Calpe is a beautiful town, situated on the northern part of Alicante Province, on the Costa Blanca region. Once an ancient fishing village, Calpe has now become a large scale charming tourist town. Steeped in history, Calpe is a fantastic blend of ancient Valencian culture and modern culture. Even before the centuries, the place was visited and settled by many voyagers. The remains of Iberian tribes found on the place are a fine example for this. It has also been revealed that the Romans, Christians, and Moors once settled here. Its strategic location near Benidorm, which is only a 20-minute drive away, and such scenic towns as Denia makes it one of the sought-after destinations not only in Spanish regions but also in the world. In this article, we will discuss some of the prime attractions of the place.

Significant of the Calpe attractions is the Penon de Ifach – a towering 332 m high rock, which is the highest in the entire Mediterranean, dividing the shorelines of Calpe into two. Penon is of immense historical significance, as its foot was earlier the site of a Roman factory for drying salt fishes, and this spot is now known as the Queen’s Baths. Besides, several other interesting things are associated with this landmark. Declared a sheltered natural reserve in 1987, this rock takes after the rock of Gibraltar, and renders awe-inspiring views of Costa Blanca regions and the bays surrounding it. Also, it is home to some of the rare plants as well as sea birds.

Another great attraction of the place is its golden sandy blue flag certified beaches, including Playa de la Fossa with superb facilities such as tennis courts, children’s park areas, and bowling greens, and Playa Cantal Roig – a rocky as well as scenic beach. The la fossa and the bay of Gasparet are the other prominent beaches in the area.

In addition, splendid options are available for those who want to explore the history of the place, with its countryside filled with a multitude of ancient houses containing arched porticos; historic castles like the Moorish Castle overlooking the Mascarat ravine; and museums such as the Fiestas Museum and the Museum of Archeology – all of them housing historic monuments and murals. Also, worth mentioning are the Calpe’s Old Town Walls and the ancient churches including Iglesia Vieja – a classic example of the Mudejar-Gothic architecture. Calpe’s attractions also cover an awesome modern marina situated along the old fishing port and Calpe fish market.

Above all, Calpe offers wonderful opportunities to enjoy an excellent range of water sport activities such as kayaking, windsurfing, yachting, and waterskiing, apart from other activities like rock climbing, trekking, sightseeing, and dining, with a chain of restaurants and bars offering delectable cuisines and savoring drinks.

By road, Calpe is easy reachable via the main highways. Further, Calpe is only a 50 minutes drive from the airport of Alicante.

Calpe’s pleasant climate, scenic tourist attractions and its proximity to many of the major towns, attracts holidaymakers from across the globe.

For anyone that wants to enjoy some fun and sun in Spain, the Costa Blanca region that is close to the Mediterranean Sea would be the best place to visit. Costa Blanca is a part of the Alicante Province that begins with the little town known as Denia and ends up at Torrevieja, which is another popular tourist destination. Costa Blanca or ‘white coast’ has some very splendid beaches that both residents as also the many tourists come to enjoy.

On a visit to Costa Blanca you might want to check out a few important and well liked holiday spots where you can unwind on the beaches including Altea, Javea, Moraira as well as Benidorm, Torrevieja and Guardamar. And, there are many wonderful villas that serve as ideal accommodation and are a favorite among tourists with something of special interest in each one. To reach Javea that lies about ninety kilometers from Alicante on the east coast of Iberia and a hundred kilometers from Valencia, you can take a plane and land at one of the international airports in either of these two cities. Or, if you are planning to drive down, then you can travel the A-7 from any part of Europe.

Javea is particularly exciting and well worth visiting having some of the best mountains including the peak of Montgo along with many wondrous landscapes and of course the excellent beaches. Such is the attraction that Costa Blanca holds for tourists that millions of them converge here to enjoy the beautiful beaches every year, especially the towns of Denia and Javea. You would also find Elche another attractive hot spot and this place is known as the palm capital of the world.

Traveling the entire Costa Blanca is possible using the Carretera National Highway that follows the coast and provide you with the opportunity to also stop and take a break at the many small villages along the way. Among the more tourist oriented places, you would like the entertainment park known as Terra Mitica that is situated at Benidorm and there are also the bays of Altea as well as a place called Calpe. There are also the smaller towns that are very attractive and among them you should check out Villajoyosa that is close to Benidorm and to its south having an old town and plenty of yummy chocolates as well.

Anyone that wants to enjoy a good round of golf in these parts would love the Costa Blanca golf resorts of which there are many and you can locate individual ones by studying the maps that are available at the Airport or in downtown Alicante. Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of the Costa Blanca would no doubt emanate from the sea villages. Costa Blanca is also a place where tourists are tempted by the more than two hundred kilometers of coastline and rather unsurprisingly the tourist industry here is well developed and Costa Blanca is a hot favorite for many British and also German tourists and many other nationalities including the sun-starved Scandinavians that flock here for the ample warmth and plenty of sunshine that is available here.

