Our first visitor

   Our first visitor was, of course, our daughter Hannah. Here for a week, we picked her up on a rainy Tuesday night from Alicante Airport in Cervantes which is now our only form of motorised transport. The Mazda has been sold due to a couple of issues. The first was the cost of getting it legal in Spain (over €1500), and the second was the fact that we really couldn't justify having two vehicles any more. We tend to cycle everywhere or walk, and we have used Cervantes for anything else. We can get 30 to 35 mpg and that is while we are running him in, so it will improve further. Also easy to park and manouvre, so all in all the Mazda had to go.
   The parking at Alicante airport seems to be geared solely towards cars. It can only be accessed by a height restricted entrance, so while Glyn went to meet Hannah, I skulked about on some hatch markings on the approach to arrivals, expecting to be moved on at any minute, but it was not to be - I was still there when I got the phone call to collect them. Hannah was very impressed with Cervantes, (as are we), but then she has always been an excellent judge of quality and value for money.
   On Wednesday we cycled 30kms to explore the coast around the Mar Menor - sunny but windy.

  Thursday found us in La Zenia shopping centre due to the pouring rain, but at least there were lots of clothes and fashion shops for Glyn and Han to explore. I spent the time in Leroy Merlin (a DIY store) measuring for plastic boxes for the various storage lockers in Cervantes.

   Friday night and Saturday night we had planned for staying in Camping Marjal in Guadamar. We phoned to book on Tuesday (but couldn't with the ACSI card), but the receptionist told us to get there before 12 noon to be sure of a place.

   We arrived at 11:15 to be told that there was only one place left in the whole camp - did we want it? Of course we said yes, and she then asked us for our passports. In Spain you need a passport as ID if you are using a credit card in supermarkets, restaurants,shops, etc. We have had the ID page of our passports made credit card sized and laminated. For the past six weeks we have tried them as ID in every conceivable situation and have had them accepted without a second glance - but not in Marjal Camping. We were willing to go home and get them if we could reserve the pitch for an hour - no. The couple behind us at reception were also after the last pitch, so we had to lie, coax, plead, cajole and generally blag our way in, which we did in the end. Good job too because the site was excellent. The best toilets/showers we have seen, excellent restaurant, heated indoor pool and hydrotherapy spa (free), and great walks along a deserted beach one way, and Guadamar town the other.

   Sleeping arrangements were fine with Han on a single bed made from the lounge cushions, and us in the drop down double bed. Weather was sunny with a chilly wind, but good for walking.

   Monday saw us in Cartagena to explore the town centre. Parking Cervantes was a challenge because all the secure, paid for parking is underground and too low for us. However, spotting two motorhomes parked on spare ground by the fishing port, we duly rolled up and parked next to them. As expected the local self appointed "parking attendant" was there to ask for €1 to keep an eye on the van. We agreed to pay him on our return to make sure the van was still there and OK (which it was), so we gave him €2 and everybody was happy. This is common practice in Cartagena on waste ground, and although it smacks of extortion, they really do watch your van like hawks until you return.

Cervantes in Avenida de Cervantes

   Tuesday was return day for Hannah, and we had just time to christen Cervantes with our good friends and Hannah with champagne supplied by my brother and family (thank you Alan, Chris and the girls - much better to drink it than break it over the bonnet) before returning to Alicante. 

   We had identified a parking area where we could park Cervantes in the disused terminal 1 building in Alicante airport, then walk to departures to see Hannah off.

   Tears as she went through security, and joy when she texted to say she had landed OK.

   The perfect first visitor  -  our daughter Hannah.