Departure

Early start for departure. No swimming this morning, and very casual breakfasting. Tim grabbed 20 euros from the ATM in anticipation of having to pay a toll on the way to Valencia. We had deliberately spent all our paper money on Friday thinking we didn't want to be saddled with money we weren't likely to need, but we had neglected to think of road tolls.

All packed up, we headed out of town with Tim driving and Blair navigating. Tim made passengers nervous photographing the median flowers through the windshield, but he wanted to show the robust bushes that did so well in this arid climate.

These median flowers were not identified, but they were robust and everywhere, in spite of arid climate.

We arrived at the airport in good time, easy car return, and easy checking in. We expressed our concern for the fact that we were worried about making our connecting flight in Lisbon, given the drama we had experienced when we arrived. They said we'd have to deal with that in Lisbon. We then found our gate after cruising through security, and discovered that our flight would be delayed by 25 minutes. Now we were convinced we'd miss our connection. When we asked the check-in woman at the departure gate, she said the problem was at the Lisbon end and we shouldn't worry. While boarding we met a Rhode Island couple who were making the same connection. The flight attendent on our Valencia flight assured us that we would be taken care of once we landed in Lisbon.

Our plane awaits at Valencia

So, easy flight to Lisbon with some of our crew snoozing. Once landed, the female component of our new Rhode Island pals started waving her hands and yelling "Boston!". We were ushered onto a shuttle, and when we disembarked we were grabbed by multiple attendents who hurried us to the front of the line at security, and then led us on a literal run to the gate, which was, of course, at the far end of the airport. Leila and Tim were stragglers. Leila experienced some asthma-like symptoms that gave her discomfort for a half hour or so, but once we were seated on our flight, we settled in and enjoyed our 6 hour and 50 minute flight as best we could, with sleeping, movies, and food...free beer!

Landed in Boston around 5:15, cruised through customs, and then discovered that our bags hadn't made it. Resigned to going home without luggage, we headed for the exit, anticipating a rescue by our hero, Ed, who cruised to the curb and shuttled the weary travelers home. What a guy.

Got a call Sunday morning from JFK in New York...one of our bags made it there, but the other three are somewhere in limbo land. My little bag won't show up before Wednesday. Who knows when the rest will appear, if ever.

That's it. We're home and happy to be so. It was an amazing trip, with major credit to Blair for finding us the very special place we camped out on the beach at  Altea. Having that as our base colored the whole trip, and that was important.

Friday, July 1 - Last day

Our last full day dawned as most of them have - warm, sun getting ready to shine bright, street cleaners and shop keepers getting things organized for the day, and joggers and dog walkers passing by on the walkway between us and the ocean. Periodic buzzing of scooters punctuating the soft silence of morning.

I'm writing this on Sunday morning, after we're back in Westport, so my memory may not be perfect. However, everyone up reasonably early. Leila, Tim and Blair in for a morning dip. Tim thinking about our almost empty gas tank and concerned we should go searching for fuel so we get back early enough to find a good parking spot near our apartment. Leila and Deana want to explore the white pebbly beach at the west end of Altea, so Tim and Blair offer them a ride out there on their way for fuel. Drop them off near the beach with the promise we'd look for them once we're all gassed up.

The search for fuel turned out being a little more adventurous than we had thought. Blair thought we should head in the general direction of Benidorm to have the best chance of finding fuel soon before running out completely. One road led to another until we found ourselves actually in downtown Benidorm, the realm of the very tall buildings. Now we're a littler concerned...running on vapors and finding ourselves deeper and deeper into the bowels of an alien city....no gas stations in site. We eventually head in a direction we think is out of town, pull over to the curb and Blair gets out to inquire within a small shop while Tim cools his heals in the car. Blair eventually emerges stating that the guy said to keep going the direction we were already headed and we'd stumble on diesel. Google Girl had been no help at all, suggesting the nearest place was 47K away.

Sure enough, a fuel station appeared on our right and we pulled up. We were surrounded by unnaturally tall buildings for such a tropical-like place.

All dieseled up, we headed back to Altea in hopes of finding the women before they had walked all the way back to the apartment. We were too late. Leila and Deana had had a nice time at the beach and were puttering around the apartment when we returned.

The rest of the day was relaxed, with some Eucher, which Deana and Blair won AGAIN! A last swim, some preliminary packing for our departure the next morning, and finally dressing for our final evening fling...walk up to Old Town for last minute gift shopping and dinner on the roof of the Indian restaurant. Many of the shops weren't open yet...another example of the Spaniards getting things rolling later in the day than we were used to, particularly in this mountain-top Altea Old Town, where the fun just begins after 7:00 pm. 

Tim and Blair camped out at one of the cafes on the square while Leila and Deana checked out the shops that were open. A giant truck rolled into the square, an army of people appeared and started setting up for what appeared to be a wedding reception. Lots of folding tables being set up, a food serving area being assembled, and decorations and table settings being deployed. Even spotted what looked like the bride and groom strolling down an alley.

Dinner on the roof was very nice, although we were all pretty beat. Stopped to pick up gifts that had been wrapped for travel by the shopkeeper, paused for one last gelato, and returned to the apartment, did final packing rituals, and to bed.