Anyone that visits the Costa Blanca in Spain would no doubt end up visiting Denia that lies just eighty-five kilometers north of Alicante, especially as this city is famous for its many holiday attractions. If you are one of those that love a long drive then you can reach Denia using the N-332 that is a wonderful road that takes you along the coastline of Costa Blanca to the city itself. The other road you may want to use is the A7 highway.

The N332 provides you with wonderful opportunities to discover for yourself the beauty of the area and the views are absolutely spellbinding, which you will be sure to love. An even more suitable way of reaching Denia would be to use the narrow gauge railway that connects Denia and Benidorm as also Alicante. In any case, Denia lies between the southern town of Javea and has Gandia to the north, and is a place most visited during the summertime.

It also is situated just outside the mountain named Montgo and it allows the visitors excellent surfing prospects as well. The weather can become very hot with temperatures reaching forty degrees Celsius in the summertime, though it is only four degrees in the winter. Among the most visited tourist attractions in Denia is the castle that was built between the eleventh and twelfth centuries and from where you can get a spectacular view of the sea, and the city as also the backlands.

The castle itself holds the Palau del Governador and a museum are among the more interesting museums in Denia is the Museo Etnologico that provides visitors with an idea of the rich history and also the culture of Denia. The city also holds much by way of attraction in its many bars and small restaurants and when in Denia, makes sure to taste the very tasty cakes and the abundant sweets made at the local confectionaries and bakery shops because these delicacies are what also make Dernia very famous among tourists.

There are also great golf courses in Denia and you will get occasion to play some very good rounds of golf at the many courses here. Denia is also a place where real estate market is booming in this Costa Blanca region and as you enter the city you will be confronted by many real estate agencies and you also won’t be able to miss the great amount of construction that is taking place, especially on the outskirts.

Also, don’t forget to take a boat round trip to Javea, Benidorm and Altea. If you like, you can also choose to rent a car and do some visiting as there are plenty of great places to see. Among the many other tourist cities in Spain, Denia is perhaps the most frequented by tourists and today it is a very modern city where you can enjoy spectacular views while sampling the cuisine, especially tapas that are very small portions of tasty food. Along with an accompanying glass of beer or wine, you will certainly not have anything to complain about in the beautiful city of Denia.

I’ve been sidelined for a few days: knee touble. My running fantasies grow more and more grandiose by the day. I came across this site; I kind of wish I hadn’t, because… wow.
Here’s how Run in the Sun describes its vacations for destination runners:

Our Running Breaks, cater for all levels of runner, although the majority of guests are Marathon Runners training for London, Paris or Berlin. Set on the warm Costa Blanca in Spain, one of the most beautiful coast lines of Europe, on the Mediterranean.

Sounds horrible, doesn’t it?

By Sunday, moon running’s going to be occupying my imagination.

The capital city of the Baix Vinalopo District as well as the second largest city of the Alicante Province, Elche is a charming tourist destination, situated within the Valencian Autonomous Community, in the Costa Blanca Spanish region. Elche has a prosperous history dating back to the times of Iberian, and hence it is home to a plethora of historical sites.

Acknowledged as the ‘The City of Palms,’ Elche is much famed for its expansive palm tree grove, also known as the Palmeral of Elche, which is credited to be the only Palm forest in Europe, consisting of over 10,000 palm trees, of which majority of them are date palms. Covering an area of more than 3.5 sq km, the grove is believed to have been planted by the Phoenicians during the 6th century BC, although cultivated and designed by the Moors between 8th and 13th century. Most spectacular of the forest’s sight is the Imperial Palm, boasting seven stems and taking after the shape of a Candelabra. Further, many of the areas within the grove have now been developed into beautiful gardens and parks. Another interesting thing regarding this grove is that it is still watered by the irrigation system of the River Vinalopó, devised during the 10th century. The forest has been now declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Equally fabulous is the Mystery Play of Elche, which is conducted annually. Declared as the masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2001 by the UNESCO, the play is a sacred cum lyrical program dating back to the 15th century. Further, it is the only proof of the medieval religious European theatre.

Apart from these, Elche boasts a continuum of museums, such as the Municipal Festa Museum, Pucol Agricultural Museum, and La Alucida, all of them housing a range of rare artifacts. Popular among the city’s monuments are Torre de la Calahorra, Basilicca de Santa Maria, Town Hall, and Torre de Calendura. In addition, excellent options are available for nature as well as wildlife lovers, such as El Honda Nature Park and Clot de Galvany.

Attractions in Elche also cover some fabulous white beaches like La Marina, El Carabassi, L’ Altet, Arenals del Sol, and El Penet, each of them coupled with excellent facilities for a range of water sport activities. Further, Elche hosts a variety of fiestas, including Palm Sunday, The Hallelujas, Fiestas of the Virgin’s Arrival, and Nit de l’Alba.

Besides being home to a range of stunning as well as historically significant places, Elche is one of the leading producers of footwear in Europe.

The city’s gastronomy is usually Mediterranean in style, al though a continuum of restaurants serving international cuisine such as Valencian, European, and Spanish can be seen here.

Elche is within easy reach of almost all popular tourist destinations in Costa Blanca. For instance, Elche is only an hour’s drive from Alicante, which is at its northwest and half an hour drive from Benidorm – one of the most prominent tourist resorts across the shorelines of the Costa Blanca.

