...From our balcony we can see the sea, the Mediterranean. to the left mount Benidorm is obscured by the second apartment block on our site. to the right we can see the hill upon which there is a fire beacon at the summit. It is built of stone bricks. The beacons were used as an early warning when Spain was under attack by the moors. I can see the Marina bar and the Hotel La Cala, most of the beach and the sunbathers on their blue loungers shaded by the blue and white patterned parasols. Below the balcony is the swimming pool and we can hear the kids laughing, shouting and screaming (usually "mama" or "Papa") and lots of "mirar, mirar" (look look) as they show off to their parents and siblings. The balcony has a perfect position from a sun point of view, winter sun and summer shade. From now until some time in September the sun is at 12 o'clock in the sky which puts our apartment in shade. temperatures drift between 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. There is always a slight breeze from the sea which helps to cool things a bit.
On the horizon we see ships, cargo ships, fishing boats and cruise liners, in Summer we see the Alicante to Ibiza ferry pass by. In the morning we see the ferry to Calpe, pass from its berth to its operating port in Benidorm, and in the evening we see it return.
Just off Benidorm is Benidorm island, affectionately known by the ex-pats as bird s*** Island due to the large population of sea birds flocking there. From Benidorm there is a ferry which takes the tourists to the island, when they disembark, they are directed to a glass bottomed semi-submersible, which floats around the little bay their so they can see the fish. When they emerge they have about an hour before the next boat arrives and they can be liberated from Benidorms answer to Alcatraz. Because apart from the wild birds and 2 caged peacocks, there is nothing else to occupy you on the island, there isn't any shade so the cafe bar near the jetty is the only refuge and they have the only food and drink around. So me being ever the cynic, I wonder if the trip is designed to make the tourist really appreciate Benidorm town.
Ange and I once went with our friends Ian and Christine, who were here for a holiday, on the Calpe boat. Anyone who knows me understands that I don't really like being on small boats, but this one seemed quite big and stable until we set off around the rocky outcrop at the end of Levante beach and round into the Albir/Altea beach, where it was scheduled to stop to load and unload passengers. The bow went up so you could only see the sky and crashed down sending spray all over us, then it pitched and rolled to the degree I serious thought it may capsize. To my left and right people were clutching carrier bags with their heads inside and very sea sick. I don't suffer sea sickness, but I was scared of drowning. Christine, who may have indulged a little to much the evening before was desperately trying to keep her breakfast down, but eventually we docked at Calpe, When you arrive at Calpe, you have to walk past several Spanish fish restaurants. Every one of them have people outside trying to lure you in with free sangria and free tapas.
We were lured by one specific restaurant and proceeded to order the menu del dia fer each of us. We were just about settled from the sail, but Christine and Ange's stomach was once more put under strain with a couple of prawns which were bad and awful to look at. We paid and left.
There is a lovely walk around the cliffs at Calpe with a nice garden filled with flowers and plants and tended by the local council. That was the highlight of the day, followed closely by an ice cream on the way back for the boat.
We set of back with similar weaving and bobbing to our first journey, but maybe we were used to it. As we approached the harbour at benidorm Ange moved forward and pounced like a kestrel hawk onto its prey scooped something off and got off the boat.
When we were safely on the jetty, she confided in me that she had seen a 50 euro note on the deck and as there was only me and her around she was having it, because her view was if she handed it to the skipper he would have been drinking later on the proceeds, and it was Ange's view that as we endured his driving we could recover in the bar....
The Marina Bar
La Cala de Finestrat beach. On the right of this page there are site links of people who have been in my blogs. Feel free to go have a look.
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Entertaining, eating and the dangers of paradise
...We are entertaining Patrick and Neil, and Dave and Pete tomorrow night. Patrick and Neil own and run Paneil's restaurant. So you can imagine my wife scurrying round the kitchen, muttering oaths under her breath, as she wields the odd pan or three, whilst making (which I know will be excellent) preparation for tomorrows meal. Today she is making a traditional cheesecake. Certain ingredients are marinading in preparation for the 'big' cooking exercise tomorrow. Patrick and Neil are both excellent cooks, so she feels they are a hard act to live up to. But Angela never gives herself any credit so I will tell you she is also an excellent cook.
We have discovered a red wine (recommended to us by a wine taster) which is 1 Euro and 15 cents. that is less than a pound a bottle and I defy anyone to offer me anything in England up to the price of £6 that will beat it. We also get a white wine which is the extortionate price now of 1 Euro 49 cents. I went to Carrefour and took advantage of their 3 for 2 offer and bought three litres of Famous Grouse for 26 Euros. Finally I got a 12 pack of Mahou beer for 4 euros. So I am covered for the drinking requirements of my dinner guests.
As you can tell these are good prices. In England the authorities nag on about cheap beer causing a binge drinking society which promotes thuggery and violence. I would like those same people show me that level of thuggery here in Spain. Mind you Policemen with guns, 30 minute patrols around every road ad street, punitive gaol sentences and benefits for those who have paid into the system only, may have some bearing on the fact that Spanish people tend not to overdo the alcohol consumption especially if you have hangovers and can't work. For if you don't work or if you don't have an independent income here, you simply don't eat never mind drink.
Anyway, past experiences of feeding Patrick and Neil have resulted in positive feedback and they still accept our invitations so we must be at least holding our own.
We also take note of where Patrick and Neil go out to dine, because they are very honest about the food they eat, they compliment good restaurants and tend to say very little about the ones they are less keen on which I think shows a great professionalism. I on the other hand, am a consumer only, which allows me critics rights. We don't always eat in restaurants of the quality of Paneils. http://www.paneils.com/ We see their restaurant as somewhere special.
Very often we eat in Spanish restaurants. Each one has a menu del dia (menu of the day). This tends to be 4 courses and half a bottle of wine. the price varies from 9 euros to 12 euros. A typical menu would be. Mussels/soup/melon/prawns/crab meat for starter then pasta with bolognese sauce/meatballs/cold meats/mixed salad/tuna salad, then roast chicken/meat paella/fish paella/meatballs and finally creme caramel/ice cream/cake or coffee. This menu is a hang over from the Franco years. It was decreed that every restaurant must serve a substantial meal in the day time at a price that the workers can afford. The tradition continue.
As you can imagine some restaurants are better than others and we ex-pats have learned that from July to the middle of September you don't touch anything with cream, coleslaw, crab meat or prawns unless you are confident it has been properly refrigerated. The consequence of ignoring this fine plan is confinement to the nearest convenience for a minimum of 24 hours.
The heat brings me to the next danger, which is the sun. We sit in the Marina Bar, facing the beach, its clear when a new intake of tourists have arrived, there are scattered white bodies all over the beach, which turn to crimson, disappear for a day or so and then reappear and slowly over a few days blend into the brown tan colour just before they leave, following which a new white influx appears. This is why one of the most important summertime service on the beach is the cruz roja (red cross). They are very good. They have provided two life guards this year (normally one) and a few 1st aiders. There is also a small sea craft beyond the buoys patrolling for swimmers in danger. last year as the waters became warmer, fish not normally known to swim close in to the shore did so and a young girl had her fingers bitten by one which, wasn't lethal but had she been any deeper the shock could have got her into difficulties. The weather also drives in the jelly fish, and the coast guards service either employ someone or actually push the shoals out to sea.
In the middle of August the temperature can rise to the 40's C and that's when they declare tropical temperatures and issue warnings in order to help the elderly and children.
And what a pain Mosquitoes are! We bought this electronic mozzy deterrent which was as much use as a chocolate fireguard. I plugged it is and it make the noise of the female mosquito. That encourages the stalking mozzy to go elsewhere. I woke up the following morning covered in bites and to rub my nose in it there were 3 of the little critters sat on the plug in. I think one of the many metal detectors may just find the useless piece of junk next time the tide ebbs.....
http://webcam.comunitatvalenciana.com/webcam-costablanca-finestrat-28
We have discovered a red wine (recommended to us by a wine taster) which is 1 Euro and 15 cents. that is less than a pound a bottle and I defy anyone to offer me anything in England up to the price of £6 that will beat it. We also get a white wine which is the extortionate price now of 1 Euro 49 cents. I went to Carrefour and took advantage of their 3 for 2 offer and bought three litres of Famous Grouse for 26 Euros. Finally I got a 12 pack of Mahou beer for 4 euros. So I am covered for the drinking requirements of my dinner guests.
As you can tell these are good prices. In England the authorities nag on about cheap beer causing a binge drinking society which promotes thuggery and violence. I would like those same people show me that level of thuggery here in Spain. Mind you Policemen with guns, 30 minute patrols around every road ad street, punitive gaol sentences and benefits for those who have paid into the system only, may have some bearing on the fact that Spanish people tend not to overdo the alcohol consumption especially if you have hangovers and can't work. For if you don't work or if you don't have an independent income here, you simply don't eat never mind drink.
Anyway, past experiences of feeding Patrick and Neil have resulted in positive feedback and they still accept our invitations so we must be at least holding our own.
We also take note of where Patrick and Neil go out to dine, because they are very honest about the food they eat, they compliment good restaurants and tend to say very little about the ones they are less keen on which I think shows a great professionalism. I on the other hand, am a consumer only, which allows me critics rights. We don't always eat in restaurants of the quality of Paneils. http://www.paneils.com/ We see their restaurant as somewhere special.
Very often we eat in Spanish restaurants. Each one has a menu del dia (menu of the day). This tends to be 4 courses and half a bottle of wine. the price varies from 9 euros to 12 euros. A typical menu would be. Mussels/soup/melon/prawns/crab meat for starter then pasta with bolognese sauce/meatballs/cold meats/mixed salad/tuna salad, then roast chicken/meat paella/fish paella/meatballs and finally creme caramel/ice cream/cake or coffee. This menu is a hang over from the Franco years. It was decreed that every restaurant must serve a substantial meal in the day time at a price that the workers can afford. The tradition continue.
As you can imagine some restaurants are better than others and we ex-pats have learned that from July to the middle of September you don't touch anything with cream, coleslaw, crab meat or prawns unless you are confident it has been properly refrigerated. The consequence of ignoring this fine plan is confinement to the nearest convenience for a minimum of 24 hours.
The heat brings me to the next danger, which is the sun. We sit in the Marina Bar, facing the beach, its clear when a new intake of tourists have arrived, there are scattered white bodies all over the beach, which turn to crimson, disappear for a day or so and then reappear and slowly over a few days blend into the brown tan colour just before they leave, following which a new white influx appears. This is why one of the most important summertime service on the beach is the cruz roja (red cross). They are very good. They have provided two life guards this year (normally one) and a few 1st aiders. There is also a small sea craft beyond the buoys patrolling for swimmers in danger. last year as the waters became warmer, fish not normally known to swim close in to the shore did so and a young girl had her fingers bitten by one which, wasn't lethal but had she been any deeper the shock could have got her into difficulties. The weather also drives in the jelly fish, and the coast guards service either employ someone or actually push the shoals out to sea.
In the middle of August the temperature can rise to the 40's C and that's when they declare tropical temperatures and issue warnings in order to help the elderly and children.
