MURCIA PROVINCE, SPAIN
May 3rd 2019 - May 12th 2019
May 3rd:
The flight that was supposed to leave at 6:30 in the morning had a delay of over six hours. Of course was this something we only learned as we had arrived at the airport at around 4:30. The staff in the French speaking airport of Belgium did not speak English or Dutch (and we hardly spoke any French), so they couldn't really help us or tell us more.
The airline did not provide any compensation, but we were encouraged (by other passengers) to file a complaint and request a monetary compensation. The information provided by the other passengers was faulty in the sense that we missed out on a larger compensation.
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Anyway, at 12:45 we finally left for Alicante (Valencia province).
When we got to the Spanish airport, we went to the car rental service. We had booked a car with everything that was needed, like insurance and such. But ... the lovely lady from the car rental service tried to convince us to take an insurance with them because the insurance that we had bought "was void". We refused because we had bought insurance. She then proceeded to threaten us, saying that she would damage the car herself, and that we would have to pay for those damages.
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Fine ... we'll buy your fucking insurance. But only because we had already paid for the car and couldn't get our money back. But that would be the last time we'd go there. Fucking fucks.
May 6th:
After two days of doing nothing and recuperating from the irritating situation on the 3rd, we decided to go for a hike at the Sierra Espuña. The road to the original entry point that we had planned was interrupted due to construction. It was discouraging at first, it felt like nothing was going to go right during this Spanish trip, but we took a moment to breathe and then searched for another entry point with parking spots and trails. And we found something nearby.
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The hike was nice and fun, the weather was warm. The sights were beautiful. We were glad that we pushed through to find a new hike.
May 7th:
As we cycle to the grocery store, we pass the salt lakes and spot flamingos but also many other cute birds. Some of the smaller birds came quite close. This brought a huge smile to my face and warmed my heart.
May 8th:
Right over the border in Valencia province is a beautiful bright-blue lake near the village of Torremendo (at least, that was where we parked the car and began our walk).
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Right from the start we were greeted by a collection of spent shells from hunters.
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The contrast between the sheer brightness of the lake and the arid landscape around painted a wonderfully pretty picture.
May 10th:
Back to La Manga to go scuba diving. Well, not for me, I stayed at the lighthouse again, enjoying the view of the ocean and the breeze.
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In the distance I could see another lighthouse.
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In the skies above planes were giving a show.
And afterwards we went for a bite at Antonio's.
