9NTvK6FPizB3gCLcBGAs/s400/villa%2Bjoyosa%2Bmixed%2Bbrigade.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="960" data-original-height="720" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-10713337665213498012018-03-05T07:49:00.001-08:002018-03-05T07:49:16.347-08:00The Customs House building in Alicante and it's Civil War secretI must have walked past the old Customs House building on Levante Dock in the middle of Alicante hundreds of times. It's a fabulous old structure. What I didn't realise until very recently is that it hides its own Civil War secret. The section at the far end is actually a fake facade, made up to to look like the rest of the architecture but it concealed a Civil War era air raid shelter, presumably for the crucial dock workers. Seems a bit odd in a way that you would conceal a shelter in such a prominent building and I will try and find out the reasoning. I wasn't able to get in but I have heard that the shelter may be opened up to the public in the future. When I took a trip down some works were underway, I'm not sure if they are part of that project but I was able to get some pictures of the solid stone walls inside. Hope to hear more about this interesting piece of Alicante history in the future.
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FqYS9DZb_74/Wp1kbNrk8VI/AAAAAAAAGFs/CI_mV-St4eIuBKtBEfW6cu2dJTlOWlL1wCLcBGAs/s1600/customs%2Bhouse%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FqYS9DZb_74/Wp1kbNrk8VI/AAAAAAAAGFs/CI_mV-St4eIuBKtBEfW6cu2dJTlOWlL1wCLcBGAs/s400/customs%2Bhouse%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jh2hTEjLhUs/Wp1kduMv5EI/AAAAAAAAGFw/cD561ATOXd0V8Yyz8L3v2mNGpm_7k-B4gCLcBGAs/s1600/customs%2Bhouse%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jh2hTEjLhUs/Wp1kduMv5EI/AAAAAAAAGFw/cD561ATOXd0V8Yyz8L3v2mNGpm_7k-B4gCLcBGAs/s400/customs%2Bhouse%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0vSJVnJNTTQ/Wp1kgycJP2I/AAAAAAAAGF0/Knta8MdZnaQw3PK1CZeTSbN8oluvWr0UgCLcBGAs/s1600/customs%2Bhouse%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0vSJVnJNTTQ/Wp1kgycJP2I/AAAAAAAAGF0/Knta8MdZnaQw3PK1CZeTSbN8oluvWr0UgCLcBGAs/s400/customs%2Bhouse%2B3.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-2486655144895790672018-03-05T07:36:00.000-08:002018-03-05T07:36:23.080-08:00The El Faro Barracks - now tidied up as a picnic areaI don't know, mixed thoughts about this. The old El Faro barrack blocks that would have housed the units operating the anti-aircraft and other ordnance up by the lighthouse overlooking Santa Pola have been tidied up and converted into a parking and picnic area for the growing numbers making use of the excellent cycling and walking routes that zig zag across the area. On the positive side it guarantees that the structures should be maintained and more people will find out about the Spanish Civil War history of the area. Negative? Maybe just a bit touristy for the purest like me. I just hope that the truth isn't buried somewhere along the way. I will be up on a regular basis with some wine, olives and a cigar to toast those who fought here eight decades ago.
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCPlMKNhv-Q/Wp1h0fEYlVI/AAAAAAAAGFI/qeKUkiAHkFUTDbUyaD2nmvv2SwjVb7w1QCLcBGAs/s1600/faro%2Bbarracks%2Bnew%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCPlMKNhv-Q/Wp1h0fEYlVI/AAAAAAAAGFI/qeKUkiAHkFUTDbUyaD2nmvv2SwjVb7w1QCLcBGAs/s400/faro%2Bbarracks%2Bnew%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFTglyuvC64/Wp1iBzzcGQI/AAAAAAAAGFM/WAmBl7rcANEW1HbEaMFYujPO9KA72xWbQCLcBGAs/s1600/barracks%2Bnew%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFTglyuvC64/Wp1iBzzcGQI/AAAAAAAAGFM/WAmBl7rcANEW1HbEaMFYujPO9KA72xWbQCLcBGAs/s400/barracks%2Bnew%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ikj8Y3vbqJk/Wp1iHlEIvII/AAAAAAAAGFQ/b3nPlvys5JMvJFGUxSbQ5NLUG96wjSezQCLcBGAs/s1600/barracks%2Bnew%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ikj8Y3vbqJk/Wp1iHlEIvII/AAAAAAAAGFQ/b3nPlvys5JMvJFGUxSbQ5NLUG96wjSezQCLcBGAs/s400/barracks%2Bnew%2B3.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-52594508220551970802018-02-26T07:20:00.000-08:002018-02-26T07:20:57.505-08:00An extraordinary find out on the N332 main road.A long hike out on a fresh February morning through the nature reserve, across the motorway and over wasteland to locate some of the most stunning pieces of Spanish Civil War military archaeology I have yet uncovered. If you walk down the track from Carabassi the full length of the fence that runs alongside the Clot de Galvany eventually you will come to the N332 main road. The first thing you will find is a derelict bunker at the roadside. Check that out and the very carefully cross over the road and enter what looks like a dump for hardcore. Climb up the mound opposite you and you will be amazed. Despite being overgrown and with some sections buried and running through private land there must be about a kilometre of reasonably well preserved Republican defensive positions on what would have been the old Alicante/Cartagena Road. This find really blew me away. It's effectively laid out like a fortress and must have been home to large numbers of Republican troops. The scale is breathtaking.