It is always a pleasure when past guests come back to see us again, and this week John and Jacqui did exactly that – they had visited us last September, and decided to return to us for an early summer Short Breaks to Spain. Last year they stayed with us for only one night as they were on their way to their villa they own in Estepona near Gibraltar and they found us by virtue of our pet friendly accommodation. They were travelling with their labradoodle named Monti and so were pleased to find that we welcomed pets and were conveniently placed along their route. They were driving down south last year, but this time they were not in fact going to their villa at all. They now have some tenants renting it for several months, but they wanted to come back to us and see more of our part of the northern Cost Blanca.

They flew to Valencia and spent their first night there, taking the opportunity the next morning to use the tourist bus to acquaint themselves with the city. In the afternoon they caught the train to Gandia, where we collected them from the station and brought them back to the villa. They loved meeting up with the cats and dogs again, and were delighted to see that we had adopted another dog since their last visit. Buckley gave them a very friendly welcome, and the other dogs clearly remembered these returning guests and they all enjoyed each other’s company during the afternoon around the pool. John and Jacqui had decided to dine with us on both evenings of their stay, so there was plenty of opportunity to catch up with their news.

The next day we gave them a lift to Playa de Gandia, where they spent the main part of the day exploring the beach and port area and then having lunch in the yacht club there (Club Nautico). During the course of the afternoon they caught a taxi back to Villa Florencia, and then were happy to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the sun – a welcome change from the weather they had left behind in the UK. They were really enjoying the chance to soak up some early summer sunshine and at the same time plan how they would spend the following day (the last of their trip) in Valencia. Their plan was to catch a train the next morning back to Valencia, spend the day there and then fly home the following morning. Over evening meal that night, they decided a good idea would be to hire a couple of bikes and spend some time in the Turia Gardens – where the diverted river used to flow through the city – and then visit the City of Arts and Sciences, which lie near the end of the gardens.

And so, the next morning it was time to take John ad Jacqui to the station and bid farewell to our returning guests. However, they say they will certainly come back to us in the future, especially since they will no doubt be spending time at their own villa once their current tenants have left. They will probably want to stop with us on the way, much as they did last year, and hopefully with the endearing Monti accompanying them the next time too, on one of their Short Breaks to Spain! We – as well as our own dogs – will look forward to their return!

The post Short Breaks to Spain appeared first on Spanish Sunshine Holidays Costa Blanca Spain.

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They arrived in time for our evening meal service, and were more than pleased to be introduced to our own dogs and cats – and intrigued to see how well they all get on together. The plan was that the dog they were proposing to adopt would be brought here to Villa Florencia the following morning and they would then set off in their car for the five hour journey back to their home in the north. They thoroughly enjoyed their meal with us, and spent the evening talking about their plans to take their new pet home, whilst at the same time making a fuss of our own dogs.

Maxima the newly adopted Spanish Mastiff

Lola – our Spanish Mastiff – particularly endeared herself to them with her tranquil and placid nature and “gentle giant” demeanour. Reinhard was especially charmed by Lola and by the end of the evening was making jokes about packing her in their car along with their adoptee and heading home at high speed! He then thought to phone their contact at the animal shelter to discuss final arrangements for the next day and asked if they had another mastiff in their care. On hearing that they did indeed have such a dog – a female about 3 years old – there was a sudden change of plan. Instead of their new dog being brought here, they would go to the centre with a view to adopting not only their original dog, but also to deciding if the mastiff would suit them as well.

Although we did not go to the shelter with them, we heard from our mutual contact that they had fallen in love with both dogs and happily set off homewards with the two dogs contentedly settled in the back of their vehicle! Our Lola can be justifiably proud of herself that she played a major part in achieving the re-homing of one of her own breed, and we feel sure that such dog lovers as Reinhard and his wife will be absolutely delighted with both their new dogs. They gave us firm assurances that they would come back to visit us for a few days holiday later in the season, so we are very much looking forward to hearing how the new arrivals have settled in to their home. A short stay with us turned out to have a very happy ending for all concerned!

