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04/30/2007: "Why Alicante?"

This is truly a vacation city. The couple next to me at the wharf-side café is British and has pretty much retired down here. It sounds like they return to England to babysit their grandchildren and then run back down here as soon as possible. And who can blame them. The weather here is beautiful. The Mediterranean breezes keep the temperature mild and pleasant pretty close to year round. It is a very clean city. They wash the streets down almost every morning. Late at night, they run a tractor along the large beautiful beach raking up anything but the soft clean sand so its ready for the next day’s crowd. The harbor is packed with yachts of all shapes and sizes. And there are promenades or walkways everywhere. Along the wharf, beach and entire waterfront for miles are clean, wide, tiled walkways that everyone takes advantage of.

The giant mountain, Mount Benacantil that rises about 500 ft from the beach, looks upon the city. On top with ancient stone walls running the hillside, sits the massive medieval castle de Santa Barbara. Archeological findings show artifacts dating to the Bronze Age. However, the fortress dates from the 9th century or the Moorish rule. You can access the castle from the beach by going through a 650 ft tunnel into the mountain and then riding an elevator that takes you near the top.

Unlike many of our beach vacation spots, the coast here is lined with condos instead of hotels. There is only one real major hotel and conference center (from which I get my free wireless access while sitting at the ocean – thanks) with a great location to the beach and wharf. The rest of the hotels are scattered within the city or just outside. I have been staying in a funky little one star hotel in the center of it all. I have a suite and the bed is pretty comfy for $38 a night. Tomorrow night I check out and head back to Cologne for injections and a flight home to embrace the family. Its beautiful here but I sure miss home and the family.