Famous Five go a strolling…….

Ok so I haven’t written a post for ages and I am not so sure why. I could say its because I haven’t been or done anything, I thought worthy of recording but that would not of been true. I have been to several lovely places including a excellent cruise around Croatia, Slovenia and Venice. Which I think topped my chart for cruise destinations, just in case you needed a endorsement for Thompson cruises. I have no excuse, other than I lost a little bit of my blog mojo.

But I am going to get back on that blog-horse. Starting with a Famous Five story of fun, frolics and chatter. While no one is really famous outside our own families, we are still 5 girls (loose and polite term for ladies of our certain ages), who decided to have this adventure. The four ladies who accompany me are some of my closest buddies/allies/best mates. They are a mix of intelligence, sarcasm, caring and nuttiness (just how great friends should be) I love them.

It’s the first time all 5 have been together (a brand new 5dynamic – which is in fairness confusing, as we now have to find out what 5 is in Spanish if only to order the coffees). Luckily we have bonded well and so far no one has fallen out over bedrooms, bathrooms or meals which on day 3 together is pretty good.

Our first day/night was spent in the lovely city of Alicante. Where I had booked an apartment from a rather sweet older gentleman from the website Air BNB. The apartment had everything we needed including a complimentary bottle of red wine!!

I genuinely love Alicante for a couple of nights at least, especially the marina. Where you can imagine you own one of the many boats harboured there. Or more to the point wonder who the hell owns them and why are they not our friends!!! I also love the fact you can have ice cream at midnight. I don’t even like ice cream that much but there is something about eating something like that so late at night. Like you are flouting your mothers rules, its the same feeling I had when we first got served in a pub after 11pm (only those of a certain age will remember pubs used to shut!).

This trip we fancied a healthy dose of culture so planned a visit to the Castle. After confirming that there was an lift to the top of this Castle on a cliff top, we went in hot pursuit of the history. Now the real treat here was that the lift and visit was entirely free of charge. Not many places like that these days. Alicante is a holiday place that hasn’t pulled every last penny out of the people who visit, it still retains a little respect. It is however the town everyone flys into to go to Benidorm but lucky those Benidorm lovers don’t bother to stay, more fool them, the place is a great stop. The Castle not only let you see Alicante from the clouds but there is lots of history there, of course we couldn’t understand it as the info was in Spanish, so instead we ended the tour and frequent photo opportunities by sitting for 3 hours in the Castle courtyard soaking up the history via beer and wine, served from the not so medieval bar they have installed there. Well some things just have to move with the times.

Growing up is only an option ….

Flying into Alicante instead of the local airport nearest to Brothers has an advantage – its call Alicante night out. Landing at 8:55 pm means operation ‘get to hotel as quick as possible, dump cases, change clothes (well me at least) and be sitting outside a taverna with a local brew by 10:30pm! ‘ Add to this a traditional festival procession walking by, close enough to see the details of the beautiful outfits, be amaze that the kids are all up so late, including babies which would all still be out till at least 1am.

After a stroll along the harbour stopping a couple of times to partake in further local brews, including a very romantic stop, close by the harbour side. Well romantic if it hadn’t been me and the lads! Plus if NYB F hadn’t spent most of the time fretting NYB P and myself we sitting perilously close to the edge (would never be allowed in good old UK- such is our caring health and safety laws – and the dumb dumbs that frequent the drinking places).

Heading home (well realising we were lost and seeking Spanish assistance to tell us where we were). We found ourselves in the middle of a thriving area full of people laughing, drinking and hanging out. Our equivalent to the Bigg Market ( but more up market). This was now 2am and the place looked in full swing. We of course were shattered, but were happy to finish off the night with a ice-cream treat as we walked along. This is so continental (and calorie free being on holiday).

Before going to Brothers we spent the day around Alicante town which never fails to please. Walking along the harbour again to have breakfast at the romantic stop this time with the boys sitting near the edge and in the sun and me sitting at a table behind hiding from the sun ( such a English rose as I am or a red beacon in the sun).

Finding a craft fair with stalls and about 100 people sitting making fine lace, (there must be such a thing as lace clubs here). It looked so complicated and something we decided we wouldn’t take up. With our fill of local culture (all 10 minutes of it) we find a real pirates ship to visit, it turned out to be a pub/restaurant with a recreated feel of a Spanish war Galleon (a pirate ship NYB P insists). Who cares for 5 euros entrance which includes a drink I am in!!!!

Enjoying the photo opportunities inside playing royalty (or whatever I didn’t want to play slaves and master). We plan to have lunch across the harbour at a favourite place called Fosters (home from home). NYB P opts for the kids menu (uh oh, looks like he will be sharing NYB F as it will never fill him). Seems us treating ourselves to ice-cream and a pirate ship has brought the child out in him. To make his day when we started our walk back to the hotel to drive to Brothers, we find an adult rocking horse!!!! Yes there is no reason to grow up, this is shouting at us as we put in our euro and feel the gentle rocking, made even more special because we can get on it together, what a bargain!!! We know growing up is only an option and we are not going to do it anytime soon.