<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZKkLyAIfTY/WpQkauZl2sI/AAAAAAAAGDo/qJ0V37H48YUr1At8QtNFJVpb_OnkoIxoQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180219_122129.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZKkLyAIfTY/WpQkauZl2sI/AAAAAAAAGDo/qJ0V37H48YUr1At8QtNFJVpb_OnkoIxoQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180219_122129.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6djNpfdaG6k/WpQkdO4lO-I/AAAAAAAAGDs/h_sy9xk6650WKrlhRyN0vJ-hQz03acygACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180219_122214%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6djNpfdaG6k/WpQkdO4lO-I/AAAAAAAAGDs/h_sy9xk6650WKrlhRyN0vJ-hQz03acygACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180219_122214%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixFb3Igf4QQ/WpQkfkJcz8I/AAAAAAAAGDw/FRqjODo-Wic5Vfpph48YVOlAS1125MjWACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180219_123413.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixFb3Igf4QQ/WpQkfkJcz8I/AAAAAAAAGDw/FRqjODo-Wic5Vfpph48YVOlAS1125MjWACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180219_123413.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPjSEzOGP9I/WpQkhuq4EOI/AAAAAAAAGD4/i8y7fmuZaR8-hcFKN_XEJPRkHorSwp4wwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180219_123516.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPjSEzOGP9I/WpQkhuq4EOI/AAAAAAAAGD4/i8y7fmuZaR8-hcFKN_XEJPRkHorSwp4wwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180219_123516.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W1y8o_8ojJ8/WpQkk8cf7dI/AAAAAAAAGD8/Q8xoY3bCv1UcKv-2VCeWgU_Z_A9WkUYKQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180219_123805.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W1y8o_8ojJ8/WpQkk8cf7dI/AAAAAAAAGD8/Q8xoY3bCv1UcKv-2VCeWgU_Z_A9WkUYKQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180219_123805.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lK-Rtqo77NI/WpQkpR8bG6I/AAAAAAAAGEA/hw_oiwUCWvcrsG9TFotdtsBd0Ygt_Mi-wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180219_124403.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lK-Rtqo77NI/WpQkpR8bG6I/AAAAAAAAGEA/hw_oiwUCWvcrsG9TFotdtsBd0Ygt_Mi-wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180219_124403.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_nS3iNZAds/WpQlKZtZ4dI/AAAAAAAAGEY/Q9Qd9ivWgfYq9Acatfwaoar2FjoUhgApACLcBGAs/s1600/n332.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_nS3iNZAds/WpQlKZtZ4dI/AAAAAAAAGEY/Q9Qd9ivWgfYq9Acatfwaoar2FjoUhgApACLcBGAs/s400/n332.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="960" data-original-height="540" /></a> Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-4061167551282039942018-02-26T07:00:00.000-08:002018-02-26T07:01:51.309-08:00The anti-aircraft positions by the lighthouse up at Cap De L'HortaBit of a nuisance of a thing for the amateur Spanish Civil War historian when you schlepp out some distance from base on tram and on foot only to be confronted with fences and locked gates. Where there's a will there's a way and I haven't come all this way for nothing so it's a case of scale a wall and hang off a chain link fence and hope for the best. Not bad for an old geezer with a dodgy back and shot knees. This republican anti air craft position is by the lighthouse at Cap de L'Horta north of Alicante. It would have been part of the network of defences circling the bay, taking in El Faro and Serra Grossa. Plans are afoot to open these positions up as part of the Historical Memory initiative. I will be back. It's an easy run out on the tram to Cabo Huertas and then walk the rest. Great to see the original iron gun mountings in place.