Alicante, Spain – 2007
Years ago I went to visit my brother Andrew in Spain, where he went to teach English and practice drinking. My bro and his clan decided we were going to take a daytrip from our smallish adopted hometown of Albacete in south-central Spain, to Alicante, a beautiful coastal city.
Alicante was my favorite city in Spain and this was also one of the best days of the entire trip for me—the weather was beautiful and I won a free refresco pequeño on my McDonald’s drink (Monopoly game was going on and I ate that American trash back then).
Putting my feet in the Mediterranean Sea, feeling its waves crash against my flea-bitten limbs while I imagined the centuries of civilization that have passed through the same steps I was walking in…the Santa Bárbara Castle on the hill behind me and the debauchery that probably occurred inside. I thought of what life could be and smiled. Here are some pictures.
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- Andrew doing some parkour, showing these Spaniards who’s boss of street style.
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- Just chilling out by the Mediterranean Sea…and a fucking castle…no biggie.
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- Ravaged by fleas after visiting some harmless sheep on a ranch. Best Christmas ever! Here I find respite by resting in the sand after briefly dipping my scabbed legs in the Mediterranean Sea.
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- Casual walk, ascending to our rightful place in a castle above the city, ruling all of Spain with peace and kindness.
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- Is that the Mediterranean Sea in your pocket or are you sick of people still making jokes like this?
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- A circle where needless violence excites people that lack enough creativity to make their own life thrilling without being destructive. Bullfighting is a cultural treasure.
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- These are all the boats I own…well…just all the ones I own that I harbor in Alicante. Unfortunately, the only boat I actually want is one that is used for practical purposes–shipping goods–instead of merely being a vessel for sightseeing. She can be seen in another photo in this gallery.
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- Angry arm comes out of a pothead. Nice crest, baby…mind if I stab you through the stomach?
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- Downtown Alicante from the roof of a castle. Everyday occurrence for guys like me, guys who have their lives completely together.
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- Lonely boat somewhere near the Port of Alicante. I relate more to this boat than to all of the elaborate boats in another picture in this gallery.
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- I like to take pictures from the inside of prisons and haunting towers. The sense of isolation and hopelessness feels strangely comforting.
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- Three young boys water some flowers near a boat dock and a few expensive restaurants. I tried to send this picture off as an advertisement for the Gap but I was refused because one of the boy’s Gap jeans were from last season.
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- Typical view from one of my ancient residences all around the world. That’s also my pet seagull gliding around up there; if you stare at this static image for a few minutes you’ll see him fly over and shit on the guy’s head near the watchtower.
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- The diagonal lines everywhere contributed to city’s feeling of immense energy. Even the guy sleeping under the bridge seemed like he was having trouble sleeping from all the excess energy surrounding us.
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- Peaceful renewable energy lulls me to sleep with its silly repetitive motion while I stare out the window and imagine my existence fading like an early December sunset.
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- Being on an open road anywhere is such a freeing feeling. It sometimes makes it seem like there is potential in life.
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