Benidorm!

After work, Darrell picked me up, as we were heading to Benidorm for the evening.  We wanted to pop and see Martin, before the summer season starts, who has lived and worked there for about two years now.  It was only going to take an hour to get there and we are still hiring a car, so it was the perfect opportunity!

Now most people who know me, understand I am not the biggest fan of Benidorm!

To be honest, whilst walking around ´The Strip` I can categorically say, I felt safer walking around the streets of New York than I did Benidorm.  Maybe this is just my impression, but I stick by it.  The place looks and feels tired, it´s dirty, run down and in need of investment!

Benidorm was not the reason we were there.  We went to see an old friend who has been living and working in the City for nearly two years now.

Had a great time at The Showboat.  A traditional gay drag show, with one of the funniest drag artists I have seen. The food was traditional British, well cooked and presented, with plenty of it on the plate, who could ask for more.

Martin watched a bit of the show with us, before he had to go on to another job.  We met some great people there, a few of which, we will keep in contact with.  

We hope to go again soon, maybe after the busy season here.  I already have four jobs lined up and will find it difficult to get away now, but look forward to going back soon!


​PEACE AND LOVE ALWAYS!

​It was a hot Saturday afternoon in Alicante, something I am getting used to, and enjoying, if anything for the novelty of it all.  Coming from The UK, where we hardly get hot days to an area with 320 days of sunshine in a year, is a big culture shock, but extremely welcome, after the last year in  The UK.

This is going to sound very snobbish, but the type of people who holiday in Benidorm are really not the type of people I want to associate with.  Don´t get me wrong, I am not branding everyone with the same brush, but as a rule, from previous experience, I just do not like the place.

​Arriving in the centre, and my views had not changed and I am really glad I decided not to move there or anywhere close to it.  After speaking to many different people, we most certainly made the right decision moving to Alicante!

​When making that decision to come to Spain and choosing a place to live, work was also a priority for us, as it would be for anyone.  Initially I thought Benidorm would be the place to go, because of the amount of holiday makers and how big the city is.

​The biggest problem in Benidorm is the amount of people chasing every job.  In some cases it can be as many as two hundred.  Yes the jobs are there, but it is a full time occupation, just looking for one.

​The restrictive employment laws, the difficulties in hiring and firing and the seasonal nature of work here, all account for a volatile job market.

​

We met Martin at The Show Boat, one of his jobs in Benidorm.  The Showboat is a Cabaret, Restaurant and Bar in the old town.  We booked to have a meal and see a show.  One of my favourite Drag Acts was on, Stella Artois.  She is fantastic, as you can see from the videos I have included in this blog!

​Martin looks well, very well, which is great to see.  Like us, he had it rough before he came here!

It was a great weekend all round, the weekend before we really start to work hard, the weekend before the season starts and the weekend we finally realised, Spain was home!

​Happy Finally!

Woke up on Sunday morning with a massive hangover, after our night in Benidorm.  We had booked a table at Molly Malone`s for Sunday Dinner. One of my volunteers cooks there, along with her husband and had recommended it.  I haven´t had a roast dinner out since I left Britain, so thought we´d give it a go!

The food was beautiful, cooked perfectly and steaming hot, just how it should be.  If you come to Gran Alacant, we highly recommend Sunday lunch there.