{"id":7173,"date":"2021-04-04T23:51:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-04T22:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luminaris.com\/wp\/?p=7173"},"modified":"2024-08-06T13:54:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T12:54:36","slug":"a-weekend-in-denia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luminaris.com\/index.php\/2021\/04\/04\/a-weekend-in-denia\/","title":{"rendered":"A Weekend in D\u00e9nia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sorry, this is a slightly erroneous header … I’m in D\u00e9nia for a whole month but I started my time hanging out with Sagrario who was very kind to drive me here, which, after five months in one place was a godsend, mainly because the amount of food I had accumulated was impressive. She has spent a lot of time here over the years and knows the city well, so I knew that meant she will be the perfect guide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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D\u00e9nia and its castle<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

D\u00e9nia is not a large city–population of around 40,000 people–but because of its location, it is a very popular destination for residents of Val\u00e8ncia. It’s located about an hour and a bit south of the city so close enough for people to get away for the weekends, and many have their summer homes there. Because of its beaches, marinas, and many amazing restaurants, the population in D\u00e9nia swells over the weekends, holidays and in the summer, though, thankfully, not from as many foreigners as you’d think. No, those guys go to Benidorm, on the other side of the Cap de la Nau (that easternmost pointy bit of peninsular Spain), and the one place I have absolutely zero interest in visiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the way to D\u00e9nia we drove through the coastal flats that are the breadbasket of the region, but every time I looked west, there was another mountain range, and, of course, another castle on top of a hill. I never get tired of seeing those. One of the benefits of travelling with someone else is that when you notice something, you get inside info about it and that is something I never got on the train. On the other hand, there is no train to D\u00e8nia from Val\u00e8ncia, so there is that. Had the weather been a little better I would have taken more pictures that didn’t suck, but I did manage to capture the Face of the Moor, the skyward facing mountainside that is the gate to the province of Alicante.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cara del Moro<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The place I have rented in D\u00e9nia is a whole house, at the edge of a little plaza, just a block away from a marina, but don’t expect much. I rented it because I wanted to have a little time all to myself for a little while, and the idea of not being always in just one room really appealed to me. And having it all to myself also meant I could have a guest along. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I can see the sea from here!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When we got to the town, it was jammed packed with people, this being the Thursday before Easter Friday, and the start of not just a long weekend but a whole week of school holidays. Undaunted by all the people, we set out on our first walk about the old town. I didn’t take many pictures then, thinking I’ll have lots of time to do so later when there are fewer people on the streets. One thing we did do was go to the fish market where fresh catch is sold every night at 6pm. We bought some great filet tuna steaks and some massive prawns this area is known for and Sagrario prepared a wonderful dinner for us. We also christened the new place with a bottle a lovely cava (I may have made a hole in the ceiling with the cork but I’m sure nobody will ever notice since the place isn’t exactly tip top shape in the first place).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Catch of the day<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next day we headed out to explore the town itself. Our main goal was to visit el Baret de Miquel, a Michelin-star level restaurant (Don Miquel had refused it when the star was bestowed on his establishment). We tried making reservations but it’s one of those places you need to book 3-4 months ahead, and we certainly did not have that kind of time. What we did get to do, however, is take advantage of a mid-day special time when most of the regular (though ever-changing) menu is available for la hora de verm\u00fat<\/em>, from noon until 1:30pm, without the need for reservations, i.e. first come, first served. We couldn’t say no<\/em> to that! The place was a ways away from the centre, which was fine as Sagrario is quite knowledgeable regarding all the other great restaurants around, the main shopping streets, and, of course, the Mercado Municipal. She certainly made sure I would know where to go and what to do during my long solo month. I wasn’t too worried, and I definitely wasn’t going to go hungry! At el Baret we got a little table by a window and as we perused the menu, I also took a good look around. The restaurant isn’t large, but it is decorated with many original and very decorative touches, such as the hanging boxes and glass balloons. There are also many vermouth bottles everywhere — I’d say they take that very seriously \ud83d\ude12.<\/p>\n\n\n

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