Xmas is over, new year is looming fast. Which means our trip is flying by. That bit I don’t like. I mentioned the loverly lady who does the cleaning here, Isie, she try’s to teach us Spanish, Nikki is better than me at learning it. Nikki says if anyone can murder a language it’s me, that includes English. Anyway Isie has invited us to her house for New Year’s Eve with her family, dinner and drinks and to see the new year in. She lives in a typical old Spanish house with her husband and two girls. We are really excited about going. Normally we don’t do anything New Year’s Eve so it will make a nice change to do something completely different and we are getting picked up and dropped off. 

Today we went to the Valor chocolate factory. I have been licking my lips since booking this site back in the summer knowing we will be so close to spains famous chocolate factory. It’s a free tour round the museum and the factory, then into the shop for free tasting and to buy if you want. The tour was in English when we went and the museum was interesting with the old machinery and photos of the old lorries and factory etc. As you enter the factory the smell of chocolate hits you and I am sure I started to dribble. One thing for sure it done my cold the world of good inhaling all them chocolate fumes. Everything is behind glass for heatlth and safety reasons, just in case you wanted to dive into a vat of chocolate, not that entered my mind of course. Tour over and into the shop where there is a big table layed out with all the different types of chocolate they produce. I tried not to knock over too many peaple to get to the table and yes I was last to leave the table, while Nikki was busy gathering supplies. Yum Yum. The whole building itself is mirrored glass and the big mountain which dominates the area can be seen in it. When we left I said to Nikki we could go there everyday just to get the samples. Now I would put money on your wishing you had some chocolate nearby right now. Who does not like chocolate. 

So it’s Xmas day. We hope you all have had a good one. To us it’s just another day, more so for me. Yesterday Xmas eve we went down the beach in the sun and had a paddle. The Spanish have a celebration on Xmas eve but there main Xmas is on January 6th. So looks like we might have to help them celebrate again then. When in Rome. 

Today being Xmas day, and it’s not like it at all over here in Spain. This is how are day has gone. Breakfast was at about 10.30. Egg, sausage, bacon, followed by a sit in the sun to digest. Then a walk to the beach and a stroll along the walkway, where I got thirsty, so we had to go to one of the bars that were open. We had a good choice. Sat in the sun looking out to sea having a cool beer, or two( balanced diet) and tapas, watching the world go by. A stroll back to the campsite to sit in the sun and have a couple more beers. Happy Xmas. We hope  your Xmas day was good and you never ate too much and drank too much and the weather was not too bad. The pics below are from Xmas eve. 

When we booked this campsite back in July we knew that we were close to Benidorm.we are less than ten miles away. Benidorm is like Marmite you like it or you don’t. I have never had the urge to go there, not even in my youth when that sort of place would appeal to so many, lots of drinking and ladies, and cheap holidays. Nikki also felt the same apart from the ladies. A lot of friends go there for the whole winter and love it. 

So after some more research and chats with friends I thought let’s give it a go, let’s be brave as were so close. We had already decided we wanted to see the old town of Benidorm. So we left the campsite yesterday morning for a ten minute walk to the tram station to catch the ten passed ten tram to Benidorm. The tram being not in England was on time and twenty minutes later we terminated at old town Benidorm. If you want to go further up the coast you change trains here, something we will do another day. 

We have friends over here in Spain who have been coming for the last ten years and stop in Benidorm so we had arranged to meet them for lunch about one o’clock. We walked of down the hill singing er we go, er we go, er we go. No we didn’t really but the tune kept popping into my head because of where we were. Passing shops selling souvenir fridge magnets, hats, T shirts saying I love Benidorm etc.  Just before the beach we turned down a side street and were in amongst more shops, but the older part of Benidorm. Lots of peaple about and a lot of English accents. A lot of peaple would be out here now for there Xmas break. We strolled down and around the lanes finding all sorts of shops and bars. Old town is known for its gay community, so we stumbled upon gay bars and even a gay sex shop down one of the passageways. ( no pun intended ) we walked quicker passed these. 

We got down to the beach and breathed a sigh of relief. And started to walk along the prom, all the time dodging the crowds of over eighties, the mobility scooters, even tandem ones, sure half the peaple on them don’t need them they are just lazy. I felt like I was wrongly dressed, I should have had a football shirt on and a baseball cap on the wrong way round. Perhaps I need to change my wardrobe. We decided we needed a drink so found a bar so we could just sip a drink and watch the world go by while waiting for our friends and gaze out to sea. Some great sights we did see. Behind us were the towering sky scraper blocks of flats, in front the openness of the sea and the sun shining. 

Our friends arrived and we strolled of  to find some where to eat. So what do you think of Benidorm they asked.Its ok, we like the old town but to be honest if we were not meeting you we would have been back on the tram now. After lunch they showed us around some bits we had missed which were nice, especially the high up bit where the veiw was fantastic and nice to see it from that angle. So would we come into Benidorm again. Yes but we would not rush here and we would just do the bits like the really old town, have lunch a beer then back on the tram for a day out.

