And we're back in Beni !!!!!

[cliffanger]

Another gorgeous Beni day yesterday.

We started with the market, and knocking off the last items from the list.

We were due to meet the girls at The Flash and we got there, but found them all sat at the table at least 15 feet away from the stage! It turns out no one wanted to be serenaded - completely forgetting it was my last chance!

The show got underway, and Elvis was his usual, magnificent self.

He started slow, and then ramped it up, whipping us all into a frenzy. He was, however brought to a shocking standstill by one member of our Elvis fan club ...

He looked over at Jackie’s bra, waving aloft, and was unable to carry on for quite a while... He had been singing ‘If You Love Me Let Me Know’ and had just got to the line ‘If you don’t then let ME go’ - I think Chocy boy Jackie misheard, and thought he’d said let THEM go!

We had an absolutely brilliant time - and I think Elvis will be dining out on that for quite some time!

I didn’t get serenaded, but I did get a hug at the end ..

(All I can say is that he works very hard, and really shouldn’t wear a viscose/polyester mix ...)

Behind this successful Elvis is a lovely Welsh lady, who along with her other wifely duties, carries his make-up bag ....

He was very grateful for his fan club and will miss us when we’re gone ...

After all that excitement we needed a walk, so went to a Dutch cafe that Mike knew of and had a lovely Danish pastry and coffee.

We carried on to Planta 21 for a drink with a scenic view....

We stayed chatting (giving the girls time to finish their huge gin and tonics), and then left the high rise chic, to wander back down to earth for pie and chips at The Yorkshire Pride.

We left Levante Beach just as the sun was setting ...

It is just the most beautiful place - and I don’t care what others say - where else can you have a bra flingingly brilliant afternoon, followed by cocktails on the 21st floor, sunset on the beach, and pie and chips...

It wasn’t really a question, so no answers needed!

Oh and just in case anyone’s worried - no boobs were harmed in the making of this blog - the bra had been bought earlier that day in the market!

Thursday today - glorious sunshine - the bikes and Altea beckon - followed by The Corner Bar Quiz ... Will we be eating a free Sunday Lunch while all the others are living it up at Benidorm Palace?

 

[cliffanger]

Well it’s Sunday today and our day to pack up.

We had our last quiz on Thursday, but have no free Sunday Lunch today...

The Funsters are off up to the Benidorm Palace today for a Benefit Concert in aid of the Dog Charity here. It starts at 1.00pm, We didn’t buy tickets as we leave tomorrow, so thought we'd better stay home, pack up and not run the risk of a thick head in the morning!

We had a lovely tapas lunch on Friday.

Mike had a cidre, poured by his very own barman ...

I saw a Spanish Lady in the Taperia wearing a gorgeous salmon pink lacy scarf, which in my usual covetous way I wanted. You can just about see her behind Mike’s butler!

In my defence, I haven’t bought one scarf this holiday, so my self restraint should be rewarded. I pointed the scarf out to the girls, and said I wanted that scarf - or at least one very much like it. quickweh Pauline moved straight in as Leader of The Scarf Hunt (have you noticed in my thread, that all the single minded/injury causing/wilful/ actions begin with that name)?

She knew of a scarf shop, that I had miraculously missed (or Cliff had spotted, and so had successfully circumnavigated), and after finishing our tapas, and a visit to the ice cream, cake and coffee cafe, where I had a gorgeous strawberry and cream crepe...

And others indulged too ...

... we headed for the scarf shop, where we were unsuccessful!

I know, I was devastated too Funsters... but not for long - the bog standard, clothes and non specialist scarf shop opposite had the exact one!

Isn’t it pretty girls? And at €3 I may have to start a collection .....

I know my mannequin dresser skills are rubbish, but you get the picture!

SUGGY Graham said it was more Mackerel than Salmon... (looking at the stylish, colour coordinated way Rosie dresses, I’m guessing she doesn’t ask his opinion on colours very often) !

Well, the sun is out today and so I’m going to sit in the sun for an hour, whilst Cliff gets his usual depressing fix of The Andrew Marr show, before we start packing up, going for one last foray into the market, and meeting the Funsters after they’ve watched the Benefit Concert this afternoon.

The thread isn’t over yet though Amigos, as quickweh (no it’s not Pauline this time) Mike gave us suggestions on where to stop on the way back to Santander - so I will be giving my opinion on The Valley Of The Fallen - this opinion will be purely mine - so will run along the lines of ‘OMG that’s a big cross’ / ‘OMG that’s the biggest Basillica in the World’ etc etc, with no opinion on Fascism/Franco or anything else political (this is why I’m sunbathing and not watching The Andrew Marr Show).

Have a good Sunday all!

 

[Mousy]

Loved reading of your sunny winter months Ger. Beni certainly suits you both, looking very fit and well. Best stock up on toilet rolls on the way home...you are coming back to Covid 19 hysteria

 

[quickweh]

Well what an I say? Adios Geraldine and Cliff, have a safe journey back home. We've had a great time watching Elvis, tasting tapas, coffee and cake, corner bar quizzes and of course the circle of torture. Its all been great fun especially reading your posts. All the best from your pocket rocket gym buddie Pauline?

 

[cliffanger]

We are sat on El Escorial campsite, and we are THE ONLY PEOPLE ON HERE!!!!!

In typical EU style though, there were two people working on reception - even though we were the first people to turn up, at 7.00pm on an otherwise empty site!

An uneventful trip here, so I will leave it for today - visiting The Valley of The Fallen tomorrow, so photos and non political comment to follow!

