Sunbathing, swimming and... sandcastles!

Friday 30th June

Our flight wasn't until 17.25 from Stansted so I went into work in the morning then raced home at midday.  It felt like we had loads of time to spare so we lazed over lunch and the final bit of packing just to realise that leaving at 2.15pm was perhaps just a bit too late.  Martin's mum came to meet us at MacDonalds in Braintree rather than us driving all the way to their house in Gosfield.  We ended up making quite good time to Stansted and got there only 20 minutes after our check-in desk had opened.  The queue was horrendous though and by the time we had got to the front we only had half an hour until we had to board the plane.  No probs we thought and settled down in a cafe drinking coffee with  Martin's mum.  Little did we know that due to the World Cup the security had been stepped up and with horror we looked at the long queues for passport control!

After thanking Martin's mum and saying goodbye Martin found a queue that was slightly shorter than the rest and we started queuing.  A woman police officer was asking everyone in the queue where they were going and we were allowed to move forward but then a male police officer singled Martin out of the queue, took his passport and radioed through asking for a name check!  Thankfully he was soon allowed to rejoin me in the queue but it was a bit scary.  After that it was plain sailing and we even managed to buy a pair of sunglasses for Martin and find out the latest World Cup score - 1 nil to Argentina, damn, before boarding the plane.

Due to the tightened airport security a lot of people were late boarding the plane and we ended up taking off half an hour late.  This was not good news as we were due to pick up our hire car at 10pm - and that was also when their offices closed.  However the pilot made up the time and we landed n valencia almost on time.  The pilot also told us over the tannoy the final score - Germany beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties.  Excellent!!

After picking up our luggage we went to try and find Auriga, our car hire company.  Easier said than done!  The paperwork said to meet them outside departures but we were outside arrivals so we went upstairs where departures was.  Nada.  Figuring that they probably meant arrivals we went back downstairs and lo and behold there was a guy holding up an Auriga sign.  After introducing ourselves he took us back upstairs (!) and then radioed through to his office.  A minibus came along about 5 minutes later and drove us to their office.  With trepidation we waited to see what car we would get - we had paid for a Ford Ka 'or similar' (without air conditioning as that was extra) - and was amazed to be given a new style Fiesta - with air conditioning, result!!

Martin had already been to Pete's villa (although 10 years ago) and he remembered the way really easily.  I tried desperately to stay awake but the tiredness overtook me and I fell asleep for most of the journey there.

We arrived at the villa at about 1am and Pete's brother who had been in there previously had kindly left us some milk, water and cereal.  Wonderful, no late night trip to the 24 hour supermarket!

After unpacking we collapsed into bed and fell straight asleep.

Saturday 1st July

We woke up naturally at about 9.30am and after having a leisurely breakfast on the balcony we went to the pool and 5 circular laps.  We'd made a promise to do a decent amount of swimming every day but to be honest we hadn't even been doing much exercise before we came away!

We drove to the supermarket and stocked up on food for the week then went back to the villa for lunch.  Before we knew it it was 4pm so we raced down to the bars to get a good seat for the England v Portugal game.  However we hadn't realised just how exhausting it was going to be, walking 20 minutes mainly uphill in the strong afternoon sun!

We had been told that both Sins and Oasis would be showing the game and as we came across Sins first we headed into there.  However they were only opening at 5pm, just in time for kick-off!  After our 20 minute walk from the villa we were dying for an ice cold beer and couldn't wait 40 minutes so we continued down the road to Oasis.  Hooray it was open!  And surprisingly enough fairly quiet.  We ordered dos cerveza's and they came in these huge frozen glasses - bliss!

By kick-off the bar had really started to fill up and this guy called Dave came to sit next to Martin by the bar.  We both got on really well with him and proceeded to drown our sorrows together as England lost 3-1 to Portugal on penalties.

Together with Linda (his wife) and her parents we went next door for dinner where we were able to keep track of the next game - France v Brazil.  I really wanted France to wi because I drew then (and Australia) in the sweep at work.  And guess what?  They did - 1 nil with a wonderful goal from the excellent Thierry Henry!  Brazil were out of the World Cup, unbelievable.