And what a pain Mosquitoes are! We bought this electronic mozzy deterrent which was as much use as a chocolate fireguard. I plugged it is and it make the noise of the female mosquito. That encourages the stalking mozzy to go elsewhere. I woke up the following morning covered in bites and to rub my nose in it there were 3 of the little critters sat on the plug in. I think one of the many metal detectors may just find the useless piece of junk next time the tide ebbs.....
http://webcam.comunitatvalenciana.com/webcam-costablanca-finestrat-28
Friday, 27 June 2008
Never mind the weather eat drink and be merry
See the san Juan celebration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygexeM2QokQ
...Stop press... Spain beat Russia 3-0 in the eurocup last night. We suspected as much when the fireworks were set off for 2 hours last night and cars were driving around and around tooting their horns and people shouting and singing. Wonder what they will do if they win on Sunday?
Its getting warm now. 32 C today here but inland there are warnings about the heat its going to be as high as 41C in Cordoba.
The problem with ex-pat brits, the weather is never right. August "its too hot, I can't stand this heat", September "Its still hot" October "The temperature is getting better but its still hot. November "We came to Spain to get away from the rain", December "its getting chilly at night now", January "I need a coat on and we have got the duvet out now". February, "This is as bad as being in England, rain and cold too". March "still a bit rainy but at least its getting warmer". April "Its getting a bit nicer now, but not warm enough yet". May. "It should soon be summer, its been cold long enough". June. "Its getting flippin hot now". July "This is too hot I can't stand the heat". Now to any brit reading this imagine being in England.
January/February/March/April/May/June/July/August/September/October/November/December. "its wet, cold and windy". So enjoy Spain!
Another good part of being in Spain is fresh vegetables. The Friday market was on today and my wife Ange went to buy some fruit and veg. She got apples, pears, oranges, plums, bananas, kiwi fruit and tomatoes, and the veg were, radish, carrots, celery, lettuce, spring onions, potatoes and garlic. For this the bill came to 20 Euros or approx £16. That will keep us going until the next market day. You can also buy cooked fresh chicken, jamon (ham) many different cooked meats and confectionery too. People come from the other side of Benidorm for this market. The one thing I item I can't get is a pair of shoes, I am size 12 and the biggest they do here is 11. So I have to get them from England when I go there or ask someone to get me a pair and bring them over when they come on holiday.
For clothes there is carrefour a French owned supermarket chain. T-Shirts for 5 euros which may last a year but they are great value, most of the year we wear shorts vests or T-Shirts and sandals, so clothing is not expensive. Admittedly white goods and electrical stuff is expensive, but these days fridges last a good while, and because its so nice who needs a telly we go out. And if you want football then just go to a bar and watch it.
Eating out is very affordable. There are some excellent restaurants. Paneils in the Old town is arguably the best. Owned and run by Patrick and Neil, they do a menu of the day for 14 euros which includes as an option a steak with pepper sauce. They also have an a la carte menu. The menu del dia is 3 courses. Patrick is the front of house meet and greet guy and does a superb job, everyone feels welcome and special and is assisted by Lynn. In the kitchen is Neil who performs his magic with the assistance of Dee and Paul. Together they make a good team and if you don't have a good experience then your standards are greater than I have ever experienced.
To get the real flavour of Spain you need to visit Benidorm's Tapas ally. There are some marvellous dishes to be had. Calamari, mussels in chilli sauce, albondigas (similar to meatballs), squid, sepia a la plancha (cuttle fish done on a hot plate), chupitos (baby octopus) morcilla (like black pudding but with rice instead of fat) various fish, hake, sole, cod etc. chorizo (spicy red sausage) and many other dishes. The Spanish like to drink red Cava with tapas, and very nice it is too.
And as a final thought for those of you who like to have a good feed after a skin full of beer on the avenida Mediteraneo, there is an excellent kebab shop with chilli sauce and salad in a pitta bread. We have it all and sun...
...Stop press... Spain beat Russia 3-0 in the eurocup last night. We suspected as much when the fireworks were set off for 2 hours last night and cars were driving around and around tooting their horns and people shouting and singing. Wonder what they will do if they win on Sunday?
Its getting warm now. 32 C today here but inland there are warnings about the heat its going to be as high as 41C in Cordoba.
The problem with ex-pat brits, the weather is never right. August "its too hot, I can't stand this heat", September "Its still hot" October "The temperature is getting better but its still hot. November "We came to Spain to get away from the rain", December "its getting chilly at night now", January "I need a coat on and we have got the duvet out now". February, "This is as bad as being in England, rain and cold too". March "still a bit rainy but at least its getting warmer". April "Its getting a bit nicer now, but not warm enough yet". May. "It should soon be summer, its been cold long enough". June. "Its getting flippin hot now". July "This is too hot I can't stand the heat". Now to any brit reading this imagine being in England.
January/February/March/April/May/June/July/August/September/October/November/December. "its wet, cold and windy". So enjoy Spain!
Another good part of being in Spain is fresh vegetables. The Friday market was on today and my wife Ange went to buy some fruit and veg. She got apples, pears, oranges, plums, bananas, kiwi fruit and tomatoes, and the veg were, radish, carrots, celery, lettuce, spring onions, potatoes and garlic. For this the bill came to 20 Euros or approx £16. That will keep us going until the next market day. You can also buy cooked fresh chicken, jamon (ham) many different cooked meats and confectionery too. People come from the other side of Benidorm for this market. The one thing I item I can't get is a pair of shoes, I am size 12 and the biggest they do here is 11. So I have to get them from England when I go there or ask someone to get me a pair and bring them over when they come on holiday.
For clothes there is carrefour a French owned supermarket chain. T-Shirts for 5 euros which may last a year but they are great value, most of the year we wear shorts vests or T-Shirts and sandals, so clothing is not expensive. Admittedly white goods and electrical stuff is expensive, but these days fridges last a good while, and because its so nice who needs a telly we go out. And if you want football then just go to a bar and watch it.
Eating out is very affordable. There are some excellent restaurants. Paneils in the Old town is arguably the best. Owned and run by Patrick and Neil, they do a menu of the day for 14 euros which includes as an option a steak with pepper sauce. They also have an a la carte menu. The menu del dia is 3 courses. Patrick is the front of house meet and greet guy and does a superb job, everyone feels welcome and special and is assisted by Lynn. In the kitchen is Neil who performs his magic with the assistance of Dee and Paul. Together they make a good team and if you don't have a good experience then your standards are greater than I have ever experienced.
To get the real flavour of Spain you need to visit Benidorm's Tapas ally. There are some marvellous dishes to be had. Calamari, mussels in chilli sauce, albondigas (similar to meatballs), squid, sepia a la plancha (cuttle fish done on a hot plate), chupitos (baby octopus) morcilla (like black pudding but with rice instead of fat) various fish, hake, sole, cod etc. chorizo (spicy red sausage) and many other dishes. The Spanish like to drink red Cava with tapas, and very nice it is too.
And as a final thought for those of you who like to have a good feed after a skin full of beer on the avenida Mediteraneo, there is an excellent kebab shop with chilli sauce and salad in a pitta bread. We have it all and sun...
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Guests.....friend or enemy
...We all have guests coming to stay through the year. Usually its family but also many friends. At the moment David and Linda are here. David is my wife's brother and Linda his wife. last weekend Jonathan's sister Joanne was here with her friend. Pete and Dave have had Pete's sister Linda and her husband here only a couple of weeks ago and we all know each other and look forward to their next visits.
Joanne was unfortunate, because San Juan happens on the 23rd June every year. As Joanne works during term time she couldn't be here on the Monday when the festival is in full flow.
Unlike last year! ,also with the same friend , was clearly up for a party. She joined in the spirit of things and the wine and beer and anything else alcoholic. she partied expertly, and into the small hours, but she was 'very tired and emotional' at the end....about as tired as a newt!!! Did I mention slightly ill too....no I don't think I did...
I have a friend who was telling me he was coming over when we moved here 3 going on 4 years ago, and he only just made it this year. That is Joe and his wife Julie. Joe was the one who inspired me to blog about daily life here.
But Joe is also a bit of a raconteur, he can tell a joke well and has excellent observational skills, like some of the best comedians, like Peter Kay, Jasper Carrot, Billy Connolly etc. And strange things happen to Joe. He is a regular helper at Lourdes for the Handicapped Children's Pilgrimmage Trust. He takes care of a handicapped child on a pilgrimage to Lourdes each year. The carer and child have meeting before hand to ensure compatibility and gain trust. Joe was on such a visit back in the UK when an incident happened that was ultimately amusing but at the time surreal.
He was in the lounge, it was winter, warm fire burning and cup of tea in hand. The family and Joe were chatting when Joe saw in the corner of his eye, the family cat strolling across the hearth and as the tail wagged, it caught fire. Joe pounced from his chair and batted the flames out which made the cat screech and dart out of the room. His hosts were sat open mouthed at Joe...as far as they were concerned this maniac leaped from his char slapped the cat, which flew out of the room, and he was looking after their child abroad for a week. He had to persuade them to examine the cat to see the singed hair to prove it was an act of altruism...
Joe liked our location and abode...hopefully he will come again.
Next month my friends Julie and Michelle are coming. They like the freedom of staying in a holiday apartment and I usually try to find a nice place at sensible prices. They are bringing a friend Sean with them who is a great lad. Whilst they are here they will be sunbathing for sure, and I don't doubt having the odd Vodka, 1,3,5,7,9 etc... And me and Ange will be joining them no doubt.
Some people here have unwelcome guests who were welcome before they came. The type who see your home as a hotel..they get up and ask what is for breakfast, never wash a plate, or move a cup, don't contribute to the shopping or the socialising. We consider ourselves lucky, but there are some stories that make you wonder if you should buy a one bedroom apartment and no excuses are ever needed then to say they can't stay...
Joanne was unfortunate, because San Juan happens on the 23rd June every year. As Joanne works during term time she couldn't be here on the Monday when the festival is in full flow.
Unlike last year! ,also with the same friend , was clearly up for a party. She joined in the spirit of things and the wine and beer and anything else alcoholic. she partied expertly, and into the small hours, but she was 'very tired and emotional' at the end....about as tired as a newt!!! Did I mention slightly ill too....no I don't think I did...
I have a friend who was telling me he was coming over when we moved here 3 going on 4 years ago, and he only just made it this year. That is Joe and his wife Julie. Joe was the one who inspired me to blog about daily life here.
But Joe is also a bit of a raconteur, he can tell a joke well and has excellent observational skills, like some of the best comedians, like Peter Kay, Jasper Carrot, Billy Connolly etc. And strange things happen to Joe. He is a regular helper at Lourdes for the Handicapped Children's Pilgrimmage Trust. He takes care of a handicapped child on a pilgrimage to Lourdes each year. The carer and child have meeting before hand to ensure compatibility and gain trust. Joe was on such a visit back in the UK when an incident happened that was ultimately amusing but at the time surreal.
He was in the lounge, it was winter, warm fire burning and cup of tea in hand. The family and Joe were chatting when Joe saw in the corner of his eye, the family cat strolling across the hearth and as the tail wagged, it caught fire. Joe pounced from his chair and batted the flames out which made the cat screech and dart out of the room. His hosts were sat open mouthed at Joe...as far as they were concerned this maniac leaped from his char slapped the cat, which flew out of the room, and he was looking after their child abroad for a week. He had to persuade them to examine the cat to see the singed hair to prove it was an act of altruism...
Joe liked our location and abode...hopefully he will come again.
Next month my friends Julie and Michelle are coming. They like the freedom of staying in a holiday apartment and I usually try to find a nice place at sensible prices. They are bringing a friend Sean with them who is a great lad. Whilst they are here they will be sunbathing for sure, and I don't doubt having the odd Vodka, 1,3,5,7,9 etc... And me and Ange will be joining them no doubt.
