The story of our adventure in Spain



In October 2002 we purchased a holiday flat in Guardamar on Spain's Costa Blanca - not far from Alicante and Torrevieja and we try to spend a good part of the year in Spain.

This blog hopefully will contain our thoughts and impressions of Spain - the good and the bad and lots and lots of photographs of not only Guardamar but the rest of Spain as we eventually get to explore it.

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Sunday, 30 June 2013

Guardamar Hill


No progress on this building site during our two year absence from Guardamar.



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Saturday, 29 June 2013

Guardamar Hill




We now have some apartment blocks occupied on the Guardamar Hill site.

Photos taken on a rather dull day - rain was expected.

Friday, 28 June 2013

Guardamar Hill


This little park up at Guardamar Hill has grown quite lush in the few years since it was planted but now needs a bit of tender love and care and the weeds removing.



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Wednesday, 26 June 2013

Guardamar



The centre of Guardamar never seem to change much - photo taken one sunny morning in May.





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Sunday, 23 June 2013

Guardamar Playa


Time to head down to the beach.




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Saturday, 22 June 2013

Guardamar - The Pines

We've not walked around this area for some time and there is evidence that at some stage there has been a fire but I can find no one who can confirm this.



Still looks very pretty.

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Friday, 21 June 2013

Valenti Guardamar


It may not look too grand from the road entrance but this bar overlooks the sea and one can sit drinking a beer just a few feet away from the sand and sea. 

It is in a real sun trap - the sea and sand must reflect the heat.



  


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Thursday, 20 June 2013

Hotel Las Dunas - Guardamar



An opportunity as they say - the Hotel Las Dunas is available for sale or rent. From what I can see this hotel only opens during the height of the summer months. Just a few yards from the sea front and in a prime location.





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Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Guardamar streets - Calle Maestro José Gonzalez Hernandez y Av. del Puerto


Calle Maestro José Gonzalez Hernandez and bottom Av.del Puerto. All newly constructed apartment blocks in Guardamar.








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Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Unwanted ...


The start of a grand construction project - still the bare bones after quite a few years. Leaves a blot on the landscape.







Here the swimming pool and tennis courts were constructed first but the main block never got started by the look of it.

These eyesores will remain for many many years.

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Sunday, 16 June 2013

Rio Segura Guardamar



Several years ago the Rio Segura at Guardamar was cleaned up and the vegetation removed from the banks.

This same vegetation now appears to be returning but the main water channel seems to be clear which I assume is all that matters.







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Saturday, 15 June 2013

Fumigacion - Picudo Rojo


I assume that the Picudo Rojo is a Red Spider but can not find the translation in my dictionary

The fact is there are a lot of dead and dying palms down by the river Segura and it looks like something is going to be done about it.







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Friday, 14 June 2013

Manuel Pellegrini


Manchester City F.C. have confirmed that the 59 year old Chilean Manuel Pellegrini has joined them on a three year contract as manager.

He moves from Malaga and starts the new job June 24th.

Good luck.....

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Furniture delivery



One way to get your furniture delivered if you live above the ground floor - send it up on this little gadget .. !!




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Thursday, 13 June 2013

What a view..


What a view - through the woods and out to the blue sea. A very pleasant sight.

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Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Spanish Spring


You will always find a splash of colour during spring - lovely bright red flowers.




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Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Guardamar Marina


No changes down at the marina - boats still floating along.





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Monday, 10 June 2013

Mud Dauber


While absent from our apartment we had a visitor who left this on the balcony. I understand that it is a nest of a Mud Dauber - a type of wasp. The nest appears to be made of mud and the holes are where the young have emerged.

I did not destroy it but left it in situ. Hope on our next visit that it has not been colonised by something nasty.




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Sunday, 9 June 2013

The circus came to town ..


Early May saw the circus arrive in Guardamar - Richards Bros. El perro de Tintin would appear to be the star of the show.





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Saturday, 8 June 2013

Guardamar - Sand dunes



Several years ago this area was bare of vegetation and part of it was a car park - now after a few years of tender care and replanting the vegetation has grown lush and is binding the sand together.



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Friday, 7 June 2013

Jesus Navas


Sevilla winger Jesus Navas Gonzalez age 27 is most likely to transfer to Manchester City this summer for a reported £22.5 million.

He is currently away with the national Spanish side at their training camp and is expected to complete the deal in two weeks time.

I'm sure he'll find the weather in Manchester somewhat different to Sevilla..

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Thursday, 6 June 2013

The Russian tourist ..


Since our last visit to Guardamar in 2011 we have noticed that there are more Russian speakers - you hear them in the bars and streets.

Some of the speakers are quite young and have obviously come over to Spain to work but quite a few are tourists and some must own their own apartments.

Spain is trying to attract people from Russia to not only visit as tourists but to buy holiday property.

I'm told that many British and German residents who do not wish to declare their worldwide taxable asserts to the tax authorities ( new rules introduced recently ) are returning to their original countries of origin in order to avoid making declarations and in fear of extra taxation. How true this is I do not know. 

I do wonder if Russian people find the cost of living in Spain expensive or cheap / Spain was once considered a cheap place to live but I think this is no longer so.

We'll see what happens in the future.

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Still here ..


Two years ago this was lying on the same stretch of beach - nothing much has changed in Guardamar during our absence.




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Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Return to Guardamar


Late April saw us return to Guardamar after an absence of nearly two years - a wet week to start our visit. Here a few brave souls head down the beach.

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