After dinner we went to Neptuno bar where they were doing karaoke.  Martin was really keen after having his arm twisted by Linda & Dave but I wasn't so sure, I'm awful at singing!  He wanted to do the Robbie & Kylie duet but I wasn't sure of the words so he ended up dragging me on stage to sing Sweet Caroline with him.  We were dubbed the karaoke virgins as Martin had never it done it before!  It was really good fun though.  Linda's mum and dad also sang a song together then her dad sung one of his favourites - favourite being because of the video that gets played with it, it was full of half naked women cavorting on the beach!

Eventually we made it home - at 2.15am!!  Well, we hardly ever do this back in England so we might as well make the most of it whilst we can.  Let's just say though, thank goodness it was all mainly down hill on the walk home!

Sunday 2nd July

Despite the late night we were still up by about 9am and decided this morning to go swimming before breakfast.  We also decided to do an extra lap for good measure!  After breakfast we popped to the shop round the corner for some bread for lunch then settled on the sun loungers on the roof terrace.  It was really hot up there with hardly any breeze which I found quite hard but Martin didn't have any problems at all!  I gave up at about 5pm and we went back downstairs where I read my book in the coolness of the lounge.

Martin eventually came down at about 7pm and we showered and cooked dinner before heading to Coveta for a stroll along the promenade and ice-cream.

Monday 3rd July

Beach time!  We had decided yesterday to go to the beach so we were up by 8am, out the door by 10am, and sunbathing on a lounger by 10.30am.  There was a lovely breeze on the beach and we easily sunbathed until about 6pm, stopping for dips in the sea, topping up with our sun lotions and refreshing ice cold drinks in the bar on the beach.

When we arrived back at the villa another couple and their children were just getting out of their car - when they saw us they said "It's the karaoke virgins!"  Guess they must have been at Neptuno on Saturday night as well!

We had agreed to meet Dave & Linda in Sins tonight as there was another karaoke night but as we stayed at the beach so long we didn't get there until just gone 10pm.  Martin wanted to sing Sweet Caroline again but couldn't see it listed so he sung two Foreigner songs instead - 'I Wanna Know What Love Is' and 'Waiting For A Girl Like You'.  It was so romantic and Linda said I had to sing a song for him now but I couldn't see any that I really knew so instead I sang an Irish song that I knew off by heart - 'Wild Rover'!  We then both sang the Robbie & Nicole duet 'Something Stupid'.

Finally we decided to head home - at 2.15am once again!

Tuesday 4th July

Another day at the beach - we could get used to this!  This time we remembered to bring the frisbee along so we played in the sea with it for ages.

We also decided to swim out to the buoy as our form of exercise that day.  It took a while to get there and I was always slightly in front of Martin so I was less than impressed when he made a push for it when we were almost there!  I sped up too and we both reached it at the exact same time.  We turned round almost immediately and made our way back to the shore, under the life guards watchful eye!  He must have been nervous when he saw us heading out that far but could see that we were strong swimmers as it took us hardly any time to get back.

We headed back to the villa at 6.30pm again, just in time for a quick bite to eat and shower before going down to Oasis to watch the first semi-final - Germany v Italy with Dave & Linda.  I wanted Germany to win as I didn't like the way Italy were playing but unfortunately they sneaked two goals past Germany in the dying minutes of extra time.

After the game finished we played doubles at pool, losing the first game as I potted the black (but we were winning before that!) but then winning the second game.  We finally left the bar at about 2am again - with the bar staff tidying up and closing around us!

Wednesday 5th July

After spending practically the whole day in the sea yesterday, today we just didn't feel like it and concentrated on our tans instead!

We were meeting Dave and Linda at the bar again tonight, to watch the second semi-final, France v Portugal.  Because we were going to Aqualandia tomorrow we didn't want to have a late night and so Martin drove down to Oasis.  Plus we were running late and would have missed a lot of the first half if we'd walked!

We got there just after kick-off and settled down to watch a very anxious game.  France got a penalty in the first half - yes!  But no more goals were forthcoming after that.  In the dying seconds Portugal came so close to getting a goal but thankfully it wasn't meant to be.  Result!  France are now in the final and I will be getting at least £10, but hopefully £18 from the sweepstake at work.

At full time we all joined Linda's parents in Neptuno where they were doing a quiz evening.  We came first in Name That Tune, and cheered on the people who took part in Play Your Cards Right.  It was a really fun evening and we could have stayed for longer but i was really tired and we wanted to get an early night - but it was still gone midnight by the time we got home!