Some people here have unwelcome guests who were welcome before they came. The type who see your home as a hotel..they get up and ask what is for breakfast, never wash a plate, or move a cup, don't contribute to the shopping or the socialising. We consider ourselves lucky, but there are some stories that make you wonder if you should buy a one bedroom apartment and no excuses are ever needed then to say they can't stay...
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
New cushions to dos huevos con patatas fritas
...New cushions in the Marina bar! Yes Pepi and Antonio have bought new cushions. The fact that the whicker chairs are falling apart is a mere detail. But yesterday when I went for the odd Mahou, Pepi was sat witha chord-less drill and some screws shaking a selected whicker chair to see how unsteady it was. If it failed the test he got a screw and used the drill as an electric screw driver to fix the wobble. Next to me was a Dutch couple who couls speak some Spanish and very good English. "Pepi doesn't like to spend money" the man said to me, instantly clocking that I was a limey. "He must have got the covers from a gypsy at knock down prices, but he clearly couldn't make a deal for the chairs" he laughingly continued. Pepi, who was un-moved by this jolly banter, continued shaking chairs like a man possessed.
http://webcam.comunitatvalenciana.com/webcam-costablanca-finestrat-28
My wife Angela works in a small English supermarket called La Cala Save, she has colleagues Julie and Sally, an occasional worker called Rita and her boss is Andrew. They all work it amongst themselves who works when, and do swaps when the social scene demands. The shop is slightly more expensive than Mercadonna or Lidl, but he is dealing in a lower turnover so that's why. To the holiday maker La Cala save is a little part of the UK abroad.
They arrive at their holiday home for the week/fortnight full of enthusiasm. They have their first meal and start to think about what they are eating, by day two they venture out towards pastures new, and they come across La Cala save. If you have ever watched Peter Kay's acts you may have heard his tale of going abroad. How the brits see a packet of cadbury's chocolate fingers and saying "oh they taste just like those in England". Well that's their first observation the second one is after they have tried their spanglish out "hola, do youo have salto" and they realise that the person they are talking to is English, they instantly relax, "Ah great, do you have any English salt"? ....
The other bit of information that they find hard to assimilate is the very fact an English person is serving at all. "do you live here"? is a regular enquiry, my wife has known to be flippant occasionally and say "No I commute most days". (hope Andrew doesn't read this oops).
And talking about shopping, I haven't mentioned Sheila and Pat. They are professional shoppers, you hardly see either without shopping bags or trolleys, unless of course they are in the marina bar and then you rarely see them without alcohol.
Both ladies have recently lost their husbands, but they have helped each other through a very difficult period and they seem to be coming out of the other side. Shelia has sold her house in the UK and Pat is in the process of selling.
Sheila and Pat have another friend calle Brenda, who is from Scotland. All three are very good company and like a laugh. I also pity the poor man who thinks these ladies are a walkover, because they are definitely not! The three go to Cafe Benidorm which has seen off much younger people than this trio, and they come home with the milk float.
The day that Pat and Sheila seem to come to like on is Friday, that's La Cala market day. The riverbed street converts to a large open air market. Stall upon stall, selling fresh vegetables, fruit, watches, wallets, hand bags, paintings, toys. You name it , it is probably there. In the middle is a makeshift cafe, and in all cafes in Spain they sell alcohol. so from some time in the AM, Sheila and Pat are bringing their 2 favourite hobbies together 'drinking and buying'!
By the afternoon you can see emerging from the crowd and landing on an unsuspecting Marina Bar, in need of food. Sheila has very good Spanish and it is therefore maybe because she is tired she asks for "dos egg and chips Pepi".......
http://webcam.comunitatvalenciana.com/webcam-costablanca-finestrat-28
My wife Angela works in a small English supermarket called La Cala Save, she has colleagues Julie and Sally, an occasional worker called Rita and her boss is Andrew. They all work it amongst themselves who works when, and do swaps when the social scene demands. The shop is slightly more expensive than Mercadonna or Lidl, but he is dealing in a lower turnover so that's why. To the holiday maker La Cala save is a little part of the UK abroad.
They arrive at their holiday home for the week/fortnight full of enthusiasm. They have their first meal and start to think about what they are eating, by day two they venture out towards pastures new, and they come across La Cala save. If you have ever watched Peter Kay's acts you may have heard his tale of going abroad. How the brits see a packet of cadbury's chocolate fingers and saying "oh they taste just like those in England". Well that's their first observation the second one is after they have tried their spanglish out "hola, do youo have salto" and they realise that the person they are talking to is English, they instantly relax, "Ah great, do you have any English salt"? ....
The other bit of information that they find hard to assimilate is the very fact an English person is serving at all. "do you live here"? is a regular enquiry, my wife has known to be flippant occasionally and say "No I commute most days". (hope Andrew doesn't read this oops).
And talking about shopping, I haven't mentioned Sheila and Pat. They are professional shoppers, you hardly see either without shopping bags or trolleys, unless of course they are in the marina bar and then you rarely see them without alcohol.
Both ladies have recently lost their husbands, but they have helped each other through a very difficult period and they seem to be coming out of the other side. Shelia has sold her house in the UK and Pat is in the process of selling.
Sheila and Pat have another friend calle Brenda, who is from Scotland. All three are very good company and like a laugh. I also pity the poor man who thinks these ladies are a walkover, because they are definitely not! The three go to Cafe Benidorm which has seen off much younger people than this trio, and they come home with the milk float.
The day that Pat and Sheila seem to come to like on is Friday, that's La Cala market day. The riverbed street converts to a large open air market. Stall upon stall, selling fresh vegetables, fruit, watches, wallets, hand bags, paintings, toys. You name it , it is probably there. In the middle is a makeshift cafe, and in all cafes in Spain they sell alcohol. so from some time in the AM, Sheila and Pat are bringing their 2 favourite hobbies together 'drinking and buying'!
By the afternoon you can see emerging from the crowd and landing on an unsuspecting Marina Bar, in need of food. Sheila has very good Spanish and it is therefore maybe because she is tired she asks for "dos egg and chips Pepi".......
Saturday, 21 June 2008
San Juan
... San Juan has been and gone. Bonfires were lit, fireworks fired, picnics eaten partying galore. It is a wonderful atmosphere.
My wife, brother in law and sister in law went to select our spot on the beach, we were lucky to find somewhere only a few feet from the sea. The invitation to everyone was look for us by the tourist information hut. The crowds gathered, but as our party included people working, or meeting other guests, the beach was almost full before we were a completed group. Nearby were groups of Spaniards and ex-pats and on the road outside the Marina Bar were lots of bemused tourists wondering exactly was going on.
On the beach front near the car park were two enormous stages, on one there was an orchestra/band and very good they were too. over the second stage there was a crane and a hoist which was later to act as a kind of trapeze for the finale of the fiesta.
We all had our cold boxes and wine and beer. we put a towel on the sand acting as a table, lit a few candles as dusk fell. Others had bought their charcoal from the vender and lit small fires near their groups. The party atmosphere grew and soon people were dancing to the music, including Pete who had probably consumed a sufficient quantity of vino collapso to dance alone in the sea. This was much to the amusement of the Spaniards who were all photographing him with digital cameras and mobile phones some even videod him too. So our group comprised, me my wife, Pete and Dave, Laurence and Tony, Brenda, Jonathan and Duncan, Paul and Tracy, Paul's Dad and step Mother, Patrick and Neil (who own and run a fantastic restaurant called Paneils) Andrea and Rick (who made a sangria to die for) and one or two others who came and went.
Nearby there was a group with a Barbeque and a charcoal fire. The fire was clearly fading so the kids went to fetch whatever wood they could and ended up with some which was damp. The outcome was billowing acrid smoke which was getting on everyones chest. A Spanish group behind us took exception to it and asked them to put it out. They didn't. So the Spaniards put it out for them. This prompted the mother of the children to go and kick sand on their fire which resulted in an arm flailing fist waving altercation. Fortunately it fizzled out like the two fires.
We had prepared some food, nothing fancy just sausages and chicken things and bread. We all ate and drank until 12, when everyone ran into the sea following tradition, except Pete who had never come out of it (in fact we weren't sure if he had swam to Ibiza and back the length of time he was in there.) At 12.15 the street lights dimmed which was a signal that the fireworks would start. It was one of the best displays I have seen.
The finale then started, lots of evocative music and the arrival of the parade which had been walking since 8 pm. And when it finished that was the end of the official fiesta. We as a group fragmented some went to the Marina bar, others went home some stayed on the beach to finish their picnic. Dave was carried home by Pete, Laurence and Tony went early because they had a boating party the day after. Patrick and Neil were still in party mode so continued with Jonathan and Duncan. Me and my relatives went home.
We have yet to meet in order to have a post mortem of the fiesta, but generally thought to be one of the best, we await the photographs of the lonesome thonged Pete dancing into the sea like a latterday King Canute.....
see the fun on Utube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygexeM2QokQ
My wife, brother in law and sister in law went to select our spot on the beach, we were lucky to find somewhere only a few feet from the sea. The invitation to everyone was look for us by the tourist information hut. The crowds gathered, but as our party included people working, or meeting other guests, the beach was almost full before we were a completed group. Nearby were groups of Spaniards and ex-pats and on the road outside the Marina Bar were lots of bemused tourists wondering exactly was going on.
On the beach front near the car park were two enormous stages, on one there was an orchestra/band and very good they were too. over the second stage there was a crane and a hoist which was later to act as a kind of trapeze for the finale of the fiesta.
We all had our cold boxes and wine and beer. we put a towel on the sand acting as a table, lit a few candles as dusk fell. Others had bought their charcoal from the vender and lit small fires near their groups. The party atmosphere grew and soon people were dancing to the music, including Pete who had probably consumed a sufficient quantity of vino collapso to dance alone in the sea. This was much to the amusement of the Spaniards who were all photographing him with digital cameras and mobile phones some even videod him too. So our group comprised, me my wife, Pete and Dave, Laurence and Tony, Brenda, Jonathan and Duncan, Paul and Tracy, Paul's Dad and step Mother, Patrick and Neil (who own and run a fantastic restaurant called Paneils) Andrea and Rick (who made a sangria to die for) and one or two others who came and went.
Nearby there was a group with a Barbeque and a charcoal fire. The fire was clearly fading so the kids went to fetch whatever wood they could and ended up with some which was damp. The outcome was billowing acrid smoke which was getting on everyones chest. A Spanish group behind us took exception to it and asked them to put it out. They didn't. So the Spaniards put it out for them. This prompted the mother of the children to go and kick sand on their fire which resulted in an arm flailing fist waving altercation. Fortunately it fizzled out like the two fires.
We had prepared some food, nothing fancy just sausages and chicken things and bread. We all ate and drank until 12, when everyone ran into the sea following tradition, except Pete who had never come out of it (in fact we weren't sure if he had swam to Ibiza and back the length of time he was in there.) At 12.15 the street lights dimmed which was a signal that the fireworks would start. It was one of the best displays I have seen.
The finale then started, lots of evocative music and the arrival of the parade which had been walking since 8 pm. And when it finished that was the end of the official fiesta. We as a group fragmented some went to the Marina bar, others went home some stayed on the beach to finish their picnic. Dave was carried home by Pete, Laurence and Tony went early because they had a boating party the day after. Patrick and Neil were still in party mode so continued with Jonathan and Duncan. Me and my relatives went home.