If you are interested in adopting dog or would like to support the work done by S.P.A.M.A Safor please visit their site and see how you can help.

S.P.A.M.A is an established registered Spanish Charity The shelter in Gandia is situated north of the Costa Blanca, on the Costa de Azahar Currently the shelter is home for approx. 300 dogs and 120 cats. Unfortunately we are located outside of the tourist areas, therefore it is difficult for people to offer their help. Our shelter is absolutely overcrowded. A lot of our dogs are 5, 6, 7, or even 8 years in the kennels. Many of them know nothing more than the shelter, never having seen the real world. SPAMA has fought against the law to put down animals after a certain length of time; we believe they should all live. However, living at the shelter in a kennel is not the best of alternatives, they need loving homes. Please help us to find new homes for the animals. A donation, whether financial, food, bedding or personal help at the shelter is always very welcome.

The post Pet Friendly B&B Gandia appeared first on Spanish Sunshine Holidays Costa Blanca Spain.

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During their stay, Colin and Bev found time to go on 2 self guided mountain bike trips. One was through our valley to the Sant Jeroni monastery at the far side, whilst the second outing was from Villalonga along the line of the old Alcoi-Gandia railway as far as Lorcha, following the Serpis river for much of the route.

On day one we set off from the villa, having taken some time to get acquainted with the new mountain bikes, and make adjustment to the ride height, heading in the direction of the Saint Jeronie Monastery. Both Colin & Bev have done quite a bit of cycling in the past but neither had done any off road riding in a while, so this was a great opportunity for them to ease themselves back into the saddles gently. We completed the 20km route at a leisurely pace, on a mixture of paved and unsurfaced tracks, and even got to practise some off-road techniques in a little forested area close to the Monastery. A very sensible re-introduction to mountain biking given what was to follow on the next day,…

On day 2, we loaded the bikes into our van and set off for Villalonga and the start of the “Rio Serpis Via Verde”, a 20 minute drive from the Villa Florencia. From here we followed a well marked route that follows a disused railway line through a series of tunnels to the village of Lorcha. We stopped for our lunch break at a bar in the village, and enjoyed a leisurely hour in the Spanish sunshine with drinks from the bar and our prepared packed lunches.

After lunch we stopped for a photo opportunity, in a beautiful scenic garden on the outskirts of the village, before embarking on the return leg of our journey. Re-hydrated and refuelled, we made short work of the pedal back to the starting point. We completed a distance of  30km for the day, and both Colin & Bev ended the day with a sense of great accomplishment. By 4pm we where back at the Villa Florencia in time for a nice cuppa and a swim!

They had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, giving themselves a break from the overriding concerns for Molly’s safe return to England.

The post Mountain Bike Rental Spain- Self guided Mountain Biking appeared first on Spanish Sunshine Holidays Costa Blanca Spain.

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We loaded the bikes in the car and set off around 11.30, driving to Simat. We left the car there and followed a mixture of road and tracks through beautiful orange groves surrounded by stunning mountains. There were plenty of photo opportunities along the way, with backdrops of mountains, orchards and green valleys. The route was well marked through all the off-road sections and after slightly more than an hour we arrived at Aigües Vives, where the former convent is now in use as a country hotel.

At the edge of the village we saw signs to a nearby golf course – renowned for its spectacular mountain setting – so we decided to make a detour to see for ourselves. The approach to the course is uphill along a very steep road, but well worth the effort, as the views of the course certainly lived up to their reputation.

After that, it was time to find a suitable spot for our picnic lunch so we continued along the marked mountain biking track in the direction of Alzira and stopped in a quiet and remote orchard for lunch, under the shade of a loquat tree. The track at this stage became very unclear and seemed possibly unsuitable for biking as it wound upwards, so we decided to return now to Simat and complete the route to Alzira on another occasion. After a cooling drink in a café in Simat with a great view of the monastery there again, we loaded the bikes back in the car for the drive home. Another wonderful trip in beautiful surroundings.