We have settled in to this site really well, almost feel like locals. There’s a mix of peaple from all over Europe. We know are way around and have different ways to get to the beach, shops etc. Went to a local market the other day selling the usual market tut, big knickers and socks but good for a look round. Quite fun seeing if you can get round the market and out without getting your legs bruised by the shopping trolleys, not the ones you get in super markets but the little Pull along ones that everyone over 70 years old has and then they all get together and go to the market. They are proberly playing a similar game and seeing how many peaple they can bruise. 

We knew we were in for some bad weather from Friday and through the weekend. Friday evening it started to rain, no problem, it’s night time. Saturday it rained in the morning and then cleared up a bit in the afternoon. Sunday it rained and it rained some more. I don’t like being cooped up indoors so for me it’s like being in prison, well I imagine it’s the same. I don’t know and hope I never will. You could put a coat on and go out I hear you all cry. Yes I could but don’t forget I have had the worst cold in Spain. It would have been national news and on all the tv channels if it wasn’t for the storms which were the worst in years. Lucky for me really, don’t think I could handle all that publicity and camera men following me every where to get my story. That was my excuse for not going out, I didn’t want to make my cold worse by getting cold and soaking wet. Sunday evening the thunder and lightning started about 1am and it went on and on all night and into the morning. It seemed just to roll around the mountains as if it was stuck,  very impressive.The site handled the vast amounts of rain well. Unlike some of the sites in Benidorm less than ten miles away but there are lots of hills around and the water just runs off them and all heads for the sea through Benidorm. One poor man was swept out to sea and died. He was 77 years old and trying to move his car but just got swept away. Very sad. 

Monday morning and the rain was still with us, but according to the forcast this was going to be the last day. You don’t know how relieved I was when I heard the rain easing on the roof of the camper. There’s only so many games of scrabble you can play. I was that relieved that when Nikki said shall we go down the supermarket to get a few bits I was out the door boots on, saying come on then let’s go. I don’t like going shopping but she was right we needed to get out and more important we needed food, while stuck in the camper for three days we ate everything in between games of scrabble.it was something to do. 

Yesterday the sun returned, the blue sky’s were above and happy smiley peaple were everywhere again. Our friends Bill and June from the other site we left came over to see us so we all went down the seafront for lunch. A really nice day sat outside the restaurant/ bar with a cool beer, good company, blue sky’s and sunshine, and not a scrabble board in sight. The forcast is for the sun to be around for the week so that’s good. 

Now I bet you were all laughing at us getting some rain and me not mentioning that little three letter word I like to mention, so sorry to disappoint you at the end of this thread and mention it. No I am not sorry SUN, SUN, SUN

The campsite was busy the weekend being a bank holiday on the Thursday. A lot of Spanish decided to make it a long weekend. They like to all camp together and get all there tables and chairs out and have a real sociable dinner, they ere very noisy also. By Sunday evening they had all packed up and gone home leaving the site very peaceful. Apart from the cockerel next door who can’t tell the time and can’t tell the difference between day and night. The Spanish dogs who seem to be afraid of the dark because as soon as it gets dark they start to bark to each other. And then there’s the donkey or mule who likes to have his say. Apart from that it’s peaceful. That is apart from me sneezing and coughing, yes I have a cold and it’s the worst one in Spain. My throat feels like I swallowed my beer glass instead of the beer, my bones ache, my head hurts, my nose is running but I will be ok don’t worry about me…no honest I will be fine. 

Two days ago we went for a stroll down towards the sea front and then we have to make a decision to turn left or right. That day we turned left and headed for the marina to Marvell at the boats. The walkway takes you all along the sea front passing various restaurants and cafes. There were a lot of peaple out and about and a lot going to a very posh restaurant by the marina. Not the sort of place we go to. It’s one of those places you have to dress up and have a bank balance, so we just looked at the menu outside. Passed the marina is a couple of really nice bays  were we sat staring out to sea, looking at the sun reflecting of the sea. Sorry mentioned that sun word again. 

Yesterday another stroll and this time turned right. I have mentioned the painted houses before and I wanted to get a shot of them with blue sky and palm trees. Yesterday the conditions were right so we made our way through the streets a different way, passing some great little alleyways where the houses are so close you could reach over to the balcony opposite. Very nice. Right down to the beach with my camera doing overtime. I do like my photography, I just wish I was really good at it, but every no and then I get a picture I really am pleased with. The one below with the houses, blue sky, and palm trees is the one. Very happy with the way it came out. 

After the photo session we walked along the sea front to a little cafe and had a drink watching the world go by. It’s strange seeing all the Spanish going about their day dressed up for winter, empty beaches, where as if that was a day in the U.K. The beach would be packed. Below are some more pics to sum up the atmosphere. Thats us up to date, today is just a chill out day because I feel so week because of my cold, did I mention I had a cold. I will be OK though. 

