Spain

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

Dosh, It only goes as far as Calpe, you need to get a connecting bus to Denia. The Calpe to Denia part of the rail line is being rebuilt, and when were there last November it had a looooong way to go. Nice bus ride though.

Ah - thanks, I didn't know that. It has been a few years since I was in the area and the train ran all of the way to Denia then.

I see according to their website the service has been "temporarily suspended" since July 2016

http://www.tramalicante.es/wordpress_en/?page_id=247

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

Ah - thanks, I didn't know that. It has been a few years since I was in the area and the train ran all of the way to Denia then.

I see according to their website the service has been "temporarily suspended" since July 2016

http://www.tramalicante.es/wordpress_en/?page_id=247

The best bit of the train journey is between Albir, or Altea to Calpe, really scenic.

The bus conection between Calpe and Denia is alright, and quite scenic. But because of ongoing work on the train line and the muck and dust that gets kicked up, there's quite a bit of traffic congestion, obviously worse at peak times.

I thought the countryside from Benidorm south to Alicante was almost desert like. They're crying out for months of steady rain, but judging by news reports Spain ain't getting much of the wet stuff.

Anyone considering beautiful Nerja might check on the sewage situation in the sea before booking. I don't use Trip Advisor now, but the Nerja forum used to mention an enduring problem, and we noticed a lot of gunk on the surface during our 3 weeks there last year. We aren't sea swimmers so it didn't bother us.

chiny

I'd have said if you pick almost anywhere (99.9%) on the Med coast strip, from North of Barcelona, all the way round South then West to Gibraltar, even Cadiz, you won't get the "quiet" requested. But, if you go inland, you'll freeze or be in hell (its a pun in Spanish) - the climate is fierce unless you pick your month carefully.

The Spanish take food/drink seriously and you can get excellent fare cheaply just about anywhere perhaps 100 metres or more from where the obvious tourists are sitting.

I enjoyed Mallorca for food, inland Inka and Puerta de Pollenca. Murcia region has a lot going for it (no snob value though) as its where they grow the veg. Madrid for variety... North Coast if you like sea food... Segovia if the idea of suckling pig doesn't turn your stomach.

Lucky you

PompeyPete

chiny wrote: »

I'd have said if you pick almost anywhere (99.9%) on the Med coast strip, from North of Barcelona, all the way round South then West to Gibraltar, even Cadiz, you won't get the "quiet" requested. But, if you go inland, you'll freeze or be in hell (its a pun in Spanish) - the climate is fierce unless you pick your month carefully.

The Spanish take food/drink seriously and you can get excellent fare cheaply just about anywhere perhaps 100 metres or more from where the obvious tourists are sitting.

I enjoyed Mallorca for food, inland Inka and Puerta de Pollenca. Murcia region has a lot going for it (no snob value though) as its where they grow the veg. Madrid for variety... North Coast if you like sea food... Segovia if the idea of suckling pig doesn't turn your stomach.

Lucky you

On a cruise at the end of October, kicking off in Palma.

First PoC is Cartagena. Never been there before, but it's beginning to 'float my boat' for a longer visit.

chiny

Cartagena, great city. It has suffered in the past by always being on the losing side but its made a good recovery in the last 25 years or so. Unless you have mobility problems, you can stroll from the newly built cruise ship terminal, to the city centre. Shops galore obviously but decent food 50 metres from the shopping strip, look down the first 2 side streets.

And history... Cartagena has so much it doesn't know where it all is... they "lost" the Roman amphitheatre for 1800 years and somehow built a church over one corner. Its a real winner that amphitheatre, a must, and I challenge you not to want to shout "Friends, Romans and Countrymen" in your best Shakespeare style from the stage. Best if you learn that phrase in Latin of course

Mid-October, should be good weather say 25ºC and mostly sunny.

You'll enjoy Cartagena.