We want to be close enough to a center that offers culture, history, architecture and wonderful cuisine.  Valencia did not disappoint!

Unexpectedly we found ourselves joining a key religious holiday celebrated in May, the Feast of Our Lady of the Forsaken.  This festival takes place on the second Sunday of May and is a significant event, with celebrations including masses, a transfer procession, and fireworks. Our guide for our city tour explained to us that her grandmother walked over 15 kilometres to join in the festival.  She was one of many Pellegrino attending.

After a few days we made our way to Moraira which we understood was the ‘posh bit’ (UK speak) of the Costa Blanca.  Moraira was lovely but it lacked 2 of 3 of our requirements – great beach sans pebbles, good golf course offering community, and hiking/walking trails.  The beach was just ok, but it was the worst golf course I have ever played on. We could make Moraira work but ‘workable’ is not what I’m after.

We moved on to Altea that supposedly offered a spectacular old town and pristine beaches with villas tucked into the hills.  The reality was the old town was nothing to write home about, the long and turquoise stretches of beaches were covered in pebbles and the villas were not on a hillside but rather built into the side of a steep mountain.  We didn’t want to risk our lives every time we drove on the windy roads.

Having quickly determined that Altea was not our cup of tea, we left three days early but not before paying an afternoon visit to the town of Benidorm.  For my non-UK friends and readers, Benidorm is a famous destination for British tourists as it has traditionally marketed itself to UK tourists on a budget.

Our first impressions were lukewarm because of its high-rise buildings and English bars. I had heard about the infamous nightlife catering mostly for stag and hen do’s (Canada/USA: bachelor or bachelorette parties)! There are bars, disco bars, pubs and karaoke.  At 4 pm in the afternoon, the northern section of Benidorm’s beach was hopping with inebriated tourists staggering to and fro.  Surprisingly, we found the nicest beaches here of all the Costa Blanca with white sand stretching on for kilometres.  Think Miami Beach meets Spain meets greedy condo developer meets stereotypical Essex – when in the 1980’s & 90’s, Essex residents had a reputation of being trashy and brassy instead of tasteful and classy.

Next, we drove 3.5 hours north to Sitges, a town in Catalonia, Spain some 35 kilometres from Barcelona.  Close to a great city – check.  Beautiful beaches – check. Private golf course with pristine fairways and greens – check.  Hiking – with beautiful parks and vineyards to meander through – check.

The old town of Sitges wasn’t so much about its sights. Sure, there is a church and a couple of museums however the big draw is its plethora of restaurants, arty types and LGBTQ+ scene.  We thought we’d stay in a hotel in the centre of old town to know the heart of the city.  Unbeknownst to us, we found our hotel located on the corner of Gay and Queer streets… and NO- not really!  With clubs and bars outside our door entitled El Horno, Cox and Queenz, we were in the thick of it. Laughingly, the G & Q corner is how I chose to describe our experience.

In all seriousness, the world could use a lot more Sitges’s where no matter who we are, we can just be.

Meanwhile south, at the other end of the beach, was the beautiful residential area of TerraMar.  Known as the Beverly Hills of Sitges, the villas are set in idyllic and serene surroundings offering traditional charm and functionality with proximity to all that Sitges offers.  We seriously considered Sitges but then realized our Spanish Corazón is Mallorca. It’s not ideal as it would be island to island travel, so before we make our final decision, we are moving our search to Italy.

We adore the architecture, history, culture, fashion, and cuisine.  So much so, I find myself wondering why we didn’t originally start our search in Italy? :>)

For warm, sunny weather, we need to go south of Rome. We have been to Sicily and as much as we love it, we can’t see ourselves there.  Let’s face it; it’s not really Italy, is it?

Later this year, we will explore Puglia, the heel of Italy.

They say it’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey and our ride through Spain has been full of riches.