Gran Alacant, Sunday, 13th September, 2025
 |
| With our dear friends Kathy and Phil |
Good morning from our pad by the sea where we came last Sunday and would be joined by Kathy and Phil, our dear friends from Yorkshire. We usually see each other once a year, at least but this time it has been 3 years since we last met so we were all looking forward to some fun together in the sun and on the beach and we got it as you will read on.
We left home, for the umpteenth time this summer, at around 10 a.m. stopping to do a food shop and for coffee and not much more. This was to be our 5th visit here this year so far. We arrived at around 3.30 and after settling in had a makeshift lunch. Gina had cleaned the apartment beautifully so all we had to do was unpack and move in. In the old days we did the cleaning ourselves on arrival and departure which was always a bore.
Last Sunday was of course the day that the world's top men's tennis seeds were to meet in the US Open Final. Number 1, Jannik Sinner aged 24 from Italy was playing Number 2 Carlos Alcaraz aged 22 from Spain and we were all rooting for Carlitos. If he came out victorious he would become the world's number one again and importantly too would garner his 6th Grand Slam. I felt like Carlos's mother and found the match far too tense to watch. If I was his mother I would have probably had a heart attack. In the end the Spaniard won with his incredible serve and essentially quashed the more predictable Italian who could only gawp at how his rival played in the Arthur Ashe Court in Flushing Meadows last Sunday. Sinner played magnificently of course but Carlos was pure magic. If I couldn't watch the match I loved the ceremony and seeing the young Spaniard lift his second US Open trophy.
 |
| Spain's new tennis wonder kid who has now won the US Open twice aged just 22 |
Of course I felt sorry for Sinner but only one can win. The Italian lost the French Open final to Alcaraz and Alcaraz lost this year's Wimbledon final to the Italian and so it will go on. These two men will continue to dominate men's tennis for many years as the big three did. They have stepped into the shoes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic and made tennis just as exciting again.
We heard from Suzy after the match and before we went to bed. She had been to her first choir rehearsal with her old music teacher, Javier. She was a bit anxious about how she would perform but all her worries were put paid to when her teacher told her she had done really well and he was counting on her as one of the main singers in the concerts they are preparing. I was so happy to hear that and went to bed a happy lady.
Monday came and thankfully we had done the shopping as it was a local holiday and all the main supermarkets were closed. I loved reading the news about Carlos Alcaraz that morning. Monday 8th was the third anniversary of the death of The Queen and it was probably coincidental but her troubled grandson Harry was in town to see her grave. He later had tea with the King and I hoped that would be the beginning of some kind of reconciliation. Oh what a mess of things he has made. It was back to school for our grandchildren Elliot and Juliet but we didn't get any photos. When the girls were small we took a photo ever year of them going back to school in their uniforms. It seems so long ago now.
We just had time for a coffee at 11ish before driving to Alicante airport to pick up our friends. They arrived to brilliant sunshine and over 30ºc temperature. But it soon turned cloudy and hazy and would remain like that on Tuesday too. Strong rains were forecast and the local authorities prepared for them as if for a tsunami closing parks and even schools but we never saw a drop here although it did rain heavily in nearby areas causing damage in its wake.
It was time for lunch when our friends settled in, remembering the place well as they had been here in 2018. Later we spent time at the pool which we had to ourselves. It was lovely but a bit spoiled by the clouds and haze.
 |
| Kathy and Phil in the pool on Monday afternoon |
We came back for drinks on our small but lovely terrace at around 7pm and have continued the tradition since then. It's my wine and pistachio moment; one I always love and maybe it is not good for my figure but it is for my morale. We went out that night for dinner to La Masia de Chencho, a recent discovery on the outskirts of Elche. We just love that place, the food and the ambience and the class it exhumes. We ate splendidly and I'm afraid I only took a photo of the entrance while outside smoking and texting to my friend Amanda who we had taken there in the spring.
