Then we turn….

When we landed in Alicante we both had headaches and sore muscles.

Well we were taken to the third healthiest place in the world.

We took the bus to the apartment. Met the landlord and got practical information before he gave us the key and finally went.

We immediately went to bed. I froze, sweated, coughed and slept through the next few days. When the fever dropped a bit, we got up, sat in the sun and heat on the beach for a few hours a day and drank a drone of a rum toddy in the evening.

After 10 days, the flu finally slowed down. We rented a car and headed north towards Barcelona.

On our journey we have encountered a new concept - microclimate. This means the climate in a part of a larger area.

Alicante is shielded by mountains to the north. It provides a warmer microclimate. We got that proof when we got away from town. Now we saw freshly sprouted almond trees.

It was also colder. In Denia, the Spaniards in winter clothes and the restaurants outdoors were covered with tarpaulins with windows and heated with gas heaters.

Denia is a nice city. The port is central. Here landed the catch of fish, squid and shellfish, which supplies the market in Alicante. There are several daily ferry departures to Ibiza. There is also a marina. Here a couple of megayachts overwintered - ie. leisure boats with a length of over 24 meters. It is in some countries the limit for when a boat must have a permanent crew aboard.

The market for megayachts is growing. In the past two years have been built and delivered 2. This year, the number will increase to 300. Mega Yachts are also mega expensive. The number of potential buyers is limited to 450 - or about 200.000% of the world population. In May 0,003, the most expensive to date was delivered. The buyer was the Russian Alisher Usmanov. He paid 2016 billion kroner for the boat. In addition operating costs. They are estimated to amount to DKK 4,2 million per year.

The next day we drove to Peñíscola (pronounced peˈɲiskola). Stayed in the picturesque old town, situated on a 64m high cliff overlooking the mountains and the city's beaches.

In the morning we left the small apartment and drove to Sitges, located on the outskirts of Barcelona.

Sitges is known for its carnival and tolerance to homosexuals.

Carnival is an ancient tradition in the northern hemisphere. Before Christianity, the feast marked the victory of spring over winter. There was partying, drinking and eating - perhaps the last of the winter's storehouse that would otherwise spoil when it got warmer.

With the introduction of Christianity, the end of the carnival came to mark the beginning of the 40-day fast before Easter. It harmonizes well with the fact that the word carnival means 'without meat'.

In Catholic countries marked carnival still with the party. In Denmark held the somewhat more spartan carnival.

During the Franco regime, the arrest of carnival was banned in Spain. The ban was lifted when the regime fell and democracy was introduced.

The carnival in Sitges is among the 10 largest in the world, has 2.000 participants and 250.000 visiting spectators

We watched the two major parades Sunday and Tuesday.

Men and women in colorful and festive costumes danced forward to samba, rock or pop music. Before or after the dancers came a wagon decorated by a theme. The carriage pulled by a tractor moved almost like a boat with the main attraction of the procession on board. Participants drank wine, beer, spirits or sodas, and smoked cigarettes. Were kind enough to pose. Laughed, sang and cheered as they recognized any of the spectators.

When the last of the 40 processions passed us over midnight we were well sore in the legs and back after getting up for over 4 hours,

After a few days in Sitges we took the train to Barcelona.

The city is the capital of Catalonia and has suburbs of 4,7 million inhabitants.

It is Europe's 6. largest metropolis only surpassed by London, Paris, Madrid, Ruhrområdet and Milan.

We have only been here a few days, but notice clear differences from the south of Spain. The most obvious are.

• The official language is Catalan.
• English is spoken and understood.
• Payment cards can be paid anywhere
• There is no flamenco culture
• It's colder
• The kitchen is better
• People are less curious and accommodating
• Life seems altogether more hectic.

We enjoyed spending the winter in Spain. Now the spring is in full swing. Tomorrow a day temperature of 21 degrees will be reported. And summer weather in Alicante is reported on Friday.

The day after tomorrow we fly to Copenhagen for a follow-up of the ablation Pia had made for now 7 months ago.

When spring has reached Maastricht in a little over a month, we will resume sailing towards the Mediterranean.

At least that's the plan