Come and join me for a foot walk around Alicante

Before we start a quick overview. Alicante, with about 310.000 habitants lies about 6 hours down from Barcelona along Mediterranean coast of Spain. Within summer months about 6 million tourists visit Costa Blanca area. Depending on different sources, about 4.5 Mio come from U.K. alone. Cities like Benidorm (population 50.000) host up to 4 Mio visitors every year. Alicante is second largest city in province of Valencia.

The city is best explored by foot starting at harbour area, where many parking areas are available. So we leave our car next to Melia Hotel right on harbour entrance. (A quick tip at beginning, if you arrive at Alicante Airport you can get a very good Alicante map right at tourist information centre at arrival hall.)

Just behind Melia Hotel at foot of Santa Barbara Castle you find beach of Postiguet, where at end of our little walk through Alicante, we will have our sunbath. But let’s go on and get some culture and historical buildings to see.

Directly in front of Melia Hotel we enter a little road which brings us to Plaza del Ajuntamento, which means Plaza of City Hall. Alicante’s city hall was originally built in 1688 by French, later heavily damaged and rebuilt in 18th century. Guided by two 35 metre. tall towers, city halls stairs measures “Cero-Point” concerning sea level. All measurements of height in Spain – refer to this “cero-point” as base for their calculations. Within city hall you can visit blue salon with its wonderful mirror gallery (Monday to Saturdays). Just passing city hall at right you will find Plaza de Santissima Faz, a lovely little area surrounded by palm trees.

The nativity scene museum of Alicante

A little bit further, particularly if you are with children, you should visit nativity scene museum at San Augustin Street. I have to admit it is a rather strange feeling to watch Christmas crips around summer time, but it’s worth it. The museum contains such a variety of hundreds of different scenes and figures from all over world, that it will impress every visitor. As entrance is free, just have a look – you will not regret it.

Just around corner from nativity museum, you will find concathedral of San Nicolas de Bari. With neighbour city of Orihuela being residence of bishop of province, Alicante got a “sub-cathedral” granted by Pope John XXIII in 1959. With an impressive 45 metre high blue dome concathedral building is one of landmarks of Alicante. At one of two entrances you will find a sculpture of holy Nicolas done in black marble.

Choosing Your Tent

Here are a few hints when choosing tent just right for you or your family.

Tents that are advertised as one person are rarely big enough for one person.

Two person tents are usually comfortable for just one person, a three person tent is comfortable for two people and so on.

If you do not pick something large enough, you will find yourself cramped , claustrophobic and uncomfortable.

Pick something that will give you a little room to move and some space for some of your gear as well.

Each person needs about 3 by 7 feet to stretch out. You will need extra room to dress etc.

Remember, if weather is not good, you will be stuck in whatever you have picked..

You don't want to be sitting cramped and hunched over feeling miserable.

In deciding on what you need, decide whether you will be summer or winter camping, and whether you will be backpacking .

Tents are not waterproof. They are made of breathable ripstop nylon. It allows your sweat and breath to evaporate.
This means you need a rainfly. They are waterproof. It fits over roof of tent and is meant to carry away rainwater from tent sides.
Make sure fly is large enough to substantially cover tent walls.

Applying a sealant to tent seams is a good idea. Apply sealer as needed throughout tents life.

Most tents have a fine mesh screen over door and window designed to keep out insects.
All netting is not alike. Standard netting is made of nylon. Dacron is a finer mesh to discourage even smallest bugs.
They are usually zippered at entrance with a flap that zippers over door and window for privacy.

Because of nature of fabric used in making tents, being porous, very few tents are designed to keep you warm.
They are designed to protect you from weather and from insects. They will protect you from wind and rain, snow and sun.

To care for your tent, nylon is virtually maintenance free. The only thing that needs to be done is sealant occasionally.
Of coarse never store your tent when it is wet, or even slightly damp. Always set it up when you are finished your trip and dry it out completely.
Also sponge off any dirt or mud inside using a very mild liquid detergent or a baking soda and water solution.

Be sure to make any repairs if you have had misfortune to burn or damage your tent in some way.
You can buy repair kits that come in various colors and are easy to use. Store your tent in a cool, dry place in its storage bag.