The Mediterranean coast beckons, and who are we to argue? If you’ve been to Costa Blanca, you know that Spain offers sun, sand, surf – and so much more. If you’ve never visited this slice of paradise in southeast Spain, you should definitely consider the area for your next holiday.

The Appeal of Costa Blanca

There are a variety of reasons why Costa Blanca is so inviting. The sandy beaches are perfect for lazy afternoons, while the coves and inlets are perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling. For those who are so inclined, the Costa Blanca area offers everything from sailing and windsurfing to jet skiing and waterskiing. Anglers will appreciate fishing opportunities, while golfers enjoy gorgeous courses year-round.

Aside from the pleasures at the water’s edge, Costa Blanca offers a delightful assortment of other attractions. Shoppers love the boutiques and open-air markets, while night owls enjoy the lively club scene up and down the coast. Costa Blanca provides gastronomes with an array of taste sensations, from the freshest of seafood to traditional dishes like paella.

The Best Accommodations

To fully enjoy all that the Costa Blanca area has to offer, those in the know rent holiday villas. The advantages of such rentals are numerous. One aspect that is appealing is that a villa rental allows you to have privacy, while another is that the villas are often incredibly spacious. If you’re on holiday with more than four people, hotels tend to be too impersonal and don’t have the space you need to really enjoy your time together. Holiday villas, on the other hand, can accommodate anywhere from six to twelve people. Similarly, a villa is often quite luxurious, and often has a private pool and other amenities that you and your party can enjoy.

Heading North to Costa Brava

Another ideal place to go on holiday is the Costa Brava region, located in northeastern Catalonia. The beaches are renowned, as are the artists (like Picasso and Dali) who treasured the area. As with Costa Blanca, you can easily rent a villa – or even an apartment – and make it your home away from home while you’re on vacation.

What to Expect

Whether you’re interested in reserving holiday villas in Spain or in Algarve, Portugal, you should go online to see what’s available. The most reputable sites have a fully automated, online booking system, and a standardized rental agreement. Generally, holiday villas are rented for a minimum of seven days, and a 30 percent deposit is required. In addition, you are typically asked for a deposit against incidental charges shortly before you arrive or upon arrival.

Bed linens and towels are almost always included in holiday villas, as are cooking utensils and crockery. The cost of cleaning the villa is usually included in the price. Pets are generally not allowed, but if they are, an extra deposit is usually required.

Costa Blanca is beautiful any time of the year, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than from the comfort of holiday villas.

Costa Blanca is a Spanish coastline and has amazing tourism offering picture perfect tourist destinations, for a remarkable holiday. From Moorish villages or towns, stunning scenery, green valleys, lovely orchards or orange groves, wine valleys to great climate, Costa Blanca is a great destination for planning a real fun filled holiday.

Following are some of the places to visit when holidaying in Costa Blanca:

TerraMitica

For a great family holiday in Costa Blanca TerraMitica proves to be a perfect tourist destination, as the theme park is not just fun and exciting, but also the largest and major theme park on this Spanish coastline. Flight on phoenix, falls of Nile and many other shows as well as adventurous rides make TerraMitica a must to visit.

Aqualandia

Aqualandia is located near to Mundomar and is a beautiful water park for all the fun and family time, when holidaying in Costa Blanca. This tourist attraction offers amazing collection of pools and slides, a large garden and many more thrilling rides for an adventurous and awesome experience.

Guadalest

Guadalest is a famous stopover for many tourists and visitors holidaying in Costa Blanca. This town goes back to 715 and brings forward the touch of the ancient time, when moors stayed over. This town is a tourist destination in itself, as most of the people of the town dedicate themselves for boosting the tourism of their land. When visiting this Spanish coastline you can always take a tour of this gorgeous old town and enjoy their craft shops, gift shops and even the history rich museums.

Mundomar

This tourist destination of Costa Blanca is an interesting bird park and marine. The park has lot to offer, in terms of breathtaking marine life and variety of amazing animal collection. Many tourist and visitors when holidaying in Costa Blanca visit Mundomar for its remarkable sea lions and dolphin shows along with a tour of penguins and parrot.

Jalon

This wine valley has range of wine cellars to choose or pick from for your wine shopping or wine tasting. Tourist and visitors on a holiday in Costa Blanca must not miss this tourist destination. This Spanish coastline sees a heavy and busy Saturday on Jalon with biggest and most loved boot sale or Rastros.

Tabarca Island

Only occupied or populated island of this Spanish coastline, Tabarca has also been declared as a ‘Natural Marine Reserve’. Tourist and visitors can always make use of regular trips, which take place from mainland to this island. When on a holiday in Costa Blanca, you should always take some time to cherish this natural tourist destination and experience its sparkling clear and beautiful water for that clear view of underwater marine life, which is why many scuba diving lovers can anytime be seen at this island. Tabarca also has snorkeling, bars and great restaurants to choose from.

Best time to visit of holiday in Costa Blanca

Tourist and visitors are often found holidaying in Costa Blanca at the season when the temperature is reasonably well and is ranging 25-30 degree Celsius. Thus, the best time to holiday in Costa Blanca would be the months of April October.