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tt0VA2J3mRM/WpQhAQguShI/AAAAAAAAGCw/BgfszltRpskadKkR9f4uJ0jtceGHNPNfgCLcBGAs/s1600/cap%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tt0VA2J3mRM/WpQhAQguShI/AAAAAAAAGCw/BgfszltRpskadKkR9f4uJ0jtceGHNPNfgCLcBGAs/s400/cap%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1584" data-original-height="890" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_H_QvD8uWJo/WpQhFb_hAfI/AAAAAAAAGC0/CKySCWs2uAkX95WptpF859JzsX9nDoX5ACLcBGAs/s1600/cap%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_H_QvD8uWJo/WpQhFb_hAfI/AAAAAAAAGC0/CKySCWs2uAkX95WptpF859JzsX9nDoX5ACLcBGAs/s400/cap%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="256" data-original-width="1506" data-original-height="962" /></a></div>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-74389644784355736062018-02-26T06:38:00.000-08:002018-03-05T07:25:51.034-08:00One last untouched Civil War relic up at El FaroUp at El Faro between Gran Alacant and Santa Pola, where this adventure started for me, much of the Civil War era archaeology has been refurbished and merged into the new cycle and walking routes. But if you hack through the pine groves behind the old barrack blocks you will find this one remaining untouched, collapsed and overgrown republican anti aircraft position. The concrete mounting hole for the gun remains intact. <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo7jB1ZORCQ/Wp1hT5t9UII/AAAAAAAAGFA/6NNfkWOBeNs5KDWMrD0eKUmQ6aLMXsIAwCLcBGAs/s1600/gun%2Bhole%2Bfaro.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo7jB1ZORCQ/Wp1hT5t9UII/AAAAAAAAGFA/6NNfkWOBeNs5KDWMrD0eKUmQ6aLMXsIAwCLcBGAs/s400/gun%2Bhole%2Bfaro.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>Eighty years ago this would have been in full operation trying to take out Condor Legion planes on bombing raids into Alicante. I like the fact there is at least one unmolested relic left up here. <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWtXh0D1Imo/WpQakPr5r5I/AAAAAAAAGCM/_mj7xux3Pk0GhYG2EZfWUr9dwdGx7GSEACLcBGAs/s1600/faro%2Bold%2Bgun%2Bemplacment%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWtXh0D1Imo/WpQakPr5r5I/AAAAAAAAGCM/_mj7xux3Pk0GhYG2EZfWUr9dwdGx7GSEACLcBGAs/s400/faro%2Bold%2Bgun%2Bemplacment%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGV5AHGGNws/WpQaoHw5ibI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/gLNpGBxGvJIjBGcVZspcAO2lAXiisw9eACLcBGAs/s1600/faro%2Bold%2Bgun%2Bemplacment%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGV5AHGGNws/WpQaoHw5ibI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/gLNpGBxGvJIjBGcVZspcAO2lAXiisw9eACLcBGAs/s400/faro%2Bold%2Bgun%2Bemplacment%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-72520284031059538552018-01-08T06:20:00.001-08:002018-01-08T06:20:25.388-08:00Socialist Civil War HQ in AlicanteI want to spend some more time looking at the surviving architecture in Alicante that dates back to the Civil War era and its use during that period. The Real Liceo Casino De Alicante is an imposing building directly fronting the harbour and during the conflict it was requisitioned as the HQ of the Socialist Party. Although it has clearly undergone some remodelling over the years I understand that a lot of the interior has been preserved but unfortunately I was unable to get access on this occasion. I will keep trying.
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cy4K-0djwXA/WlN9B8vvRtI/AAAAAAAAF8w/hOzQ_nU5tV84glkZwk173lGIH9_8kQGWACLcBGAs/s1600/socialist%2Bhq%2Balicante.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cy4K-0djwXA/WlN9B8vvRtI/AAAAAAAAF8w/hOzQ_nU5tV84glkZwk173lGIH9_8kQGWACLcBGAs/s400/socialist%2Bhq%2Balicante.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CY9WufMub6o/WjFFGa0SJdI/AAAAAAAAF6M/d8m7lWt6l2UzoLB9ZhqGCowpONimv2I7QCLcBGAs/s1600/socialist%2Bhq%2Balicante%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CY9WufMub6o/WjFFGa0SJdI/AAAAAAAAF6M/d8m7lWt6l2UzoLB9ZhqGCowpONimv2I7QCLcBGAs/s400/socialist%2Bhq%2Balicante%2B2.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-70904005794237106042018-01-08T06:11:00.000-08:002018-01-08T06:11:09.687-08:00ANOTHER ANTI-AIRCRAFT POSITION HIGH IN THE HILLS ABOVE ALICANTEI'd been up the Sierra Grossa just outside Alicante on my last trip to look at a beautifully preserved anti-aircraft position but what I didn't realise was that there another installation just a few hundred metres further on at the end of the pathway. Again, you reach it by winding your way up the mountain from the access point at the end of the tram platform that serves the Plaza Mar shopping centre. You won't be disappointed. Just follow the track along right to the end and clock the fantastic views across the bay. You will find some steps down and you can check out this particular position which looks like it has has had some recent restoration. I suspect it was more of a look out point designed to relay information back to the anti-aircraft gunners on incoming fascist plains as they swung off the Med towards Alicante. It's another piece of the defensive jig saw and I'm pleased to slot it in to the blog.
