My route. Trashed.

Yesterday I went on one of my usual running routes and look what I found. Trashed! This is the result of a night of botellón. I'm not against botellón-ing, but please, throw your basura in the bin. It's easy. Take the plastic bag that carried your cheap rum and coke to your hang-out, and use that as your carrying device until you find a contenedor to throw it in.

For those that don't know what botellón is, os digo: simply put, it's drinking in the streets in el aire libre. The youngers do it because it's a cheap way to get drunk and chill with friends before popping into the local garitas and discotecas. It's actually refreshing on a cool, spring eve to take a few beers in the fresh air with a beautiful view of the city con tus amigos.

But, as there's always repercussions to the fun involved. The obvious trash, for the morning after. And mucho ruido. When drunk people talk, it's more of a shout and with a bunch of shouting, you get caos en las calles.

Not only was I upset to have to dodge the empty bottles and grocery bags on my run, but I was embarrassed for Alicante. Why? Because it was a lovely Sunday afternoon and tourist season has begun. I played photographer for two groups of extranjeros hiking up the mountain to the Santa Barbara Castle. Wonder what they thought upon seeing this mess. Maybe that we're a bunch of alcoholic, lazy, inconsiderate bums?

If this is the aftermath to a night of botellón, maybe there should be a stricter punishment to the irresponsible joventud that colors Alicante in green, brown and clear glass bottles.