Thursday 6th July

What a day!  We picked up Dave and Linda at 10am and drove to Aqualandia in Benidorm.  It was a really easy drive and in no time at all we were stripped down to our swimsuits and queuing nervously for our first ride - Black Hole.  For this one it was 2 people per rubber boat and we were pushed down this black hole - funnily enough!  We couldn't see where we were going at all but it wasn't too steep and with a splash we landed at the bottom.  A nice and gentle one to start the day with!

Next up was a ride which soon became our favourite.  It was five water slides and we could race each other to the bottom.  I kept on winning, and no it wasn't because I kept on pushing myself off before the attendant said 'go', honest!

We had to lay down flat with our arms crossed across our chests and legs crossed at the ankles.  As we hurtled down the slides we twisted and turned uncontrollably as the slides were quite wide, and then were unceremoniously chucked into the water at the end, mine and Linda's bikini struggling to stay on!

From here it was onto the rapids.  A fairly short ride unless you got caught by the currents!  First of all we had to roll or carry our huge rubber rings up to the top of the 'river' - a difficult enough task on its own!  Once at the top we jumped in our rings and set off down the river.  Martin absolutely shot off but Linda and I kept on getting stuck in the pools after each little waterfall.  Once it started getting too crowded in each pool at attendant would jump in and push everyone down the next waterfall.  When I finally reached the last pool before the final waterfall I saw martin waiting patiently but before I knew it the roles were reversed and I was straight down the waterfall whilst Martin had to work his way through the rings and the current to get to the waterfall.

The next ride after the rapids was Zig Zag.  This was four water flumes, each of them different, twisting and turning in different directions.  My one was really fast but right at the bottom I got a mouthful of water as I was thrown one way to the next before spitting em out into the water, coughing and spluttering.

The next ride was Kamikaze and we looked at this one with trepidation from the side.  However once at the top it didn't look that bad - two slides, one going straight down and one with a bump on it.  I chose the slide going straight down, as did Linda and Martin.  I swung myself down it to get extra momentum and my god did you go fast!  When Martin landed in the water he bounced across it first for about 12 feet!

As we all got out the water we looked over to the left and saw the next ride - the Big Bang.  This consisted of 4 separate flumes plus a wide water slide with 6 lanes where you laid down on this blue mat and skidded down head first!  We decided to go on the flumes first.  First up was the yellow flume, the tallest.  This was just a simple straight flume but with it being so high and practically vertical it was really scary! We all did it though and survived, and retraced our steps to go on the next one down, the blue flume.  This was slightly shorter but what made it more scary was the fact that you started off going down the flume at a small downward angle but then about 12 feet along it opened up, and down an almost vertical drop again!  Because you had already been going at a slight angle when the flume opened up and down you were airborne for a fair few seconds before your body made contact with the flume again and shot you down towards the water at a ridiculous speed.  Martin went first and yelled as he reached the vertical bit - as did I!  Unfortunately Linda hit her head on this ride and felt a bit dizzy when she got out so she sat down whilst the three of us went on the next flume - the green one.  This was lower still but was a completely covered flume from start to finish.  It was okay but not a patch on the blue and yellow!  With Linda now feeling better we all headed onto the wide water slide with our blue mats in tow, eager to race each other down to the bottom.  I was quietly confident I would win yet again but I was useless - I came last!  David was down first much to his joy, closely followed by Martin and then Linda.

By this time we were absolutely famished and as we had reached the end of the rides we headed back to the start for some lunch.  On the way we came across the main pool which had a flowing moat around it.  We grabbed a rubber ring and jumped in for a quick circuit, trying to avoid the waterfalls along it - well I did but Martin kept on pushing me under them!

After lunch we decided to go on all the rides again, plus spend time in each of the pool areas.  We skipped out the Black Hole and went straight onto our favourite 3 or 4 times in a row!  This time I agreed to wait for everyone else before launching myself down the slide and funnily enough I didn't come first anymore!  Well, not every time anyway.  Then it was onto the rapids again.  Martin and David found the walk up to the top with their rings a most enjoyable experience due to the girl in a very skimpy bikini walking in front of them!  This time the attendants didn't wait so long before pushing people out of the currents and in no time we had all reached the bottom.

We then came across Lagune and Niagra, the two pool areas that we had skipped the first time round.  The Laguna was like an adventure playground with metal rings to swing across on, a zip wire, a cargo net and rope bridges - all across the water!  All four of us queued up for the zip wire, it was so much fun!  After we had been on all the slides and activities we moved on to Niagra, a large swimming pool with lots of waterfalls.  We stood under each of them and some of them were so strong it almost hurt our heads and shoulders!