We have yet to meet in order to have a post mortem of the fiesta, but generally thought to be one of the best, we await the photographs of the lonesome thonged Pete dancing into the sea like a latterday King Canute.....
see the fun on Utube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygexeM2QokQ
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Don't drink from the bottle!
..We were having dinner in the apartment with friends when my mobile rang. It was Dave from Cornwall in his Benidorm apartment. He said "Bob have you been drinking?" "Yes, we are having dinner with our guests" I replied. "OK where is the nearest hospital, is it the clinic?" he asked. "What do you want a hospital for " I said, obviously worried that he was ill. "It's Roy, he has drunk something and thinks he may have poisoned himself" he said with a trace of humour in his voice. "Sorry mate can't help but you could get a taxi to Marina Baixa hospital.
We carried on with the party and the next day we bumped into Roy, Jennifer and Dave. The story came out.
Roy (AKA The Grim Reaper) had a cough and a ticklish throat. He kept his medicine in the kitchen, where the spoons are kept. But Dave was cooking some steaks for dinner which meant blocking the way to the spoon drawer. So Roy, rather than disturb the chef, decided to take a swig from the bottle. Unfortunately, what he actually swigged was Citronella, oops! So Roy was retching an coughing, and generally fearing for his life. So Dave not wishing to waste good fillet steak, had his dinner, then considered the plan to get Roy to medical care.
They rang me, then got up to the clinic,which was closed as I had already predicted. So they got a taxi, to the Benidorm clinic, which is private. They wanted 60 euros or so for the call out doctor,well Roy is from Yorkshire and Dave enjoys a bargain, so they got a taxi to Marina Baixa hospital as I had advised.
There the medics consulted a hospital in Madrid, put Roy on a drip, gave him some medicine and kept him there for a while. The Doctor then said he could go home. "Am I going to die?" said Roy. "Not tonight" was the shrewd Doctors reply.
Having told us the tail, I was taking Roy and Jennifer to the airport. Before we set off I asked Roy to breathe into the car because there was a fly buzzing around.....
We carried on with the party and the next day we bumped into Roy, Jennifer and Dave. The story came out.
Roy (AKA The Grim Reaper) had a cough and a ticklish throat. He kept his medicine in the kitchen, where the spoons are kept. But Dave was cooking some steaks for dinner which meant blocking the way to the spoon drawer. So Roy, rather than disturb the chef, decided to take a swig from the bottle. Unfortunately, what he actually swigged was Citronella, oops! So Roy was retching an coughing, and generally fearing for his life. So Dave not wishing to waste good fillet steak, had his dinner, then considered the plan to get Roy to medical care.
They rang me, then got up to the clinic,which was closed as I had already predicted. So they got a taxi, to the Benidorm clinic, which is private. They wanted 60 euros or so for the call out doctor,well Roy is from Yorkshire and Dave enjoys a bargain, so they got a taxi to Marina Baixa hospital as I had advised.
There the medics consulted a hospital in Madrid, put Roy on a drip, gave him some medicine and kept him there for a while. The Doctor then said he could go home. "Am I going to die?" said Roy. "Not tonight" was the shrewd Doctors reply.
Having told us the tail, I was taking Roy and Jennifer to the airport. Before we set off I asked Roy to breathe into the car because there was a fly buzzing around.....
Sunday, 8 June 2008
Brits bash Benidorm...but from Britain of course
...Being retired is great, but unless you do something then life can be boring, and your favourite place can be taken for granted. I do a few things which keep me busy, but I didn't come to Spain to work the 9 to 5 routine as it is in the UK. I do like the Marina bar, and some of my UK friends may say "have you nothing better to do than go in the Marina bar?" but can I in turn pose this question, "Is an early drive into town, doing a job you would rather not do and a drive back at 5 to do yet even more work or housework, better or worse than what I do?"
For example a typical day. I don't generally lie in bed late. I am up between 7 and 8 most days, check my emails, go shower, walk down to the newsagent for 2 English papers "The Express" and "The Mirror" (never let it be said that I am not balanced politically). Return to the apartment, make a bowl of fruit for breakfast, take the numerous pills I have to take and then leisurely read the papers for a couple of hours looking out into the Mediterranean occasionally or, when a boat passes by.
I may have to take Angela my wife shopping, we go to Lidl, Mercadonna and Carrefour for various essentials. Back home we have lunch, usually something with salad and with potatoes. If I know I am not driving and my wife isn't working later, then we may have a bottle of wine which costs the grand sum of 1 euro 15 cents. (and I hear the critics saying you get what you pay for, but if you are English and reading this you pay £6 for the very same wine). My wife and I may then go for a walk, sometimes all the way into Benidorm and bus it back or the reverse, and then we may even go to a few tapas bars in the bay. On the days we don't do a long walk, I or both of us go to the Marina Bar.
We also like to try new restaurants with our friends and have discovered great ones from 5 minutes walk to nearly an hour's drive away.
So I think I can say that when I am in the Marina "no I have got nothing better to do!". But I don't spend a fortune on drink, or have a 50" television or a Wii, Blackberry, fancy stereo, upkeep of a garden ,a full time job, stress, a boss!!!, road rage, full dustbins, dustbin police, UK petrol prices, nanny state, political correctness, instead of all that I just go to the marina when I feel like it. You choose your way of living dear reader I will not criticise.
Through the common denominator of the Marina bar I have met some excellent friends, which opens up doors for new things to do and places to go. Last night I went with Dave and Pete and Peter's sister Linda and her husband Phil into benidorm New Town. (my wife is currently in the UK no doubt playing on a Wii all my friends seem to have them there maybe cause it rains so much). We went to the infamous Cafe Benidorm, where an atrocious act was attracting embarrassed applause from a bewildered audience. The locals rarely go to the New Town. Its full of stag parties and hen parties, usually British, drunk, falling over drunk that is, this part of benidorm is minute in comparison to the whole and the bars in questions can't be more than 20 to 30 all focused in one low residential sector. But is gets the biggest and most negative publicity in the British press.
They don't stress that the trouble makers are British. Most other nationalities were brought up with alcohol in small doses with meals social drinking is taught in families so they don't feel the need when they are 18 to throw every last drop of alcohol down their neck until they fall over. Compare this to Britain where it is becoming socially unacceptable to smoke and drink. The Americans once introduced prohibition, it drove it underground and overnight the American Government helped to make the mafia one of the richest villains in the world, playing on every aspect of moral vices. Britain seems to be doing the same with stealth but lining UK government pocket by raising taxes.
Anyway I digress. From Cafe B, we went into Bahamas next door, this was better, good music and a lighter atmosphere we eventually ended up in Chaplins and 10 minutes after we arrived, it was announced "Sticky Vicky" was appearing, I have been here over 3 years and never felt the inclination to see this lady do what she does, but I have to say at the very least it is clever, if not vulgar. The audience of drunken Brits were very eager to watch and the minute she finished the bar emptied. Happy hour was over and effectively drinks doubled in price and the hen and stag parties moved on to find another happy hour.
We found such a bar, and had our last drink before returning home at about 0230am. Still I had nothing to get up for this morning and I haven't been to the Marina because I had something better to do, and now I am going for a curry...
For example a typical day. I don't generally lie in bed late. I am up between 7 and 8 most days, check my emails, go shower, walk down to the newsagent for 2 English papers "The Express" and "The Mirror" (never let it be said that I am not balanced politically). Return to the apartment, make a bowl of fruit for breakfast, take the numerous pills I have to take and then leisurely read the papers for a couple of hours looking out into the Mediterranean occasionally or, when a boat passes by.
I may have to take Angela my wife shopping, we go to Lidl, Mercadonna and Carrefour for various essentials. Back home we have lunch, usually something with salad and with potatoes. If I know I am not driving and my wife isn't working later, then we may have a bottle of wine which costs the grand sum of 1 euro 15 cents. (and I hear the critics saying you get what you pay for, but if you are English and reading this you pay £6 for the very same wine). My wife and I may then go for a walk, sometimes all the way into Benidorm and bus it back or the reverse, and then we may even go to a few tapas bars in the bay. On the days we don't do a long walk, I or both of us go to the Marina Bar.
We also like to try new restaurants with our friends and have discovered great ones from 5 minutes walk to nearly an hour's drive away.
So I think I can say that when I am in the Marina "no I have got nothing better to do!". But I don't spend a fortune on drink, or have a 50" television or a Wii, Blackberry, fancy stereo, upkeep of a garden ,a full time job, stress, a boss!!!, road rage, full dustbins, dustbin police, UK petrol prices, nanny state, political correctness, instead of all that I just go to the marina when I feel like it. You choose your way of living dear reader I will not criticise.
Through the common denominator of the Marina bar I have met some excellent friends, which opens up doors for new things to do and places to go. Last night I went with Dave and Pete and Peter's sister Linda and her husband Phil into benidorm New Town. (my wife is currently in the UK no doubt playing on a Wii all my friends seem to have them there maybe cause it rains so much). We went to the infamous Cafe Benidorm, where an atrocious act was attracting embarrassed applause from a bewildered audience. The locals rarely go to the New Town. Its full of stag parties and hen parties, usually British, drunk, falling over drunk that is, this part of benidorm is minute in comparison to the whole and the bars in questions can't be more than 20 to 30 all focused in one low residential sector. But is gets the biggest and most negative publicity in the British press.
They don't stress that the trouble makers are British. Most other nationalities were brought up with alcohol in small doses with meals social drinking is taught in families so they don't feel the need when they are 18 to throw every last drop of alcohol down their neck until they fall over. Compare this to Britain where it is becoming socially unacceptable to smoke and drink. The Americans once introduced prohibition, it drove it underground and overnight the American Government helped to make the mafia one of the richest villains in the world, playing on every aspect of moral vices. Britain seems to be doing the same with stealth but lining UK government pocket by raising taxes.
Anyway I digress. From Cafe B, we went into Bahamas next door, this was better, good music and a lighter atmosphere we eventually ended up in Chaplins and 10 minutes after we arrived, it was announced "Sticky Vicky" was appearing, I have been here over 3 years and never felt the inclination to see this lady do what she does, but I have to say at the very least it is clever, if not vulgar. The audience of drunken Brits were very eager to watch and the minute she finished the bar emptied. Happy hour was over and effectively drinks doubled in price and the hen and stag parties moved on to find another happy hour.
We found such a bar, and had our last drink before returning home at about 0230am. Still I had nothing to get up for this morning and I haven't been to the Marina because I had something better to do, and now I am going for a curry...
Friday, 6 June 2008
Those little Spanish quirks
...In La Cala de Finestrat there are 3 problem construction sites, one at the end of the bay above Amancio's restaurant, one right in the middle of the bay, "Gran Magic Beach Hotel" and one at the other end of the beach which is a rest home for the elderly.
The Amancio building has been partly constructed for 25 years at least, and until recently Amancio's restaurant was a going concern. But a bit of the building fell off, prompting Finestrat Ajuntmiento to forcibly close the restaurant, and cordon it off.
There has been a long running legal battle going on between the Ajuntmiento and the owners. The building was declared an illegal build. Rumours abound that the buyers of the illegal building were compensated by the builders, and the row now, is over who demolishes it. Further rumours suggest it will be demolished this year.
The rest home was declared an illegal build and work stopped, the builders went away taking their tools and cranes with them. A local election was held in the May of 2007 a new Ajuntamiento was elected and the building was declared legal and building recommenced. It is fairly well advanced at the date of this blog.
