Female Focus
Page 5 AMATA Sunday market in Jávea Port
So you're looking for something just a little unusual for that special person? How about a walk along the promenade by Jávea port, and having a look at what is on display on the craft stalls that set up every Sunday morning? Fresh air, nice views, a healthy walk, perhaps a little light refreshment in one of the many seaside cafés, and you come back with something really special.
The stalls that build up every Sunday morning really are special. Amata, the regional craft association, has chosen them carefully - nothing imported, nothing made in small factories, everything carefully and lovingly made by people who have chosen this way of life. It shows; these are not the "designer T-shirts" or "exclusive designs" you will see in the galleries. These are items that have been made because people prefer to make something special. Every Sunday morning, starting at 11am and finishing at 2pm or even later, there will be people with leather bags and belts, wooden toys, water colours, ceramics, some very original jewellery made of recycled beer tins or even dried orange peel! You won't know exactly what is there on the Sunday morning you pass by, since every week there is something different, but there are always the odd dozen stalls (if the weather is good, because they can't risk that wind or rain damages their work) with interesting and unusual designs.
AMATA Craft demonstrations in Calpe
If you like to watch skilled craftsmen and women at work, you should make a note in your diary of the Craft Fair that will be held in Calpe on the weekend from 28th of April until the 1st of May. That's when about thirty craft people will set up shop around the church in the middle of Calpe Old Town.
Not only will they show (and sell) what they have made, you can also watch most of them at work, ask questions on techniques, tools and materials, and quite a few even speak some English. The astounding glass blower who makes motorbikes out of glass and was here at Christmas will come again and there will be people working with leather, wood and paper, people modelling clay, painting or getting knotted (macramé) and making jewellery, all people who love their work and want you to share the pleasure. There will also be workshops for children, old fashioned table games and a few stalls with traditional regional delicacies: Felipe sells pan de higos, made from dried figs and almonds and will show you how arrop i tallaetes is made, a Valencian speciality made of grape syrup and pieces of pumpkin. Jorge makes the most delicious sweet and savoury pancakes and for people who like cocktails, there's a stall with mojitos and caipiriñas. And all this with soft background music, nice tunes from all over the world.
The fair is organised by Amata, the regional craft association that has spent the last 20 years organising
the few real craft
markets to be found in this part of Spain. Everything on the stalls has to be made by hand and has to be made by the person actually on
the stall. It's not easy to make a living in this fashion, when there is so much competition from people selling mainly imported goods, but it can be done. Calpe is mainly known for its Peñón de Ifach, the big rock that can be seen from miles away and is often used as a promotional image for the Costa Blanca. But Calpe also has a nice old town centre with part of the original town walls, narrow streets with flowerpots on the gaily painted steps, and many bars and restaurants who put their tables out in the street or on tiny little squares. The Craft Fair will be held right in the middle of all this, around the church, and opens on Friday the 28th of April at about 6pm, Saturday and Sunday the opening times are from 11am until 9pm or later and on Monday the stalls stay open until (Spanish) lunchtime. You can find photographs of the Christmas market (different theme, but the same quality crafts) at
www.amata.es/Calpe16.html. For more information on both events, ring Elvira on 639 979 678 (she speaks English) or visit
www.amata.es.
www.female-focus.com
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