 |
| The entrance to La Masia de Chencho surrounded by very tall palm trees |
We were sure it was going to rain on
Tuesday so took our friends to visit Elche, famous for its date palm grove and palm tree parks. But we couldn't visit them as for precautionary measures all the parks had been closed as had the schools. All we could do was have a coffee and walk along the old streets. I had an unfortunate incident at the cafe where we were menaced by nasty looking pigeons wanting the nuts that came with Kathy and Phil's beer. I have always hated birds since I watched the famous Hitchcock film and my worst nightmare came true when a a nasty looking pigeon flew to our table but first landed on my head. I screamed of course and we quickly removed the nuts but they still kept coming so we moved to another table. I will not be going to that cafe ever again. What a horrible experience. It's funny how some films can cause trauma. Suzy was traumatized by the film Jaws and refused to go into a pool or the sea for many years. Even today she will only go in knee deep. I was once traumatised by a Dracula film and when my father found me crying in the lounge he rang either ITV or the BBC to complain.
Anyway, after that we wandered the pretty old streets and came to the proverbial town sign you now see everywhere and took some pictures.
 |
| In Elche on a very hazy day |
The sign is in front of the beautiful Basílica but that was also closed. From there we walked towards the car park to drive home but stopped at a shop called Ale Hop which we all love. I always buy something there.
On our way home we stopped at Quicksave to get beer for my friends and some ice cream. It was after our lunch and during our siesta - yes we have one everyday here - that Suzy arrived in the Mini.She had felt lonely at home and came to join us although she was only here for 3 nights.
On Wednesday the strong sun reappeared and we all decided to go down to our beach. Here we are walking down.
 |
| Going down to the beach on Wednesday |
Being September it wasn't at all crowded and we bagged a spot right on the front. Kathy and I went in first and then Eladio.
 |
| Eladio going into the water |
The beach was clean as was the water and it felt refreshing. Soon we were being visited by the Senegalese immigrants who sell mainly large bed covers in pretty covers which people also use to lie on on the beach. When I was here with Sandra and Adele in June I bought 3 as bed covers for the apartment and they look lovely.
 |
| A young senegalese boy selling his wares to Kath |
Kathy bought one for a sofa at home and was pleased with her purchase. It was then time for what would become our daily walk on the beach all the way to our favourite rock which I consider one of "my happy places". Once back to our spot, Suzy had arrived and we all made our way to the nearest beach bar - called "chirringuitos" here.
 |
| Refreshments at the beach bar on Wednesday |
Eladio and Phil couldn't resist a plate of grilled fresh sardines - not my cup of tea but Eladio's favourite.
Soon it was time for lunch - 2pm nearly always and Suzy had gone up to lay the table and have her shower. We spent the rest of the day at home chilling out. I got a sudden booking for just one night at El Cuetu for the next day which had me in a a bit stressed as I thought the minimum stay was 3 nights - later I had to talk to Booking to change that. It meant I had to talk to Andrea the cleaner to get the house ready which she did and in the end all went well for me and for the group of bikers.
I sorted it all out on Thursday morning while trying to make my breakfast and spaghetti bolognese for lunch so it would be ready when we came back from the beach.
On the way down we stopped at the proverbial Chinese shop to get yet another parasol - our guests break one every year. Soon we were on our favourite spot on the beach and when Suzy joined us she took a photo.
 |
| On the beach on Thursday |
The three of us were sitting in the sun while my Spanish husband hid under the parasol and was even wearing a t-shirt. As my friend Joanna pointed out he was neither a mad dog nor an Englishman sitting in the midday sun. She is right, yet he is just as brown as us or more.
Once again we went on our walk to the end of the beach and sat on "our rock".
 |
| On our rock,. one of happy places |
Our morning on the beach ended with coffee time or beer time but this time no sardines, hahaha.
