Xabia to Moraira

14th November - 8 miles

Basically we've hopped around the Cap de la Nau, from one resort to the next. Nowhere on this coast can really be described as undeveloped unless it's been protected as a site of special interest. What we are learning is that although everywhere has been changed by mass tourism, places have developed differently. Whereas Xavia is dominated by six or seven storey apartment blocks, here at Moraira there are a few of these, but the main developments are second homes, villas in urbanisations covering the hills behind the bay.  Each resort also seems geared to particular nationalities. Here Swiss businesses, including a hotel reveals who might own the villas, though there a fair few British cars too, top end Audis and Porsches. Property prices too are high, I suspect Moraira is fairly up market, at least by Costa Blanca standards.

The marina

Palm trees and speedboats

In the area near the yacht club there are some really good looking, inexpensive fish restaurants.

General view of the harbour area from the old town

It was overcast when we arrived just before noon, then it rained a bit, then started to clear after lunch. We walked along the beach to the town. It's quite pleasant with a small fort beside the harbour and interesting rock formations with small sea caves. The Penyal d'Ifac next to Calpe, just south of here looks like Gibraltar in miniature. There's a spectacular view from the seafront across the bay. The afternoon wind whipped the waves up, seats have been provided for wave-watching enthusiasts to sit and get slightly damp in the spray. Moraira is the kind of place that just staring out to sea is regarded as a significant local spectator sport. Indeed, a sculpture has been raised to celebrate the gentle art of wave watching.

Watching waves from the wave watching seats...

Statue of St. Damp, patron saint of wave watchers.

Maybe we will stay here a couple of days. If we get another day as nice as yesterday, I really do fancy a swim. The immediate plan is to hop down the coast to Calpe, then Altea. Having visited Atlantic City in the Summer, we quite fancy taking a day trip to Benidorm, just out of curiosity.

We are also thinking about the next three weeks. We are due at Alicante airport in three weeks time.. It's less than 50 miles away, so the question is what to do with the time? Clearly lots of people just find a nice campsite and stay put, soaking up the winter sun. That's not really our style, so now we are thinking of going south of Alicante, beyond Cartegna towards the Golfo Mazarron. This would enable us to double back via Lorca, Murcia and Elche, before flying home. Then when we return in February we head straight for Granada on the A92 and onwards into Andalusia. The only downside to this is it would take an extra tank of diesel, another 90 euros or so, on this leg. Then in February we'd miss out on the Cap de Gata and Almeria, which I did quite fancy seeing again. Oh the pressures of retirement!