The "Gran Magic Atrium beach hotel" is the weirdest tale of them all. It was planned to be completed in 2003, however there was a tragic accident in which 3 people were killed. At the back they had service lifts and 2 employees were working on the ground and one was in the service lift when the hoist broke and the lift plummeted to the ground. There was an investigation and it was discovered that the builders had built 11 illegal floors. A legal dispute went on for 3 years and in 2006 the press reported that the Magic group was fined 22,000 Euros and ordered to return thousands of square meters of floor space to the Ajunamiento (the equivalent of 11 floors).
The owners were very clever, they also have three other buildings on the same site and were going to build another, they cancelled that which went a long way to returning the floor space, they then demolished the top floor, and knocked away metres here and there until they ended up returning the amount required. They have now resumed building which is very slow even though they claim it will be finished by late 2009. I think not!
Anyway this brings me to the start of the summer season. Which tends to leap into action at the Festival of San Juan, previously blogged. And Ajuntamiento workers are getting the place tarted up a bit. They have replaced police keep back tape with a wire fence around Amancio's. The building work on the Hotel will stop throughout August as all the workers have the month off on holiday. Two bricklayers are changing the wall along the beach edge into concrete seats (the Great wall of China was allegedly built quicker than this). The lifeguard and red cross people have turned up on the beach and a small dinghy operates just past the buoys in the bay looking out for swimmers in trouble. It's interesting that all the other months in the year the locals can drown, put up with builders and find their own way to marina Baixa hospital with cuts and bruises. Which is particularly concerning as Roy "The Grim Reaper" sometimes visits in Winter.
The Summer season also sees a greatly increased level of Spanish Holiday makers, peaking in August when most take their holidays. At this time you could throw a Euro coin on the beach and it wouldn't hit the sand. All the businesses are rubbing their hands, and if there is ever going to be price increases it will be in August. This will not fluster the Spanish much because spending is not a fault of theirs. They can sit in a bar 6 to a group and watch one of their number drink a 90 cent bottle of water over 2 hours. The trick for the bars is to nab the British customers and then the Dutch and French, who do spend and drink. My bar, the Marina bar, are experts at this. The Marina is the most used Spanish bar in Benidorm by the English ex-pat. The formula is simple, speak to them in English if they can't speak Spanish, give crisps, nuts and biscuits with every round of drinks and as they present the customer with the bill, give them a free drink on the house. The final and perhaps the most clever thing they do, is remember who the couple are at table 'X' from their week's holiday last year!...Classic....
The Amancio building has been partly constructed for 25 years at least, and until recently Amancio's restaurant was a going concern. But a bit of the building fell off, prompting Finestrat Ajuntmiento to forcibly close the restaurant, and cordon it off.
There has been a long running legal battle going on between the Ajuntmiento and the owners. The building was declared an illegal build. Rumours abound that the buyers of the illegal building were compensated by the builders, and the row now, is over who demolishes it. Further rumours suggest it will be demolished this year.
The rest home was declared an illegal build and work stopped, the builders went away taking their tools and cranes with them. A local election was held in the May of 2007 a new Ajuntamiento was elected and the building was declared legal and building recommenced. It is fairly well advanced at the date of this blog.
The "Gran Magic Atrium beach hotel" is the weirdest tale of them all. It was planned to be completed in 2003, however there was a tragic accident in which 3 people were killed. At the back they had service lifts and 2 employees were working on the ground and one was in the service lift when the hoist broke and the lift plummeted to the ground. There was an investigation and it was discovered that the builders had built 11 illegal floors. A legal dispute went on for 3 years and in 2006 the press reported that the Magic group was fined 22,000 Euros and ordered to return thousands of square meters of floor space to the Ajunamiento (the equivalent of 11 floors).
The owners were very clever, they also have three other buildings on the same site and were going to build another, they cancelled that which went a long way to returning the floor space, they then demolished the top floor, and knocked away metres here and there until they ended up returning the amount required. They have now resumed building which is very slow even though they claim it will be finished by late 2009. I think not!
Anyway this brings me to the start of the summer season. Which tends to leap into action at the Festival of San Juan, previously blogged. And Ajuntamiento workers are getting the place tarted up a bit. They have replaced police keep back tape with a wire fence around Amancio's. The building work on the Hotel will stop throughout August as all the workers have the month off on holiday. Two bricklayers are changing the wall along the beach edge into concrete seats (the Great wall of China was allegedly built quicker than this). The lifeguard and red cross people have turned up on the beach and a small dinghy operates just past the buoys in the bay looking out for swimmers in trouble. It's interesting that all the other months in the year the locals can drown, put up with builders and find their own way to marina Baixa hospital with cuts and bruises. Which is particularly concerning as Roy "The Grim Reaper" sometimes visits in Winter.
The Summer season also sees a greatly increased level of Spanish Holiday makers, peaking in August when most take their holidays. At this time you could throw a Euro coin on the beach and it wouldn't hit the sand. All the businesses are rubbing their hands, and if there is ever going to be price increases it will be in August. This will not fluster the Spanish much because spending is not a fault of theirs. They can sit in a bar 6 to a group and watch one of their number drink a 90 cent bottle of water over 2 hours. The trick for the bars is to nab the British customers and then the Dutch and French, who do spend and drink. My bar, the Marina bar, are experts at this. The Marina is the most used Spanish bar in Benidorm by the English ex-pat. The formula is simple, speak to them in English if they can't speak Spanish, give crisps, nuts and biscuits with every round of drinks and as they present the customer with the bill, give them a free drink on the house. The final and perhaps the most clever thing they do, is remember who the couple are at table 'X' from their week's holiday last year!...Classic....
Thursday, 5 June 2008
The best Fiesta of all
...It is approaching one of the greatest evenings of the calendar here in La Cala. San Juan. This fiesta happens on the 23rd of June every year and coincides with the summer solstice, and it is a strange mixture of Christian beliefs and pre-Christian actions. It is all about baptism San Juan being Saint John the baptist. However, there are a lot of pagan overtones which could be likened to the midsummer pagan feast. Even some of the costumes are pagan.
On San Juan everyone congregates on the beach, some light bonfires, some have candles, everyone has a cold box filled with food and drinks, people sit in collapsible chairs on towels on walls and really get into a party spirit. Prior to midnight a procession comes down to the bay from Finestrat village, people dressed up in uniform similar to the ku klux klan but in red are whirring fire crackers around their head, they walk to and fro along the shore and eventually they walk up the beach and light a firework rocket. This signals the start of a firework display that blows your mind.
When the fireworks finish this is the queue for you to write all the bad things that have happened to you over the past year on a piece of paper, they must be odd numbers of things 1,3,5,7,9 etc. you burn the paper in your candle. You then write down the good things you are hoping for in the year to come again odd numbers. you walk backwards into the sea and throw the paper over your shoulder into the sea. The burnt paper cleanses the bad and the new paper is the rebirth or baptism. The young Spanish males leap across the bonfires which is supposed to enhance fertility (the odd slip could easily cause the opposite in my opinion).
The formal bit ended, people seem to carry on partying into the small hours...
On San Juan everyone congregates on the beach, some light bonfires, some have candles, everyone has a cold box filled with food and drinks, people sit in collapsible chairs on towels on walls and really get into a party spirit. Prior to midnight a procession comes down to the bay from Finestrat village, people dressed up in uniform similar to the ku klux klan but in red are whirring fire crackers around their head, they walk to and fro along the shore and eventually they walk up the beach and light a firework rocket. This signals the start of a firework display that blows your mind.
When the fireworks finish this is the queue for you to write all the bad things that have happened to you over the past year on a piece of paper, they must be odd numbers of things 1,3,5,7,9 etc. you burn the paper in your candle. You then write down the good things you are hoping for in the year to come again odd numbers. you walk backwards into the sea and throw the paper over your shoulder into the sea. The burnt paper cleanses the bad and the new paper is the rebirth or baptism. The young Spanish males leap across the bonfires which is supposed to enhance fertility (the odd slip could easily cause the opposite in my opinion).
The formal bit ended, people seem to carry on partying into the small hours...
The bars and the music, but not the Karaoke!!!
...Pepi and Antonio, the owners of the marina bar, are very astute. The have made sure they appeal to all nationalities. That is why they are the busiest bar in La Cala. They also have numerous artistes in the evening to try and attract more custom especially in the winter months when only the ex-pats are guaranteed to be here.
The winter month also attract the 6 monthers, retired people who take a long lease of 6 months on an apartment to avoid the chills in their own countries and take advantage of the warmth of Spain. These days I guess they benefit in many other ways too, no British, gas, electricity, water and petrol costs to name a few. And a least 6 months away from nanny state England, which tells you where you can drink, when you can drink all the various colours of bins to put rubbish and re-cycling in, which is emptied between once and twice a week and a council tax bill per Annum in excess of a thousand pounds.
Here in Spain bottled gas costs are going down in price dust bins are emptied every single night annual community charge maximum one hundred and seventy Euros, electricity and water costs are half those in the UK and you can drink the clock round with no hassle. And equally there is little or no thuggery through booze (except in the square, Benidorm New Town which is full of English, who can do what they want there, in drinking terms, and because the UK state has kept them oppressed they go mad here and make a bad name for all British people).
Anyway back to the Bar. In winter Eric Pollard comes over (he isn't called Eric but he sort of gained that label) for about 3 months and he is promptly hired by Pepi. He brings his keyboard twice a week and whilst he is a good performer, wades through a certain eras musical hits. Like "we''ll meet again" "Rambling Rose" "I bid you all a sad goodbye", you know the type, music to commit suicide to. This of course attracts the older generation who after an hour of getting into the mood start to jitterbug or quick step or jive to the weirdest of songs. At one stage he does a World War two medley and the audience often has a white hankie waving in the air. The more middle-aged ex-pats sit on the terrace huddled around the garden heaters Antonio cleverly positioned to catch the dissenters.
On Mondays and Fridays there is Andrea, or "Just a girl" who also does a "Madonna" tribute act in the New and Old town of Benidorm. Andrea is the 'eye candy' entertainer too, clearly Pepi and Antonio want to attract younger clients into the bar, Andreas constant companion is Rick her boyfriend who does a great printing service a sort of speciality service large frame printing, and does business cards etc, as well as acting as Andreas roadie. Andreas music is more appealing to the younger and middle-age groups, most of us know the words, that always helps.
On Wednesday and Saturday there is Cheryl, who sing various songs but her speciality is Dolly Parton. Clearly Cheryl has the ability to to impressions, her Mrs Merton is second to none and I know she appeared on a couple of regular TV programmes Like "Who do you do" and others apparently. Jeremy her husband is the sound man, seen outside pretending to check the sound level but is really sneaking in a few puffs from his pipe of tobacco.
The other days a Belgian lady organists plays who is also good but hers is more like Musak rather than join in music.
So all through winter there is mucic, and come the Summer time somewhere in the middle of June they tail off the music because tourist numbers often fill the bar without them trying. This is when us ex-pat get our noses shoved out a bit. But we all have to make a living out of the tourists.
This season lasts solidly three months June, July and August. Sometimes they erect a stage on the beach. We wake to the sound of a fitness instructor wailing "uno, dos, tres, quatro....Uno dos..." and various sizes of scanty clad tourists wobble up and down on the sand like demented penguins, red faced and profusely perspiring, making me wonder what type of relaxing holiday they had in mind. The physical beating up the Spanish tourist office gives the holiday maker by this regimented daily exercise routines, gives way to the Spanish karaoke. Having been physically beaten up by the gym instructor, the Finestrat Ajunamiento now enforce audio attacks on the unsuspecting holiday maker. If you think Karaoke is bad in English, try listening to it in Spanish. This goes on until lunch time, no! not 12 noon, but 2 pm official siesta time. Then you see a mass exodus of the Spanish, they start to quiver as the allotted time approaches you can feel the tension and the slight agitation as they start to pull down parasols, roll up towels, dust the sand off themselves and shuffle off to their chosen eating place.