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[Anthea M]

Made me laugh , thanks Geraldine for a lovely thread!
Sounds like you had such fun!
The only small disappointment was there were no relic photos or did I miss them?!?
Safe travels home.

 

[scousebird]

Safe trip home cliffandger

 

[Carol]

Thank you Geraldine for my virtual trip to Benni loved all of your lovely discriptions and story telling you made me smile and laugh out loud.
Safe journey home.

 

[jumartoo]

Thanks for your wonderful, very informative, blog of your trip to Beni.

I've said before, your writing style is brilliant. You've made Benidorm sound very attractive and I'm sure it is to you all. Not my cup of tea, but I still read every post.

Thanks again.

 

[cliffanger]

Thanks for your wonderful, very informative, blog of your trip to Beni.

I've said before, your writing style is brilliant. You've made Benidorm sound very attractive and I'm sure it is to you all. Not my cup of tea, but I still read every post.

Thanks again.

Thanks for that and for everyone’s kind thanks.

I’m sitting here waiting while Cliff has the first shower in the van for 2 months. The man at reception said their shower blocks aren’t heated, so a shower wouldn’t be very comfortable! Also, the restaurant isn’t open in the week!

While I’m waiting for my shower - some last minute musings.

Yes, we do love Beni - for the sunshine, the tapas, the walks (The one to the Cross maybe less so), but I think mainly it’s for the chance to meet up with Funster friends for a much longer period than a weekend, or a week.

We love meeting up for meals, to watch entertainment, for outings, or just on the terrace for a chat.

That for me is what makes Beni great.

We also love the market - where not everything comes from China ....

Not a thing you see very often - wonder what was in that box!

Remember I said I wanted a salmon pink scarf, and got one, and then said I might start a collection? I meant starting a collection NEXT year ....

Ooooops!!!!!

It was calling to me from the shop - and it is the most gorgeous greeny/turquoise/blue .....

Right - shower beckons, then the Valley, and I don’t know where we’re staying tonight - hopefully not another one like El Escorial...

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[cliffanger]

Made me laugh , thanks Geraldine for a lovely thread!
Sounds like you had such fun!
The only small disappointment was there were no relic photos or did I miss them?!?
Safe travels home.

Hi Anthea - no relics, but I managed to get a couple of scarves in ....

Hope you’re enjoying Spain amongst all this Corona worry. Safe travels to you and Rob. xx

 

[TheCaller]

I've only just caught up with this. Brilliantly written thread Geraldine, as always. Many thanks for all the effort you put in to bring your trip alive for us all.

Lovely to see you had your Uke playing buddies over for a few days - bet that was fun!

 

[cliffanger]

Heading up to Santander now on a glorious sunshiny day.

The Valley of The Fallen was huge. Very Fascist in its architecture. Apparently it was built by convicts, on hard labour, paid 1 peseta a day and the hope of shortening their sentence by two days for every day worked.

Cliff’s standing to the far left!

There were security guards everywhere, but other than that it was empty and we could park the van wherever we wanted!

Even right in front of the massive square and Basillica - which was weirdly awesome. The inside is just cavernous, and the acoustics are amazing.

Mass started as we walked in so we couldn’t go up to the altar, but the sound of the singing was incredible.

The Basilica is carved out of the hillside, and the ceiling is rock, hewn into what I thought were images of clouds, but it all looked a bit foreboding. The light sconces were ugly too - no photos were allowed, but it all had a chilling feel to it.

We came back out onto the sunshine, to the vast square,

And a beautiful view looking the other way,

The roof needs a clean ...

And the funicular railway was closed ...

But I’m so glad quickweh Mike told us about it.

We drove through countryside that reminded me of the Lake District - dry stone walls everywhere!

Well, almost at Santander, so fingers crossed for a smooth Bay of Biscay, and see you again in Portsmouth!

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If you go shopping prior to your ferry home, and see hand sanitizer, them grab some as it not generally available in the UK. Sells out as soon as it hits the shelves.
Have a good crossing.

 

[cliffanger]

We’re in an outside cabin, two doors from the open deck at the stern, so we can keep an eye on the van ...

As you know, I’m a glass half full kind of gal - so maybe the salt blast will clean the filthy roof ... (we’re in front of the Jose Noriega lorry).

Far more alarmingly- I’m sitting on the bed, with my back to the cabin wall - the bloke in the next cabin has obviously led down on the bed and the wall moved !

You can just about see sailing boats in the Bay, above the unbelievably long white lorry ...

Adios Espana - hasta 2021! xx

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[cliffanger]

I’m lovin this outside cabin ...!

Although I’m hoping the beach shelves off quite rapidly ...

And his anti Fouling’s good for a couple of years ...

 

[JockandRita]

Safe sailing back Cliff & Geraldine.

Jock & Rita.

 

[Realist]

Love beni specially old town and Tapas Square cheap as chips.

Stayed in Flamingo Oasis many, many years ago nice hotel but didn’t fancy the drinks downstairs and on our last day went to the Indian over the road and ended up with deli belly or Beni Belly.

Great write up and was hoping to go back this June but no hope now with this virus so it’s UK for two weeks until it blows over.

 

[cliffanger]

I forgot to say - we’re home!

Emptying the van, visiting mum tonight (she has dementia, so won’t have noticed we’ve been away ....) and life gets back to normal.

Just wanted to say - thanks to all for taking the time to read the thread. I hope it brought a little sunshine into the winter months.

I have said it once, but it’s worth repeating- thanks to ALL our Beni mates, new and old, for making the last two months a complete and utter blast!

Same place, same time next year!