Yes, we did….

En of we het gedaan hebben, wel al een tijdje terug, maar het was geweldig!!!!

We waren eigenlijk nog maar 2 weken in Spanje (januari 2004) en net toegekomen in Granada, toen we besloten weer naar de costa Blanca te rijden voor een duosprong parapente. En het was de rit meer dan waard. Goh, wat een ervaring. Kom je boven op een berg met al die ervaren vliegers en ik stond daar met knikkende knietjes mijn beurt af te wachten. Geert en ik hadden al besloten dat ik eerst zou gaan (ik kon niet nog langer wachten…). Een heel gedoe met je harnas en al die koordjes maar gelukkig werd alles voor me geregeld. En dan maar wachten op die ene windstoot…. “Jaaaaa” riep de instructeur…”LOPEN”. Als een gek begin je te lopen en voor je het beseft ben je in de lucht aan het lopen…weg is de grond…de diepte wordt steeds dieper en dieper en dieper en….

Daar zweef je dan, als een vogel in de lucht…vrijheid ten top! Lekker genieten!

De landing was in mijn geval iets minder zacht. Ik ging door mijn knieën en kreeg een instructeur boven op me. Het was wel lachen geblazen want met die ronde pothelm op mijn hoofd leek ik wel een verdwaald duits soldaatje dat boven het gras kwam piepen.

En dan was het de beurt aan Geert….jaaa, dat was kicken geblazen en een perfecte landing als afsluiter.

Wie graag eens wil parapente vliegen in Andalucia kan zich alvast informeren bij Dirk. Hij is een ervaren vlieger en organiseert vluchten voor aktieve beoefenaars. Bovendien kent hij ook de beste adresjes voor beginners. http://www.hotelcaliforniaspain.com/

Veel succes en alvast EEN GOEIE VLUCHT!!!!

Meer dan 300 dagen zon per jaar. Dat is waarom Campoamor aan de Costa Blanca zo’n heerlijk stukje Spanje is.

De boulevard van Cartagena

Op de foto zie je de boulevard van Cartagena. Deze mooie stad ligt ten zuiden van het Mar Menor. Het is een Romeinse nederzetting geweest en zeker een bezoek waard. Wij zelf hebben een appartement op Lomas de Campoamor. Dit is een prachtig aangelegd park. Het ligt plm. 3,5 kilometer van de kust. Op het park is een erg mooie golfbaan. Met erg veel gevarieerde vegetatie. Lomas de Campoamor ligt midden tussen een aantal interessante Spaanse steden. Murcia. Cartagena. Alicante. Elche en Torrevieja.

Aan de kust zijn veel kleine knusse stranden. Met overal gelegenheid om een terrasje te pakken of van een heerlijke lunch te genieten. Voor de golfliefhebbers is  het een waar paradijs. Binnen een half uur rijden treft u meer dan 10 verschillende banen.

Appartement Almendros met zwembad

Vliegen gaat het beste op Alicante.

Het altijd groene park Lomas de Campoamor

During the day there wasn’t a great deal to do except to visit the beaches and spend endless pointless hours sunbathing.  Benidorm is famous for its two main beaches which stretch for four kilometres all along the bay.  The city enjoys a unique geographical position on the east coast of Spain because it actually faces due south and has two stunningly beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean Sea that stretch out either side of the old town, on the east the Levante, the sunrise, and to the west the Poniente, the sunset, and it enjoys glorious sunshine all day long. 

Even though the Blue Flag award wasn’t initiated until 1987 the beaches really were excellent with soft golden sand and a gentle shelf leading down into the warm sea.  Since its introduction Benidorm had prided itself on the award and the quality of its beaches but then in 2009 there was a calamity and although the Poniente and Mal Pas were confirmed the Levante was removed from the list.  The news of the loss of the blue flag status, previously considered to have some of the best sand in the world, was a bombshell for Benidorm.  The town council, which is in charge of the beaches complained that the decision was unfair because the analysis took place after there had been a lot of rain which had caused turbulence in the water but the blue flag organisation couldn’t be persuaded.  The authorities are determined to rectify this and the beach is almost certain to be reinstated to blue flag status in 2010.

I hope the Levante gets its flag back because It is an interesting fact that Spain has more blue flag beaches than any other participating country with four hundred and ninety nine in five thousand kilometres of coastline, the United Kingdom by comparison, has only one hundred and forty-four in nearly eighteen thousand kilometres.  Greece has the second most blue flags at four hundred and thirty and France is third with two hundred and thirty-eight.

Behind the beaches were the wide Promenades, the palm fringed backdrop to the golden sand with flowing patterned tiles that provided a route for the inevitable tourist train (I really hate those tourist trains) and a thoroughfare from one end of the beach to the other with all of the sidestreets leading to hotels and tucked away bars.  Benidorm has a unigue urban pattern because in 1954, the Mayor, Pedro Zaragoza Orts created the Plan General de Ordenación, or city building plan to you and me, that ensured that every building would have an area of leisure land, guaranteeing a future free of the excesses of cramped construction seen in other areas of Spain and it is the only city in the country that still adheres to this rigid rule.  This vision for the future sparked the building boom that followed and the flying start that Benidorm achieved in the package tour boom of the 1960’s and 70s.

Inbetween the two magnificent beaches was the old town and this really was the best part of Benidorm.  Here in the twisting narrow streets hemmed in by claustrophobic whitewhased buildings it was possible to imagine what the town must have been like in the past as small fishing village as we walked around the old town, the San Jaime church with its distinctive blue tiled hat roofs, the old town promontory with the Balcon Del Mediterraneo, and pretty Mal Pas beach below situated in between the Levante and the Poniente.  Benidorm castle was thought to have been built on this rock around 1325.  The castle survived until 1812, but now there are no signs of the ruins.  Inland from the promontory Benidorm’s old town narrow streets were a joy to wander around, vibrant and continuously busy they were dotted with bars, restaurants and tourist shops that never seemed to close.

There was only so much time that we could spend on the beach and walking around the old town, there was the Wednesday market that we visited (twice)  but to be honest there wasn’t a great deal more to do so filling fourteen days was a bit of a challenge.  About three kilometres out in the bay was the little island of Isla Benidorm, a triangular shaped chunk of inhospitable rock with a regular ferry boat running across for just a few pesetas each.  There was so little to do that we made the trip twice and really once would have been quite enough.  It was advertised as ‘Peacock Island’ but all we found there were a few scraggy chickens trying to get by in a very hostile landscape without any vegetation or water.  Fortunately there was a bar on the island with really good views back towards the mainland so at least there was somewhere to sit and have a drink while we waited for the ferry to return.  On one of the trips we met Tanya and Steve from Blackpool and we shared a table, struck up conversation and agreed to meet up one evening for a meal.  Today Isla Benidorm is being developed as a wild bird sanctuary so maybe there are a few more species there than those few pathetic chickens?

In 1976 I travelled to Europe for the first time to Sorrento in Italy with my dad who obligingly stepped in at the last moment following a bit of romantic trouble when just before departure my girlfriend went off with the head reporter from the local newspaper.  Very soon after that we patched things up and in October the following year I went to Spain with my fiancée, Linda.  We could have gone practically anywhere we liked, so long as it was within our restricted budget of course, but we choose to go to Benidorm on the Costa Blanca for two whole weeks and we selected the Don Juan hotel on the Avenida del Mediterráneo, just behind the Levante beach because Linda had been there some time before with her parents and had liked it.

Benidorm is one of the most popular tourist locations in Europe, today six million people go there each year on holiday but in 1977 it was even more popular and that year attracted the most holidaymakers ever and over twelve million people poured into the city.  That peak in numbers has never been matched since and it is unlikely that it ever will be.  In the early 1960s my grandparents visited Benidorm several times in the Freddy Laker days of package holidays and came home with exotic stories and suitcases full of unusual souvenirs, flamenco dancing girls, matador dolls and velour covered bulls that decorated their living room and collected dust for the next twenty years or so. 

The name Costa Blanca was allegedly conceived as a promotional name by British European Airways when it first launched its air service between London and Valencia in 1957 at the start of the package holiday boom.  At that time the cost of the fare was £38.80p which may not sound a lot now but to put that into some sort of perspective in 1960 my dad took a job at a salary of £815 a year so that fare would have been about two and a half weeks wages!  The average UK weekly wage today is £450 so on that basis a flight to Spain at British European Airline prices would now be £1,100.  Thank goodness then for Ryanair because I flew to Seville last year for just £30 return which represents just about three hours work today in comparison with what of been about a hundred hours in 1960.

It was avery foggy morning the day we flew from Luton Airport in Bedfordshire (made famous by Lorraine Chase in the 1970s Campari television adverts)  on Monarch Airlines which was in the days before low cost airlines when flying still felt exclusive and glamorous.  The pilots were all ex RAF and called Toby or Edward and the air hostesses were tall and elegant, wore smart uniforms and looked like catwalk models.  The seats were comfortable with generous leg space and there was a free meal thrown in.  These were in the days before terrorist threats so children used to get to go and visit the captain and crew in the cockpit and for adults there was a drinks trolley at below UK prices (today a cup of tea on Ryanair costs £3) and a genuine duty free service for spirits, tobacco and perfume.

As an experience flying has mostly deteriorated in quality since 1976 except in one important area where there has been massive improvement.  In 1976 passengers that smoked were still allowed to light up a cigarette on board which meant that because of the way aeroplanes recirculate air in the cabin everyone else had to as well.  To be fair they did all have to sit at the back of the aircraft, a bit like Dante’s Inferno, and puff away together but after a couple of hours there was a horrible acrid odour of stale tobacco and the entire cabin smelt like an unemptied ash tray.  Actually it wasn’t just cigarettes but pipes and cigars as well and even the cigarette smokers complained about this.  Pipes and cigars were banned in 1979 but a ban on cigarettes had to wait for another ten years.  As there has been no smoking now on planes for twenty years I am always curious why arm rests still have ash trays in them because the only purpose they serve now is a place for ignorant people to stick their discarded chewing gum.

