Monday, Day 30 – I started off this week rather slowly today. I stayed in this morning, just resting. I decided to go out in the evening, just to get out of the house. I walked about 25 minutes close to the Downtown area, to Nicolás Salmerón Park. I read that Nicolás Salmerón was a politician, lawyer and philosopher who was the first President of the Republic of Spain in 1873. I found out about this park while investigating things to do in Almería. It is a park directly across the street from the Port of Almeria and it is more of a promenade rather than a park that we might associate with children running in fields or playing on swing sets. This park in Almeria, inaugurated in 1890, is known for it’s annual Christmas Light Show. Every hour starting after dark (around 6:30pm) until 10:00pm or so, the trees are lit up along with Christmas figures adorned with lights. In the middle of the park, they constructed a circular screen made up of strips of LED lights and upon this screen they project a story of Almería’s history called, “Almería, City of Light.” While this show is playing, music is also played. It is really quite a show. See the pictures below:

After viewing the show, I walked a little ways to the center of town and walked through the very busy Christmas Market. Remember, in Spain (like Mexico) Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6th (the visit of the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus or Epiphany). Most families exchange gifts on this day rather than on December 24th or 25th. So the Christmas Market is still in full swing!

I then saw that it was almost 8:00pm and therefore dinner time!! I found a restaurant called Casa Sevilla in the downtown area. I got there right as they opened at 8:30pm and was the first one seated. It was a nice restaurant and I had a lovely meal. By 9:30pm the restaurant was full. After dinner, I walked home and called it a night.

Tuesday, Day 31 – New Year’s Eve is here! I have no plans really. I looked and looked online for any sort of a dinner celebration, a party, a bar, a hotel party. I found nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was quite bizarre. Most restaurants were closed on the 31st and the 1st. I assume most families spend it together. I started off the day with a walk along the boardwalk by the Sea. It was a beautiful sunny day, a little windy and cool, but warm in the sun.

The AirBnB Host family was going over to their parent’s home to spend the evening, so I had the apartment to myself. They were very kind to leave me dinner they had made to bring over to their family gathering this evening. I had gone to the supermarket earlier in the day and picked up a bottle of sparkling wine. It was all very good. I watched a movie on Netflix, then turned the TV on to the local station to watch the “ball drop” in Madrid. That’s where the country’s main festivities happen and it’s broadcast nationally. It was a quiet night and I was in bed by 12:15am. 😴

Wednesday, Day 32 – New Year’s Day. As expected, everything is closed on this national (international) holiday. I planned to spend the day inside today, but first mass. January 1st is a Catholic Feast Day of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. As such it is a holy day of obligation and attending mass is required. So off I went to 11:30am mass. I went back to the apartment and spent the day doing laundry, packing and watching movies/TV series on my Tablet. It was a quiet restful day that I quite enjoyed.

I’ve only got one full day left in Spain before I start home on Friday, January 3rd. Stay tuned.

Day 30: 7,536 steps

Day 31: 8,284 steps

Day 32: 3,441 steps