Lucentum

About 320,000 people live in Alicante. It is in the Valencia provence and thus has two official languages, Castillian Spanish and Valenciano (Catalan). When Iberia was under Roman rule, Alicante's latin name was Lucentum (city of light). It was a Moorish city untill the reconquista in 11C. Today its main industries are tourism and wine prodution. It has a busy modern port, beautiful beaches, and a big university.



The University of Alicante has about 40,000 students I think. It is located just outside of the Alicante in San Vincente de Raspeig. In my few days of studying here I have learned that: the University has a big contemporary art gallery surrounded by an artifical lake, free spanish films once a week, a pool, and good coffee. Here's a photo of it:



Aside from classes, I've spent most of my first week in Alicante at my favorite pastime: walking around and checking things out. I live very close to el Centro (downtown) of Alicante, which has many bars and cafes. Spanish coffee is very good, it usually costs between 50cents and 1euro for un cafe con leche. Although a litre of beer or wine will only cost you 1euro at a store, it can be very expensive at bars. I've only had one real night of La Marcha: like barhopping, although it can be localized to one place. The place to do this is El Barrio. This is a historic region of downtown filled with tiny bars and cafes. Actually, this area is where some of the first settlements in Alicante were. It is just beneath the Castillo de Santa Barbara. The streets in this area are rather alley ways, lined with tables and chairs, filled with people on the weekend. The bars in El Barrio shut their music off around 4:30am. At this point people start to flee other clubs that stay open well into the morning.

Alicante has a futbol team in the second division of the Spanish Liga, I think. I also live just down the street from La Plaza del Toros (bullring). There is a bullfight next weekend.

A few blocks away is also the Mercado Central (central market) of Alicante. Its open every morning. I've been buying my groceries here. The food in Spain has been incredible, and quite inexpensive. Tapas, finger foods served at bars, are great. The bar is covered with dishes of tapas and you serve yourself. When the waiter returns he counts the toothpicks on your plate to tally the bill. Thats how it worked where I was atleast. Tapas are around 1euro each and the choice is very limited for vegetarians.

I took a day trip to Elche on Sunday. This is an historic about 1/2 from Alicante. They have a great museum of archeaology. This is Elche-- Elx in Catalan: