Costa Blanca Winter Sunshine
Costa Blanca Winter Sunshine!
We were happy to welcome our latest guest who came in search of some winter sunshine here on the Costa Blanca – Sam, a retired actor from London. He was combining a spell here on the coast after having spent time visiting friends in Toledo and Madrid as part of his Spanish break.
Having already spent time sightseeing in the cities, Sam was eager to relax and enjoy the warm sunshine as a very welcome contrast to the cold weather he had left behind in England and to recharge his batteries. Sam was renting our self-catering apartment for his stay with us, although he did choose to take advantage of our evening meal service most nights. The first two or three days of his visit were spent reading and relaxing in the garden, and then he felt it was time to explore a little of what our region has to offer nearby.
The inland town of Xativa was Sam’s choice for a day’s excursion, and made for a great day out exploring the small streets and picturesque squares. The castle which dominates the skyline provides a dramatic backdrop to the quaint old part of the town, and it is very easy and pleasant to pass a morning wandering around the narrow streets before stopping at a restaurant for a typical “Menu del Dia” for lunch. After some more time looking around the town, it was time for the scenic drive back to Villa Florencia through the beautiful countryside that is such a part of this area.
Another day, Sam was keen to visit the famous beach area of Gandia and have lunch down at the port. Gandia’s beach is consistently awarded the much coveted “Blue Flag” award for its standards and facilities, and is one of the finest beaches in the country. After a stroll in the sunshine along the promenade, Sam enjoyed a leisurely meal at one of the restaurants overlooking the water before returning to the villa for the latter part of the afternoon.
On his final night with us, we all went for a typical Spanish evening meal in the old part of Gandia town – at a restaurant in the square where the market used to be held in years gone by. We all enjoyed a leisurely and convivial meal before it was time the next day for Sam to leave and go back to the chilly weather of England – a sharp contrast to the warmth of the Costa Blanca at this time of year. However, he had thoroughly enjoyed his time with us and felt it was the perfect combination with the sightseeing of the first part of his Spanish break. We look forward to seeing him again at some time in the not too distant future!