Oldies On Tour

Wednesday morning, 26th May and we’re off to France to collect a mobility scooter, what for I hear you ask??? Wait and see!!!    Our plan is to head to Pamplona for a couple of nights, nip across to France to collect and stop in a hotel with Christine’s nephew and family.  Our plan was for a moderately early start, in fact we surprised ourselves; we were in the car and on our way by 0845, excellent.  We will stop en route for a leisurely lunch somewhere and enjoy the freedom of leaving the Valencia’s  region.

As we were passing “Sarah’s” Christine blurts out; “I’ve forgotten my purse!!!!   Oh dear, so we turned round and went back, collected the purse, re-set the alarm system, re-locked the gates  and off we went.  Heading along the Torremendo to San Miguel road, I casually asked where the passports were, after all we were heading for another country…………………..  “Oh, s—t, they’re at home” says Christine.    Earlier I had jokingly said we should have some reminders attached to the front door so as we were leaving, we can look for the appropriate reminder to ensure we had what we needed.   Board 1: travelling abroad. Board 2: going away for a weekend. Board 3: going shopping, etc etc., I think this is going to come to pass now!!!!!

So back home again, collect passports and of course went through the ritual of securing the house, and off we went again for the third time; 0930, three quarters of an hour later.  Now our extended lunch will have to be a quick “Menu del Dia”.  

Our journey was without incident other than driving the through a dollop of severe rain half way, about lunchtime, which we enjoyed at a roadside restaurant; quick and simple!    

Arriving in Pamplona we said thank goodness for technology, the prospect of finding the right public car park nearest to our hotel would have been daunting without it.  “Waze” took us straight into the central car park under the “Plaza del Castillo” where our hotel is situated in a Pedestrian precinct in the old town.

No problem booking in, but our room with balcony overlooks a small side square full of Restaurants and bars heaving with “punters”, tonight should be interesting!!!!!

An evening stroll enjoying a few drinky-poos with a selection of Tapas before retiring was the order of the day.   We sat in the main square, the sun beaming down on us enjoying the ambiance and supping wine, what could be better.

Breakfast was interesting and a total contrast to our last hotel in Valencia.  Here we sat down and “told” to touch “nothing”, the lady served us, but not that much choice and a prescribed amount!  Needless to say at coffee time we enjoyed “churros” with the usual!!!

This morning had a chill in the air so it was long trousers with cardigan to start.

We were going to take a chance travelling to France but Christine read that we definitely needed a PCR test so we decided we should, on balance get one.   We went to the local Pharmacy to make enquiries and what luck, the lady behind the counter was a good English speaker and gave us the address of the hospital where we could get one.   Back to the hotel and the receptionist kindly telephoned the hospital and found out we could only book online, oops, our Spanish doesn’t quite run to that we said, so our friendly receptionist did it for us; what a wonderful woman.  She got us two appointments, 1306hrs & 1312hrs, so we jumped into a taxi and headed to the hospital.  After some “bureaucratic” and “Jobsworth” procedure we had our PCR tests.   €190 later all was completed and it was still only 1317hrs, efficient or what!!!   We were told we would get our results, by SMS within 24hours🤞🤞🤞

Taxi back to hotel, back into shorts as the sun was blazing and the temperature had risen followed by a mooch around the old town, visiting the Pamplona Cathedral and Town Hall en route before gravitating back to the main square, firstly for an aperitif followed by luncheon.

After far too much to eat and drink we headed back to our room to gather our strength for tonight.

Oh yes our “NEGATIVE” results arrived, 5-hours after the tests, is that good or what?????

We were still “stuffed” in the evening so stayed in our hotel room, I downloaded and we watched a good film.   We followed this by some crib before settling in for the night, France tomorrow 

Sunday, 16th May was a bit of an anticlimax after the brilliant week culminating with a super-dooper birthday luncheon, and being Sunday everybody seemed to descend into the breakfast restaurant all at once, just like Noah’s arc jostling 2 x 2 to get in;  this was an even longer queue than Saturday.

Being Sunday the streets were empty, this morning’s taxi fare was just over half what it was on Saturday!!!!   Our taxi dropped us outside Valencia North station, adjacent to the massive bull ring.  

Our first port of call was a coffee and of course a brandy, sat down at a table and ordered.  The coffee and tea arrived with an apology, they’d run out of Brandy, shame on them👹. When I went in to pay I watched the chef preparing a massive paella, this was this restaurant’s speciality.

The outside of the station building looked very impressive but we were a little disappointed with the inside, rather like any other terminus, never mind we can’t get everything right every time!!!   Even though the station was empty, we managed to be “directed” by a “job’s worth” for trying to exit through the entrance.  Both the entrance and exits were about 4-meters wide with hardly anybody using them, but of course, “rules is rules”!!!!!!

We had a mooch round the outside of the bull ring but due to COVID, it was all closed😡😡. We would also have jumped on the “hop-on, hop-off” bus but couldn’t find one, again, probably cancelled because if this virus, so we ended up walking into a beautiful big square.  We stopped here for a sit down and watched the Spaniards promenading with their families.  It was rather hot this morning and we spotted a temperature gauge on a lamp post, it read 42-degrees, we thought it was hot!!!  Time for a drink, so headed back towards the historic district which was a few minutes walk, but as we turned down a narrow street, “Wham-Bam” we found the obligatory“Irish Bar” so naturally a pint of Guinness was “Mandatory” but unfortunately there were only high stools outside, and as they weren’t very comfortable, sadly no second pint!!!  

Being early afternoon we headed back to that restaurant that didn’t have any brandy as we both fancied a Paella and from what we saw earlier, theirs looked very appetising .  On arrival the waiter immediately recognised us and sat us down but unfortunately by now this restaurant was heaving so hopefully we had made a good choice.

To start we had a plate of prawns and I can’t remember ever having such monsters, there were two each, both excellent and after eating them, frankly we really didn’t need much else!!!  The paella arrived, we gave it our best shot but having looked forward to it so much, we were disappointed, not the best we’d ever had: oh well you can’t win them all.

Back to the hotel and an night of Crib and an early one as well, we were both tired or perhaps still a little hungover from Saturday!!!!!

Monday morning breakfast was totally different, hardly anyone in the hotel for breakfast, no queue and of course there were more staff on duty!!!!

On our way back this morning we had an appointment at “Patricia”, a retirement complex just outside Benidorm.  As we were passing it seemed an ideal opportunity to go and have a look, just in case we may have to move into one.

Returning back back past Denia for the “fourth” time this weekend we arrived at Patricia’s, and immediately struck by its size.  This resort is set in 25-acres of beautiful mature parkland overlooking Benidorm with sea views.  The accommodation consisted of 10-blocks of 190 one and two bedroom apartments, all with front doors opening into outside covered walkways; no claustrophobic corridors here!  There was a central administrative block complex with a library, several spacious recreational rooms, bar and restaurant etc., though very quite due to COVID restrictions.  The complex sported 5-outside swimming pools with an indoor pool and a gym.

After an initial discussion we were shown several apartments and were impressed with their size,  general layout, accessibility views etc.  As a bonus, some of the ground floor apartments had small private gardens, right up Christine’s street.   The site also had its own medical centre with resident doctor and a nursing home; in fact as one would expect, everything for retired living was catered for and the “inmates” we casually spoke to, were enthused with the place.  

After the “grand tour” we headed to their restaurant for a “menu del dia” and a quiet chat about what we’d just seen and heard.

We were very impressed by what we had seen, it certainly is an impressive complex but our  conclusion at the moment is, we’ll put this on the back burner and consider alternative options, after all it’s not that we are that old and need to go to a retirement complex yet!

Our drive back from Benidorm was un-eventful, but our chatter was really “deep” and “soul-searching” about the next chapter in our lives.

