Benidorm – The party central town of the Costa Brava, yet it also has a beautiful old town.
Here you will find a whole host of old streets and alleys to explore. At night the place is always a fantastic busy hustling community where the many bars and restuarants come to life.
From the Mirador del Castell you gain a magnificent view along both bays it seperates.
There is no stopping us now, after just ver 3 weeks from our last trip to Majorca we decided on a cheeky little trip to Benidorm for a bit more sun before the UK winter sets in.
This trip did not start as we planned due to the changes is the Spanish travel regulations which came into effect from the 12th October, meaning we could not stay with our friend as we did not have time to organise the required official invite which he would need to obtain from the local police. This meant we had to also book a hotel.. Boo hoo
The hotel we plumped for was the Hotel Agir Springs on the Avenue Del Mediteranneo just one block back from Levante Beach. The hotel is great value, being half price to those on the front. The rooms are clean and tidy with all the facilities you need, fridge, kettle, hair dryer etc with a good bathroom even if fairly small. The room we had also had a decent sized balcony over looking the Avenue with a view of the coast. On the roof there is a small plunge pool with sunbeds and a bar.
The staff were all very friendly and attentive at all times.
Overall I would rate it as a 4.5 out of 5, with it only being let down by the breakfast which in my opinion although comprehensive with choices was always not hot enough even if you got there early.
Having reached the grand old age of 70, my fantastic family organised a villa holiday in Majorca right on Alcudia beach.
The villa is called Villa Gremelos (Gremelos is spanish for twins) which is very apt as the villa has 2 floors which mirror each other making in total 6 bedrooms of wich most are ‘on suit’, 2 kitchens diners, a fantastic outside enrtainment area with a good size pool.
At the bottom of the garden is a private gate giving direct access to the superb Alcudia beach. The actual location of the villa is also ideal. Less than 1km from the main square for any entertainment with ample restaurants and pubs, but also has a large supermarket directly across the main road from the villa that has every thing for your daily needs.
Area Information.
The beautiful “Parc Natural de s’Albufera de Mallorca” nature reserve is a 6-minute drive (2.7 km) away, and Palma de Mallorca Airport is a 48-minute drive (61 km) from the holiday home. Also nearby are Golf Aucanada, one of Mallorca’s most beautiful 18-hole golf courses, 5 km away, and the AlcudiaMar Yacht Club, where yachts can be rented. The Port of Alcudia, with daily ferries to the neighboring island of Menorca, is 3.6 km away. From April to November, 24-hour customer service (by phone) is available. The house is ideal for cyclists, as it is equipped with bicycle repair tools, and the garage has ample space for bicycles. The house is equipped with a security alarm system that includes the garage. Parking is available on the property as well as on the street. Bed linen is included in the price. Pets are not allowed.
Surprise road trip for my good ladies birthday. So a 6 hour drive from Minneapolis to Chigago for a night.
Featurerd image was first sight of the city the rest are just pictues of some of the features of this city. From a walk along the ‘Magnificent mile‘ (Final Picture) to the multitude of bars and clubs, this is definitely a place to visit.
One thing to thinks about though, especially if visiting in February, is to dress up like an eskimo. It was about – 15 when we visited but with the famous ‘Windy City’ wind it felt more like -30. Luckily the bars are not too far apart.
Monday 13th May – We took a trip out to our American families cabin on the edge of Lake Loon in Wisconsin.
What an absolutely beautiful place to just chill and reflect… I could easily be converted to an off grid existance after spend just a couple of hours here.
On our reluctant return to minneapolis, famished after all the fresh air of the lake. we went for a meal at the local ‘ Bennetts Chop & Railhouse’ Restaurant. This is another establishment that I can fully recommend. Really welcoming, friendly staff that can’t do enough for you, great food at very reasonable prices, and if you are in the mood for it, even a comprehensive cocktail menu… This is definitely a place that sucks you in..
Arrived yesterday after a pretty trouble free flight from London Heathrow. MSP imigration was slow at nearly 2 hours, but apart from that, a good trip.