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ycpznntJdd0/WjFKwFI2MSI/AAAAAAAAF6c/HBMkKr-oWRk_mnHzyrByuaS8AWI-hXGHwCLcBGAs/s1600/SERRA%2BGROSSA%2BNEW%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ycpznntJdd0/WjFKwFI2MSI/AAAAAAAAF6c/HBMkKr-oWRk_mnHzyrByuaS8AWI-hXGHwCLcBGAs/s400/SERRA%2BGROSSA%2BNEW%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APG90srbImg/WjFKzkPrfgI/AAAAAAAAF6g/9jn_a4Wzq_s_unse_Ccn0P4TOAmoiC3TgCLcBGAs/s1600/SERRA%2BGROSSA%2BNEW%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APG90srbImg/WjFKzkPrfgI/AAAAAAAAF6g/9jn_a4Wzq_s_unse_Ccn0P4TOAmoiC3TgCLcBGAs/s400/SERRA%2BGROSSA%2BNEW%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nrYQWjO7SzE/WjFK3eOiF3I/AAAAAAAAF6k/vMCtCBalCI4NE3AEU-5dN1-9sd5b91CWQCLcBGAs/s1600/SERRA%2BGROSSA%2BNEW%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nrYQWjO7SzE/WjFK3eOiF3I/AAAAAAAAF6k/vMCtCBalCI4NE3AEU-5dN1-9sd5b91CWQCLcBGAs/s400/SERRA%2BGROSSA%2BNEW%2B3.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-16130266315314458622017-09-27T08:29:00.002-07:002017-09-29T03:17:04.791-07:00A fascist monument still standing on the Costa BlancaA fascist monument on the Costa Blanca. Been wanting to capture this monstrosity for a while now. So after yomping a couple of kilometers back along a motorway with no pavement in over 30 degrees heat I finally find the location between the airport and Alicante. It was built by Franco in the early forties to commemorate 50 fascists from the Vega Baja who were taken out on the very spot by Republican troops as they headed towards Alicante with a plan to free Falangist leader Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera who was being held in the town. There's no signage other than the recent fash graffiti- For the Martyrs of Spain - but the ugly nazi brutalism is blatant. Why it's still standing, and well maintained, is beyond me.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoadM6uxT5w/Wc4c8QiHM1I/AAAAAAAAFh8/wF0OGFXTuv4ORTgw2U0PYId30JVLrOFhACLcBGAs/s1600/falangist%2Baqua%2Bmarga%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoadM6uxT5w/Wc4c8QiHM1I/AAAAAAAAFh8/wF0OGFXTuv4ORTgw2U0PYId30JVLrOFhACLcBGAs/s400/falangist%2Baqua%2Bmarga%2B3.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGYSAqAJWNk/Wc4dKTiOyVI/AAAAAAAAFiA/B4w-gJp6BYsO2uWWHVUhZSTcXnuZxoqAACLcBGAs/s1600/falangist%2Baqua%2Bmarga%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGYSAqAJWNk/Wc4dKTiOyVI/AAAAAAAAFiA/B4w-gJp6BYsO2uWWHVUhZSTcXnuZxoqAACLcBGAs/s400/falangist%2Baqua%2Bmarga%2B1.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mO2zJLFN0Lg/Wc4dUWgrssI/AAAAAAAAFiE/7gp5TiD1ozkORrxomxvGaGUyYMU90l7ggCLcBGAs/s1600/falangist%2Baqua%2Bmarga%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mO2zJLFN0Lg/Wc4dUWgrssI/AAAAAAAAFiE/7gp5TiD1ozkORrxomxvGaGUyYMU90l7ggCLcBGAs/s400/falangist%2Baqua%2Bmarga%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a></div>Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-13347387773144487522017-05-03T08:13:00.000-07:002017-05-03T08:13:59.709-07:00Bunkers out on the old Alicante/Madrid road at Torrellano<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QNgAHB7cuy4/WPoMQYSbP0I/AAAAAAAAFEI/knLkelYzUAInZGnSC2fY9XrVqHOJpfpBQCLcB/s1600/torrelano%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QNgAHB7cuy4/WPoMQYSbP0I/AAAAAAAAFEI/knLkelYzUAInZGnSC2fY9XrVqHOJpfpBQCLcB/s400/torrelano%2B1.jpg" width="400" height="225" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lq3d0wily08/WPoMYb86A9I/AAAAAAAAFEM/dY3pQJaQFfAYaqt31pZXlvsafB4nTTlagCLcB/s1600/torrellano%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lq3d0wily08/WPoMYb86A9I/AAAAAAAAFEM/dY3pQJaQFfAYaqt31pZXlvsafB4nTTlagCLcB/s400/torrellano%2B3.jpg" width="400" height="225" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uvbCsKhL22s/WPoMckP82rI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/uTGrGSJa7lshF2NVyU9-REiI-wM_ezjqwCLcB/s1600/torrellano%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uvbCsKhL22s/WPoMckP82rI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/uTGrGSJa7lshF2NVyU9-REiI-wM_ezjqwCLcB/s400/torrellano%2B4.jpg" width="400" height="225" /></a>
