May 3, 2023.  Alicante and Guadlest Spain

Alicante,  our second port of the trip is an historic Mediterranean port n the Valencian Community, Spain.   The area around Alicante has been inhabited for over 7000 years. The first tribes of hunter gatherers moved down gradually from Central Europe between 5000 and 3000 BC. Some of the earliest settlements were made on the slopes of Mount Benacalli.  By 1000 BC Greek and Phoenician traders had begun to visit the eastern coast of Spain, establishing small trading ports and introducing the native Iberian tribes to the alphabet, iron, and the pottery wheel.   Having only a day to explore the area,  Gina decided that we would explore The Castell de Guadalest or Guadalest Castle, also known as the Castle of San Jose, was an ancient defensive system of the Muslim population.   The Castle is located at the top of the village of Guadalest and  is only accessible through a rock tunnel.   Guadalest is said to be the most visited village in Spain. The village has a tiny population of approximately 250 people and is located amongst spectacular mountains.