ELCHE OUTLET ROUTE : BUYING FOOTWEAR.

The Outlet Route in Elche Business Park  (Elche Parque Industrial), is located between Elche and Alicante, just seven kilometres from the first city. It is made up of 29 companies of top brands from different sectors, mainly footwear.

Mustang Outlet

The city of Elche produces 50% of the footwear manufactured in Spain and is a leading exporter across Europe. The origins go back to the late nineteenth century, when a still predominantly agricultural community began to produce shoes using vegetable fibers, as jute or hemp.

The regular opening hours of the shops are from 10.00 to 14.00 and from 16.00 to 20.00 Monday to Friday, and Saturdays from 10.00 to 14.00. At certain times of year, some establishments don't close at midday. There are maps in all the stores showing the locations of the different outlets, and in http://www.rutaoutlet.es/

Don't miss this opportunity to tour the outlet stores of Spain's most prestigious shoe manufacturers, with different qualities and prices, and the opportunity of discount prices and bargains.

I would advise you not to attempt to negotiate the business park on foot. It is a big estate and you will get very tired if you try to hike around it. Keep your energy for the shopping experience.

Tempe Outlet

The Tempe Outlet store sell footwear and accessories from previous seasons from the Inditex trademarks (Zara, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home and Uterqüe).

To choose the shops that you would like to visit, here you have links of some of the available brands:

https://www.panamajack.es/en/home

(Not very much discounts, but I like this shoes a lot)

Panama Jack Outlet

http://www.pikolinos.com/uk-en/

(Pikolinos also has a small footwear museum, open from 11.00-12.00 and 17.00-18.00h)

The beginning: making espadrilles.

Pikolinos & Martinelli Outlet

http://www.pedromiralles.com/cms/en/

http://wonders.com/madewithlove

http://nordikas.thegoldenboot.co.uk/

http://www.geox.com/

http://www.zinda.es/lang/en

http://gioseppo.com/en/

Guioseppo headquarter and outlet

http://www.furiezza.com/eng/index.php

http://www.lolacruz.com/en/

http://www.nichiseijo.com/eneese_b2c/outlet/zapatos

http://mustangstore.es/

(One of the more visited shops)

Mustang headquarter and outlet

BLOSSOMING ALMOND TREES IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

The almond tree is one of the first trees to flower all over the world. Here in Elche countryside, just next to the Mediterranean coast, it happens in winter. In the months of January and February magic falls over the landscape. At this time, almond trees are dressed in an elegant coat of colorful blossoms, while the winter are still alive. 

Every year in these days, when hues of white and pale pink flood the scenery, it´s very nice to have a walk in the countryside, enjoying this burst of color.

Almond trees also start to buzz, literally, as bees go to work pollinating trees.

Bees are very busy thanks to almond trees blossom.

Spain is the world’s second largest producer of almonds, and most almond trees are found in the Mediterranean region. As one of the most important products cultivated in Spain, it isn’t surprising that the almond is often found in Spanish cuisine. 

TOMATO WITH "CAPELLÁN", A TRADITIONAL LOCAL SALAD.

The tomato with "capellán" salad is  a Mediterranean course very typical of this area. The ingredients are tomato, olives, "capellán" flakes, olive oil, and sometimes capers.

When a tourist read it in a bar menú, it isn't easy to guess what "capellán" is. And if you look for in a dictionary, to read that is a kind of priest is not a good help.

The "capellán" is a small cod relative (Micromesistius poutassou, blue whiting in English, and "bacaladilla" in Spanish), when is prepared salted and dryed with the sun. This is one of the oldest methods of preserving fish, very usual here since ancient ages.

Blue whiting or "bacaladilla"

"Capellanes" in a traditional market.

The "Capellan" is ready to eat, but for this traditional local salad it's grilled directly on a flame, and once the skin is toasted, it's flaked by hand (never is cut with a knife).

As the "capellán" flakes are salty, I always prefer not to add salt to the tomato, combining it with the fish. No doubt it's worth to taste it.

Tomato with "capellán" salad.