A farewell to Alicante

This is our last day here. After dropping off my sister at work I drove down the coast to the natural park that surrounds the Salt Lakes. Here they process salt in mountainous quantities, although this one is maintained as a nature reserve and is a beautiful site where the rich minerals at the bed of the lake breeds food for these flamingos and other birdlife.
These are the kind of things I love the most about this part of the world:
Going on long walks in the natural parks, or walking along the high, dry serrated tracks of the surrounding Sierras. Walking the back roads of the orange and lemon orchards, or fig trees with fruit bursting purple into the afternoon inferno. The thick scent of pine, of thyme in a dry ascent. Arriving at a summit at sundown. Followed back down by the moon and night noises in the pine trees. The flat shimmering expanse of the Vega Baja. Booted Eagles in their splendour. Fancy headressed Hoopoes rising and dipping red from the foot of an orchard. And on, and on...

So it's farewell for another year of enjoying the Spanish way. At the beach, at the fiesta, at conversation over food and drink. And to high Sierras and salt lakes and wee roads that take you nowhere but the very heart of a blissful moment.