Altea, Benidorm & Los Alcázares - 20 & 21 September 2024
20.09 - Javea (Xàbia) then Altea
Was chatting to an English couple in their van this morning in Dénia. They’re off to see the Alhambra in Granada next Monday - was surprised when they said their tickets were €178. Looked online - that was the cheapest I could find - some were €350! Plus there is very limited availability for September, and October looks pretty booked up too…
Tintin drove the 20 minutes or so to Javea - population 27,200. Interesting short journey - lots of switchbacks, and Co-pilot was at his best, taking us down narrow streets with tight corners - when there was a much straighter easier route near the end of the journey! Regardless, we managed to park up. Not really suitable for staying the night.
My friend Ali had given us ideas of where to see around this area, but parking might be a problem for some of the places…
My guidebook says that Javea has a large expat resident population and is a gentle, family oriented place which has resisted the high rise tourist developments that blight so much of the Costa Blanca.
Walked down to the beach. And what a beach. Fabulous swim. Only issue was the pebbles were all round and not flat - not very kind to feet! Just what was needed to cool off.
Had a brief walk along the seafront. Bought two cherry and chocolate ice creams (€6) - really, really yummy 😋 Faith in Spanish ice cream restored!
Would have liked to explore more - but a bit difficult in such a large vehicle.
Tintin then drove for about 30 minutes to a free place to service Dave - so we’re good again for a few days.
Another 40 minutes drive onto Altea. Was really busy driving in - subsequently have found out that they’re having a festival. The Islamist festival starts at 8pm tomorrow, and the Christian one on Monday. The streets are decorated with overhead lights (like our Christmas ones!). I’m sure we’ll find out more tomorrow…
We were so lucky, there are only 6 moho spaces here, and we nabbed the last one. We even have an English couple next door.
Was about 4pm before we went out again. Walked up to the Old Town. Described as “a tight-knit hilltop warren of whitewashed houses, it is visually very beautiful”. Lovely views from the top. However, the lure of the turquoise sea was too much! Walked back down, and flopped into the warm sea - to cool off! It’s been about 28° today - and very hot in Dave.
Oh - and the forecast rain - didn’t happen where we were!
21.09 - Altea, then Benidorm and Los Alcázares
Well, where to begin. Let’s just say we’ll give the Spanish 10/10 for their ability to party all night! The English couple next to us reckoned the ‘party’ would end about 2am - urm - try 5am! Even with all the hatches closed down - it was so bloney loud - and of course - hot!
So - “In Altea every year on the fourth weekend of the month in September, they celebrate the Patron Saint of the town: the Santísimo Cristo del Sagrario alongside the Moors and Christians (Moros y Cristianos) in the honour of San Blas.
As with most Spanish Fiestas the streets of Altea at night are brimming with light, colour, with lots of music playing from each Penya. In its present form of Moors and Christians we can go to 1979, but their origins date back many many years before this time. The traditional festivities recall the centuries old struggle between The Moors and The Christians. The Festivities, which include no shortage of weapons, fireworks, and, of course, the traditional battle that recreates the Arab occupation of the area and then its subsequent reconquest by the Moors.
As this was a "you win then we'll win" scenario this historical event continues on the same lines with The Moors winning one year and the Christians winning another - how reasonable an outcome is that?”
Well - what’s not reasonable it’s the deafening noise when trying to sleep!!
We could hear the band behind us, but then a ‘DJ’ started - loud, repetitive and horrible ‘techno’ beat. At 3am I did a voice recording - which hopefully you’ll get the gist of how irritating it all was!
Lots of shaking of heads this morning - the English man had proudly said he can sleep through anything - well he didn’t last night!
The weather was looking a bit pants - so after a cuppa, we walked down to the beach about 9.30am for a swim before the rain. Tintin didn’t really enjoy it - he got churned around and spat out when trying to get out. Doesn’t look rough, but was quite a pull with the waves - and the stones are painful to walk on…
There is a cafe with a WTF sign - no - not what you think! Asked a lady there about the festivities. She said they’ll carry on all day, and after a procession tonight - will carry on partying. That made up our decision to leave! There were lots of groups walking around, basically just wielding weapons and firing them and making people jump. Lots of anxious looking dogs too…
After a shower and breakfast, I drove about 20 minutes and we parked up on the outskirts of Benidorm. It rained heavily whilst driving, had another cuppa once stopped - then lunch whilst waiting for the rain to clear.
By about 13.30 we walked the 30 minutes into Benidorm. I wanted to go there, to see for myself what’s good and bad about it.
So many high rise buildings - yuck. Streets were so busy. Surprisingly, we heard a lot of Spanish spoken. Not all Brit’s abroad!
Walked to the ‘old town’. There was a jet ski race going on - so Tintin watched for a while.
Walked down to the sandy beach for another swim. It somehow felt colder - maybe because we were so hot by then! Managed to get all the sand off our feet before walking back!
We’d also taken coats and umbrellas! Ha - was sunny and hot - rubbish forecast - thankfully!
It made us smile to see multiple double mobility scooters. However, if it means people get away and enjoy themselves in their later years - then good on them!
So ✅ for Benidorm - it was most things we dislike - busy and touristy - but we had a good swim - and I’m glad I can now have my own opinion of such a well known place.
We weren’t really happy parked where we were - so I drove another 2 hours, and we’re now in a weird proper moho park in Los Alcázares. Hey ho, we can hopefully go for another swim tomorrow and move on again!
Has been up to 30° driving - but glad to say there’s a slight breeze and a bit of shade where we’re parked.
🤞we’ll both sleep tonight after lack of sleep last night, over 11,000 steps and two swims - and rum might help!
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