We are staying at the La Manga club in southern Spain not far from Murcia, we have a nice large apartment facing south. When Linda saw the pictures she thought that looks like a nice place, can we stay there. I didn't mention it was a sporting location, Tottenham, Andy Murray and people like that use it. It has a Olympic size swimming pool, first class gym, several sports pitches, golf courses and plenty of running routes. Linda was amazed at the size of it.
With a kitchen in the apartment it means we do not have to eat out, no fried breakfast, I can have my normal banana followed by porridge, good carbs and protein to set me up for the day. I can also have salad in the evening, saves eating out.
We left Southend on Sunday afternoon just after dinner and drove the scenic route to Gatwick, stopping off a Royal Tunbridge Wells for a look round the town and a coffee. We had an early flight on the Monday so were staying in a Travelodge overnight, we bought some food to eat in the room as we watched Top Gear and Dragons Den and then to sleep. The alarm went off at 0315 and we had to get up, shower and then leave for the car park. We parked the car, Linda was still half asleep, and we arrived at the airport about 0430. We deposited our luggage, we have to take a suitcase each, although mine is full of my running gear! We then passed through security and found Starbucks for breakfast. It is not a good choice in relation to calories, but it will do. Linda had woken up by now, so wandered off to look round the shops. About 0545 we meander to the gate and the plane is starting to board, it is a 0620 departure, well should have been, but there is a problem with a gauge, so the engineer has to go back to base to get a spare one and fit it, so we leave about 30 mins late.
There was a strong tail wind so the flight was just over 2 hours and was only about 15 minutes late into Alicante, of course no-one had told the baggage handlers that, as we had to wait ages for the luggage. We then picked the hire car up and drove to the local shopping centre, I knew where a Carrefour was for us to do some food shopping, rather than trying to find a supermarket at our destination. It was now about midday so we decided to have lunch before we left Alicante, I had burger with jacket potato and Linda had a goats cheese salad. It was very nice, I then drove to La Manga, it was about 90 minutes from Alicante, along the motorway, which turned into a toll road and then a dual carriageway for the last bit, it was a scenic drive and very few cars on the road, so into cruse control and drive.
We found the La Manga Club, we were staying at the Los Lomas apartments which is on the north side of the resort. It has a spa which contains an olympic size swimming pool and a fitness centre, as well as normal spa treatments. Its a posh swimming pool as you have to wear a hat to use it as Linda found out. Evidently it has to be a swimming cap, a baseball one will not suffice. The apartment consists of a bed, a living area, a bathroom and a kitchen. We are on the third floor with views over the estate. The locals thinks its cold as the heating was on, we think its hot and so turned it off.
Having arrived, although tired we went for a walk around the estate, checking out the swimming pool and fitness centre and finally having a cappuccino in the deli. I then decided to go for a run and Linda was too tired, so she was going to rest. It seemed a good idea and I had a map, I was only going to do a few miles, but unfortunately I got lost, mainly because it was light when I started, then after I watched the sun set over the Med, it turned dark and the roads all looked the same. Eventually I found my way back and completed 7 miles. It's is very hilly here, our centre is at the top of a hill, so its is challenging running up it at the end. Linda was not worried at all, she is used to it by now.
We had our tea, bread and meat followed by some local fruit. As we had been up since 3am we had an early night and went to sleep. On Tuesday we had a lie in, Linda needed to catch up on her beauty sleep, I am beyond help in that department.
