Building on a hugely successful trip to Disneyland Paris in April 2024, ‘Charlie’ and his support staff headed off to sunny Spain.
Once Charlie was buckled into his seat on the Boeing 737-800, he settled in, feeling comfortable and relaxed—until the thrust of the engines brought a huge, excited smile to his face! He beamed as he looked out of the window, watching Cornwall below grow smaller and smaller until the plane reached cruising altitude over France and then Spain.
Touchdown in Alicante brought more smiles. Charlie disembarked, made his way through passport control, and picked up his hire car. He settled into his seat and began his Spanish adventure; first stop, the beach!
Soon after, Charlie helped select provisions at the supermarket and enjoyed lunch in Alicante before heading to his holiday home in the hills of Finestrat, a suburb of Benidorm. After choosing his room and unpacking his case, Charlie fully embraced holiday mode with a refreshing dip in the pool, followed by an al fresco dinner on the terrace.
Charlie was up and ready to go early the next morning. After a drive up to the mountains north of Alicante, he enjoyed tapas of calamari and ham croquettes before exploring the Castell de Guadalest, a 13th-century castle nestled high on a mountain. The stunning views from the top were certainly worth the climb. Charlie enjoyed walking through cool tunnels and knocking on the huge, studded doors along the way. The route back down meandered through a medieval pueblo, where Charlie had a refreshing cold drink and a delicious picnic lunch before returning to his car. Several hairpin bends later, he arrived back at his holiday home to relax in the shade and cool off in the pool, escaping the fierce afternoon sun.
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- Castell del Guadalest
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- Pueblo
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- Mal Pas Beach
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- Mountain View
Later that evening, once it was a little cooler, Charlie headed into Benidorm’s old town to explore. In true holiday spirit, he savored an ice cream (helado) at one of the many street cafés before strolling through the bustling, cobbled streets towards the Balcón del Mediterráneo, overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Charlie was intrigued by the thick glass panels exposing the remains of the old castle, a fortress that once defended the city from pirate attacks between the 14th and 16th centuries. He spent some time investigating the nearby church, Eglesia de Sant Jaume i Santa Anna, admiring its stunning interior before heading back along the promenade to the car and onto the holiday villa.
The next day began with breakfast on the terrace, followed by a visit to the market in Benidorm’s old town. Rows of brightly coloured stalls displayed neon clothes, caps, towels, and various souvenirs. Later, escaping the crowds and rising heat, Charlie enjoyed some churros at a serene, shady café, where he interacted with locals and the waiting staff. Afterwards, he continued to explore the city streets, marvelling at its towering hotels adorned with pirate ships, waterfalls, and even crocodiles!
After another afternoon of splashing in the pool and cooling off at the villa, Charlie set out for Alicante and its colourful promenade, flanked by typical Spanish architecture. There, fountains and statues, street entertainment, and numerous places to eat and drink lined the streets. Charlie enjoyed watching the gig rowers paddling to the beat of a drum and joined in with a group of ladies dancing on Kangoo Jumps. He selected a small, sticky square of baklava from the marina to nibble as he sat on the quayside, watching the world go by. His evening ended with a refreshing drink at the kiosk in Plaza Portal de Elche, famous for its four massive Ficus macrophylla trees, one in each corner.
Early the following morning, Charlie was back at Alicante airport, ready to board his flight home to Newquay after a fun-packed, whirlwind tour of this part of the Costa Blanca—tired but filled with memories of his sunny getaway.
Rose Bradley
