January, when sea sleeps on the Costa Blanca

The Mediterranean is a calm sea, in contrast to the oceans and their brave and dangerous, coastlines as the Cantabrian Sea in the North of Spain. Episodes of temporary forts are scarce on the Costa Blanca. But when there are often spectacular. Usually the sea is in a soft swell allowing sailing virtually year-round.

On the other hand, during the month of January is produced every year - also in the Balearic Islands--a phenomenon of great beauty: lulls or menguas. As a result of a combination of weather elements, the first days of the year always offer a very beautiful image: the sea completely calm, as asleep, as if the waves had disappeared forever. In fact, low between 20 and 40 cm making it possible to see the coves and beaches with a face different from the usual. In Javea, for example, in the channel of the Fontana descends so the water level that complicates access to boats. In general, these days we can see rocks and stretches of coastline that the rest of the year remain submerged.

The calm of January are the best time for fishing for a product of the sea that raises passions in some populations of the Costa Blanca such as Denia, Javea, Benissa, Altea and Benitachell. It is the sea urchin. Today is only permitted its collection for three months of the year (December, January and February) and under certain restrictions to avoid its extinction. Hedgehogs are often eaten raw accompanied by bread although we can also find them in a paella. Its intense sea flavor is also well known in other parts of the Mediterranean such as Sicily, where it is combined with pasta: are the famous Ricci di mare.

During episodes of calm it is also a good time to practice water sports such as kayaking, sailing on a surf board or leave the boat to admire the beautiful landscape of the cliffs between Javea and Moraira.