If you've ever flown into Alicante Airport the conurbation right on the flight path adjacent to the runways is Torrellano. You can hop down to the town either on the bus or the train from Alicante. Back out towards the airport road, and sitting plum on the side of the road, is a bunker that would have guarded the road inland and off towards Madrid. Clearly it has had extensive renovation works and has been recently re-rendered. Possibly leaving it a little bit over-preserved for my liking. Head up the semi-disused road alongside it and you will find the roof of a another bunker that has collapsed in on itself. This is the real deal and gives you a real feel for the solid construction of these defences. A bit further on, following the cycle path, you can see the location of a trench network that was taken out during recent road development works. I could only guess at the location from an earlier map. Head back into Torrellano and you will find some fantastic bars and restaurants. The rail station is a fair walk but has its only little museum with some Civil War era trains and memorabilia on display. Well worth taking in. Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059916254237629713.post-86517611385718194682017-05-03T08:03:00.001-07:002017-05-03T08:03:26.355-07:00The anti-aircraft position on Serra Grossa over Alicante<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpSqUHTGnfs/WPoLe_TwVJI/AAAAAAAAFD4/lzNi3hN-GOkQSyMjAL5roHlKqp5GjQ69QCLcB/s1600/serra%2Bgrossa%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpSqUHTGnfs/WPoLe_TwVJI/AAAAAAAAFD4/lzNi3hN-GOkQSyMjAL5roHlKqp5GjQ69QCLcB/s400/serra%2Bgrossa%2B1.jpg" width="225" height="400" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FAFuiVlHryY/WPoLi09u74I/AAAAAAAAFD8/Qcgx8K4pNuYnMeBIqbFVQjw1TuKClkY5ACLcB/s1600/serra%2Bgrossa%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FAFuiVlHryY/WPoLi09u74I/AAAAAAAAFD8/Qcgx8K4pNuYnMeBIqbFVQjw1TuKClkY5ACLcB/s400/serra%2Bgrossa%2B2.jpg" width="400" height="225" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQEos3wkRcg/WPoLm_gR5jI/AAAAAAAAFEA/gluHVuqZZdIiMzhaQ5hhufsHYXErvorsACLcB/s1600/serra%2Bgrossa%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQEos3wkRcg/WPoLm_gR5jI/AAAAAAAAFEA/gluHVuqZZdIiMzhaQ5hhufsHYXErvorsACLcB/s400/serra%2Bgrossa%2B3.jpg" width="225" height="400" /></a>
High above the City of Alicante, the Serra Grossa rises to the north just a kilometer or so beyond Santa Barbara Castle. The mountain frames the backdrop to the first concentration camp at Los Almendros which we have visited a couple of times before. What I hadn't realised, until I stumbled across a local Spanish website, was that the Serra Grossa is also the location of a key Civil War anti-aircraft battery which remains in superb condition. You reach it by accessing a track which winds its way up the back of the mountain from just behind the tram stop at its base. It's a steep path but easily doable and once you reach the vantage point, with its sweeping views across the Bay of Alicante, you can imagine the hard graft that the gunners would have had to put in trying to bring down the Italian and Condor Legion planes on their bombing raids over the City. The trenches and storage blocks around the gun emplacement are incredibly well preserved 80 years on. If you are in Alicante, take a couple of hours out to visit the Serra Grossa battery and the neighbouring site of the Los Almendros camp. You won't regret it.Geoff Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09855016104743799279noreply@blogger.com0