{"id":3094,"date":"2017-11-29T17:05:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-29T17:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/"},"modified":"2021-06-17T22:11:33","modified_gmt":"2021-06-17T21:11:33","slug":"love-and-life-in-english-alley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/?p=3094","title":{"rendered":"Love and Life in English Alley"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We have been in the Spanish holiday resort of Benicassim, north of Valencia, for a month now and can see how easy it would be to settle into a lazy way of life &#8211; retirement!  People on this site seem to arrive at the end of September or in October and stay several months, forming a community and making friends.  We have slotted into this community in such a short space of time &#8211; our road, Calle B4 is affectionately known as &#8220;English Alley&#8221;.  There are twelve pitches in total, we are on Pitch 9 and the majority of &#8220;residents&#8221; are English or English speaking Dutch.  We have been welcomed with open arms, we hope we have done the same to newcomers to the site, it is such a happy loving feeling that will stay with us for ever.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_772\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171117_121739-2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-772\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-772\" class=\"size-large wp-image-772\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171117_121739-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"368\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-772\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Just after we arrived, the Maintenance team sheared the trees around us giving us something else to do in the afternoon!  It improved our daily sunlight but removed protection from night time dew.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_756\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/20171128_123443\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-756\" class=\"size-large wp-image-756\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171128_123443-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"368\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-756\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cheese and Leek soup lunch hosted by Mary &amp; Chris.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_763\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171128_123528\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-763\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-763\" class=\"wp-image-763 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171128_123528-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"368\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-763\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Keith, David &amp; Chris getting stuck into lunch.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_773\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171119_163854-2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-773\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-773\" class=\"size-large wp-image-773\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171119_163854-1-660x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"1015\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-773\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Julian and David preparing fish paella whilst Keith prepared a chicken paella at one of our street dinners.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This is a very social life, primarily due to the weather (we have yet to see rain) and people only head indoors once the sun sets and the temperature drops.  However, living in such close proximity means people have to be sociable, we have to communicate with each other or life would be very boring.  We have established that our Dutch neighbours are in their 70&#8217;s, he was a bus driver for 24 years in the city of Amsterdam; they have two daughters, one married a Greek doctor and lives in Rhodes with two grand-daughters whilst the other still lives nearby in Amsterdam. Another lovely Dutch couple live in Hungary and run a camp site in the summer and have been coming to this site for 8 or 9 years; last year they celebrated 45 years of marriage in Mexico!   One Yorkshire couple are spending their first winter here following the husband&#8217;s recovery from a heart attack and another couple from Gloucestershire enjoy telling their grandchildren all about the lovely weather and amazing sunsets.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_761\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171128_123429-2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-761\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-761\" class=\"size-large wp-image-761\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171128_123429-1-1024x666.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"425\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-761\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Our neighbour Kees makes amazing decorations out of plastic bottle!<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We have witnessed a loose routine &#8211; Monday is shopping day; Tuesday is washing and chores day; Wednesday is day trip out and lunch in the local restaurant, Thursday is a visit the small fruit and veg market in town and the weekends are &#8220;social days&#8221;.  Talking to the neighbours, having a beer with them, playing Mulkky (Finnish skittles) in the street and impromptu gatherings.  There is a group of musicians on the site that have formed a band and keep everyone entertained for free on a Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_776\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171115_175708\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-776\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-776\" class=\"size-large wp-image-776\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171115_175708-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"368\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-776\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beautiful sunsets.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We have seen who is diligent at cooking and cleaning;  seen who heads out in the morning on their bicycle and brings home the fresh bread, brings the fresh coffee and bacon sandwiches out to his\/her partner who is sitting in the morning sun.   We watch them keeping the front of their pitch clean, chasing away leaves and stones and who keeps the tan topped up.   We are invited to share their late afternoon sun when ours has disappeared as well as lunch and dinner with them.  It has been fascinating to watch and take it in.<\/p>\n<p>David has made some new friends too!!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_778\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171115_192515\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-778\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-778\" class=\"size-large wp-image-778\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171115_192515-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"368\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-778\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chris &amp; Julian loving David&#8230;<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_779\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171115_200255-3\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-779\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-779\" class=\"size-large wp-image-779\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171115_200255-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"368\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-779\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Down the bar for an impromptu sing song!  Hi Ho Silver Lining&#8230;&#8230;<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_769\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171115_200252\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-769\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-769\" class=\"size-large wp-image-769\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171115_200252-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"368\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-769\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Everywhere You Go I See Your Sun is Shining&#8230;.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_771\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171115_200258-2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-771\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-771\" class=\"size-large wp-image-771\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171115_200258-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"368\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-771\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">But I Won&#8217;t Make a Fuss&#8230;&#8230;Tho It&#8217;s Obvious!!!<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_768\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171125_214954-2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-768\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-768\" class=\"size-large wp-image-768\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171125_214954-1-1024x605.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"386\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-768\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This couple stole our hearts one night; he is 73 years old and a month ago had had his third operation on his hip &#8211; a complete replacement.  He is recovering from cancer to the neck, throat and voicebox too.   His wife was indulging his desire to dance despite his aches and pains. A lovely couple from Zurich, heading south for the winter sun.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The site provides an entertainment team who, in the winter, organise activities such as yoga, tai chi on the beach, exercises, aqua fit, bingo, quizzes, games, wine tasting and days out and many other sports.  We have taken part in some and shied from others.  I have enjoyed my early morning (well, 9.30am is early when you are not working!!) visit to the beach to do tai chi exercises, watching the sun come up and listening to the waves hit the shore as the sun warms the muscles being stretched.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_774\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171124_093333-2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-774\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-774\" class=\"size-large wp-image-774\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171124_093333-1-1024x609.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"389\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-774\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Morning yoga session.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_757\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/20171129_154515\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-757\" class=\"size-large wp-image-757\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171129_154515-1024x322.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"206\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-757\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One morning I witnessed a murmeration performed by Cormorants before they settled on the sea (just visible before they settled)!!   Stunning.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_767\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/img_7430\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-767\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-767\" class=\"size-large wp-image-767\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_7430-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"436\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-767\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Such a beautiful clean beach.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The town also makes the effort to interact with the resident here and vice versa; residents are helping out at a bag pack at the local supermarket to raise awareness and funds for the less fortunate families in the town; locals attend events in our social room attached to the bar; the local bars in town makes us feel very welcome and are always trying to speak &#8220;Spanglish&#8221; to us &#8211; a mixed version of Spanish and English!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_760\" style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171126_130414-2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-760\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-760\" class=\"size-large wp-image-760\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171126_130414-1-1024x698.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"446\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-760\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A free performance by a rock band, perfect music for a Sunday lunch time!<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We have really enjoyed our time in Benicassim and will always look back with fond memories but now feel we need to spread our wings and explore further.  Thank you to all who have made us welcome especially Keith, Jean, Mary and Chris!  Next stop Marjal.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/2017\/11\/29\/love-and-life-in-english-alley\/20171115_175835\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-777\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-777\" src=\"http:\/\/samsonandsuzi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20171115_175835-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"654\" height=\"368\" \/><\/a>&#8216;,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We have been in the Spanish holiday resort of Benicassim, north of Valencia, for a month now and can see how easy it would be to settle into a lazy way of life &#8211; retirement! People on this site seem to arrive at the end of September or in October and stay several months, forming [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[127,3,5,125,2,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-europe","category-food","category-general","category-spain","category-travel","category-wine","post-preview"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3094"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4035,"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094\/revisions\/4035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samsonandsuzi.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}