Today being day 1 of this visit we started off with a great typical American breakfast in a fantastic diner called the ‘Fireside Lounge Bar & Restaurant‘. This is a very popular diner for very good reasons. The food and service is excellent so well worth booking ahead. (Follow the link in red to review their website.
After breakfast, we went on a 90 minute ‘Mississippi’ cruise. At only $21 per adult this was an fantastic way to chill out for a couple of hours. The historic commentary covering the way the Mississippi forged all areas of the USA, I found well presented and interesting.
The trip takes you past an early railway swing bridge (not in use any more) which has an interesting story that when it was first built, when it swung, part of it went over a landovers property. The railway tried to pay for access for the swing, but the land owner would not allow them access for any price as he was a paddle steamer operator and the introduction of the railway was putting him out of business, so the railway had to cut off the overhang and replace it with a concrete counter weight. Great historical story of poor initial planning.
To follow on from my last post about the Hotel Do Cerro in Albufeira, I thought I would show a few pictures I took whilst here.
February and March is a great time to come to the Algarve as the weather is pretty good. This weekend it has been 20+ in the afternoons, plenty enough to top up your tan or even get burnt if you are not careful. I can highly recommend this as a winter sun break.
Albufeira Old Town has plenty to entertain any demands from quiet Cafe’s and Bars to wild nights of abandonment hiding in the central square and back streets. Enjoy.
We are just taking a short break to Albufeira in Portugal staying in the Hotel Do Cerro.
We arrived last Thursday (14/3/24) via a very pleasant Jet2 flight from Birmingham. It is now Sunday morning 11.43am and I am writing this whilst sat by the hotel pool in the sunshine.
The hotel is located a mere 850 meters from Albufeira old town, although this is some 60 meters elevation so as you can imagine, it is a much easier walk into town than back. Thank the lord that there is a bar at just about every junction on the way back up the hill. Google maps shows it as a 14 minute walk. It might be if you are Sherpa Tenzing, but we took a much more leisurely hour to do it. Day 2 we took a taxi. LOL
The hotel itself is quite quirky in layout, and spreads across a street with a connecting tunnel. The reception and cocktail bar situated at street level, but this is floor -1. The pool and pool bar/ breakfast room are on floor 1 and to get to our room (302) we had to go through the tunnel to a lift to floor 2, along another corridor to a set of stairs and up one floor. Strange but easy enough. All the staff at the hotel are magic and cant do enough for you, making it a brilliant stay. One word of warning for the fussy travelers, there is no coffee or tea making kit in the rooms, although you can hire a kettle. This still did not spoil it for us.
The picture below is the view from our room
In this post, I will be moving away from the beaches to show some of the old town and other streets it is well worth a walk round.
For a change this year, we decided on main land Spain and chose Benidorm for a location, staying at the Costa Blanca Innside by Melia Hotel right on the front of Llavant Beach.
We have been here now for 5 days, 5 more to go and have found both the hotel and location brilliant.
The hotel is adults only, but that does not mean you wont see any big kids running around being prats, cause this is party city and all sorts goes on.
See my following posts for more detail on this location
Are you thinking of a summer break? Well Ibiza is still worth a consideration.
The old town of Ibiza is just perfect for walking around on a hot day. The old streets full of great cafe’s, restaurants and watering holes are a fantastic way to while away some time and chilling right down.
For more information on travel, accommodation, packages etc why not visit this Blog
Beaches and Coves of Cala Portinatx, Ibiza. The fantastic beaches and calm settled water in the bay of Cala Portinatx makes it one of the most perfect places to swim or just soak up the sun.
3 more of the alleys that scatter the old market town of Tewkesbury.
Visit more information through https://www.tewkesburymedievaltown.uk/tewkesbury-alleys/index.htm
Well after what seems to be a long winter, we are now on holiday on the fantastic island of Cyprus, staying in the Constantinou Bros Pioneer Beach Hotel in Paphos.
Day 1 – Great day by the pool, doing absolutely nothing, followed by an evening meal and a bit of a walk along the coast to work it off.
