Marjal Friends, Family & Food

We left the Valencian landscape behind and moved south, travelling through the lush green orange groves, over the mountains to a more arrid area, typically Spanish, with small sprawling villages in varying shades of white and terracotta surrounded by shrub land and dry trees, but within easy reach of the coast.

The site we were booked into was called Marjal Costa Blanca, just between Crevillente, Elche and Catral, inland about 10km and surrounded by mountains. Elche was our nearest big town with a most important shopping centre, and Catral was the nearest small village with a supermarket and a few bars and restaurants.

The site really is fabulous, we imagine that in the peak of summer it’s heaving with families and children; in the winter it’s still busy but with the older generation! The site is so big, many people live there – it has its own supermarket, plaza with stage, restaurants, bars, medical centre, indoor and outdoor pools, several dog agility play areas and also activities for the adults – karaoke, boules, golf, crafts, keep fit and many more!! We met several other 5th wheel owners that have lived there for years, all have large pitches with gardens, sheds, exterior cooking facilities and even grassed steps to their balconies!! People just arrive, love it, and stay! We can see the attraction but for us, we need the beach.

Tea Break stop en route, parked in the lorry park.

Tropical pool at the site.

Friends Who Lead You Astray

At Benicassim we met a lovely couple called “Builders Bum” Julian and his lovely wife Sue, and their baby Henry (an 18 month old large cream/brown labrador!), they only followed us to this site!!! Or was it the other way around??? I can’t remember!! However, several lovely days and evenings were spent with them. We paid the local towns a visit and found a fantastic restaurant (more about this later), played Mulkky (a Finnish skittles game), had the odd glass of wine or two with them, and rounded our last few days off with a mega feast – tapas in the afternoon, a steak dinner in the evening and a very tasty home cooked paella the next day!!! Talk about over indulging, but in the good things in life – food, wine, love and laughter.

Julian said he was not looking forward to us leaving but felt his liver needed a rest…..we really don’t know what he means!

“The sun really does shine out of David’s ****” said Julian!

So, mate, will be be another beer, or a G&T next?? Or have QPR lost again??

Dad Dancing!!

We had a lovely visit from Mum and Dad in the fortnight we were here; they arrived after a few stressful days and so to ease their furrowed brow, we took them to Happy Hour at the bar and there we stayed!!

Yes Dad, the bar really is open now……..

We ate in the bar first, had a few beers and listened to some entertainment afterwards, we don’t remember much after that! We had such a laugh – Dad wanted to dance all night and dragged anyone who would accept onto the dance floor; we were gobsmacked when he started talking to a man in German!!! Not just a rough conversation with a stranger who speaks a little English but a full blown conversation with a German who spoke no English – in no time, they were best mates!!! He did regret it the next day or two when Herman kept passing by, waving and giving us the thumbs up??? No idea why??

Mum, Sue & Ju waiting for the party to start.

Mr & Mrs Boogie Woogie.

Fantastic Food

One evening we headed out of town to the most amazing restaurant we have been to for a long time! It’s an Argentinean steak house in the small town of Catral, owned and run by an Argentinean butcher and his stepson waiter. The food preparation and cooking is part of the show, you can watch the chef preparing the meat and cooking it right in front of you on a massive BBQ. The meat was tender, tasty and filling!

The black pudding sausage was delicious, everyone had some either as a starter or with their main meal.

The chef is part of the show.

If you think you are going to share this mixed grill, think again girl!

But, Mum, there is two of everything…….

Steak, sausages, chirozo, black pudding, veg and roasted sweetcorns…..yum!

Fauna – Nature Day Outing to Guardamar

One afternoon, we took a drive out to the nearest coastal town, Guardamar. It was a bit of a disappointment, the prom was maybe a few hundred metres long with one or two cafes but primarily run down, derelict seafront properties, some of which had fallen away into the sand. We did find a lovely park in the town, with a wildlife pond, home to peacocks, swans, ducks and sunbathing turtles.

Check out my colours!

Basking baby turtles!

Guardamar seafront.

We took a walk along to the marina and port area, and found my favourite animals…..cats! Live, wild, beautiful pussies that were so healthy and happy basking in the sun. I wanted a cuddle, I tried to get close but as soon as I got too close, they scarpered into the rocks. But they were beautiful, especially the one that got away, he had stripes up and down is body, instead of around!