A fabulous day out biking in the Spanish mountains.
Totals for the Day:-
Trip :- 28km
Max Speed :- 28.6
Ride time :- 2:07:39
Odo :- 1011km

The GR-236 Monastery Route (Route of the Monasteries of Valencia (GR-236))
The “Monasteries Route” – or “Ruta dels Monestirs” as it is called locally – provides an itinerary which passes through the central areas of Valencia, linking five ancient convents or monasteries. It can be done easily by road with direct access to the monasteries, or equally well on foot or mountain bike using the GR-236 hiking path, which follows medieval mountain paths (the Pas del Pobre), authentic old tracks, and old railway lines. Along its 90km length from Gandía to Alzira we pass through a wide range of villages, valleys, rivers and mountains.

	The Monestir de Sant Jeroni near Alfauir was built by Alfons el Vell (Duke of Gandía) in order to take in the Jeroni monks of Javea in 1388. A particularly outstanding feature is the gothic style cloisters, and also well worth visiting are the Romantic style gardens which were constructed by the Trénor family, who are still the current owners.
	The Convent del Corpus Christi near Llutxent dates from 1422 when Dominican monks began its construction, and in fact the first Valencian university was housed here. Right by the monastery you will find the Corpus Christi Church, built in a mediterranean gothic style, and which was declared a national monument in 1982.
	There is a wide variety of architectural styles to be found at the Monestir de la Valledigna in Simat, including gothic influences of the 14th century, and baroque influences of the 17th & 18th centuries. In 1991 the Valencian Government acquired the monastery in order to carry out restoration and refurbishment works, which were completed in 1998 when the building was re-opened.
	The oldest of the workings at the Convent d’Aigües Vives in the area near Carcaixent date back to the 13th century, but the construction of the current building was originally undertaken in the 15th century. The cloisters, which have vaults with baroque-style interior decorations, are especially welcoming to the visitor, whilst the convent’s tiling is a fine example of 18th century Valencian ceramics.
	The Monastir de la Murta near Alzira was founded between the 15th & 16th centuries. Especially noteworthy is the tower known as the Torre dels Coloms and also the renaissance style gate, above which a coat of arms is still to be seen. This belongs to the Vich family who were owners and benefactors of the monastery for many years. In 1989 the Town Hall of Alzira acquired the property and began the restoration of this historic monastery

Technically, the GR-236 begins in Gandia and finishes in Alzira passing by these monasteries:

1. Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba, in Alfauir.
2. Monastery of the Corpus Christi, in Llutxent.
3. Monastery of Santa María de la Valldigna, in Simat de la Valldigna.
4. Monastery of Aguas Vivas, in Carcaixent.
5. Monastery of La Murta, in Alzira.

All the paths are perfectly signposted from the Train Station of Gandía to Alzira. There are road signs in problematic forks with location signs and direction signs. The signs are white and red and they all have the path code (GR-236).

Mountain Biking the GR-236 Monastery Route starting from the Villa Florencia, is a total of 104km, see map below,..

The post Mountain Biking the GR-236 Monastery Route Part 2 appeared first on Spanish Sunshine Holidays Costa Blanca Spain.

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Mountain Biking the GR-236 Monastery Route Part 1
For today’s mountain biking trip, we decided to take in the first 2 of the 5 monasteries, the Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba, in Alfauir & the Monastery of the Corpus Christi, in Llutxent, and returning home via Pinet, a route of 45km.

We set off at 11am and cycled down to the first monastery, Sant Jeroni, only 5km from the villa, a nice gentle way to start the day. Cycling through orchards and a mixture of tracks and semi-surfaced paths. A quick photo opportunity and then time to set off in the direction of Benicolet.

Following a well sign-posted route we meandered through the Spanish countryside on undulating tracks and paths, for another 10km and finally reached the village of Bencolet, from here we followed the main road for another 5km and reached the second of the Monastery, Corpus Christi, in Llutxent. We stopped at a local bar for refreshments and a well earned break.

