Murcia and the Southern Spanish Coast

Another bank holiday here in the UK gave us another excuse for a trip away somewhere! Having been lazy in the planning and being the peak tourist month for Europe, when we booked our tickets a couple of weeks ago our options were limited. In the head we got a pretty good deal to fly to Murcia, a town in the south of Spain, along with accommodation at a hotel at Palmera Beach in Pilar de la Horadada.

Because of prices we were all flying out of Birmingham (where Jules had moved to a couple of weeks ago with Peter to follow soon), so Peter and I caught the train up friday night so we could leave early saturday morning. Our arrival in Spain was interesting to say the least. We must have been the only non-Europeans in the airport and the passport control guy was having great fun just staring at our passports (he did not seem to do anything with them!).

We finally got through and picked up the hire car (a Peugeot 206) and headed in the direction we thought that Pilar de la Horadada was. The change in temperature between Spain and sunny Birmingham was amazing. It was hot, similar to summer weather in Wollongong (very muggy). Anyway, Jules was driving, with Peter giving directions. Not having a map, however, made the journey interesting, but we eventually made it.

Our room was not ready yet, so we dumped our bags and headed into the small town to look around and grab some lunch. The entire place seemed to be a resort for Spaniards instead of any other Europeans, so our pasty white skin stood out. We grabbed some groceries for the next few days and headed back to the hotel to check in, and have a swim. The pool was lovely and it was nice to finally get into some water. Even though the beach was just a couple of hundred metres away, it was too hot and the pool was a lot closer so it won out. It was also siesta time, so we had it to ourselves.

After a swim and a lie in the shade, we headed back up to the room for a beer or two, some snacks and general lazing about. The balcony gave us a good view of the beach, so it was nice to just sit out there and read. Unlike other trips, this one was about relaxing, rather then trying to see everything a city had to offer. Anyway, while we were sitting there Jules said is that a person masturbating down there (near some houses). She was right, so it was time to head inside for a while.

After a bit of a snooze we headed back into town for dinner. It was now about 9:30pm, so it was just starting to get busy. We had pizza and a couple of drinks and then headed back to the hotel.

For the next two days we did much the same, although Peter got quite badly sun burnt. One of the nights we decided to drive into Alicante (about 70kms away), which seemed like a nice city and worth a return visit. Another of the days we headed into Murcia proper, which was just another town, although it had a lovely square where were stopped for a nice drink. Our mysterious masturbator even made repeat appearances!

The final day we checked out of the hotel and drove around the area to look around. We eventually made it to Cartagena, an old Roman town, which was interesting, although only took about two hours to walk around. It was hot and most of the shops had closed for siesta, and Peter was whinging about his sunburn, so we ended up leaving early and tried to find a cinema or something. In the end we went bowling before heading back to the airport for our return flight.

All in all it was a good relaxing weekend. The Spanish lifestyle certainly appeals. Afternoon siestas are fantastic ideas. It seems that everyone else thinks that was as well with thousands upon thousands of houses being built in the area. I think they may have a problem in a few years with so many new residents (from all over Europe) and major water problems....




The view from our balcony.



Night view.



Inventive advertising!



Murcia.



More Murcia.



Even more Murcia.



Last of Murcia.



Mar Menor resorts...



Enclosed beach.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.



Cartagena.