The flight lasted a little over two hours and then we landed at Alicante airport about sixty kilometres from Benidorm and as this was in a time before Spain’s modern motorway network the coach took the old coast road north through a string of small towns and villages.  Just past Villajoyosa on the coast and the one thousand four hundred metre high Puig Campana Mountain to the west  we snatched our first glimpses of Benidorm out of the right hand side windows of the coach and we could see a ribbon of golden sand at the fringe of the magnificent bay and behind it a strip of concrete skyscrapers towering into the blue sky above.

Once in Benidorm we went through the tedious process of dropping people off at their hotels and as the Don Juan was at the far end of the eastern Levante beach we had to wait quite a while to arrive there.  Thirty years or so later the Don Juan isn’t there anymore and I might be mistaken here but it might now be the refurbished Don Pancho.  It certainly looks similar and it is just about the right location.  If I am correct it is only two hundred metres from the Hotel Los Pelicarnos on the Calle Girona, which is famous for being the setting of the TV comedy show, Benidorm.

The Don Juan was a typical 1970s Spanish seaside resort hotel with a cavernous reception and public area, a dining room that was little more than a school canteen and an entertainment room for evening activity.  The hotel was an eighteen storey concrete and chrome building and we had a room on the front about half way to the top with a good view out to sea.  In the 1970s rooms could only be described as functional because these were the days before mini-bars, TVs, internet wifi access and complimentary cosmetics in the bathroom but it was nice enough and it was going to be our home for two weeks.

Later that day we had our first evening meal at the Don Juan and it has to be said that this was by no stretch of the imagination a gourmet experience.  The menu was limited and consisted mostly of the sort of food that British holidaymakers, unfamiliar with Spanish cuisine, would have insisted upon in 1977, beef burgers or chicken, chips and overcooked vegetables with everything, and for sweet it was crème caramel or ice cream and it was the same choice for the whole of the fortnight.  One thing was certain – it was unlikely that we would be introduced to traditional Spanish food on this holiday.  To be fair however anything ethnic may have come as shock because like most English people I wasn’t ready for tortilla and gazpacho and although I am now rather partial to tapas and paella I had certainly never been introduced to these Iberian gastronomic delights in 1977.

If the twelve million visitors to Benidorm came in equal numbers each week, which of course they didn’t, then there would have been nearly a quarter of a million visitors to entertain every night and after dinner we walked to the old town, which even in October was bursting at the seams with visitors wandering around the bars getting lashed and the shops buying things they didn’t really need.  In 1977 most of Spain was still shaking off the restrictions of the old Franco regime, in June there had been the first elections to the national Parliament since 1936, but Benidorm was way ahead of the rest of the country.

It was loud, brash and noisy and so was the hotel when we returned later on.  There was entertainment on the ground floor and even though we were at least six floors up the noise from the disco could be heard all the way up to our room.  The booming of the bass kept us awake and so did the loud German couple sitting on the balcony of the room next door who were having a conversation with someone in Hamburg!  Sleeping has never really been a problem for me and I eventually managed to drop off but sometime in the early hours of the morning I woke up and found Linda on the balcony tired and sobbing and desperately in need of sleep.  I think that it was at this point that I wondered just how we were going to survive fourteen nights in Benidorm!

In true Waterloo fashion, Fridays started off with rain… hence the rainboots.

For those who know me, I’m very anti-colour… I usually only wear black, white and their variations. (Don’t judge me, there are so many different grays out there.)

But every once in a while I’m buy something in a bright colour. These boots were one example.

Raincoat: Lacoste, Black skinnies: Urban Outfitters, Rainboots: Zara, Scarf: Gift from my friend Krishna!

I really apologize for the poor lighting and quality, I took a closeup of the jacket just in case.

Had to head home today for my brother’s commencement. Same outfit just different accessories:

Tank: Jacob, Scarf: Jacob, Black Skinnies: Urban Outfitter, Studded Clutch: Costa Blanca… and no, I did not wear my flip flops out.

Here’s a closeup of the clutch which I absolutely ADORE!!

True Story: I did not end up wearing these outfits during the day or night. I spilled foundation over my pants after I took these photos. -____-

Soo meine Lieben (falls ihr existiert )

Ich melde mich seit langer Zeit auch mal wieder auf unserem Blog und habe die Posts meiner geliebten Blogpartnerin gerade mit großem Interesse gelesen und bin n0ch immer ziemlich gerührt und geflasht und überhaupt. Ich kann einfach wieder und wieder nicht glauben, dass ich so einen Menschen in meinem Leben haben darf. Das ist Wahnsinn, Big One, sei dafür einfach wieder und wieder GANZ lieb und fest umarmt, ich kanns kaum erwarten, dass du in die Hauptstadt kommst

