October 2023.
Our Buying Groups AGM. It’s always a fun packed few days and as we are the oldest couple now left in the group Roger & I will go a day early and acclimatise! It’s a 6.45am flight out of Stanstead on Monday morning so we will stay overnight at a hotel in Stanstead airport on Sunday. We are staying on for a few days too as we want to explore the fabulous city. Craig our CEO has issued our itinerary well in advance but I still have packed enough for two weeks…. Well you never know.
Monday morning the alarm goes off at 3.30. Neither of us slept well and were both wide awake. We decide to dress and get off to the airport check in. Stanstead is lovely and quiet at 4am. We are through security & immigration in super quick time and head for breakfast. Not being fans of Mr Wetherspoons we head for Bogetta our favourite little spot close to the loos. Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon with a bottle of prosecco are pretty good at this time of the morning particularly if you are a nervous flyer. Flight was on time, we watched couple of episodes of a strange drama called Child which passed the time really quickly and before we knew it we were on the ground – the temperature was 19c at 9.50 am. Almost first off the plane and quickly through passport control, collect our luggage and out to the taxi rank. One of the smoothest runs ever. We arrive at our hotel Las Arenas sharing a taxi with Carla & Steve Smith. We are luckier than most as our room is ready. In need of a walk we venture along the beach front and stumble across the other delegates who’s rooms are not ready who have already downed their first two beers. Later we sample the local tapas. OMG they were so good. Back to the hotel to unpack & freshen up , Roger decides on a little nap. Three hours later we walk along the front again and revisit the same restaurant for our main supper of the day. A lovely chat with Nick & Briony DeAth we then retire for the night. 23.00.
Tuesday – 23c 9.30 – breakfast we plonk ourselves down with Nick & Bri again , they have been for a pre breakfast run. I decide on a small no carb breakfast. Coffee was delicious and I’m a happy bunny to see most of the sun beds by the various pools vacant. My annoying tickly cough is back and I’m worried about annoyingly people so want to avoid the crowds. We try our luck on the Cama Balinesa sun beds which are reserved for suite guests only. The delightful young pool boy who clearly hasn’t much to do is happy to take the tip Roger hands him and we have the choice of six. I then learn we have our own pool waiter so think I better order something to drink. Well it’s 11 am but it’s wine o’clock somewhere as they say, so a few glasses of bubbles, olives nuts arrive. Lovely pool water cool but we have a fabulous swim or two and the day passes far too quickly. We return to the room to shower, my hair needs washing so we quickly refresh and retire to the sun beds on our large balcony. Tonight is our Gala dinner. We must meet in reception suitably dressed and wait for our coach. Everyone arrives looking splendid. To Macca our secretary’s relief the main party who were on the 3 pm flight out of Stanstead arrive at the hotel with just enough time to refresh. A quick drink in the bar we all catch up with fellow guests until the coach arrives. It’s dark when we leave, we drive away from the beach towards the old town. A short walk as the coach cannot make the turn, we arrive at a doorway…. we all take turns in the lift and some rather energetic souls walk up nine flights of stairs to our first stop of the night – a fabulous rooftop bar. We are greeted with Moet & Chandon and marvel at the views of this beautiful city, sorry my photos do not do it justice. After an hour of chit chat and catch up we take two flights down to another level to the Ateneo restaurant where we enjoy a tasty supper with wonderful wines. It is very warm , thankfully the large windows are open onto a small balcony . I am able to take more photos of the wonderful views below. We are entertained throughout supper by a trio of sax, guitar & base. The evening is over far too soon & we head back to the coach to return to the hotel. The evening carries on into the small hours with a visit to the bar opposite to the hotel called Doggystyle! Here I realise to my surprise the quiet new young lad in the group was indeed little George from The Kings Head, Ashwellthorpe, Ian’s nephew who I bought fertile chickens eggs from back in the day when I was keeping chicks all grown up and unrecognisable. Roger & I leave with the other sensible crew and collapse in bed around 1 am. Needless to say others mostly the single travellers go bar crawling along the seafront, well that’s the rumour.
Liquid Tales 