After our low-key week in Oropesa, we headed 2 or so hours further south on the eastern coast of Spain, through the modern streets of Valencia (thanks to that crazy GPS again!) and on to the coastal city of Dénia in Alicante, on the Costa Blanca. It was a scenic drive, despite the grey skies, with the coast to our left, and mountains to our right, passing plenty of orange groves on the way. (And yes, the local oranges were amazing!)
With Spanish locals confined to their own province at that time (due to COVID-19), and tourism down, we had to make a phone call to arrange check-in at our timeshare resort: Bahia Azul Resort, located 5kms out of Dénia. Such a pretty little resort, with tiles, ironwork, palms and pools – and a gated entrance to the beach, from where we enjoyed many a sunrise and sunset, especially once the weather improved.
Dénia’s beaches stretch for many kilometres, and on our daily walks we could see the sandy shoreline at the end of every street. One walk took us to the recently restored Almadrava Tower, a 16th century watchtower. Its humble appearance belies its importance in helping to protect the coast and the local water supply from pirate attacks, and to live up to its original inscription, translated to: “under the shade of your wings you protect me.” If only that tower could talk!
Another lookout tower beckoned exploration, and we planned to drive up to Torre del Gerro, but the road was blocked, having been damaged in the recent storms, so we remained at sea level (with the tower watching over us from high) and enjoyed a long walk along the spectacular rocky coastline of Les Rotes instead, on this superb day.
Needless to say, we were happy with that!
Dénia was proving to be delightful. And there was so much more to discover.
A house in France 