Next it was on to Pinet, again following well marked tracks and bridal paths, for the next 6km. We stopped again for a break and to rehydrate in the village and to gather ourselves for the next section of the route,…some serious climbing for the next 6km. We set off at a steady pace and soon started gaining altitude, the views on this section of the route are breathtaking, even when not pedalling!

Again, we stopped for a break in the shade of a tree and prepared ourselves for the final leg of our journey, the descent! The last stretch of 10km was mostly downhill with some exhilarating riding on a mixture of paved and unpaved roads and tracks.

We arrived back at the villa by 5pm, with feeling of great accomplishment, and just in time for our afternoon cuppa! A fabulous day out in the Spanish spring sunshine.
Totals for the Day:-
Trip :- 44.7km
Max Speed :- 42.6
Ride time :- 3:19:20
Odo :- 961km

The GR-236 Monastery Route (Route of the Monasteries of Valencia (GR-236))
The “Monasteries Route” – or “Ruta dels Monestirs” as it is called locally – provides an itinerary which passes through the central areas of Valencia, linking five ancient convents or monasteries. It can be done easily by road with direct access to the monasteries, or equally well on foot or mountain bike using the GR-236 hiking path, which follows medieval mountain paths (the Pas del Pobre), authentic old tracks, and old railway lines. Along its 90km length from Gandía to Alzira we pass through a wide range of villages, valleys, rivers and mountains.

	The Monestir de Sant Jeroni near Alfauir was built by Alfons el Vell (Duke of Gandía) in order to take in the Jeroni monks of Javea in 1388. A particularly outstanding feature is the gothic style cloisters, and also well worth visiting are the Romantic style gardens which were constructed by the Trénor family, who are still the current owners.
	The Convent del Corpus Christi near Llutxent dates from 1422 when Dominican monks began its construction, and in fact the first Valencian university was housed here. Right by the monastery you will find the Corpus Christi Church, built in a mediterranean gothic style, and which was declared a national monument in 1982.
	There is a wide variety of architectural styles to be found at the Monestir de la Valledigna in Simat, including gothic influences of the 14th century, and baroque influences of the 17th & 18th centuries. In 1991 the Valencian Government acquired the monastery in order to carry out restoration and refurbishment works, which were completed in 1998 when the building was re-opened.
	The oldest of the workings at the Convent d’Aigües Vives in the area near Carcaixent date back to the 13th century, but the construction of the current building was originally undertaken in the 15th century. The cloisters, which have vaults with baroque-style interior decorations, are especially welcoming to the visitor, whilst the convent’s tiling is a fine example of 18th century Valencian ceramics.
	The Monastir de la Murta near Alzira was founded between the 15th & 16th centuries. Especially noteworthy is the tower known as the Torre dels Coloms and also the renaissance style gate, above which a coat of arms is still to be seen. This belongs to the Vich family who were owners and benefactors of the monastery for many years. In 1989 the Town Hall of Alzira acquired the property and began the restoration of this historic monastery

Technically, the GR-236 begins in Gandia and finishes in Alzira passing by these monasteries:

1. Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba, in Alfauir.
2. Monastery of the Corpus Christi, in Llutxent.
3. Monastery of Santa María de la Valldigna, in Simat de la Valldigna.
4. Monastery of Aguas Vivas, in Carcaixent.
5. Monastery of La Murta, in Alzira.

All the paths are perfectly signposted from the Train Station of Gandía to Alzira. There are road signs in problematic forks with location signs and direction signs. The signs are white and red and they all have the path code (GR-236).

Mountain Biking the GR-236 Monastery Route starting from the Villa Florencia, is a total of 104km, see map below,..

The post Mountain Biking the GR-236 Monastery Route Part 1 appeared first on Spanish Sunshine Holidays Costa Blanca Spain.

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Some time ago we received a reservation from Beverley and Steve for our self-catering apartment, which they wanted to book for three days for themselves and some friends. Beverley and Steve divide their time between their home near Murcia and their house in England, and their friends were coming to visit for a few days, so they wanted to travel around and see some sights along the Costa Blanca during their time together.

