THE FIRST IN OUR NEW COLLECTION OF ‘ONE NIGHT WANDERS’
The first of our 'One Night Wander' Coach Tours. A new series of small group tours where we spend one night not too far away, so we can really discover the local area. This is a brilliant coach tour packed with scenery and the colours of autumn - Spanish style! Centred around the Sierra Mariola Natural Park we get to know the history, customs, landscape and of course the tapas bars and traditional restaurants.
We start by arriving in the home of the famous Feria de Tots Sants in time for coffee and to catch the 100 or so stalls of the weekly street market. Wander around the narrow streets of this charming town or simply relax at a cafe and watch the passers-by. We skirt the Sierra Mariola Natural Park to our Menu del Dia at a traditional road side Restaurant. Continuing our circumnavigation of the impressive mountains of the Mariola Park we stop for an afternoon stroll beside the Vinalope River. There is a downhill walk on the road of approximately 300 meters then we join the river path for a distance of 500 meters to the benches for a little rest and to admire the river before heading back. During the month of November the trees change colour leaving us to wander through their dropped leaves, re-enacting our childhoods as we shuffle through the discarded foliage! Arriving at the Hotel Sercotel Ciutat D’Alcoi you can check right in. Spend the evening at your leisure discovering some of the Tapas bars on the high street beside the hotel, or venturing into the bar lined Placa Dins in the old town.
After a delicious hot buffet breakfast there is the whole morning to get to know Alcoy. This mountain city of about 60,000 people imploded at the start of the 20th century during the industrial revolution as many mills sprung up beside the Molinar River leaving a Modernista legacy. There are art deco buildings to ogle, the plazas to discover and the shops to visit. Spend some time in the 3 museums; the Explora (1€/0.5€) which tells the history of the city, the Fire Bridge Museum (3€/1.5€) and the Fiesta Museum (4€/2.5€) which features the elaborate costumes of the International Tourist Interest Moors and Christians Fiesta. For the intrepid explorers, walk along the base of the valley beside the river passing the dilapidated and abandon mills, viewing the impressive bridges which connect the city from below.
We depart from the historic centre for the short journey to the Menu del Dia Restaurant before we start our climb on the coach into the Font Roja Natural Park. Arriving at the Sanctuary we have time to admire the views and take in the colours of the scattered deciduous trees which are dotted between the evergreen pines. The brave can walk along the metal mesh viewing platform where the views over the Sierra Mariola are mesmerising and view through the metal floor is heart stopping! We fit in one last stop on our way home at a traditional road side bar, a favourite haunt of motor bikers which offers unparalleled vistas down to the coast.
Spanish Open Tennis Madrid – Filling Up Fast
An unbeatable opportunity for Tennis Fans to experience live Tennis at the Caja Magica in Madrid in April 2024. This tour includes coach travel to and from Madrid, 4 nights at the Exe Getafe 4* hotel on B&B basis, once daily coach transfers to and from the venue, evening transfers to and from the centre of Getafe for a wide choice of restaurants and, most importantly top category day time tickets for Centre Court in the shade, Court 3 and the Tennis Gardens to 3 days. This will be our 3rd time at the Madrid Open, one of the most important professional tennis tournaments. Many coach goers are returning to enjoy the ladies and mens 2nd and 3rd matches as well as the ladies 4th round matches.
The September Fiestas and Events have started to be added to the EuroTourGuide Calendar of Events. There is a great variety of things for you to do this weekend!
In the Costa Blanca South, Formentera del Segura finish their Fiesta with a Foam and Fancy Dress Party and Fireworks on Saturday. It is the first weekend of the Fiesta in Daya Vieja with the Opening Speeches on Friday and a Multi Coloured Fancy Dress Parade on Saturday. The Moors and Christians Fiesta in Santa Pola has the Moors arriving on the beach on Friday morning, Mock Battles on Saturday evening and the Grand Parade of the Moors & Christians on Sunday evening – there are just a few places left on our coach tour to this spectacular experience. On Saturday evening Segunda division Elche CF play Racing Santander at the Martinez Valero, kicking off at 21:00 - join our coach tour with Preferencia G3 match ticket for 36.50€ and enjoy some live Spanish football.
In the Costa Blanca North, the 30th edition of the International Folk Dancing Festival will take place over the weekend in Denia with groups from Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Malaga. It is the middle weekend of the Mare de Deu de Loreto Fiesta in Javea with a Greasy Pole Competition, a Carnival Float Parade and Correfocs on Saturday.
In the Costa Calida the massive Feria begins. The programme of events is colossal with over 20 activities everyday, including the Huertos, food tents serving local cuisine, in the Jardins del Malecon, and an Artisan Market in the Paseo del Malecon as well as the Funfair with over 160 attractions at the FICA. It is a big day for the area on Sunday as La Vuelta starts in Cartagena just after midday, and follows a route of 185km through Fuente Alamo, Mula and Calasparra to finish at Caravaca de la Cruz.