We came home to take 5 showers in turn and then ate the delicious "spag bol". That evening I had booked a table at Atípico, the most popular restaurant in the area which is just across the road from here. As we were all dressed up I got Suzy to take some photos of the 4 of us, one of which I have chosen as this week's feature photo. The food is divine, sort of Asian, fusion and very creative and I had been 3 times but it was a first for my fellow diners. It was very full so I was glad I had booked a table. While waiting Kathy took a lovely photo of me with Suzy, so finally I have a photo of her to include in this week's blog post.
 |
| A lovely photo of Suzy and I at Atipico |
Just to give you an idea, here are two of the starters we shared: duck nems and a creative dish of patatas bravas.
 |
| Some of the food at Atipico |
When we had had our fill, including some chocolate croquettes for dessert we left the restaurant to walk back and that's when we saw the full moon which was red coloured. I had to have a photo to share with you.
 |
| The full moon shimmering on the sea water on Thursday evening |
Friday dawned and Suzy left at around 10 am. We were sorry to see her go but she had things to do, mostly practice for her choir rehearsal today. It was another beach morning for us which panned out the same as on Wednesday and Thursday. I made "bitki" for our lunch that day, a staple food in our diet at home and our friends loved them. We had them with fresh asparagus and Padrón peppers.
We chilled out for the rest of the day and the highlight every evening was our wine or beer and pistachio moment on the terrace before dinner. I later heard from Suzy that she was home safe and sound and of course enjoying the company of dear Pippa who must have gone crazy when she saw my daughter.
Saturday came and we had different plans. We wanted to go the Saturday market in Santa Pola to look at clothes and buy fresh veg and fruit. Yesterday my other daughter, Olivia, was on her way to Nantes with a friend from the language school and I was excited for her. She had lunch at Pilgrim,. a restaurant run by my friend Adele's son Ben but unfortunately he and his wife were away. Oli who is in love with France, the language and anything French must be in her element this weekend. We got some photos and this is one of them.
 |
| Oli is in Nantes this weekend |
Meanwhile we drove to Santa Pola and parked by the bus station across the way from the large Saturday market. There we had a field day and we all got something: Phil got shirts, Kathy a flamenco dress for her niece, shoes for Eladio and yellow imitation Berkenstock sandals for me.
 |
| Eladio showing off his new shoes |
On our way out we bought three small melons for 2 euros. It's melon season and they were delicious. From the market we drove into the old town and parked by the castle. I was keen to take our friends to another of my happy places, a cafe in the main square called Chocco & Latte which has the most divine cakes and croissants. Here we took more photos like the ones below.
 |
| At one my happy places, the cafe in the square next to the castle in Santa Pola yesterday |
Notice Eladio and I are dressed in the same colours. We were both wearing a blue top and white shorts which funnily enough was not intentional. After our drinks, the men stayed behind while Kathy and I explored the boutiques. I didn't find anything but Kathy got a long denim dress. The next stop on our agenda was lunch at La Sal on the sea front by the port where we have been a few times. Eladio and Phil were keen on having a paella while Kathy and I shared delicious starters; scallops, cod fritters and calamari. This was the "boys'" paella and they ate every bit of it.
 |
| Phil and Eladio's seafood paella yesterday at La Sal |
We would have gone straight home after such a delicious lunch but had to stop on the way at blo*** Mercadona to get stuff we were running out of. Once home we chilled out taking a siesta which my friends are seriously thinking of incorporating into their day once back in Yorkshire. This was followed by our usual evening routine; wine and pistachios, a light dinner, a chat on the terrace and so to bed.
I think last night was my best night so far and I must have slept about 7 hours. Hurray. Today is Sunday and we will be going down to the beach again for more fun and sunshine.
So that's it from me now until next Sunday when our lovely holiday together will be over as good things always come to an end.
Cheers for now,
Masha
PS forget to mention it was my best friend Amanda's birthday on Saturday 13th September. She turned 69 which I will do in February. We met aged 11 at St. Joseph's College which means we have been friends for 57 years, nearly a lifetime. Happy birthday my dearest friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment