Holiday in Spain Feb 2007

The area we went to was Los Alcazares on the Mar Menor.
Mar Menor (Little Sea) is a unique area located on the east coast of Spain, within the region of Murcia, just above the city of Cartagena. Few regions have the good fortune to have both a saltwater lake and a Mediterranean shore. The region of Murcia has both and the salt water lake with an area of 170sq.km is known as Mar Menor, the largest salt water lake in Europe. Mar Menor is part of the Costa Calida.

We stayed with some friends, Doug & Brenda, in their house which is very nice, in the Spanish style with marble floors and staircases. It is on three floors with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms so we had plenty of room. We were lucky enough to be taken around quite a lot to see local areas.

Fountain outside the house

Sea Front at Los Alcazares

Sun Feb 25th

We arrived at East Midland airport in plenty of time and had to wait for check in to open. Flight took off on time, 1730, we were warned of turbulence but it was a very smooth flight and we arrived half an hour early, 2045. Doug & Brenda were at Murcia Airport to meet us and took us to their house.

Mon 26th

After a late breakfast we walked to the sea front and had a drink at “Encarnacion"

Encarnacion courtyard

a very old café/restaurant. It was very hot and we had not taken any summer clothes so went to Retail Park to try and get some sandals. We also went to Camping Mar Menor which is a camp site on the Mar Menor, looked like a nice place to spend some winter months in the future. Bren got us a meal and we had a good natter before bed.

Tue 27th

A late start again, and hot and sunny. Walked to local market which is in the streets around D&B’s house. The market was very colourful and full of Peruvian and Moroccan looking people. I managed to get a couple of cheap pairs of sandals 3 each and some light trousers for the same price. I also managed to buy some nice net panels, for the window at home, for a reasonable price, the sort of material we don’t seem to get at home. Went back for lunch and then V read & R Suduko’d in the sun for a while. In afternoon went to look around Polaris World garden centre.

Wed 28th

Late start again went to Torrevieja which is on the Mediterranean Sea, stopped at “Nautila” a café/restaurant which was full of Brits. It was another hot day. We went on to Pilar de la Horadada for a super Chinese meal for 4.95 each, this included Sangria to start, half a bottle of wine 3 courses and schnapps to finish. Drove on to Santiago de la Ribera and walked along the front. Back for supper and bed.

Thurs March 1st

Got up late again and after a morning not doing much but walk down to the sea we went over to La Manga and the camp site there.

Camping La Manga

D & B’s friend ran a line dancing class there. Joined in and enjoyed it, very strange to be dancing in hot sun with palm trees and the sea in the background. Evening meal and bed.

Fri Mar 2nd


Drove to Roche where D & B are keeping an eye on a friend’s house. We drove through La Union where there were squalid, very dilapidated apartment blocks being occupied by what appeared to be illegal immigrants. Nice old house being done up by D & B’s friends in a small village but huge apartment blocks being erected all around them. Picked oranges off their trees, it was very hot again. Went on to another shopping complex where we walked round a couple of Do it yourself stores and then went to a Chinese Wok Buffet restaurant, again it was a very good meal. In the evening we had a walk around the local area looking around the “grockle” shops.

Sat Mar 3rd

B & D got up at 0600 to go to a car boot sale. Another beautiful sunny day. We walked along the sea front and watched a dredger dredging sand out of the Mar Menor and putting it back on the beach. Apparently it is washed in each winter and has to be dredged out again each spring. Stopped for a drink then bought a rucksack to take extra stuff we’d bought home. We then went back to the house. V & B walked to local supermarket for supplies. Meal and bed.

Sun Mar 4th

We went to Almoradi where Doug’s brother has just taken possession of an apartment. We walked round the town and there were cycle races going on around the town. The town square was very impressive with ancient Lemon trees all shaped in huge circles to provide shade. When the races ended everyone collected for prize giving which was announced by very loud fireworks going off. We called for a drink and sticky bun then went back to Geoff’s apartment and had some lunch with them. Back for evening meal, chat and bed.

Mon Mar 5th

After breakfast went to San Pedro del Pinatar and walked along a causeway at Lo Pagan. This is a long spit of land bordering salt flats that stretches out to almost meet the end of the strip at La Manga We called at a local bar at Dos Mars for a drink then went back to the Chinese restaurant at Pilar de la Horadada and met Geoff and Jackie for a meal. They came back to the house to get changed as they were on the way to the airport. Brenda’s friend Barbara arrived to stay for a few days.

The long walk back

Tue 6th

Doug’s birthday. Went round the local market again then V & R walked to sea front, quite a bit cooler and cloudy for the first time. Went to local Chinese restaurant but Doug was a bit under the weather so did not come with us. We finished our packing, a big squeeze to get everything in! We seemed to have collected quite a few extra things. Doug &Brenda took us to the airport for the flight at 2140. Took of in good time and it was a reasonable flight and landed at East Midlands, collected the car and drove home, arriving about 0130.