Zig Zag was next and we all went on different flumes to before.  I went on Martin's and it just kept on going round and round in circles but at least I didn't swallow any of the water this time!

Now it was back to Kamikaze and we all swapped chutes, going on the one that we didn't before.  I went down the one with the bump on it but preferred the one that went straight down.

And so before we knew it we were back at the Big Bang.  Martin and I wanted to go on all of them again so whilst Linda watched and David made his way to the green and orange flumes we climbed further up to the yellow and blue flumes.  We'd already done it once but maybe it was because of that, because we knew what to expect we seemed even more nervous than before!  We both felt sure that we were airborne for longer on the blue one!

We shot down the green flume again and then decided to give the orange one a try.  David said it was okay but that it bashed you about a bit, and it did!  We all then had a race down the white slides again with our blue mats before heading off to find the pool with the wave machine.

I managed to acquire a yellow ring again (you were supposed to pay for the hire of them) and Martin and I spent an enjoyable half an hour or so mucking around with it whilst Dave and Linda relaxed by the side of the water.  We were making our way back  to the lockers when we saw our favourite ride again - just a few more goes we thought!  We all trudged our way to the top - on the way deciding to do it just the one more time after all!  By the time we reached the bottom we were more bruised and battered than ever before!

Time was now ticking on and so we decided to call it a day, it was gone 6pm already!  We showered and changed then had a quick bite to eat before heading back to the car.  Martin and I had a lovely crepe whilst David and Linda had a kebab!

As we were so close to Benidorm itself we decided to stop off on the way back and have a walk along the promenade.  It was very different to our lovely Campello and I knew where I'd rather sunbathe and relax!  The sand sculptures were very good, Martin thought there would be quite a few but we only came across about 3 of them.

We were going to go out for paella this evening but we were so exhausted, plus it was getting late so David and Linda kindly offered to do dinner at their villa.  We eagerly accepted and it was lovely way to finish off an excellent day, drinking beer and eating a gorgeous chicken pasta on their terrace.

Friday 7th July

Our last full day, booo :-(  We woke up pretty late for us - 9.40am and hurried down to the beach.  As we were there slightly later than usual someone had already nicked our usual sunloungers and umbrella combo but there were still some others free so we just chose different ones instead.

As we knew it was going to be a while before we were in the sea again, and a warm mediterranean sea at that, we made the most of it and spent a fair while in it.  The sea was really choppy today though so we decided against swimming to the buoy again!

As we didn't go for our paella last night we had it tonight instead, at a lovely restaurant called Cranka on the sea front.  It was so nice that Martin ordered another one right after we had finished the first one!  It was delicious though, really really tasty.

We were due to meet Dave and Linda in a bar called Los Dos at 10pm but we didn't leave Cranka until gone 10pm!  We raced back to the villa, quickly changed then headed back to the bar where a guy called Ted was singing classics.

We got there at 11.30pm and luckily they had saved us a couple of seats as it was very busy.  Ted must be very popular!  Linda's parents were there too so it was lovely to see them again before we left.

Ted was a really funny guy and kept on serenading our table and trying to get us to dance.  I danced a bit but Linda was practically dancing the whole night!  The drinks flowed as usual and at about 2am we headed over to oasis as martin wanted one last drink in there, as well as one of there bee glasses which he bought just before we left - at 4am!

Saturday 8th July

Home-time, boooo :-(  We woke up at about 9.30am feeling a little worse for wear.  Tired mainly!

We had breakfast then started packing and tidying up the villa.  Dave and Linda had invited us over to their other villa today so at about 1pm once we had taken some last photos by the pool and done as much packing as we could we drove over there.  Wow.  It is a 21 bed villa with 5 separate units, plus communal pool and roof terrace.  It was absolutely gorgeous and we happily lazed by the pool and chatted.

Before we knew it, it was 3pm and time to head back to our villa.  After a sad goodbye and a promise to keep in touch we drove off.

Back at our villa it was all systems go as we hurried to hang up the freshly washed bed sheets, have lunch, shower and do the final packing and clearing up.  We were out by 5pm which was only half an hour later than planned but we made really good time to the airport and was fairly near the front of the queue...