Travel: Benidorm New city

Last year,  I briefly visited Benidorm old town and liked it so booked my long stay there this year.   They are incomparable, but I do prefer the  new town called the Spanish Manhattan. Always live entertainment, beach, mountains good weather and activity. One can hike the coast line mountains, walk the 2km beach to old town and take short trips up and down the coast.  For entertainment there is everything from casino, bowling, games arcade, hotel shows, theatre, karaoke, dining, beach cafes and shopping.  The sunsets at Levante beach are absolutely amazing but the beach itself too. 

                                         

             

A walk along Levante  beach and back from one end where I was to the other is 1 hr and you can walk the beach or the broad boulevard. Or take coastal hikes, enjoy the sunsets from a cafe (though most apartments have Seaview.       

Lovey poinsettias against the mountain backdrop

Just walking some new town streets. The Main Street that runs a few kms to old town is Avenida Mediterraneo.

The old town beach is Pontiente and new town Levante, meaning, sunrise and sunset beach respectively. Old town hosts the Mediterranean Balcony which I visited again. It's on two high cliffs, where there is a church and always quiet music artists so it’s a solitude haven although always busy as its also great for sunset watching.  Nearby is Bird park with the white doves.  All over Benidorm there is also plenty of green, amass with palm trees, bottle brush and some lovely flowers.  There are hundreds of apartment blocks and sky rise condominiums, I read 350! Most with lovely front tropical cacti gardens.  

Cutie knows how to take a jacuzzi!

 

Interesting sand sculpture 

Levante has a beach, while Pontiente is smaller.  In the latter you will find locals doing salsa for hours at the weekend on the beach in a little enclosed from the wind enclave.  Although new and old town are quite small, the distances between are not short and to get the other end of Benidorm and the third beach which is even smaller but very pretty takes an hour by bus.  Platje de La Cala de Finestrat (beach)  has nice rocks and cliffs and a walk up to the mountain or drive takes you to the main commercial shopping district and hypermarket.  Below the ship wrecked boat symbol en route at one of the roundabouts. 

                                            A cute little Spanish Catholic Church 

                                                        Platje de La Cala de Finestrat

Although lively and cosmopolitan, Bendidorm is safe with Spanish police always quietly on patrol in cars.  At NY they also had all the roads to the beach blocked while thousands celebrated along the beach with huge TV screens and speakers arranged every 80m or so.  While it is not a specific culture spot for Spanish dancing or music,  one has the rest of massive Spain for that.  Spain never disappoints and I like the people.  They’re passionate, emotional and friendly generally.  The bus driver swears at how others drive and patiently punches out 20 tickets in a row for school kids getting on (even though they have a card), and once in a Parfumeria, I witnessed an employee row between three women who literally went on shouting at each other for five minutes!  Also met some lovely travellers from all over but mostly Northern Europe.  The middle aged and elderly come for the winter sun and return so the youth can take over in the wildly hot summer months.  That is the reputation of Benidorm. Viva Espana!!! Each city is so completely different!