Hasta la Mañana...

I leave tomorrow. Wow. In the spirit of this new adventure, I have a bit of history about Alicante and the role it has played in Spanish history.

Alicante, like much of the rest of Spain was settled some 7000 years ago, between 5000 and 3000 BC. Tribes of hunter gatherers traveled down from central Europe, which were joined by Greek and Phoenician groups who brought iron making, and the common alphabet. The fort of Akra Leuka (Greek for 'white point/mountain') was established by a Carthaginian general and it the spot of modern day Alicante. The city was subject to the violent changes of power that the rest of Spain experienced which fluctuated control of the country between the invading Romans and the Kings and Queens of Spain, including King Ferndinand and Queen Isabella of Aragon and Castile, whose kingdoms fought over the area for decades (although Ferdinand and Isabella ended up marrying!). The economy of Alicante also suffered the tides of change from these battles, but throughout all of the changes of power, Alicante maintained an overall healthy economy which thrived off of a strong fishing market, and trade of olive oil, rice, wool, and oranges.  Alicante also sustained itself through World War I and several local wars, which actually helped make the economy stronger through wide use of the ports of the city. When the Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936) gained control of Spain, Alicante provided many strong Republicans and supported the new government. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Alicante was one of the last Republican strongholds to refuse the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, and one of the last cities to fall under his dictatorial rule. Franco died in 1975, and Alicante, along with the rest of the country, began to reinvent itself and focus on growth in it's economy. During the 1980s, Alicante suffered an economical downfall, and since then, has focused it's attention on it's tourism business which provides a huge revenue for the area.
Today, Alicante is a very touristy place, located along the Mediterranean in an area of Spain known as the La Costa Blanca (the White Coast). Not only because of the voracious tourism, but also because of the overall wealth of the area, Alicante has a rich city life that includes some of the best gastronomy (wine growing/producing) in the country. One of the most famous sights Benacantil, and dates back to the 9th century control of the area by the Muslims. A 2009 census of the area gives population totals around 335,000. Interestingly, many of these inhabitants are foreign, residing originally in Morocco, Columbia, Ecuador, Argentina, Russia, and Romania, among other countries. The climate is mild, ranging from 40-60 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months (December to Feburary), to 50-85 degrees during the warmer months (March to November). The temperature fluctuates often and is typically much warmer during the day and very cold at night. Although there is very little rain in general, the wet period of the year is September and October, when the cold fronts start to roll in. During this time, flooding is common. Like much of the rest of Europe, Spain (and Alicante) uses train as its main transportation system, although Alicante has a small airport of its own outside of the city.
In general, Alicante is a jovial town which enjoys nice weather and friendly, Mediterranean people. There are many festivals, especially during the summer months. Two of the most famous include Los Fogueres de San Juan (the Bonfires of Saint John) and Moro y Cristianos (Mores and Christians). These festivals include days and nights of drinking, dancing, and feasting. This party like atmosphere is often bolstered by la Universidad de Alicante, the local university. The student population of around 30,000 adds immensely to fiestas!

All of this will be my home for the next 6 months. I will be one of those 30,000 students (although I'm sure they wouldn't include me if asked haha). The food (mainly seafood, rice, grains, and fruit) will be my new diet. I will be tanned and loving the beach.

I can't wait. Hasta la mañana Alicante!