Naivity ….. or perhaps just lack of exposure and knowledge forms our expectations in life and growing up in a country where there are four very clear seasons we, (or possibly just I) make assumptions which it is only when you delve a bit deeper, you learn more. I always assumed that Oranges and Lemons, like apples and pears are seasonal, and that you only get fruit at a certain time of year…. however, if you read our blog back in January/February, you will know that Spain and Portugal were overflowing with Oranges and Lemons and somehow, just like magic, the trees seem to be full again…. you would never lack in vitamin C if you were homeless or short of a penny here 🙂

We have also now come into Date and Fig season – we found plenty of figs in France, Northern Spain and Portugal last year but didn’t realise that there were more than one variety – having now tried another, we would stick to the darker skinned ones we are used back home 🙂

My dad has always been a big fan of dates and although we have seen them on the trees, this is the first time that we have come across fresh dates in the markets…. just be careful as when they fall from the trees they can cause damage!

So, on leaving Palamos we drove down to Benicassim having assumed that we would be able to stay in an area where there were lots of motorhomes back in March, however the local council has obviously decided to put a stop to it over the summer and there were big signs warning us away, so we went back to the Bonterra Campsite (18 euros a night with ACSI), where we stayed earlier in the year.

After a lovely run along the promenade in the morning we set off down to Alicante, winding our way up into the hills and then back down again through Jijona, the home of Turon (Nougat) before arriving at San Juan Playa (Area Campello Beach n38.39444 w0.41042)

The weather is still very warm here – during the last couple of weeks it has sat in the upper 20’s / low 30’s – even the sea is 23 degrees….. can’t complain. The end of September is officially the end of the ‘Summer’ in Alicante, so much so that on the 1st October there wasn’t a lifeguard in site and the diggers were taking away the beach cafe’s to store in a warm place until the end of May next year….. needless to say as the weather has been so good we have both been going swimming anyway 🙂

Whilst in Alicante, we have been trying to find some nice restaurants and new places to explore for when we are back in January, even venturing up the coast to Benidorm for the day as Elisa was dancing in a ‘Christians and Moor’s’ parade which took place on Saturday evening. A good opportunity to see whether Benidorm actually does live up to its name …. from what we saw, I can confirm that it does – although we found a great place to eat thanks to Miguel’s sister, and the parade was worth seeing.

Despite planning to leave Alicante on Monday, somehow Keith managed to break the door handle to the back area of the motorhome on Sunday…. obviously stronger than he thinks 🙂 so, although it is secure and we can get in via the front cab doors, we took Mika to a Buerstner dealer in Elche today and they have had to order a new door handle as the mechanism has seared in two….. looks like we will be here for another couple of weeks……