Established from a single motor retail dealership in Bristol Street, Birmingham nearly 100 years ago, Bristol Street Motors has grown to become a national brand recognised for its honesty, integrity and quality of customer service. Over this time Bristol Street Motors has earned its reputation as trusted dealers of new cars and used cars, as well as supplying a great selection of practical vans across their local dealerships in England.
Acquired by Vertu Motors in 2007, Bristol Street Motors has gone from strength to strength, retaining its place as one of the largest motor retailers in England and building on its reputation as one of the Country’s most trusted new and used car dealership groups. As well as being one of the country’s most reputable car dealerships, the servicing and aftersales available is second to none; including body repairs, accident management, and MOTs among other services.
Cala Portinatx
A great little cove at the north of the island. The drive here from anywhere gives view to some of the most beautiful vista’s.
Whether you are staying in the TUI Sensimar Beach Resort or stopping in one of the great self catering apartments, this resort has everything for couples, individuals or families that just want to get away for a quiet break.
Old cannon ball guns monument by the Paphos castle on the sea shore.
Paphos Castle. A must-see site located on the picturesque Paphos harbour, it was originally built as a fort to protect the area. One of the most distinctive landmarks in a town that’s a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, visitors from near and far flock to catch a glimpse of its beauty, while it also hosts the annual Pafos Aphrodite Festival.
Bristol Street Motors is proud of its long established reputation for integrity, first class customer service and competitive pricing. Our company ethos is to provide a service built on trust; we are dedicated to providing the best experience we can offer you, whether you are buying a new car, used car or a wiper blade for your existing car.
Every customer that walks through the door is equally important to us.
Here at Bristol Street Motors we only use the latest technology and employ the very best highly trained technicians, which ensures we have the skills and equipment to diagnose any problem quickly, making your service or repair faster and cheaper.
Our friendly service receptionists and technicians can offer advice on servicing, MOTs and repairs and as part of the service we offer you, your vehicle will be checked for manufacturer recalls and receive a wash and vacuum completely free of charge. We also offer complimentary courtesy cars or collection and delivery, all to suit your busy lifestyle.
We offer a comprehensive range of products for a vast variety of makes and models and if you’re not 100% sure which part or accessory you may need our parts specialists are only a phone call away to help with any query you may have.
We are in partnership with Motor Industry Codes of Practice, giving you that extra peace of mind that you’re in safe hands when you come to us. Bristol Street Motors adhere to these codes of practices, along with their own standards through our mission statement in their entirety.
Good news today, slightly overcast and cloudy, which may seem a strange statement when you are on holiday in Cyprus, but let me assure you this is what you need if you are going to spend an hour or so walking around the “Tomb of the Kings.
If you like a bit of culture, it is a must if you are in the Paphos area, but if it is a typical hot Cyprus day, carry plenty of water.
The price to get in is very reasonable for these type of places at only 2.50 Euros, and I defy you to see the lot in less than an hour. You may feel that once you have seen one you have seen them all, but there is just something about the place that gets you thinking.
OFFICIAL JARGON
The underground tombs, many of which date back to the 4th century BC, are carved out of solid rock, and are thought to have been the burial sites of Paphitic aristocrats and high officials up to the third century AD (the name comes from the magnificence of the tombs; no kings were in fact buried here). Some of the tombs feature Doric columns and frescoed walls. Archaeological excavations are still being carried out at the site. The tombs are cut into the native rock, and at times imitated the houses of the living.
Although the tombs have been known and casually explored for centuries, they were first subjected to systematic excavation in the later 1970s and the 1980s under the direction of Dr Sophocles Hadjisavvas, former Director of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus.
Dr Hadjisavvas is preparating the finds for publication with assistance from the Australian archaeological mission to Paphos.
Part of the importance of the tombs lies in the Paphian habit of including Rhodian amphorae among the offerings in a burial. Through the manufacturing stamps placed on the handles of these amphorae, it is possible to give them a date and, through them, the other material from the same burial.
