Cava and Tapas - Sunday 15th October 2017

I rise relatively early this morning, around 9am! The day is warm, as expected. There is a bit of cloud about but it will burn off. There is something to be said for this wonderfully predictable and stable Med weather and I am relishing it. No ten-seasons-in-one-hour here, like we get at home!

Jill & Peter's courtyard

Another relaxing morning, another tasty brunch outside, more chat and chilling. We head to the beach for a swim. I’m not much of a water babe and am happy just paddling. Jill and Peter take the plunge and head out round the rocks. The water is crystal clear and looks bracing; it’s not quite the tepid temperature of the height of summer I require but you couldn’t say it was cold. 

There is a very large elderly woman bathing in her worn-out washed-out bra and knickers; it’s not a pretty sight but she is enjoying herself. Go you. Perched on a rock, my feet stirring the sand in the shallows, I look the other way, admire a different scene. Another cruise ship; a zillion yachts; a Super yacht; a galleon moored in the bay. It's all going on. Families frolic, bronzed beach bods abound. The obelisk stands proud although it is minus the bird statue that once perched on top. There is not a cloud in the sky. The temperature is perfect.

Overhead, the planes constantly come and go; as a Kiwi, it is interesting to note that Jean Batten, famed NZ aviatrix, died here on the island in 1982. 

Once back at base, Jill and Peter soak in the jacuzzi under the hot afternoon sun. Warmth mixed with warmth. No, I don't need that. I am stretched on the lounger in a shady spot. We chat, we chill. Some time later, when the sun is getting low in the sky, we get ready for another food and wine escapade.

As we walk into Portixol with a joie de vivre, the sky is a delectable blend of azure and lemon and the horizon sparkles in the distance. The clarity of the air is almost tangible as the rays of the late afternoon sun caress the bay.

The Portixol Hotel is our first stop. It sits proudly out on the point, surrounded by boats and ocean. We take an outside table and order Cava, the local bubbles. The hotel has a Scandinavian feel - sleek stylish decor and an elegant unpretentious vibe.

The Cava slips down easily and having another is very appealing but night is falling and we have tapas in mind. We walk along the promenade to Tapas Club which sits in a prominent position on the seafront. The sun sets, throwing off brilliant hues of deep orange and inky blue. Lights twinkle and palm trees stand proud. People spill from bars and patios, laughing into the evening sky. Others sit at the water's edge looking out across the sea in peaceful contemplation.

Our very fabulous waiter (who comes from Dominica) shows us to our table. The outside ones are full but we still have a nice view of the lights, as well as of the skilled barman who is whipping up cocktails and organising wine orders like a beautiful machine. We order a selection of tapas, and the obligatory wine. The food is tasty and filling and, when we are full and weary, we head off into the night to wander home. It is a truly pleasant way to round off an evening, strolling under the stars with the sea lapping on the sand, merriment in the air and tasty food in our stomachs.

This is our last night and we decide that heading to bed is the sensible option. Dreams are pleasant.

OBSERVATION OF THE DAY:

I am surprised to find, in the Ladies at the Portixol Hotel, a cubicle with two loos in it - this is taking ‘going to the loo together' to a whole new level!