They arrived on Monday after spending some time sightseeing on the way north. They had called in at Guadalest to see the castle there before carrying on to reach us mid-afternoon, which gave them plenty of time to settle in to their apartment. They spent the rest of the day there, having decided to cook their own evening meal and watch television during the evening.

On Tuesday they set off to spend the day in Valencia city, taking the train from Xeraco around 9.30am and arriving in the city about an hour later. They took the sightseeing bus in order to get their bearings and decide what they wanted to return and see in more detail later in the day, and loved the Central Market and the silk market buildings particularly. The City of Arts and Sciences was also something that they found especially impressive, with its iconic architecture situated at the end of the Turia Gardens – once the riverbed before it was diverted around the city as a flood prevention measure. After their day in the city, they came back and joined us for dinner that evening with our other guest, deciding to take advantage of our evening meal service rather than cook for themselves or look for a restaurant after their long day out.

Wednesday was to be another day seeing what the area has to offer, and this time they were heading inland to the beautiful town of Xativa with its quaint streets and impressive castle. The weather was by now far better and more seasonal with plenty of sunshine to show the town off to its best advantage. They had a great time, spending most of the day either in Xativa itself or enjoying the surrounding countryside before returning to us in the early evening, in time to cook their dinner in the apartment and spend a leisurely evening together, before departing the following day.

Their plan on Thursday was to leave us mid-morning and then go to Gandía to see what the town has to offer – they were planning to have a stroll around the historical centre and the shopping streets, and then possibly take a tour of the Borja Palace before lunch. After that, they were intending to make their way back to their own home near Murcia in time for the evening. They had a great time during their visit to us, and are thinking of returning to us in October with some other friends who will be visiting them at that time. The self-catering apartment suited them perfectly as they were able to come and go as they pleased, without any restrictions about meal times, etc and was more than spacious enough for their needs. They said they had thoroughly enjoyed their time with us, and we certainly look forward to seeing them again and meeting more of their friends.

The post Self Catering Breaks – Costa Blanca Sunshine appeared first on Spanish Sunshine Holidays Costa Blanca Spain.

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The other doggie guests to have stayed with us recently belonged to Mercedes – a Spanish lady who lives near Alicante. Mercedes arrived with her elderly (but very fit and active) father, and again stayed with us for two nights. The purpose of their visit was obviously very different, as Mercedes was entering one of her dogs – Biba – into the annual Dog Agility Show that is held in Gandia every year. Again, she found that our villa suited her perfectly. Not only was it pet-friendly as advertised – and again our dogs welcomed their canine visitors eagerly – but it also suited her father very well too. He had not often travelled away from where he lived and Mercedes had not wanted to stay in an impersonal hotel with him – even if she had been able to find one that accepted dogs. Her father lives in a rural environment amongst mountains and orange groves, so soon felt really at home with us in our villa, which is in very similar surroundings. Mercedes went to the Agility Show both mornings and returned at lunchtime to spend the rest of the day with her father, whilst he was more than happy to pass those mornings with their other dog here at the villa. Although they were also staying on a Bed and Breakfast basis, it suited them to be able to have access to the house kitchen in order to prepare a late night meal for them both, having gone out to a local café for a Spanish-timed lunch in the middle of the afternoon. Really, it was the ideal combination for them – Bed and Breakfast accommodation with a bit of self-catering thrown in!

It was great to have all these doggie guests stay with us, and we are already looking forward to our next pet visitors – although this time the new arrivals will be staying with their owner in our self-catering apartment for a couple of weeks. Whichever accommodation option suits their owners, Villa Florencia seems to be to everyone’s taste – whether canine or human!

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Golfing in the La Safor region
We were pleased to welcome a Dutch couple – Willem and Vera – to our villa last week, and they had come not only with the intention of acquainting themselves with Gandia and the surrounding area, but also to play some rounds of golf. They had already spent three nights in Altea, where they had played on courses in the Benidorm area, but wanted to see what the northern Costa Blanca had to offer.

