Sunday, June 19, 2011

A trip to the coast in summer

2011-06-26_IMG_2011-06-19_00.56.11__D2502RESTO.jpgIn the days when cars were a rarity in the Vega Baja, people would use carts drawn by either donkeys or horses to take them down to the coast during the summer months. Families would travel between places like Orihuela, Callosa de Sugura, Bigastro and the seaside towns of Guardamar and Torrevieja to enjoy the coastal breezes. Sadly, the replacement of farm animals with tractors has made raising donkeys in the area a thing of the past.

In an effort to revive this old custom, the association Ecu recently organised a pilgrimage between Beniel and Guardamar del Segura. Fifteen carts set off and as they passed through various municipalities, others joined them. The caravan had a lunch stop in Almoradi, I expect donkeys and owners were both in need of refreshments by that stage.

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