On the beach there is a major fish restaurant and in the bay there are at least 4 beach side Spanish restaurants, all reasonable food with a typical Menu del dia (menu of the day) costing about 9 to 12 euros. That is for 4 courses and usually half a bottle of house wine.
Now as the British holiday maker probably went for his/her lunch at 12, they are back sat or lying on a now spacious beach, wondering what on earth all that noise is in the distance. The noise is cutlery clinking plates and the polyphonic chatter of the Spanish diner. Spaniards like to talk at the same time, and because of that they then have to raise their voices to be heard which causes the knock on effect that the other people have to as well, hence a crescendo of speech emanating from the restaurants. This sojourn lasts until 4 or 5 pm. and the beach starts to re-fill with the replete Spanish tourists and many of the restaurants close for their own siestas.
La Cala in summer becomes a typical Spanish resort for the Spanish juxtaposed to the more Brit/Dutch/German winter. In winter the English pubs "Molly Malones", "The Ship" "Shananakins" all go for the more brash British appeal, the ship has bingo and quiz nights, Shananakins Irish folk music and Molly Malones an electric guitarist at mega decibels. The winter is when I avoid the British bars completely...
The winter month also attract the 6 monthers, retired people who take a long lease of 6 months on an apartment to avoid the chills in their own countries and take advantage of the warmth of Spain. These days I guess they benefit in many other ways too, no British, gas, electricity, water and petrol costs to name a few. And a least 6 months away from nanny state England, which tells you where you can drink, when you can drink all the various colours of bins to put rubbish and re-cycling in, which is emptied between once and twice a week and a council tax bill per Annum in excess of a thousand pounds.
Here in Spain bottled gas costs are going down in price dust bins are emptied every single night annual community charge maximum one hundred and seventy Euros, electricity and water costs are half those in the UK and you can drink the clock round with no hassle. And equally there is little or no thuggery through booze (except in the square, Benidorm New Town which is full of English, who can do what they want there, in drinking terms, and because the UK state has kept them oppressed they go mad here and make a bad name for all British people).
Anyway back to the Bar. In winter Eric Pollard comes over (he isn't called Eric but he sort of gained that label) for about 3 months and he is promptly hired by Pepi. He brings his keyboard twice a week and whilst he is a good performer, wades through a certain eras musical hits. Like "we''ll meet again" "Rambling Rose" "I bid you all a sad goodbye", you know the type, music to commit suicide to. This of course attracts the older generation who after an hour of getting into the mood start to jitterbug or quick step or jive to the weirdest of songs. At one stage he does a World War two medley and the audience often has a white hankie waving in the air. The more middle-aged ex-pats sit on the terrace huddled around the garden heaters Antonio cleverly positioned to catch the dissenters.
On Mondays and Fridays there is Andrea, or "Just a girl" who also does a "Madonna" tribute act in the New and Old town of Benidorm. Andrea is the 'eye candy' entertainer too, clearly Pepi and Antonio want to attract younger clients into the bar, Andreas constant companion is Rick her boyfriend who does a great printing service a sort of speciality service large frame printing, and does business cards etc, as well as acting as Andreas roadie. Andreas music is more appealing to the younger and middle-age groups, most of us know the words, that always helps.
On Wednesday and Saturday there is Cheryl, who sing various songs but her speciality is Dolly Parton. Clearly Cheryl has the ability to to impressions, her Mrs Merton is second to none and I know she appeared on a couple of regular TV programmes Like "Who do you do" and others apparently. Jeremy her husband is the sound man, seen outside pretending to check the sound level but is really sneaking in a few puffs from his pipe of tobacco.
The other days a Belgian lady organists plays who is also good but hers is more like Musak rather than join in music.
So all through winter there is mucic, and come the Summer time somewhere in the middle of June they tail off the music because tourist numbers often fill the bar without them trying. This is when us ex-pat get our noses shoved out a bit. But we all have to make a living out of the tourists.
This season lasts solidly three months June, July and August. Sometimes they erect a stage on the beach. We wake to the sound of a fitness instructor wailing "uno, dos, tres, quatro....Uno dos..." and various sizes of scanty clad tourists wobble up and down on the sand like demented penguins, red faced and profusely perspiring, making me wonder what type of relaxing holiday they had in mind. The physical beating up the Spanish tourist office gives the holiday maker by this regimented daily exercise routines, gives way to the Spanish karaoke. Having been physically beaten up by the gym instructor, the Finestrat Ajunamiento now enforce audio attacks on the unsuspecting holiday maker. If you think Karaoke is bad in English, try listening to it in Spanish. This goes on until lunch time, no! not 12 noon, but 2 pm official siesta time. Then you see a mass exodus of the Spanish, they start to quiver as the allotted time approaches you can feel the tension and the slight agitation as they start to pull down parasols, roll up towels, dust the sand off themselves and shuffle off to their chosen eating place.
On the beach there is a major fish restaurant and in the bay there are at least 4 beach side Spanish restaurants, all reasonable food with a typical Menu del dia (menu of the day) costing about 9 to 12 euros. That is for 4 courses and usually half a bottle of house wine.
Now as the British holiday maker probably went for his/her lunch at 12, they are back sat or lying on a now spacious beach, wondering what on earth all that noise is in the distance. The noise is cutlery clinking plates and the polyphonic chatter of the Spanish diner. Spaniards like to talk at the same time, and because of that they then have to raise their voices to be heard which causes the knock on effect that the other people have to as well, hence a crescendo of speech emanating from the restaurants. This sojourn lasts until 4 or 5 pm. and the beach starts to re-fill with the replete Spanish tourists and many of the restaurants close for their own siestas.
La Cala in summer becomes a typical Spanish resort for the Spanish juxtaposed to the more Brit/Dutch/German winter. In winter the English pubs "Molly Malones", "The Ship" "Shananakins" all go for the more brash British appeal, the ship has bingo and quiz nights, Shananakins Irish folk music and Molly Malones an electric guitarist at mega decibels. The winter is when I avoid the British bars completely...
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Nameless friends and public works
...There are many Dutch ex-pats in and around Benidorm. A few frequent the Marina bar. Often when you sit on the bar terrace looking into the bay you are unaware who is behind you. A group of ex-pats congregate with mixed nationality it seems some are dutch and some Norwegian. Their common language is always English. They tend to be coming towards the end of their session when I arrive, their volume is quite high and they obviously have had a good time. One of the group, an elderly lady with blond hair easily into her seventies, always shouts "Yuppie" when she is either trying to attract attention or just when she is exclaiming joy, but to the rest of us she has now been christened "Yuppie".
This is very much the trend amongst ex-pats, we don't know anyone's second name, it is either Brian, nicks partner, the other Brian being Uncle Brian, and due to a plethora of Trevor's, its either Birmingham Trevor, or Company Bar Trevor, etc. Some may be named after what they do, Jeff the window cleaner or Sally from the shop.
The benefit of this however, is we tend to know someone who can provide a service to help you if you need it. We have plumbers, electricians, painters, carpenters, etc. all British to do the odds and sods around your apartment, but we are all too aware some are apt to rip you off too. So word of mouth is the best way of getting a craftsman to help you out. There is nothing wrong with Spanish workmanship, but the Manana mentality can drive you to distraction. And you don't really want to try and explain to a Spaniard that the hinges on the oven door are distorted and the door won't shut, all because your wife opened it to take something out and the door bell rang she forgot it was open and fell on it. Fortunately I read the instructions discovered I could easily remove the door and with a pair of adjustable pliers managed to repair it.
On the theme of work, it is interesting to watch the public works in and around the bay. Outside the Marina bar is a street which comes from a roundabout under which there is a culvert. The culvert is to take rainwater out to sea. 90% of the year there is no substantial rain. But when it decides to rain it torrents and Avenida Marina Baixa becomes a river. The reason being that the culvert is in fact taking the full effect of a river which only forms when there is a deluge. Rain to Spain is like snow is to England.
The council (Ajunamiento) in Finestrat decided they would fix it by making a stone base and walls along the beach in order to aid the progress of water. The real problem is that the culvert is too small, it can't take the force and the water has to go somewhere and the road being the best path so that's where it goes.
We all watched the tractors and diggers bring stone and lay it to form a three sided water chute. This took several weeks. And when they had finished they piles tons of sand on the beach to replace what was washed away. We were somewhat mesmerised when they piled sand into the channel they had just made. We knew what would happen when the next rain water came down the river bed, and into the culvert, it would hit the sand, then back up then cascade over the road.
The Summer season came and the rain didn't come through out the season.
In October we were in the Marina and the rain clouds formed. The chair cushions were quickly gathered in and the todos awning was quickly wound out. when the rain starts its a bit like someone turning on a tap. It rained very hard, the thunder and lightning was nearing. We all got ringside seats just in from the awning drips, replenished our glasses and waited.....
....One, then a second and a third manhole cover erupted like a fountain, the rainwater had started to stream from the Puig Campana mountain, all focusing on the bay to get to the sea, the water level raised. The sand on the beach was washed into the sea and the riverbed formed by the large boulders were once again revealed, the Police cordoned off the road either side of the deluge. The buses were re-routed and drivers were abandoning cars caught in the flood water...then past our very eyes floated two large refuse bins (the type you see in England behind restaurants) up the street sailing towards the roundabout was a white Mercedes, which fortunately came to rest after colliding with the telephone box, because the driver was still in it looking very pensive. It was there he abandoned it and waded to higher ground. The rain then subsided, and we waited whilst the river ran dry, doing a kind of ex-pat postmortem on the naivety of the boulder river bed, the luck of being marooned in a bar, and thinking we all might profit from becoming dealers in sand...
This is very much the trend amongst ex-pats, we don't know anyone's second name, it is either Brian, nicks partner, the other Brian being Uncle Brian, and due to a plethora of Trevor's, its either Birmingham Trevor, or Company Bar Trevor, etc. Some may be named after what they do, Jeff the window cleaner or Sally from the shop.
The benefit of this however, is we tend to know someone who can provide a service to help you if you need it. We have plumbers, electricians, painters, carpenters, etc. all British to do the odds and sods around your apartment, but we are all too aware some are apt to rip you off too. So word of mouth is the best way of getting a craftsman to help you out. There is nothing wrong with Spanish workmanship, but the Manana mentality can drive you to distraction. And you don't really want to try and explain to a Spaniard that the hinges on the oven door are distorted and the door won't shut, all because your wife opened it to take something out and the door bell rang she forgot it was open and fell on it. Fortunately I read the instructions discovered I could easily remove the door and with a pair of adjustable pliers managed to repair it.
On the theme of work, it is interesting to watch the public works in and around the bay. Outside the Marina bar is a street which comes from a roundabout under which there is a culvert. The culvert is to take rainwater out to sea. 90% of the year there is no substantial rain. But when it decides to rain it torrents and Avenida Marina Baixa becomes a river. The reason being that the culvert is in fact taking the full effect of a river which only forms when there is a deluge. Rain to Spain is like snow is to England.