They were staying with us for three nights, and after dining with us after their arrival on the Saturday, they were keen to set off on the Sunday morning to the La Galiana course, just 30 minutes inland from us. Opened only in February 2011, it is set in beautiful countryside surrounded by mountains and orange groves and is something of a hidden gem amongst the better known courses on the Costa Blanca. Willem and Vera had heard of the course before they arrived with us but knew little about it, but when they returned from their game in the mid-afternoon, they were full of praise and said it was one of the most pleasing courses they had ever played. It far exceeded their expectations and they were very keen to play another game there before they were due to return to Holland on the Tuesday.

Monday was to be a day spent exploring Gandia, which was made even more interesting for them because it was the beginning of the fiesta of Fallas, where huge effigies are built in the streets before being burnt to the ground in huge fires on the night of March 19th. They spent most of the day walking around the town taking in the spectacle of one of the most important fiestas in the Valencia province, before returning to us in the late afternoon. That evening they returned to Gandia and dined at Telero restaurant – probably offering the best food and ambience of any restaurant in the town – and again they were very pleasantly surprised by the experience.

The following day was time for them to leave us – and indeed return to Holland in the evening – but their flight was not until quite late. They therefore took the opportunity to check out shortly after breakfast and then go straight back to the La Galiana golf course for another round. They had been so impressed with the course on their first visit that, rather than play at one of the other courses along the Costa Blanca, they decided to enjoy another day on the course there, en route to Alicante airport and their flight home.

It had been a pleasure having them stay with us, and hopefully they will want to return in the future to enjoy more of their favourite sport in weather that is so much more pleasant than back home!

When one thinks of Golfing Holidays in Spain, many are drawn to the south of the country but there are some beautiful courses in the La Safor region as well.

One such golf course is La Galiana, situated about 30 minutes’ drive from Villa Florencia(B&B). It is set in the Vall de la Valldigna and the La Galiana golf course enjoys a spectacular setting, of outstanding beauty set in natural surroundings, in a valley surrounded by pine and orange groves, isolated from residential areas. More than 5000 local species of plants and trees have been used for its landscaping.

This course has everything that makes golf such an attractive game. The course itself is 18 holes Par 72 and 6975 meters from the back Tees, and with six Tees for each hole it provides a challenge for all levels of expertise. At the same time it is entertaining too, since the design of each hole has been studied for a continuous challenge for even the most accomplished players. The arrangement of greens and bunkers, and numerous water hazards that are distributed along the route, mean that the course will test the ability of all players, who will have to use their entire repertoire of shots.

If you are looking for comfortable accommodation in equally beautiful surroundings to the golf course, you need look no further that Villa Florencia (B&B), a beautifully maintained villa with daily room service for B&B guests. Guests may choose between either Bed and Breakfast accommodation or a self-catering apartment. An evening meal service can also be provided (whichever type of accommodation is selected). Another possibility for the larger group of travellers (up to 14) is the option to rent the entire villa on a self-catering basis. The villa is situated within easy reach of good road links to the La Galiana golf course as well as the others in the area, and is also only 8kms from some of the most beautiful beaches and coastline in the whole country.

Directions from Villa Florencia

The post Golfing Holidays in Spain appeared first on Spanish Sunshine Holidays Costa Blanca Spain.

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Today’s cross country XC mountain biking route,…
We started the route in a high valley in the mountains behind my home,.. a 10 minute drive by car.  The first couple of kilometres were a gentle pedal and this was followed by the first major ascent of the day, a 4km gruelling climb up to the next plateau. The past couple of month this specific climb has become a bit of a personal demon for me,… a number of factors (new bike, trail running, lack of training, early mornings) have contributed to my struggle against the mountain, but not today! For the first time in months I conquered the climb in one go, and still felt good once I got to the top. A very good omen for the remainder of the day, given that there was some 70km, still to go. The next 6km of the route was a beautiful high mountain riding, undulating tracks through pine forests and orchards, and this brought us to the first village & coffee stop for the day.

