A gorgeous park and walkway all in one…read more Most larger European cities have one. And they are usually one of the places I bookmark to walk and see. Long beautiful paved paths lines with trees and lush gardens. This Explanada did not disappoint. Just a block from the coast of the Mediterranean in the heart of Alicante, you strolled under a canopy of old tall palm trees on a 600 meter marble walkway that mimics the sea waves. Not a good stroll if you have had too much to drink. Passing several small flower gardens and the occasional fountain. The day I was there a small craft market has set up several tents along the walk. Another great experience to enjoy locally made crafts. Here is were I discovered an artist and purchased my watercolor of the town hall. If you veer inland just outside of the Explanada, there are a few cafes to enjoy a snack, coffee or other libation and the view. I highly recommend a stroll here or in any city that has a grand Espanade.

Featured in every guidebook, the Explanada de Espana really is the place to be. It's the focal…read morepoint of Alicante, the gorgeous walkway from one end of the harbour to the other. Locals and tourists alike all enjoy strolling along, dappled with sunlight streaming through the palm fronds. It's a stunning walk even if it is separated from the harbour and its separate walkway by a busy street. Lots of lovely cafés are along the esplanade, with excellent outside seating for a price. Five euro coffees are to be found along here, so beware of the tourist prices at the cafés or bring your own picnic from the Mercado Central down here and enjoy it on one of the many benches. A stroll along here is an essential part of any trip to Alicante!

The cruise ship docked at the Port of Alicante. It was a brief walk to the city centre or you…read morecould take a taxi. We absolutely loved the feel of this city. It was beautiful, hilly with cooler weather and wind from the Mediterranean. The city is easy to navigate especially if you stop at the Tourist Office by the marina and pick up a map. Staff speak English and will show you routes around the city.

Not sure how I almost missed this fabulous gem…read more Thankfully I collect small pieces from local street artist when I travel. Walking the Espanada. I found a watercolor artist and bought one of his paintings. He asked if I had visited the Town Hall. I said no. He said it is just around the corner two blocks. I followed his directions and wow. Across the plaza was this 18th century baroque building with interesting patina doors. As I walked closer, all the intricate small designed appeared, as well as the two towers. I walked in the central door as it was open to discover free entry. At the bottom of the stair was a magnificent Dali statue of Saint John. Walk up the stairs past him and enjoy the beautiful rooms still decorated in the Queen Isabella style, They are a step back in time. A room that was a miniature art museum, then to the Salon Azul and Salon de Plenos. At the end of the short tour was the council room chambers, still intact with its beautiful wood seat and desks. Allow an hour to wander in take in a small portion of the city's long history and the architecture of this splendid building. As I walked in, I can't vouch for any nearby parking.

A long due review - the city of Torrevieja #100…read more Torrevieja (Spanish: "Old Tower) is a city in the province of Alicante, Spain that originally was a salt mining and fishing village (current population is some 100k). The city grew rapidly in the nineties, becoming one of Europe's top "residential tourism" and "lifestyle migration" destinations (lots of vacation homes and few hotels). People from everywhere suddenly decided "This is the most awesome place on Earth!!!" and flocked the area (Mediterranean sea, not too hot, never cold, inexpensive). As a result Torrevieja became the only city in Spain where the majority of the population are not Spanish (Some 48% are Spanish and the rest are British, Russian, German, Swedish, Moroccan, Romanian, Bulgarian, Norwegian, Ukrainian, Belgian etc. Source: Wikipedia). Some live here all year round, some come for vacations, some are always in between. Torrevieja is sometimes referred to as "La Playa de Madrid" (The Madrid Beach), because the poor "madrileños" are locked inland without a beach of their own. This is the place where they go on holiday. The micro-climate here is often cited as one of the best in Europe - the city is surrounded by the sea and two large salt lakes (Salinas de Torrevieja y La Mata). According to one urban legend the World Health Organisation named Torrevieja the healthiest place in the world to live (I never found any proof of that, I tried hard). There are some things you just have to believe - just come and breathe the air! Many places in Torrevieja have multiple names in different languages, all of them being commonly used, don't get confused. Example: There are "Playa de La Mata" and "The La Mata Beach" listings on Yelp at the time of writing. In other cases there are multiple variations even in Spanish. Example: Salinas de Torrevieja y La Mata, Lagunas de Torrevieja y La Mata, Lagunas Saladas de Torrevieja y La Mata - all meaning the same - the two salt lakes. You can reach other cities of this corner of Spain in 30-50 minutes by car - Alicante, Orihuela, Murcia, Elche, Cartagena. Torrevieja is probably the best place to stay and explore the area around. Real estate. There was a real estate bubble in the area that started in the eighties and ended in 2008. Housing prices rose 3x then dropped by some 20-30%. Construction almost stopped for a year or two. Things are back to normal since 2010 - thousands of new homes were built (and sold really fast). Construction sites are everywhere and prices don't fall anymore. Also the Euro fell a lot to other currencies during the recent years, great time to buy :) Some places to visit in Torrevieja: - The beaches (there are several beaches, my favorite is the La Mata beach) - Paseo Maritimo (an esplanade along the Mediterranean sea) - Plaza de la Constitución (old square with a church in the downtown) - Las Salinas (natural reserve park, two salt lakes) - Aquapolis (water amusement park) - Habaneras Shopping Center (shopping) - Golf courses (several of them within 15 minutes by car) - Alingui Restaurants (three of them, best value for money in my opinion) - Discoteca Velice (large, newly built, popular among locals and tourists) - Auditorio Internacional de Torrevieja (a concert hall) Best time to visit: all year round is fine but you won't want to swim from late October to late May. August is the month when Spain arrives. It's the busiest time - can be fun, but will pay more for your stay and wait longer everywhere. Action plan for those who don't want to visit anything (this is what many people really do): 1) Rent an apartment or a villa (not a hotel) for several days 2) Load up with food and wine (Mercadona, LIDL, Carrefour) 3) Enjoy your stay PROCEED WITH CAUTION: lots of people get addicted, buy a second home here and never return to where they came from.

I haven't been to Murcia city center for a while and I was really surprised this time by its nice…read moresmall shops, beautiful cafes, historical buildings and monuments. All things old are well kept, new businesses perfectly fit into the surroundings. The central area is pedestrians only, no easy parking around. Visted in the evening, it was dark and then the battery went off - no decent pictures to support my words this time. Murcia is just about 1 hour drive from the coast (Alicante and Torrevieja). Definitely worth a visit if you are in this corner of Spain and even to plan a trip from another part of the country. I can't wait to go here again! Didn't have much time but sure you will find a lot of things to look at and say "wow, this is beautiful".