Day: April 27, 2026

Going Home – 23 April 2026

Posted on by Zogman

Waiting for the bus. The waiting is always the worst.

The bus arrived just after breakfast. Stewart did the checks and we all got on. Then some strangers, the germans who had plagued us since we arrived, decided this was our bus. After some sharp words from Stewart and Jane, they got the message and left to a chorus of expletives that I’m sure they understood!

With the germans disposed of we said goodbye to Calpe for this year and we settled down to the long journey to Alicante and the airport.

Despite the horror stories we’d heard about the queues at check-in we sailed through the new customs checks. Our plane arrived in time and that’s when things went awry. Nobody was telling us anything, but someone passed the message that a passenger on a previous flight was ill and paramedics had arrived to deal with the situation. Finally our flight was boarding after a wait of about two hours.

The flight was fine and we arrived in Glasgow late but happy to be there. We got the airport bus to Buchanan Street bus station, then got the X3 back home.

I’d say it was a lovely day, but I’d be lying.

Things I’ll remember:

  • The Germans!
  • Two bus drivers both trying to communicate with the germans
  • The lack of information at the airport in Alicante
  • How everything fitted into place when we got to Glasgow
  • Even the cases arrived ahead of the predicted time

Despite everything, would I do it again? In an instant!!

Thank you Scamp for your patience. I know I’m a pest.

Tomorrow, it’s back to Auld Claes and Purrich!

Last Full Day – 22 April 2026

Posted on by Zogman

We went to The Coffee Box for coffee in the morning. Two Cappuccinos with a large Tiramisu for Scamp and an equally large Apple Tarte de Pom for us both to share.

Watched the cyclists limbering up. It must have been a race or a club outing, because there were always loads of them going out in the morning.

We found rows and rows of painted wooden ducks for sale outside one of the shops, but we knew we were almost overloaded with the stuff we were bringing home as well as our clothes and my camera gear, so reluctantly we had to leave them for some other boys and girls.

The weather was a bit cooler than it had been and there were occasional banks of mist and fog rolling in from the sea, sometimes almost covering the mountain on one side and the posh houses on the other side of the bay.

Dancing again at night and another lively time. Eventually Stewart turned off his amp and most folk just talked for a while. Others who hadn’t started their packing left a wee bit early.

Things I’ll remember:

  • The coffee and pastries in The Coffee Box
  • The cyclists clogging up the roads and pavements
  • The wooden ducks
  • The mist on the mountain

Another early rise tomorrow. I know we’d both like to come back here.

 

 

Sweet Bay Salsa – 21 April 2026

Posted on by Zogman

Today’s dance was Sweet Bay Salsa. No sign of Salsa! There was a fair bit of shuffling to one side and another and some waving of hands in the air, and that was about it.

Scamp wanted a second look at a dress she’d seen yesterday in the avenue of shops that look out onto the sand and the sea. Usually the ‘second look’ just means she’ll walk out with it and a smile on her face, but no sale today.

Next we walked round to The Coffee Box. I thought the Americano was just a little bitter, but Scamp agreed. More of this company’s pastries and a seat outside.

We walked back along the promenade and just missed the wee train. It’s a bit like a small tractor made to look like a train engine pulling two carriages. We seem to see them all over Spain and Italy.

We walked back along the prom, checking out more architectural high-rise buildings, proving that AutoCad is still alive and kicking. Eventually we walked back to the big supermarket ( My MerKat ) for tonic water and Scamp bought that dress.

We were just in time for the wee train’s return and found it was full of Spanish pensioners, they sang their wee hearts all the way round the circuit!

In the evening we danced for two or three hours. We sat with Barry and Cath and laughed all night. I think we were all beginning to flag on our third day.

Things I’ll remember:

  • The wee train ride
  • The indecision on Scamp’s face looking at that dress
  • Finding all sorts of strange sweeties in the supermarket
  • “My Merkat” What a name for a supermarket

Last full day tomorrow.

The Coffee Box – 20 April 2026

Posted on by Zogman

 

 

 

Woke at 7am and dozed until just after 8am. That’s early for a holiday!

The lifts in the hotel seemed to be constantly full and there didn’t appear to be any stairs, then a cyclist showed us how to access the stairs that would take us down to the breakfast room. Thanks for that, whoever you were.

Most of the breakfast food was either cold or congealing or both. Not very appetising anyway. At least there was plenty of fruit and we finally managed to get breakfast.

Out in the streets there were lots of coffee shops. We chose one at random calling itself The Coffee Box. Two Cappuccinos, a Chocolate Croissant for me and a Neapolitan Crema for Scamp was a much better start to the day than breakfast in the hotel.

We walked round the bay almost to the Peñón de Ifach (Calpe Rock) which is a 332-meter high limestone mountain. We walked back to the town, admiring the amazing architecture, especially the great brown tubes with circular holes which were rooms in a complex.

Lunch was a Spanish Omelette for Scamp and a Bocadillo Especia which is basically a large filled sandwich, for me.

Tonight’s dress code was ‘Tropical’ and we managed to fulfil that task. We danced almost until the end of the night, but had to give in before the evening finished because we were exhausted

Another great day.

Things I’ll remember:

  • The poor quality food
  • Hardly any labels on the food
  • The size of that mountain
  • Bocadillo Especia
  • The Coffee Box