The council (Ajunamiento) in Finestrat decided they would fix it by making a stone base and walls along the beach in order to aid the progress of water. The real problem is that the culvert is too small, it can't take the force and the water has to go somewhere and the road being the best path so that's where it goes.
We all watched the tractors and diggers bring stone and lay it to form a three sided water chute. This took several weeks. And when they had finished they piles tons of sand on the beach to replace what was washed away. We were somewhat mesmerised when they piled sand into the channel they had just made. We knew what would happen when the next rain water came down the river bed, and into the culvert, it would hit the sand, then back up then cascade over the road.
The Summer season came and the rain didn't come through out the season.
In October we were in the Marina and the rain clouds formed. The chair cushions were quickly gathered in and the todos awning was quickly wound out. when the rain starts its a bit like someone turning on a tap. It rained very hard, the thunder and lightning was nearing. We all got ringside seats just in from the awning drips, replenished our glasses and waited.....
....One, then a second and a third manhole cover erupted like a fountain, the rainwater had started to stream from the Puig Campana mountain, all focusing on the bay to get to the sea, the water level raised. The sand on the beach was washed into the sea and the riverbed formed by the large boulders were once again revealed, the Police cordoned off the road either side of the deluge. The buses were re-routed and drivers were abandoning cars caught in the flood water...then past our very eyes floated two large refuse bins (the type you see in England behind restaurants) up the street sailing towards the roundabout was a white Mercedes, which fortunately came to rest after colliding with the telephone box, because the driver was still in it looking very pensive. It was there he abandoned it and waded to higher ground. The rain then subsided, and we waited whilst the river ran dry, doing a kind of ex-pat postmortem on the naivety of the boulder river bed, the luck of being marooned in a bar, and thinking we all might profit from becoming dealers in sand...
Monday, 2 June 2008
Cornish visitors and the Grim Reaper
...There are regular visitors to Spain as holiday makers, they may own a property or arrange a long lease, from a month up to 6 months. La Cala is no different, often I find my drinking companions are familiar faces from last year and ultimately we became friends. A couple called David and Doreen have an apartment up 'Cardiac hill' (not lightly named). They bought it several years ago and its a nice place, but they have a business in the UK in Cornwall, a hotel with room for Caravans near Newquay. Therefore they can only come a couple of months a year, these tend to be in February and November but Dave sneaks a week in May when his sister comes over. Dave clearly work very hard back in the UK, so when he is here he likes to relax with good food, cheap and plentiful.
They don't attempt to speak Spanish at all. The Piug Campana restaurant they call 'el pug'. The Spanish pronounce every letter in the alphabet except the letter H. So Calpe is pronounced
Cal-pay but Dave and Doreen call it Calp. If Dave has an opinion, it is not easy to sway him. And if Dave prefers a product, he will challenge why you would get anything else. I had a Seat Ibiza car. Had it from new, and Dave said: "what you need is a Berlingo, get loads of stuff in it, runs on diesel so cheap, engine never wears out" I told him I don't want one, they look like work vans I don't need reminding about work. Eventually my car had problems that Seat dismissed and I lost faith in it, so I was looking for another car. Dave kindly said he would take me to some garages to have a look, I still didn't want a Berlingo, and Dave had heard of the Kia cee'd which he now preferred. He took me to a dealer, and I must admit I did like the car. I decided to pursue it, the dealership wouldn't however accept my seat as part exchange. I eventually went to the official dealer and got a new car part exchanged my other and have a 7 year warranty on it.
Dave also knows how to let you know your faults, he said: "You were doing well negotiating a purchase with the first guy you got a quote from, but you could learn from the experience, the buying bit you did well, but the selling of your car could be the problem. He lost interest when you said it was a pile of rubbish and always lets you down!".. I conceded he had a point.
Dave's sister Jennifer is a nice lady and comes over with her husband Roy, an equally nice chap. The first month I met Roy we got to know each other well, around 6 pm every day he would appear in the bar along with Jennifer and join me in a drink. One particular day he came with a tale. He had been on the beach and saw a major crowd on the beach, a poor elderly chap had been swimming and must have had a heart attack and got into trouble, the life guard ran into the sea to help rescue him Roy also helped, they got him on shore and another person, a lady, helped resuscitate, it seemed to work and he was taken to hospital, but he unfortunately died on the way.
The next time he came I was on the balcony of my apartment and witnessed a crowd on the street, it looked serious. My phone rang. It was Roy. "Bob you'll never guess what's happened?" "Let me see I said, is there another body on the beach?" He said: "Yes, how did you know?" I said "There is a crowd on the beach and you are in town." He is affectionately known here now as 'The Grim reaper'...
They don't attempt to speak Spanish at all. The Piug Campana restaurant they call 'el pug'. The Spanish pronounce every letter in the alphabet except the letter H. So Calpe is pronounced
Cal-pay but Dave and Doreen call it Calp. If Dave has an opinion, it is not easy to sway him. And if Dave prefers a product, he will challenge why you would get anything else. I had a Seat Ibiza car. Had it from new, and Dave said: "what you need is a Berlingo, get loads of stuff in it, runs on diesel so cheap, engine never wears out" I told him I don't want one, they look like work vans I don't need reminding about work. Eventually my car had problems that Seat dismissed and I lost faith in it, so I was looking for another car. Dave kindly said he would take me to some garages to have a look, I still didn't want a Berlingo, and Dave had heard of the Kia cee'd which he now preferred. He took me to a dealer, and I must admit I did like the car. I decided to pursue it, the dealership wouldn't however accept my seat as part exchange. I eventually went to the official dealer and got a new car part exchanged my other and have a 7 year warranty on it.
Dave also knows how to let you know your faults, he said: "You were doing well negotiating a purchase with the first guy you got a quote from, but you could learn from the experience, the buying bit you did well, but the selling of your car could be the problem. He lost interest when you said it was a pile of rubbish and always lets you down!".. I conceded he had a point.
Dave's sister Jennifer is a nice lady and comes over with her husband Roy, an equally nice chap. The first month I met Roy we got to know each other well, around 6 pm every day he would appear in the bar along with Jennifer and join me in a drink. One particular day he came with a tale. He had been on the beach and saw a major crowd on the beach, a poor elderly chap had been swimming and must have had a heart attack and got into trouble, the life guard ran into the sea to help rescue him Roy also helped, they got him on shore and another person, a lady, helped resuscitate, it seemed to work and he was taken to hospital, but he unfortunately died on the way.
The next time he came I was on the balcony of my apartment and witnessed a crowd on the street, it looked serious. My phone rang. It was Roy. "Bob you'll never guess what's happened?" "Let me see I said, is there another body on the beach?" He said: "Yes, how did you know?" I said "There is a crowd on the beach and you are in town." He is affectionately known here now as 'The Grim reaper'...
Sunday, 1 June 2008
15 minutes of fame and the intrepid mariners
...Benidorm the UK sitcom was filmed mainly in Benidorm New Town, the Sol Pelicanos was the hotel they filmed and several ex-pats lined up as extras, some were successful. One was Rob who calls bingo in another bar round the bay. He was in series 2 episode 1 collecting keys at reception at an Altea hotel, as the posh couple try to check in. Local Celebrities, like Gary from Rich Bitch AKA "Miss Jordan Rivers" got a speaking role as the Vicar who married the orange lady and rich boyfriend. Jonny Vegas was seen walking around La Cala with the rumour that he had an apartment in one of the avenues off the bay.
One night we were in the Marina bar and flood lights were lighting up every nook and cranny and it was soon clear the film crew were doing a scene somewhere. Eventually we could see them on the beach. They had set up a ramp over the sand and as it was off-season they had brought their own sunbeds for the shoot. A dolly was set-up on the pavement and the orange lady and husband to be were filmed walking up and down, whilst I watch there were several takes. We went on to the beach to get a closer look but we couldn't really get close but the man half of the swingers was one of the actors we recognised.
We eagerly awaited the screening a few weeks ago only to discover that our beach was referred to by the swinger as the "dogging" beach............well Andy Warhol La Cala had its 15 mins of fame.
I am often heard to misquote Matt Lucas by saying "I am the only straight in the village". Benidorm old town is quite a gay centre. There are some lovely bars which my wife and I frequent because the ambiance is good, there are no union flags flying, no egg and chip advertisements and never any trouble. The guys also like peace and quiet so they tend to live in La Cala. They also like the Marina bar, and Sunday afternoon can be a major party atmosphere. Jeremy & Colin, Dave & Pete, Gary & Michael, Nick & Brian, Laurence and Tony, and more besides can simultaneously arrive and the drinks start to flow. Remember John and Sue Mr and Mrs Bucket, well they are really confused when I and my wife sit with all these gay guys, John once told me I am the talk of the bay. What he meant was, the older straight ex-pat brits think I am gay. As my sexual preference is not in doubt and as I feel comfortable with my feminine side, I don't feel inclined to enter into conversation about it with such narrow minded people. Suffice it to say I find all my gay friends very nice people, only some of the straights are as nice. But as you can imagine it does get a bit camp sometimes and they do shake my hand in a manly way out of respect for my hetro-ness (yes I know the word is made up).
Laurence & Tony have a company to do with psychic things, and recently they bought a yacht. They took their seamanship certificate and decided to sail it themselves to their berth in Denia. It was a traumatic sail, they were fine across the channel and some way into the Bay of Biscay, but then a storm struck which buffeted them to and fro eventually snapping their mast. They had to find a shelter to patch it up before risking the sail into the straits of Gibraltar for the gentle final leg through the med. They did it safely and their boat is now at anchor in Denia. Last Sunday they invited 4 pals on board for drinks after a short sail, however it was raining so they cancelled.............what happened to the intrepid sailors from the bay of Biscay???????????...
One night we were in the Marina bar and flood lights were lighting up every nook and cranny and it was soon clear the film crew were doing a scene somewhere. Eventually we could see them on the beach. They had set up a ramp over the sand and as it was off-season they had brought their own sunbeds for the shoot. A dolly was set-up on the pavement and the orange lady and husband to be were filmed walking up and down, whilst I watch there were several takes. We went on to the beach to get a closer look but we couldn't really get close but the man half of the swingers was one of the actors we recognised.
We eagerly awaited the screening a few weeks ago only to discover that our beach was referred to by the swinger as the "dogging" beach............well Andy Warhol La Cala had its 15 mins of fame.
I am often heard to misquote Matt Lucas by saying "I am the only straight in the village". Benidorm old town is quite a gay centre. There are some lovely bars which my wife and I frequent because the ambiance is good, there are no union flags flying, no egg and chip advertisements and never any trouble. The guys also like peace and quiet so they tend to live in La Cala. They also like the Marina bar, and Sunday afternoon can be a major party atmosphere. Jeremy & Colin, Dave & Pete, Gary & Michael, Nick & Brian, Laurence and Tony, and more besides can simultaneously arrive and the drinks start to flow. Remember John and Sue Mr and Mrs Bucket, well they are really confused when I and my wife sit with all these gay guys, John once told me I am the talk of the bay. What he meant was, the older straight ex-pat brits think I am gay. As my sexual preference is not in doubt and as I feel comfortable with my feminine side, I don't feel inclined to enter into conversation about it with such narrow minded people. Suffice it to say I find all my gay friends very nice people, only some of the straights are as nice. But as you can imagine it does get a bit camp sometimes and they do shake my hand in a manly way out of respect for my hetro-ness (yes I know the word is made up).