So, und nun zu meinem Urlaub, der mir wohl oder übel (und auf jeden Fall von meiner Mutter aus ziemlich berechenend) eine wunderbare Rom- Reise mit Hase und Danny verbaute. Ja, es war in den ersten Momenten, in denen ich erfuhr, dass meine Tickets gebucht waren, ein furchtbarer Schlag. Trotzdem, es ging aufwärts, mein sechzehnter Geburtstag kam und mit ihm jede Menge Freude und unglaublich liebe, persönliche Geschenke. Hier auch nochmal ein RIESIGES Dankeschön <3 Und am 21. ging es dann in aller Frühe los, meine Oma kam ebenfalls mit, und wir waren bereits Mittags in einem völlig anderen Land, anderem Klima, andere Vegetation und dem Besten von allem: ES GIBT ANDERES ESSEN! Und was für ESSEN! Ich kann die spanische Küche mit ihren allerlei seltsamen Fischarten und den Gewürzen, den vielen verschiedenen Zubereitungsarten und nicht zuletzt den UNGLAUBLICHEN Nachtischen gar nicht genug loben. Und obwohl wir viele traditionelle und trotzdem sehr moderne Restaurants und Bars auf unglaublichem Niveau und perfekten Preis- Leistungs- Verhältnis besuchten, auch die zaghaften Versuche meiner Mutter in der heimischen Küche waren nicht schlecht. Aber genug von den Genüssen für den Magen, es blieb während dieser zehn Tage bei genau 24 bedeckten Stunden, den Rest der Zeit brannte die Sonne mit unschlagbaren 27 Grad auf uns herunter und selbst die Einheimischen schüttelten die Köpfe über einen derartigen Wetterumschwung. Pretus meinte es wirklich blendend mit uns, und schließlich traf noch eine Schulfreundin meinerseits ein, die ebenfalls sechs Tage mit uns verlebte. Strand, Sonnen und Schnorcheln, die Unterwasserwelt und das Relaxen hatten es uns nicht ohne Grund angetan, ich glaube ich war nie zuvor in meinem Leben so unglaublich braun gebrannt und erholt, von den kleinen Zwischenmenschlichen Katastrophen abzusehen, die unvermeidbar sind, wenn drei Generationen unglaublich dominante, direkte und durchaus illoquente (JAHAA ich kenne den Spruch mit dem Eigenlob^^) Frauen unter einem Dach Leben und die eine der jüngsten und damit unwissendsten Kategorien auch noch Verstärkung an der Seite hat. Ich muss gestehen, einfach habe ich es meiner Mom nicht gemacht, aber schließlich waren wir alle doch zufrieden, hatten unseren Freiraum und tolle Ausflüge zu einer Felsgrotte im Wasser und wunderschönen Märkten, Häfen und was man sonst noch so alles an der Costa Blanca unternehmen kann. Geschlagene zwei Stunden brachte ich mit etwas sinnvollem, weiterbildenden zu: Ich habe gegen einen steinalten Nachbarn Schach gespielt. Es war interessant wenn auch anstrengend, Konzentration und Stillsitzen gehören nicht wirklich zu meinen Stärken, und natürlich gewann er beide Partien. Nur ein einziges Mal schiehn ich ihn wirklich ins Grübeln gebracht zu haben, allerdings betrachtete er verwunderlich abgelenkt unseren Garten und erinnerte mich irgendwann leise und doch höflich, vielleicht im Unterton etwas belustigt: “Sie sind am Zug!”

Liebe Grüße,

littleone

In true Waterloo fashion, Fridays started off with rain… hence the rainboots.

For those who know me, I’m very anti-colour… I usually only wear black, white and their variations. (Don’t judge me, there are so many different grays out there.)

But every once in a while I’m buy something in a bright colour. These boots were one example.

Raincoat: Lacoste, Black skinnies: Urban Outfitters, Rainboots: Zara, Scarf: Gift from my friend Krishna!

I really apologize for the poor lighting and quality, I took a closeup of the jacket just in case.

Had to head home today for my brother’s commencement. Same outfit just different accessories:

Tank: Jacob, Scarf: Jacob, Black Skinnies: Urban Outfitter, Studded Clutch: Costa Blanca… and no, I did not wear my flip flops out.

Here’s a closeup of the clutch which I absolutely ADORE!!

True Story: I did not end up wearing these outfits during the day or night. I spilled foundation over my pants after I took these photos. -____-

Today’s picture is of the superb water park on top of the hill in Ciudad Quesada, on the Costa Blanca, Spain. Well worth a visit during the summer, this particular Aqua Park gets less crowded than the one in Torrevieja, and is also cheaper, so is ideal for families on holiday in the area.

You are able to find Torrevieja car rental companies through a travel broker or you can search online. Compare prices both personally as well as on the internet to discover the best deal on the car you want. Almost all companies employ multilingual staff to make communication easier with tourists.

Browse around when searching a car. All companies promote the lowest price, just there may be big differences. Some companies have a base price for the car and charge additional for things like unlimited mileage, insurance, airport taxes, roadside assistance and a 2nd driver. Other companies include these things in their offer. Make sure you know what is included.

Don’t shop just by price, but compare styles and extras while selecting the best company. A few extras might not be required, but others are essential. You will want a car with air conditioner, especially if you are going in summertime. It gets really hot in Torrevieja and you don’t want to be enclosed in a hot car.

