Sun Sea News 28 Sept: D*na, Montgó, Calpe’s plaque

Happy Monday, let’s pull up a lounger and see what’s going on in our little area this week.

Not a great start to my Monday: I dropped my son at the Tram station and drove halfway home when he called me in a panic. He had forgotten his tram pass, so I ended up driving him all the way to Denia, two hours round trip.. don’t we love our kids?

Marineta Cassiana was chefs, rice and Ferran Adrià closing the ninth D*na. The Montgó mountain was quieter from tourists; however, sadly, a cyclist died on Les Planes, two teenagers had to be lifted off Montgó by helicopter, and Trampolí claimed another fall.

Xàbia / Jávea

The Cap de Sant Antoni lighthouse is due to open to the public in October as a viewpoint and interpretation space, one of those “we’ve walked and looked up to it for years” buildings that might finally open its secrets. The town is also talking to forest owners about new aid for land management and machinery. After a dry, dangerous summer, let’s hope they sort things out with locals.

Lifeguards have been reinforced, and Cala Blanca has extra watch. The sea is still warm, and people are still jumping in near the rocks; please be careful.

Local police have new vehicles. Less glamorous, two subcontract workers are being investigated after more than 25 tonnes of telephone cable went missing from a firm in town. If your internet is down, it might be why.

Riurau markets keep their new monthly calendar. Sunday antiques if you like rummaging.

Dénia

D*na did what D*na does. Ninth edition, Marineta Cassiana full, Adrià looking already at the tenth anniversary in 2027. If you went, you know. If you didn’t, the town still smelled of sofrito on Sunday night — and of Saturday night on Carrer la Mar on Sunday morning. Plastic cups and boxes. The usual after-party still life.

Harder news on the mountain. On Thursday a 55-year-old cyclist died on the Les Planes road between Dénia and Xàbia. On Sunday two hikers, 16 and 17, lost and without water, were lifted off Montgó by helicopter after about three hours. Take water and supplies when taking hikes. Tell someone the route. The mountain does not care that it is still September and the pharmacy in town reads 29°C at midnight.

A bather was hurt slipping on the rocks at Trampolí,  the same cala that killed a man last month. It is beautiful. It is not a paddling pool; please be careful when jumping near rocks.

Good ordinary news: the blood-donation day brought 109 people. The urban buses are now an all-eco fleet. Tonight (Monday 28th) the Biblioteca Juan Chabás has a public session on Dénia’s Health Plan if you want a say before they write the priorities down. Casa de la Cultura has solidarity sessions 28–29 Sept. Piano Festival is still running.

Jesús Pobre has loaned two municipal plots to La Sella Golf for four years (€100,000) for lessons, with neighbour discounts.

Calpe / Calp

Ana Sala collected the Fiesta de Interés Turístico Nacional badge for Moros y Cristianos in Madrid on Friday. Fifty years of the fiesta coming; the plaque is this year’s. Whether it changes a single parking space in October is another matter.

New beach-cleaning contract: more kit, more hours. After August, nobody will complain. Espai Famílies has started free sessions on parenting, screens, the usual family knots. “Tu voz cuenta” sigue siendo el empadronamiento push. If you live here and you’re not on the padrón, the town cannot count you for health centres, school places or grants.

Oceana and the town talked about the marine reserve around the Peñón. The University of Alicante has confirmed the invasive Asian alga Rugulopteryx okamurae in Calpe water. It eats the seabed and causes problems.

Otoño Culture is underway. Banys de la Reina visits at 10:00, 11:30 (English) and 13:00 if you want a quiet hour by the sea looking at Roman ruins.

The comarca in one breath

MACMA has floated a €12.3 million draft plan for walking and cycling routes, 390-odd kilometres, including talk of a foot-and-bike link over the N-332 between Pedreguer and Jesús Pobre. Draft. Not tarmac. But it is the first map that treats the interior and the coast as one place to move without a car.

What’s on the diary

• Today, Monday 28th: Dénia Health Plan session, Biblioteca Juan Chabás
• Mon 28–Tue 29: Casa de la Cultura, Dénia
• Through early October: Calpe Otoño Cultural
• October: Cap de Sant Antoni lighthouse due to open
• Wednesday 1 October: new driving rules. Take the opposite lane when you pass a bike on the N-332. All the new rules are here .

The boring useful bit

Warm Sea: still on; if you pick your cala with sense, please don’t jump into rocks.

Montgó: water is warm, but the weather is changing this week; be careful.

Padrón: Calpe wants you on it; please make sure you have your padrón.

Car: four days to learn the October rules before the first fine teaches you. Check my website for all the new rules.

If last week’s history piece is still sitting unread — Two Novembers on the Same Mountain — it isn’t going anywhere, untold stories of the civil war right here in Javea and Denia.

See you Friday for my newsletter, and look out for more information blogs this week. Right, I’m off to enjoy the rest of the sun before the rain hits this week.

Joanne xx

Sun Sea Sangria

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