We then had a banana and porridge for breakfast, before going out for the day. Linda wanted to go to the beach and so I suggested we could run to there, its only a couple of miles (although I did not mention the hills!), so she agreed. We both had backpacks to carry water etc, I have a special running one, which my Ipad fits in as well. We started off well for the first mile, then it got hard work in the warm sun. However, we found a coffee shop, so sat in the sun enjoying our coffee and chatting. We then ran to the La Cala where the beach is, unfortunately the resort is at the top of the hill, and the beach at the bottom, so we had to run down, and of course if you go down, you have to come up, it was very steep 1/2 mile track. We had a walk on the beach, and then I decided to run up while Linda took the walking option. I was soon at the top, drinking water and reading The Times on the Ipad air, waiting for my wife, nothing new there. She eventually made it, then we had to get back to the centre, which was a couple of miles, not good news. She did another mile, before we reached the hotel where there was a bus to the other side. Having completed 5 miles, she decided to get the bus back, I of course was going to run, in fact I ran to the supermarket, did some shopping, ran back to the apartment, all before Linda arrived back.
We then had some lunch, before Linda rested. In the evening I went to the gym for a workout and Linda went swimming, with her new cap I had to buy her. She did 25 lengths of the pool. We stayed in the evening and finished up our fruit and bread. On Wednesday I was up just after 8am, decided to go for a run before breakfast and ran an easy 5 miles through the estate, didn't get lost this time!
After breakfast we decided to go out for the day, Linda wanted to take the car, rather than run, so we went to Cartagena, about 30 miles away. We had a drive round, stopped for coffee and then left, we didn't find much to do, maybe because all the signposts were in Spanish. Fortunately I spotted a shopping centre on the way back and it had a Decathlon sports store, so we stopped there. I needed a new pair of running shorts, mine do not fit me anymore (although they do Linda so I have generously donated them to her). We spent about an hour with me trying on different styles and finally choosing a couple of pairs I like. It was now dinner time and Linda was hungry, as I had chosen the sports shop, she got to chose the restaurant and decided on Italian. She had pasta with walnuts and gorgonzola cheese, I had a small calzone pizza. We then got a few bits in Carrefour for our tea, before leaving. We did have a look around C & A but could find nothing we liked to buy.
We then drove to La Manga town, which is at the end of the mainland and sort of built on a causeway, obviously no flooding problems here. It is similar to Key West in America, but not as long or scenic. However, Linda wanted to go there, so we did. It was a strange place, deserted, everything was shut up but we had a look around, stopped for a coffee, which was expensive, and then left. I am sure in the spring and summer it is very busy. Linda did take some photos. We came back to our apartment and of course I now need to try out my new clothes, to ensure they are ok to run in, Linda was persuaded to come to. We ran over to the south side of the complex where there is a nice coffee shop, had a coffee before running back. I ran straight to the gym and did a workout, Linda came home and read her book.
Thursday morning we got up early, well around 0830 and Linda went for a swim whilst I went running, my last run around the complex. Linda completed another 25 lengths of the Olympic pool with her new cap on. Our next chore was to unfortunately pack and check out. We just made the 1100 deadline. We then went over to the other side of the complex and had brunch at a little cafe we had found, it was a nice sunny day so we could sit outside. I had a combination of protein and carbs, otherwise known as scrambled eggs, Linda just had a sausage in a roll. We sat outside and enjoyed the warm weather, reading the daily paper on our Ipad's. It is easy now, no hunting for newspaper shops, paying extortionate prices for the English tabloids or broadsheets, just download The Times where ever I am in the world.
However, it was soon time to leave and drive the 90 minutes back to Alicante. The road was mainly deserted so we were at our hotel, Holiday Inn Express, by just after 2pm. We managed to check in, leave our gear and head to downtown Alicante. We had a pleasant walk along the promenade, passing the marina with all the posh boats (or yachts) and then the beach. It was still warm and pleasant. We stopped for a coffee to enjoy the ambience of the promenade. It was nice just to sit there and relax.
We decided to do one last visit to Carrefour and Linda spotted a running top and shorts she liked, it is contagious this running so I treated her. When we got back to hotel I did offer to take her for a run to try our the new gear, but she declined so I had to go on my own. I could only do about 1.5 miles as the pavement ran out and it was dark, so I had to turn round and come back. The hotel is near the airport, so we should be there prompt for our 1020 flight in the morning, that is if the flight is not delayed!