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SPAIN --February 2010
Playa del Albir and Denia
Another last minute booking saw me back in Spain in February at my old haunts of Albir, for two weeks, and then a week at Denia. Strictly speaking the Playa del Albir is the coast area of L'Alfas del Pi. It adjoins Altea and there are long flat promenades all along this East and South East facing bay ( apart from a short stretch in front of the Marina ! )
Three reviews have already been posted on these two areas, ( see Photos and Travel - Spain 2008 and 2009 ). Videos will follow. ( Use the index link to " patrickclips " ).
After the snow and cold at home it was good to be back in the warm sun.
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One relaxing day was spent walking up from the hotel up to the lighthouse, through the Parc Naturel de la Serra Gelada. In the afternoon sunbathing and a swim. The temperature was showing 25 degrees C, even before the hottest part of the afternoon.
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The view from the lighthouse ............................ and " proof " of the temperature !
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The indoor pool at the
Kaktus Hotel is on the roof. Every 20 minutes or so it
turns into a sort of jacuzzi. It is a covered, heated pool so swimming is possible whatever the weather |
Some nights were more chilly ( 10 - 14 degrees ), once snow appeared briefly in the morning on the tops of the surrounding hills. But this was better than the storms and heavy rains further south in Spain, Madeira and Tenerife.
An included trip was to the inland village of Finestrat, a new excursion, and to the associated La Cala beach ( around a headland from the Poniente beach of Benidorm ).
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To me the development in the small bay at La Cala was just another example of how the Spanish coast has been spoilt by over development. It seems the latest monstrosity has fallen foul of the property development laws, and there is now a dispute over removing some of the upper floors.
It is hard to understand why such building is allowed, when there is already a glut of unsold or unlet property on this coast of Spain, and La Cala does not have a very big beach.
A couple of trips were made into Benidorm during my stay in Albir. Both the Levante and Poniente beaches were both popular, especially on the weekend of the fiesta of St. Valentine, although the sand sculptures had gone. At the El Cisne weekend boot fair just outside Benidorm there are reasonable refreshment facilities, and live music at lunchtime.
| Advantage was taken of
the good weather to re video some of the shots which were
taken last year in widescreen format. They will be put on
Youtube in due course ( patrickclips ). A walk up to Altea church stretched the legs, with about 250 steps to reach the top, but the views are worth it. |
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A full day Coast and
Country excursion went inland to the Jalon Valley, then
to the Girona Valley and the caves at Benidolaig. The
pink and white almond blossom was coming out. After visiting Moraira for lunch it was down to the coast at Calpe, before returning to the Kaktus Albir later in the afternoon. ( See previous reviews for more pictures ) |
The Altea market is on a Tuesday and is now located away from the beach. It is easily reached from the hotel ( or Altea station ) using the No. 10 bus, or walking, and makes a pleasant morning out, since it is also near to the many cafés on the seafront.
The full day trip to Elche and Alicante was similar to last year ( see previous pictures ).
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A quiet square in Alicante ... and a typical depressing site of empty shops to let - and the inevitable graffiti.
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A return visit was made
to Javea. As before, more pictures can be found under the
reports for earlier years. It was a little depressing seeing familiar places closed, perhaps through lack of custom, with many Se Vende, or Se Alquila, signs. It was the same whether in Alicante or Javea, and sales discounts were also much in evidence ... even at El Corte Ingles. |
| On the third week I moved
up to Denia, and the Port Denia Hotel. The coastal Ttram
journey is worth making, just for an excursion. It
provides a good insight into the area around Benissa,
Gata and Teulada, and alternative views of familiar
landmarks. ( Right .. Calpe from the Ttram ) I gave the included excursions a miss at Denia since, apart from Gandia, they were to the same places as from Playa del Albir ). |
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The first pleasant surprise at the Port Denia Hotel was the free wifi access, also the food was even better than in preceding years. In addition to the main buffet, a themed meal was available on Tuesdays ( e.g. Chinese, Mexican ). The hotel " animation ", and evening entertainment and dancing, was still as before. ( Upstairs and downstairs )
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Wednesday morning was
pleasant and sunny after the couple of mixed days which
had gone before. A quick stroll around Denia in the morning, and bowls in the afternoon until a fresh breeze put paid to that. ( Left the fountain by the cafés at the top of the Marques de Campo ) |
| The bowls area had been
resurfaced, and provided good after lunch exercise. Walks towards Cape San Antonio made a change from the town and port area - and provided other photos, including what I thought was an old fur coat at a distance ! |
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On the Friday morning I walked up to the weekly boot sale ( " Rastro ") near the Plaza Jaime 1. It is in the same location as the Monday general market.
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Then on the Saturday I
caught the Ttram back to Altea, and spent a sunny day
there, meeting friends from the previous couple of weeks. ( Left: View over Altea bay from outside the Kaktus Hotel looking towards Calpe and the Ifach rock. ) |
| Monday was spent taking
more video in the older part of Denia, towards the
development area to the north of Denia. The video clips will be uploaded to patrickclips on Youtube shortly ( link on Home index page ). ( Right: A final shot from my bedroom towards Cape San Antonio, in the setting sun ) |
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More notes: For those with a laptop, there are various internet cafés around now with open access, the nearest to the Kaktus Albir hotel are probably the Carpe Diem Restaurant and bar, or the CocoLoco bar and café, although the hotel itself may shortly have free wifi access. There is free wifi at the Port Denia Hotel ( ask at reception ).
From the Kaktus it is better to use the No 10 bus to Benidorm, the bus fare now is now 1 Euro 25 for any distance. The bus stops in the town centre near the beaches.
The Ttram station at Benidorm is up a long hill. At Calpe, the Ttram station is a good bus ride away from the Port area. There is no Ttram station at Javea.
The Ttram from Altea to Denia, or vice versa, is now 2 Euros 50 return ( pensionista rate ). For the Altea market ( from Denia ) get off at the Garganes stop, ( one stop before the main Altea stop )
The Ttram from Denia to Alicante is about 6 Euros 50 return ( pensionista rate ) - but takes about three hours or so !! The coastal Ttram route is being extended, eventually to join the mainline station at the Alicante end.