Month: February 2013

Walking in Valencia

Walking in Valencia Yesterday we decided to take a trip to the beautiful city of Valencia to have a walk around the streets and of course to pick up some useful literature from the tourist information office for our guests to use in the coming season. Also on the agenda was to have a look at the famous indoor food and produce market – known as the Central Market or Mercado Central – to see where many of the hotels and restaurants in the city obtain their produce. Valencia is so easy to visit from our area, and the best option is to drive to Xeraco station – one stop up the line, where there is plenty of free parking – and go by train. A leisurely journey through orange groves and rice fields brings you right into the heart of the city to the central station (confusingly called Valencia Nord!), which is perfectly located for exploring the historic centre of the town – all directly ahead of you as you leave the station. It was not the warmest of days to go walking in Valencia (but it is February after all!), so our first mission was to make our…

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Mediterranean Garden Plants

We recently had the pleasure of having the Theemann family from Germany visit us for a few days. They arrived with their son and daughter as well as one of their daughter’s friends, and we assumed they were here for a few days’ winter sunshine during the break in the school term. They had booked the self-catering apartment for four nights, but as they arrived fairly late in the evening they had also arranged to take advantage of our evening meal service. During dinner, it transpired that although they certainly were looking forward to a spell of much warmer weather than they had left behind n Germany, the main purpose of their trip was shopping – but not the usual souvenir shopping that many of our guests treat themselves to. Back in Germany, the Theemanns run a garden nursery business with several outlets, and they were here in order to place orders for palm and citrus trees and other Mediterranean Garden Plants for the coming season. This is an annual undertaking for them – they come to our part of Spain most years for this – and as a result they have contacts and lines of supply already well established…

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Rural Bed and Breakfast

Rural Bed and Breakfast We were really pleased to welcome visitors from far away this week – Mike and Sharon Farrell and their family from the United States. They were travelling as a group of six, spanning three generations, and the main purpose of their trip was to visit another family member who was studying in Spain for a semester. The had arrived in Barcelona a few days before travelling to us, and now wanted a couple of days relaxation in a rural Bed and Breakfast before visiting their relative in Alicante. Having spent time sightseeing in Barcelona, and then more sightseeing on the way down, they finally arrived after dining en route, and were happy to settle in and relax for the rest of the evening. However, they did not want to miss the opportunity to see something of our part of Spain, so took time to plan what they would do the next day. Having heard about the famous Borgia family of the area that gave the world the only two popes of Spanish origin, they wanted to see the nearby town of Xativa, where the family came from, so made a plan to take a rural drive…

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Guests from the States – Rural Bed and Breakfast

Rural Bed and Breakfast We were really pleased to welcome visitors from far away this week – Mike and Sharon Farrell and their family from the United States. They were travelling as a group of six, spanning three generations, and the main purpose of their trip was to visit another family member who was studying in Spain for a semester. The had arrived in Barcelona a few days before travelling to us, and now wanted a couple of days relaxation in a rural Bed and Breakfast before visiting their relative in Alicante. Having spent time sightseeing in Barcelona, and then more sightseeing on the way down, they finally arrived after dining en route, and were happy to settle in and relax for the rest of the evening. However, they did not want to miss the opportunity to see something of our part of Spain, so took time to plan what they would do the next day. Having heard about the famous Borgia family of the area that gave the world the only two popes of Spanish origin, they wanted to see the nearby town of Xativa, where the family came from, so made a plan to take a rural drive…

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Pet Friendly Accommodation Spain

Pet Friendly Accommodation Spain It was a real pleasure to welcome back Sheri, who decided on a last minute visit to come and see us. She booked herself in to our Pet friendly self-catering apartment, which suits her particularly well as she comes over here in order to visit her two lovely dogs. Sheri is originally from California, but moved to Spain approximately five years ago – bringing her dogs with her, of course. After some time, she received an offer of employment in the UK, so she now lives there most of the time – but unfortunately she was not able to take her dogs with her. They are looked after by a friend here in Spain, but Sheri naturally likes to come and visit them here on the Costa Blanca as often as she is able – so our pet friendly accommodation suits her down to the ground. This time, she spent just over a week enjoying the warmer weather and relaxing with her dogs in the apartment, or out in the gardens around the pool. Our own dogs are always pleased to have visitors, and of course now know Molly and Snickers pretty well from their previous…

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Costa Blanca Winter Sunshine

Costa Blanca Winter Sunshine Costa Blanca Winter Sunshine! We were happy to welcome our latest guest who came in search of some winter sunshine here on the Costa Blanca – Sam, a retired actor from London. He was combining a spell here on the coast after having spent time visiting friends in Toledo and Madrid as part of his Spanish break. Having already spent time sightseeing in the cities, Sam was eager to relax and enjoy the warm sunshine as a very welcome contrast to the cold weather he had left behind in England and to recharge his batteries. Sam was renting our self-catering apartment for his stay with us, although he did choose to take advantage of our evening meal service most nights. The first two or three days of his visit were spent reading and relaxing in the garden, and then he felt it was time to explore a little of what our region has to offer nearby. The inland town of Xativa was Sam’s choice for a day’s excursion, and made for a great day out exploring the small streets and picturesque squares. The castle which dominates the skyline provides a dramatic backdrop to the quaint old…

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