Valencia to Altea Spain (October 2018)
It wasn’t until mid-2019 that we decided to publish a travel blog so I am still catching up (lots more to come 😲). This one covers our trip from Valencia to Altea Spain.
Valencia Oranges
Now, Valencia is famous for its oranges and that’s about all you can see along the highway on the drive down to Altea (oranges, oranges and more oranges). Mind you the orchards are very colourful., glistening green waxy leaves dotted with hundreds of bright orange dots, clear blue sky and sunshine. Not all that hard on the eyes. But we were slightly baffled by the sight of women sitting in plastic chairs by the side of the road. Naturally, we asked Mr google… http://txemasalvans.com/work/the-waiting-game/ – It took the shine off to know they were prostitutes and to think about how difficult life can be for people sometimes. Note! Blog updated 2022 and i believe road side prostitution has been hit on the head.
Beach and Marina, Altea Spain
While in Altea are base camp we based ourselves at Camping Cap Blanch. We were initially in Benidorm but just too busy and noisy for us so took a little drive up the coast to Altea were we found Camping Cap Blanch. It was also busy with the NL invasion for winter but in a great location. Just have to walk out the front gate and you are on the beach esplanade.
Did you know: Apparently the southern area of Valencia is the origin of paella? Advise from the locals indicated.. we must go to the big bbq paella place on the corner before it closes for the winter holidays. I have to say that I have never been a fan but we came here to experience Spain so we dutifully went and tried it. Verdict? OK. I prefer a bit more seafood in my fishy dishes but there was a nice crusty base. We went on Sunday for lunch and the place was rustic and authentic. Would I go back? Maybe. It would be great for a family get-together with shared plates and jugs of sangria and lots of loud conversation and laughter. Just the way all the locals were doing it. Altea Spain.
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Old Altea Township
https://www.infocostablanca.com/en/altea
As you walk out of our campsite you turn left and walk 30 minutes along the beachfront to the old town of Altea. It’s situated on the top of a hill so the walk up is not for the faint-hearted but it’s certainly a lovely town, with all the buildings freshly painted white. In the centre of the town is the Catholic Church “Parroquia De Nuestra Señora Del Consuelo” (the church of Our Lady), built over 100 years ago.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants scattered around the church for you to have a quiet drink with some delicious tapas. The walk back down is much easier of course, back through the streets of the town and then down along the promenade and past the marina. Here are a lot of the resort-type hotels surrounded again by cafes, bars and restaurants.
Beach at Sunset.
Albir beach is a must walk any time of the day but at sunset a definite must. Even when it’s overcast and cloudy, the views are rewarding. A glass of vino at the bars opposite the beach helps to immortalise the viewing experience.
Lighthouse.
Another great walk or cycle is up to the Albir lighthouse. The lighthouse can only be reached on foot (or bike) and the walk to it is started from the entrance to the Sierra Helada natural park. There is a large car park at the new visitor centre, which is open most days. To reach the natural park from the seafront, take the road opposite the Correos Post Office and head uphill. . The entrance to the car park is at the top of the street. It is an interesting walk and signposted along the way are bits of history to go with the relics of the ochre mining past.
Did you know: If you look at the lighthouse picture you can see to the right a fish farm. We asked some locals who said it is a dourada or sea bream farm. There are local aquaculture farms along the coast, and if the dourada we bought at the supermarket was anything to go by, then we had no complaints.
Altea Quote.
Our quotes reflect how we felt about this present experience and what was our intention during our stay. There are always moments of fear and apprehension in our lives no matter where we are or what we are doing. These fears seem to be always related to health, wealth, validation and family. This is the quote I chose for this adventure in Albir Beach, Altea
“When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy”. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
John Lennon