We had one last trip out with our friends Ol Bill and June before we left Marjal. They needed shopping and so did we so tagged along. Before shopping we went out to lunch in a Spanish bar. Set menu, you get four different staters, a main meal, a pudding and a beer, all for €15 each and it was very nice. The shopping was boring, I left that bit to Nikki, she does it better when I am not there anyway. I do help consume it though.

Our next site was only an hour up the road at Villajoyosa a old roman town. We booked the site back in July, bit of a gamble as it was a brand new site and only opened in July. But all is good. It’s called camping Imperium.Easy to find of the main motorway, greeted by a loverly Spanish girl who spoke very good English, all checked in and off to our pitch.  Dry nice with great views all round. 

Our pitch gets the sun all day when it’s out which looking at the forcast is going to be for the next week. Sorry about that. Yesterday we had a walk down to the sea, about a twenty minute easy walk, passing through the town and across the tram lines. The tram goes north to Benidorm or south to Alacante. We will be on the tram at some point to the delights of Benidorm, that’s the old part, not the kiss me quick, wheres my full English breakfast, give me another beer mate, I am going to be sick stag and hen brigade part of Benidorm. Villajoyosa is known for its painted houses along the sea front. They say it’s so the fishermen could see there house from sea. It does look very nice. 

At the other end of the beach is a marina which we will explore another day. You can’t do to much in one day, when would you find time to have a beer and watch the sun go down. Also within walking distance is a place on my must do list a chocolate  factory and a chocolate museum. Yum yum looking forward to that day. We are on this site for 35 nights so will update you all further as and when. 

We are at Marjal Costa Blanca now as you know after an eight hour drive. Earlier this year when we were here we pitched up next to an English couple from Wales and had a real good laugh with them, they also took us out and about in the car which was nice of them. I had text them while we were in France to see if they were away this winter and guess what, that day they had just got to Marjal and said it would be great to see us again. So after our long journey and recoup, the next day we went round to say hello. It’s always nice to see people you like after a long time, you have so much to catch up on and allways forget something. 

A knock on the door yesterday and Bill was there, not the old bill(police) but Bill our friend, well he is old so I guess you could say the old bill came knocking on the door, we are going out in the car for a drive would you like to join us. Yes please that would be nice. So off we went heading for Guardamar, a sea side town. A stroll along the prom and a little cafe stop for a coffee and hot chocolate, watching the world go by. I must add all this was done in the sun. Back in the car and the next stop Santa Pola, another seaside town but with a marina. Just before you get to Santa Pola there are salt lakes either side of the road where you can see flamingos if you’re lucky. Today we were lucky, as we passed the lakes there was a group of about two hundred flamingos on one of the lakes and other small groups dotted about on other lakes. We could not stop because the road is busy and no where to pull over. Shame really because I so much wanted to get photos. Further along are huge big mountains of salt, probably all destined to be on your chips. 

We parked up and strolled around by the marina admiring the boats, saying how nice it would be to own one and sail off around the coast. While walking saw this amazing tree, looks just like a giant cabbage.

Another coffee and chocolate stop over looking the marina and boats. All very charming darling. And then back to the car but not before spotting the fish in the marina. 

Today I was going to go to a boot sale. I don’t need any Spanish boots but thought I would go just to have a look around, but it was cancelled due to rain forecast. Probably just as well, who knows what I would have come back with. Forgot to mention earlier, we had a evening down the pub with our friends also. Me and Nikki got there early, a pint and a large glass of red wine £3.60 At them sort of prices you can afford to go out with friends, I think the whole evening I bought ten drinks and that cost less than £20. Bargain. Today is a chill out day. 

We finally dragged ourself away from Soustons. But not before we strolled down the beach again and this time Nikki saw the dolphins. Just standing on the beach watching them play out to sea was magical. The aire emptied after the weekend just leaving about ten units. A couple came in after having trouble with the barrier. She had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp, don’t think she was happy about not being able to get in. 

Our next stop was a three hour drive away at a place called Cascante, a old roman town. We travelled down the west coast of France and crossed the border taking the 101 towards Pamplona and onwards towards Zaragoza. The aire (carpark) at Cascante was easy to find and very quiet, right near a sports centre etc. We parked up and then went for a walk. I wanted to see the roman  walkway that leads to the park. We found it with ease. What a fantastic place with great views from the top of the park.

Back to the camper and all of a sudden the car park was filling up with parents picking kids up, dropping them off for the leisure centre etc. A busy couple of hours and then all silent again. 

Our plan was to drive about three hours the next day to another campsite which said they have room for us. Where have I heard that before. In a ideal world we wanted to get to camping  Marjal Costa Blanca. After doing some research about the first campsite every piece of info said not suitable for units over 7 metres and very tight. We set off on the highway, driving through sun, low cloud on the mountain passes and heavy rain. Stop for fuel and make a decision to head for Camping Marjal. Eight hours later we arrive there. We have stayed before (January)and it’s very nice. I was knackered to say the least. Had a shower, Nikki fed me and that was it for me. Bed.