If possible, it is comfier to arrange to pick up and drop off the car at the airport. This is handier for you and in most cases; you will not save money by using a company at your destination.

While you book your car, make sure to reserve a car seat, if you are travelling with small children. Child safety seats are the law in Spain. Just as you make a booking for a car, does not imply a seat will be disposable once you arrive at the airport. They may bolt out of seats, particularly in the more engaged times of year. Make sure to reserve according to the age and weight of your child to ascertain you will hold the proper seat.

More about Torrevieja car hire:

• Reino de España – There are several transportation choices available for you to reach Torrevieja, Spain upon your arrival to the area. However, you will also need transportation during your stay. If you intend to explore nearby cities throughout the Costa Blanca, a Torrevieja car hire is the best transportation to choose providing you with the freedom to travel on your schedule and not that of public transportation.
• Tips on Finding a Deal on Torrevieja Car Hire | New Haven Railroad … – Are you planning a trip to Torrevieja, Spain? There are several things to plan and while you might be thinking that you’ll get around with taxis, trains and busses, you should consider renting a car. Renting a car will allow you to come and go as you please and you’ll be able to see sights and visit cities that are not close to other forms of transportation. Here are some tips to hiring a car in Torrevieja.

St Mary's Basilica Elche Spain

Today’s picture is of St Mary’s Basilica in the city of Elche on the Costa Blanca, Spain. Elche is famous for its palm forest, the largest in Europe, which contains over 200,000 palm trees and was started by the ancient Phoenicians in the centuries BC. Further developed by the Moors during the 8th to 13th centuries the forest still dominates the city to this day. Going to the top of the tower of St Mary’s Basilica offers a fabulous view overthe city and the palm forest.

Penon de Ifach Calpe

Today’s picture is of the Penon de Ifach, a huge rock formation which rises from the Bay of Calpe on the northern Costa Blanca, Spain. A protected area and nature reserve, the Penon has some rare speces of flora. It is possible to walk to te top by way of a tunnel, and get aazing views along the coastline. Calpe is a popular holiday destination, with fine sandy beaches, it is located to the north of Benidorm nd Alicante.

San Roque Hermitage Callosa de Segura

Today’s picture is of the San Roque hermitage, located in the Spanish town of Callosa de Segura, Alicante, Costa Blanca. Callosa de Segura is a little inland from the Costa Blanca coastline and is built at the foot and up the slopes of a nearby mountain. The town is typically spanish and celebrated a number of Fiestas through the year including on dedicated to San Roque. The hermitage overlooks the town from its lofty position on a hill.

Playa Levante Benidorm

Hi all, today’s picture is a view of Playa Levante taken from the mirador in the old town of Benidorm. The beach looks quiet at this time (but it was taken in February!), most of the year it would be packed solid with holidaymakers enjoying the sea, sand and sun (and sangria!).

The beach at Campoamor

Today’s picture is of the beach at Campoamor, a popular resort on the Orihuela Costa, Costa Blanca, Spain. One of the best beaches in the area, it is composed of fine light sand and is kept very clean and tidy by the local council. Campoamor is sandwiched between Cabo Roig and Mil Pameras and attracts many holidaymakers, especially during the peak summer months, the beach can get pretty crowded but it is wide and there is usually room to relax and take the sun.

Biar Castle

Today’s picture is of Biar castle, dating from the Moorish occupation of Spain. The castle dominates the town and can be seen from miles around. When we visited earlier this year the castle was closed and we noticed a sign saying “telephone this number to view the castle”, we called the number waited 10 minutes and a lady came to let us in! (where else but Spain?). The view from the highest tower is amazing, I shall post a photo from there later. Biar is inland from Alicante and is close to the towns and villages of Elda, Villena and Castalla.

I had this OOTD i guess hm 2 weeks ago and i just decided to blog it now lol, i forgot abt it, soo yea here it is..

It is a pink drape shoulder top

WHAT I USED:

Face:

bb cream

loreal illuminating face powder

loreal neutral blush

Eyebrows:

anastasia stencil: medium high arch

brow defining powder

Eyes:

purple e/s from my 16 pallete

almay black e/s

almay liquid liner

lips:

lip gloss faceshop

Hair:

hairspray

teasing comb

LosArenales Beach

Today’s picture is of the beach at Los Arenales del Sol, located south of Alicante on the Costa Blanca, Spain. The view is looking towards Alicante city and shows the miles of fie sandy beaches for which the area is famous. Perhaps the only blight on this tranquil scene is the fact that Los Arenales del Sol is close to Alicante (El Altet) airport, so the noise from aircraft can be a little annoying. The resort is however popular, especially with the Spanish people themselves, it is also popular for kite flying and kitesurfing, with ideally windy conditions for these activities. Nearby towns include Santa Pola, Gran Alacant, and Elche.

Actualmente, menos en la televisión valenciana, “Laraventuras del pepé” están siendo portada en los medios informativos. Todo viene porque los jueces han revelado parte de la información aparecida en los “tropomil” folios del secreto de sumario. Hay quien asegura que si pudiéramos leer los nombres de los implicados en la trama nos llevaríamos una gran sorpresa…

Gurugürtell