My lovely holiday in Calpe - Thu 10th May 2007
The apartment we stayed in was spanking new and clean and made a lovely holiday home, with simple but comfortable furnishings and a larger than average balcony overlooking the beach, which had some shady parts and moments but caught the sun for most of the day. There was plenty of room on it for a table and four chairs, plus four sun beds. The kitchen was the last word in technology and the cooker and hob have to be seen to be believed, although with so many tapas bars and restaurants surrounding the flat no one felt much inclined to cook. Downstairs there is an outdoor pool, which may be heated and is great for doing lengths, but adjoining it is a wonderful covered heated pool/Jacuzzi with almost a dozen water jets. We had such fun swimming around it turning on the jets to massage various parts of our anatomy. The beach is fabulous sandy and slopes gently into the sea. If you walk along the beach to old Calpe you pass the fishing port and in front of it are half a dozen or so fish restaurants where all the fresh catch of the day is laid out on trays, so once you have picked a restaurant you can select a fish. The old town of Calpe is an artists paradise, and many buildings have wonderful frescos painted on their outside walls depicting the battles between the Christians and the Arabs amongst other things. In earlier times Calpe was the haunt of Ernest Hemmingway and friends and today still boasts some good restaurants and has a certain glamour about it. For that very special occasion, I suggest you go up the coast to Benidorm Palace, possibly the best cabaret restaurant in Europe. You can get tickets and a coach to take you there from the neighboring hotel, and although it is mass catering, the food and wine, which is all included in the ticket price is good value. We will certainly be returning to Calpe soon. Diana Jarvis (stayed at Hipocampo apartments) London