Laurence & Tony have a company to do with psychic things, and recently they bought a yacht. They took their seamanship certificate and decided to sail it themselves to their berth in Denia. It was a traumatic sail, they were fine across the channel and some way into the Bay of Biscay, but then a storm struck which buffeted them to and fro eventually snapping their mast. They had to find a shelter to patch it up before risking the sail into the straits of Gibraltar for the gentle final leg through the med. They did it safely and their boat is now at anchor in Denia. Last Sunday they invited 4 pals on board for drinks after a short sail, however it was raining so they cancelled.............what happened to the intrepid sailors from the bay of Biscay???????????...
El plod!
..When you look out of the bar there is a street which looks pedestrianised. It is the access to Mount Benidorm and various residendias. Equally it is access to the bars for the delivery vans bringing in fresh supplies of booze and food. So on a sunny day it's nice to sit with a glass in hand looking out to sea across the street and beyond the street to the beach.
On a regular basis there is the Policia Local patrols by car and on foot. The Policia Local are one up from say an English traffic warden, they have responsibility to check bar licenses and vehicle details, slap a ticket on illegally parked cars and generally keep order amongst the general populous. They also carry guns unlike (fortunately) English traffic wardens.
The Guardia Civil also patrol the street. This group was formed by the renowned General Franco, and the Guardia are a different animal altogether. They also carry guns.
Word got to the Marina bar from another bar in the Boulevard that an elderly ex Pat English couple were sat in a boulevard bar, enjoying a quiet drink and tapa, when a white van screeched to a halt outside the bar, 6 men with guns and machine guns leaped from the van and encircled the table opposite them demanding that the people lie down on the floor and put their hands behind their backs. One of the armed men flashed a card at the now traumatised elderlies to show he was a policeman. Apparently the three on the floor had earlier robbed a Benidorm bank, which unbeknown to them was being staked by the Guardia. The gang sped out of Benidorm in getaway mode, but fancied a cafe con leche and turned into La Cala calling at the first bar they saw. The Guardia followed them at a discreet distance and did the arrest. On the patio next to the table the police recovered four carried bags full of Euro notes. I don't know the nationality of the villains, but one or two here did imply Hibernian origin...
...Back to the street outside the bar, Avinida Marina Baixa to be precise. It is due to patient observation and 10 years of driving to and from Spain that my tourist friend Dave came to the conclusion that the Spanish went from the Donkey to the car too quickly, and that he is beginning to believe that an indicator on a Spanish-plated car is an optional extra.
A roundabout is like a game of Russian roulette in Spain, the oncoming driver may comply and go around it anti-clockwise if it is absolutely obvious that's what he must do, otherwise he could go clockwise if its the fastest way to the road he wants to go down. Now the Marina Baixa is a one way street from the Marina bar onwards. Up to the bar it is permissible for drivers who live in the apartments next door to drive the short distance to the roundabout. But any traffic from beyond that point must not drive in the direction of the roundabout. Motor cycles almost always ignore the rule, other drivers believe if they reverse, technically, they are not breaking the rule, and delivery vans find parking on the roundabout is the best solution for them. That is until the No 41 or No 12 buses into Benidorm arrive. This is when pandemonium breaks out. If all of these circumstances converge then it isn't long before the Policia Local arrive. And they take very little notice of excuses. If there is a rule the Policia do not deviate, now perhaps, the fact they are on a bonus linked to arrests and fines, could have a bearing on that.
So the day the roundabout was blocked by a van, and the motorbike driving the wrong way was caught by the policia and the drunk driver would not give way to the bus even when the policeman got his gun out, lingers easily in my mind. The drunk driver must have earned them the biggest bonus points, the driver refused point blank to budge, the bus driver had his hand fixed on the horn, the motor bike rider was off up the road with no chance of hot pursuit.
I was on mahou number 3 by the time it all subsided.
The solution happened in a flash, the policeman with the gun pointed it through the window whilst opening the door, policeman number 2 grabbed the driver spun him like a top and handcuffed him, policeman number 3 jumped in the car reversed it quickly and parked in a no waiting bay, policeman number 4 waived the bus on. Gridlock became unlocked, no doubt the policemen got bonus points the bike rider got away and we had an hours free entertainment second to none...
On a regular basis there is the Policia Local patrols by car and on foot. The Policia Local are one up from say an English traffic warden, they have responsibility to check bar licenses and vehicle details, slap a ticket on illegally parked cars and generally keep order amongst the general populous. They also carry guns unlike (fortunately) English traffic wardens.
The Guardia Civil also patrol the street. This group was formed by the renowned General Franco, and the Guardia are a different animal altogether. They also carry guns.
Word got to the Marina bar from another bar in the Boulevard that an elderly ex Pat English couple were sat in a boulevard bar, enjoying a quiet drink and tapa, when a white van screeched to a halt outside the bar, 6 men with guns and machine guns leaped from the van and encircled the table opposite them demanding that the people lie down on the floor and put their hands behind their backs. One of the armed men flashed a card at the now traumatised elderlies to show he was a policeman. Apparently the three on the floor had earlier robbed a Benidorm bank, which unbeknown to them was being staked by the Guardia. The gang sped out of Benidorm in getaway mode, but fancied a cafe con leche and turned into La Cala calling at the first bar they saw. The Guardia followed them at a discreet distance and did the arrest. On the patio next to the table the police recovered four carried bags full of Euro notes. I don't know the nationality of the villains, but one or two here did imply Hibernian origin...
...Back to the street outside the bar, Avinida Marina Baixa to be precise. It is due to patient observation and 10 years of driving to and from Spain that my tourist friend Dave came to the conclusion that the Spanish went from the Donkey to the car too quickly, and that he is beginning to believe that an indicator on a Spanish-plated car is an optional extra.
A roundabout is like a game of Russian roulette in Spain, the oncoming driver may comply and go around it anti-clockwise if it is absolutely obvious that's what he must do, otherwise he could go clockwise if its the fastest way to the road he wants to go down. Now the Marina Baixa is a one way street from the Marina bar onwards. Up to the bar it is permissible for drivers who live in the apartments next door to drive the short distance to the roundabout. But any traffic from beyond that point must not drive in the direction of the roundabout. Motor cycles almost always ignore the rule, other drivers believe if they reverse, technically, they are not breaking the rule, and delivery vans find parking on the roundabout is the best solution for them. That is until the No 41 or No 12 buses into Benidorm arrive. This is when pandemonium breaks out. If all of these circumstances converge then it isn't long before the Policia Local arrive. And they take very little notice of excuses. If there is a rule the Policia do not deviate, now perhaps, the fact they are on a bonus linked to arrests and fines, could have a bearing on that.
So the day the roundabout was blocked by a van, and the motorbike driving the wrong way was caught by the policia and the drunk driver would not give way to the bus even when the policeman got his gun out, lingers easily in my mind. The drunk driver must have earned them the biggest bonus points, the driver refused point blank to budge, the bus driver had his hand fixed on the horn, the motor bike rider was off up the road with no chance of hot pursuit.
I was on mahou number 3 by the time it all subsided.
The solution happened in a flash, the policeman with the gun pointed it through the window whilst opening the door, policeman number 2 grabbed the driver spun him like a top and handcuffed him, policeman number 3 jumped in the car reversed it quickly and parked in a no waiting bay, policeman number 4 waived the bus on. Gridlock became unlocked, no doubt the policemen got bonus points the bike rider got away and we had an hours free entertainment second to none...
Free on the table and one for the road
...Dogs are favoured highly in Spain. In fact I believe that in just a few generations their legs will have bred out, because the Spaniards buy the smallest dog possible and then carry them all over the place.
The Ex-Pat community also like their dogs and consequently we have all become a little more anti-social because we all walk round looking at the floor to avoid the dog mess. Dogs are also very welcome in most bars and the Marina is one such bar. My friends Jonathan and Duncan have a dog called Neska (I believe is a Basque word meaning girl). She is a cute dog and very excited when she meets you.
A custom in the Marina is to put peanuts and potato crisps on each table free of charge. Neska bounces from knee to knee around the table in a somewhat cupboardly love kind of way, she is really interested in the nuts and at the slightest chance she would go in for the steal, however, Jonathan and Duncan make sure she never actually reaches her goal. Not quite the same with other dogs. On one occasion one of the marina goers saw a dog sneak up and manage to lick the salt from the peanuts before the owner dragged it back from the table. They paid and left. But before this observer could tell Antonio (one of the owners) he had cleared the table moved the nuts to another table and were being consumed by an unsuspecting tourist. The observer thought it best not to spoil the tourists day.
Another custom in the Marina, which is subject to overall consumption of alcohol, is to give the customer "one for the road" on the house as it were. This varies from some horrible medicine tasting green stuff to a can/glass/bottle of what you have been drinking. for example my session resulted in me drinking 4 bottles of Mahou, I get a bill for the 4 bottles and a fifth bottle free of charge. Pete and Dave mentioned in an earlier blog, regularly drink Bacardi and Whiskey respectively with a shared can of coca cola lite. However on one particular occasion it was a very sunny day and crowds of people to people watch at. They decided to throw caution to the wind and ordered a jug of sangria. This sangria has red wine, gaseosa (unsweetened lemonade) lemon juice, grenadine, soberano brandy, and various ingredients of the house. chopped up fruit and ice complete the brew. The first one went down a treat, so they ordered a second, much to the dismay of Antonio. With only few drops of the loony juice left they ordered the bill. "Wan for de road" says Antonio. "si" said Dave and Pete. A few minutes later Antonio appeared with jug number three. Dave and Pete didn't emerge for 3 days...
The Ex-Pat community also like their dogs and consequently we have all become a little more anti-social because we all walk round looking at the floor to avoid the dog mess. Dogs are also very welcome in most bars and the Marina is one such bar. My friends Jonathan and Duncan have a dog called Neska (I believe is a Basque word meaning girl). She is a cute dog and very excited when she meets you.
A custom in the Marina is to put peanuts and potato crisps on each table free of charge. Neska bounces from knee to knee around the table in a somewhat cupboardly love kind of way, she is really interested in the nuts and at the slightest chance she would go in for the steal, however, Jonathan and Duncan make sure she never actually reaches her goal. Not quite the same with other dogs. On one occasion one of the marina goers saw a dog sneak up and manage to lick the salt from the peanuts before the owner dragged it back from the table. They paid and left. But before this observer could tell Antonio (one of the owners) he had cleared the table moved the nuts to another table and were being consumed by an unsuspecting tourist. The observer thought it best not to spoil the tourists day.
Another custom in the Marina, which is subject to overall consumption of alcohol, is to give the customer "one for the road" on the house as it were. This varies from some horrible medicine tasting green stuff to a can/glass/bottle of what you have been drinking. for example my session resulted in me drinking 4 bottles of Mahou, I get a bill for the 4 bottles and a fifth bottle free of charge. Pete and Dave mentioned in an earlier blog, regularly drink Bacardi and Whiskey respectively with a shared can of coca cola lite. However on one particular occasion it was a very sunny day and crowds of people to people watch at. They decided to throw caution to the wind and ordered a jug of sangria. This sangria has red wine, gaseosa (unsweetened lemonade) lemon juice, grenadine, soberano brandy, and various ingredients of the house. chopped up fruit and ice complete the brew. The first one went down a treat, so they ordered a second, much to the dismay of Antonio. With only few drops of the loony juice left they ordered the bill. "Wan for de road" says Antonio. "si" said Dave and Pete. A few minutes later Antonio appeared with jug number three. Dave and Pete didn't emerge for 3 days...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
