Welcoming 2023 with a beautiful sunrise over the Mediterranean.

The Via Augustus roman road led us to Elche.

Elche has a long history so we headed to the Archeology Museum.

A large sculpture of the Dama de Elche is outside.

The real one is in the National Museum in Madrid but this is the replica. Scholars think it was painted in multiple colors which we saw in another section of the museum.

Elche is also a UNESCO world Heritage site for the ancient groves of date palm trees.

The doves and pigeons seem quite content to make this their home.

A few miles south is the Natural Park El Fondo where we walked over the Salt Marshes.

There were several of these red-knobbed coots – a Eurasian water fowl.

Enjoying the Peñón de Ifach as we near our balcony in Calpe for Wine O’clock.