Our mini birthday unfortunately came to an end far too soon, but thank you ChristIne for organising everything, and especially my sailing surprise, and of course, a big thank you to Andrew for putting “ELTON” at our disposal and her skipper Ollie, and the superb chef, Annica.  Top this birthday ChristIne!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

15th May

The day has at last arrived, cards in bed followed by breakfast.  Unfortunately due to COVID we had to queue, 2 x 2 and the numbers going into the restaurant were controlled by the speed of the two girls behind a line of tables handing you whatever you wanted onto a tray.   Starting with orange juice and bread rolls, through the pastries and cold meats then onto the scrambled eggs and bacon, and lastly tea/coffee.  It was the most inefficient system I think I have ever seen but I suppose it did what it was designed to do, regulate the numbers in the restaurant.

ChristIne booked this particular hotel as it was the nearest she could find to the centre of the historic district, but it was still just under 2kms, so into a taxi we jumped, which was just as well as it seemed to take for ages to get there.   

We were dropped by the central market, a magnificent building, built on the site of the original market which started in 1839.  Todays building, started in 1914 and finally completed in 1928 covers over 8,000 sq meters and is supposedly the largest indoor market in Europe.   It has an unusual outside roof made up of domes and sloping sections at different heights.  Inside, the roof has panels letting in light and large coloured glass window at the ends.  This light and airy building was bustling with activity, and apart from a wet fish stall, everything else in the food line one could imagine was catered for.

After strolling around for a bit we stumbled upon an old, well preserved building open to the public.  This was Valencia’s Merchants Exchange, in Spanish “ Llotja de la Seda” built between 1482 – 1533 and is one of Valencia’s top tourist attraction.  Inside it has an amazing hand carved ceiling and the roof is held up with extraordinary twisted Pillars.  This building has been a world heritage site1996.  They run a film with English sub titles which gave the remarkable background to both this hall and the prosperity of Valencia during the Middle Ages, it was well worth watching.

We’ve never been to Valencia before, but have now come to realise there is so much to see and do that it is more like a week needed than a couple of days!   In fact the earliest town here was set up by the Romans in 138-BC, and from that date to more recent times Valencia has been involved in something or other, and it was here that “El CID” defended against the Moors towards the end of the eleventh century.

Wandering around the historic area, we were “accosted” by a fellow standing outside a restaurant drumming up business, looking casually inside from the street,  it looked intriguing but we were still digesting our breakfast.   Naturally as custom dictates, we walked into one of the 9 or 10 churches that are in this small area, only to interrupt a christening, but we were quiet and left immediately, oops!!!

OK it was time for a beer, we sat at a table in a square watching the proceedings of a wedding that was taking place, in fact many of the wedding guests were also drinking beers waiting for the ‘photos to be taken.   We would have stayed for another but the waiter was miserable, couldn’t give a fig about us and lost trade because of his attitude.  Had he’d been more accommodating, I have no doubt we would have stayed, enjoying the ambience and the sun, 32-degrees!  But because of his intransigence we drank up and left.

By now it was after 1400hrs and the prospect of lunch started to dawn on us.  As I was being treated I plumped for a late lunch that we could linger over rather than an evening meal.  We then stumbled across another lovely “round square” surrounded by restaurants, but after exhaustive enquiries, everything was pre-booked, so we couldn’t get a table.

After some deliberation we decided to return to the place where we were “accosted” outside a restaurant, the one where the inside intrigued us.   Fortunately we found it and went in but first we had to gel our hands under supervision before having our temperature taken, all good thank goodness, only then were we taken to our table.

The inside of the restaurant really surprised us, it sounds odd but all the walls and roof had been sprayed with concrete giving it a “cave” look and it didn’t end there.  There was a mezzanine floor and a lower area and the barriers depicting the edges was sprayed concrete and the ropes between the pillars were also from this concrete.   The floor was covered in small mosaic type tiles and put together, it was amazing, and that’s before we have even seen the menu!  This place is called “Restaurante Bacco Valencia” and advertised as a“Mediterranean Restaurant in Valencia”

Like everywhere now all menus are by QR Reader but unfortunately my phone decided to run out of data allowance this weekend, something that’s never happened before, but very inconvenient so the waitress lent us her ‘phone.   Today we went of the à la carte menu, special treat by ChristIne.   We were having a little trouble ordering, my accent was obviously crap, I wasn’t used to the Valencias Dialect and all I was trying to get across was that I wanted my steak “rare”; anyway eventually the chef arrived and blow me he was English, came from Leicester, his name was Josh but the problem was he was a Leicester Tigers Supporter, and as he said, we “could” have been friends!!!   Still everything we had, and it was a lot, was cooked to perfection.  Their wine list was small but well selected which complemented an excellent birthday meal washed down with a couple of bottles.  The problem was the Brandies afterwards.  We asked if they had a Carlos 1, no she said but did have something better, “Gran Duque D Alba”, never heard of it but ordered two, it was a limited bottling, came from Jerez and it was magnificent, but that was not all, when that time came to pay, she brought the bottle back and gave us two more!!!   How we found our way to the taxi rank and managed to get the driver to know where we wanted to go was surprising.  Our problem is that during lockdown we haven’t drunk much as we haven’t participated in parties etc.

We got back to our room and that’s where we stayed, probably comatose ‘till 0900hrs Sunday!

What a great day, sorry, what a great birthday week, thank you 

After the late night, the not so early morning!!!!   Today is our departure, and though we were in the Valencia Marina about 3kms from where our hotel is in the centre of town, our trip there necessitated a diversion via Martin and Marian’s villa, where we left and forgot to remove the milk from the fridge.   Now I expect the more astute of our readers will say, “why not sort it on the homeward journey?”; sensible question but we have an appointment on Monday morning in Benidorm, this appointment has been changed many times that we didn’t want to alter it yet again.  Alternatively we could leave the hotel early, no way!!!

After saying our goodbyes we sadly left Ollie and Anneka to carry on where they had left off at the start of the week, preparing the boat for their first charter.   Though only 4-nights aboard, it was a magical experience being on such a beautiful and so large a sailing boat, can’t wait to return, please Andrew.   Ollie and Anneka are excellent hosts and I have no doubt that when they are hosting charters, the clients won’t want to leave, just like us.  Thank you both again for making our short trip so enjoyable. 

Leaving the marina we had a little trouble getting waze to work on my ‘phone but we have a reliable back-up with Christine’s phone so we headed back to Alcalali, about an hour away.

Arriving around 1300hrs we collected the milk, checked around then left about 1330; ah, lunch time so we headed back to Xalo and Del Hierro, the restaurant we had visited on the Monday, it was that good!!!

Back in the car and we headed back to Valencia, arriving right outside our hotel at the appointed hour for getting into our room.   After settling in and sorting ourselves, we headed out but there was rather a chilly wind so didn’t go too far but on the way back we stopped at a bar and enjoyed another bottle of wine accompanied by some Tapas.   It was amusing, as last nights lateness was catching us up and we couldn’t stop yawning so headed back and tried to play crib but we couldn’t concentrate on that either, so gave up and had an early-ish night.

Thursday 13th

Breakfast was a little on the late side this morning and the skipper informed us we hadn’t got sufficient time to circumnavigate the Island of Ibiza as the wind direction had changed and this meant our planned route was windless; result, engines all the way.  We are here to sail so it’s an about turn and head back to where we stopped the first night.   Had we not got a hotel booked for Friday night, the time elements wouldn’t have been an issue!

The weather didn’t improve and tomorrow’s weather will mean we are close hauling resulting in an uncomfortable passage and because of our hotel booking, means a 0400am start.  After much deliberation we decided to stop off at Sant Antoni de Portmany to stretch our legs and have some lunch before sailing back tonight, shame but that’s the nature of sailing having to rely on the wind.

A little later than planned we arrived in Portmany but after having an excellent snack lunch there wasn’t much time left before we had to leave so cancelled our shore visit for today.  Note to self, this is where the Denia ferry comes in so must make the effort sometime in the future and come over.

We hoisted anchor and left the shelter of the town at 1630hrs, hoisted the sails in the bay and headed back to Valencia, ETA  0030hrs.   Once in the open sea Elton gathered speed, settled into a nice 45-degree list as the wind was coming from the south west, the perfect angle and we were cruising along between 10.5 & 11.5 knots all was well as the sun was shining, though the wind was rather on the chilly side.  

As the evening approached the wind got chillier Christine and I went inside and to wile away the time we played crib but unfortunately halfway through the third game Christine was overcome by the dreaded nausea and had to make a hasty retreat, conceding the game, much to her, and my discuss.  Unfortunately that was the end of Christine for the rest of the passage!!!!!!!!

Apart from the above, all was going well as we were zipping along with the Skipper making tiny adjustments to the sails all the time to coax every bit of speed from the wind, things were looking promising that we would achieve or even beat our predicted time of arrival 0030hrs, well that was then!!!!!!   Soon after we passed the headland around Gandia, disaster,  the wind dropped and no matter what Ollie did, so did our speed👹👹.  Oh dear, back to running on engine and 7-knots ETA recalculated, arrival time around to around 0200hrs.   This time the Skipper left a tight main up to steady the boat whilst under engine power and the smoothness together with a sleep, brought ChristIne back to life

Returning to our mooring was a little tricky as there wasn’t much help about when we pulled in around 0200 hrsand to make things worse the wind was pushing us off, still the skipper with his chef “turned” deckhand soon sorted things out and we berthed.  I have to say very little time elapsed ‘till we were all in bed for our last night on board but 0300hrs

Wednesday 12th

Christine was lulled to sleep very quickly last night, I unfortunately wasn’t, and to make it a really bad night, my breathing machine wouldn’t work.   After playing with it, and checking other things plugged in I realised it wasn’t my machine but the power circuit.   Unfortunately by this time Ollie and Annica were well and truly asleep so I had to struggle through the night causing mayhem for Christine as without my machine I snore for the whole of the U.K.!  The annoying thing is I have a special battery I normally take with me if we go sailing to avoid such occasions, but not knowing anything about this treat, it was at home!   After much apologising it turned out to be an odd occurrence, Skipper Ollie was aware of my need and rather than run the generator, he switched the big fridge off, not realising that for some inexplicable reason this also switched off the power circuit.   Fortunately we are both aware of boat electrics, they seem to have a mind of their own!!!

We lifted the anchor mid morning and headed out to sea, the skipper put out all the sail, tweaked them and we wizzed along at 11.5 Knots at a nice 45-degree angle, right up our street and a exhilarating experience to travel under sail at that speed.   We then turned and headed the back of Ibiza, unfortunately the wind didn’t favour us so our speed wasn’t so fast, never mind there’s always tomorrow.   

Skipper found us a nice quiet bay, out of the wind and swell for lunch where “chef” prepared a vegetarian lunch that I must say it was amazing washed down by a long Caribbean punch mixture, again very nice, one for my bar!!   After a little discussion about going for a swim, we lifted anchor and departed.  

We carried on with our circumnavigation of Ibiza but had a destination in mind.  We said to Ollie and Annica we would like to take them out to dinner and show our appreciation for everything they have done for us.  Ollie searched online for somewhere along our route and found a beach restaurant, in a bay where we could anchor and we could book a table, so far so good.

Eventually we arrived into Sant Joan De Labritja, the bay we want to drop the anchor but with the wind blowing in the wrong direction, the swell not looking too good our thoughts were slowly being dashed, still we could see several other yachts moored near the beach so came in to check.  

Once into the bay, everything calmed down and we dropped anchor and after showering etc., we boarded the dingy and headed to the beach, fortunately and by pure chance I had thrown a pair of flip-flops into my case before leaving home and as we disembarked the dingy on the beach, we had to paddle.  Christine who had organised this trip, hadn’t brought hers!!!!!!

The restaurant, “The Boat House” was very busy, so good job we’d booked.  The decor was very rustic and the place was heaving which is always a good sign.  We studied the “interesting” menu which had North African influences as well as Spanish favourites whilst enjoying unusual cocktails.

After 3-hours of excellent food of gigantic proportions, a couple of bottles etc., we headed back to the boat in pitch darkness which naturally re-kindled our memories of times-past.  Our skipper navigated his way straight to “Elton”, and virtually the moment we got back on board, we all said good night and headed to bed, knackered, which was just as well as near to us was a super (Gin Palace) Yacht full of revellers who partied well into the wee hours.  From what we could see there was no social distancing or limited numbers; lockdown rules, what lockdown rules????