Refreshed and re-hydrated, we set off to cross the Valle de Albaida, 20km of good pedalling on off-road tracks, interspersed with some good technical riding sections. We descended down to the floor of the valley and started a gentle but constant climb to the next refuelling station, another small village just before the next major climb for the day. Here we spend a leisurely hour re-hydrating and then we were ready for the next assault,… Mount Benicadell.

The climb up to the provincial border between Valencia & Alicante, is all off-road and steep and steady climbing through pine forests with spectacular views that await you around every corner.  With some 40km done and all the climbing behind us we stopped for lunch, with views back across the valley we could distantly see the peak of the mountain where we had started for the day.

What followed was 10km of high speed downhill free-wheeling on a mixture of paved and unpaved tracks, that plunged us back down to the floor on the next valley. Hairpin bends and vertical slabs of concrete all means to ascend safely into the valley to connect with the next trail that would lead us along a old and disused railway track.

This section of the route follows a narrow gorge and river along the route of the old railway line and through some ancient tunnels and delivered us 10km along in the next village. Time to replenish our water supplies and start the final leg of our route back home. This final section took us through rolling citrus orchards, with the sea off to the one side and the mountain to the other.  We found our way back to the Marchuquera valley via an ancient monastery, an by 19:15 with the sun just set, we arrived back at home.

Totals for the day :

Trip 79.8km,
Ride-Time 5:25:40,
Max Speed 36.6kmph, Ave Speed 14.64kmph
Odometer 752km.

A fantastic day XC Mountain Biking in Spain, with great company, in the winter sunshine.

The post Cross Country – XC Mountain Biking in Spain appeared first on Spanish Sunshine Holidays Costa Blanca Spain.

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We were happy to welcome Curt and Sandra who came to stay with us for two nights last weekend. They live in Wiltshire – although Curt is Swedish by birth – and the purpose of their trip was to visit relatives who live in this area, as well as other family members further south near Torrevieja. Their plan was to stay with us for a couple of nights and then to move on to visit their other relatives.

Curt and Sandra arrived around 3.00pm on Saturday and had a welcome cup of tea in the garden before setting off to their uncle’s house about 15 minutes away. They had also said that they wanted to take advantage of our evening meal service on their first night with us; they had been on the move since 3.30am the previous day and were glad to know that, after their afternoon visit to the family, they would be able to return to us and relax, without having to think about finding a restaurant in unfamiliar surroundings. It is for this reason that they prefer to use Bed and Breakfast accommodation whenever they can on their travels, rather than a larger hotel, as they feel they can benefit from a much higher level of personal service and flexibility. They thought they would probably be back with us in plenty of time for dinner at 8.00pm – a time when few Spanish restaurants are open for business in any case!

Over a leisurely meal they told us that they had been to this part of the country several times, but always wished they were able to spend longer exploring the region – whereas in fact their time was mainly taken up with visiting their various family members. This visit was to be no exception though, as the next day – Sunday – they returned to visit their uncle again and to have lunch and spend the afternoon with his family. Because of this, they felt that our full evening meal service would be too much so instead they opted for a lighter option of soup and sandwiches which suited their needs perfectly. During the evening they asked us if there was any plan we could suggest for them to follow the next day, when they would be driving down to their other relatives in Torrevieja – they wanted to see some of the countryside on the way, rather than monotonous motorway driving!

After breakfast on Monday, therefore, they set off over the La Safor mountains to pass through the villages of La Drova, Barx and Simat de la Valldigna before heading inland to the historic town of Xativa where they planned to have lunch and take a look round the quaint narrow streets. Then they were going to follow the inland A7 route south towards Alicante and then onwards to Torevieja for the next family visit. It was a real pleasure to have Curt and Sandra visit us and they said they had enjoyed their all too brief stay with us so much that it was their firm intention to return and take more time to look around the area at their leisure. We very much look forward to seeing them again at our Bed and Breakfast in Spain – maybe in the warmer weather!

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