We set off bright and early on Thursday morning in beautiful sunny weather. The road was quiet and we stopped briefly for a drink and Keith treated Sophie to a Barbie doll. It soon grew very hot and we wished fervently that we had air-conditioning in the car! By the afternoon we'd reached Barcelona and Mum phoned me on my mobile to ask a question about sending emails! As we were in the middle of negotiating a tricky bit of the road I told her I'd call her back!
We left the motorway at Barcelona and headed towards the mountains that we could see in the distance. The road was almost empty and we stopped at a service station overlooking the monastery of Montserrat. This looked very impressive perched as it was high up in the mountains. We grabbed a quick sandwich and Keith drank the very last bottle of the beer he'd carried all the way to Spain! It was a fitting time to drink it, surrounded by gorgeous mountains and the imposing monastery!
I took over the driving and the road continued to wind up into the mountains, passing through several grim industrial towns. Soon we saw signs for Andorra and we drove through a long tunnel at the top of a pass. We had briefly flirted with the idea of going into the mountainous Principality but we were glad we didn't when we came to the border and we were asked a lot of questions about whether we'd been there. We guessed it was because of the Duty Free laws in Andorra but as we hadn't set foot in the tiny country we were waved over into France.
As it now getting later in the afternoon we started looking for a hotel for the night and hoped that we'd come across a clean and friendly auberge. One of the first villages we came to had a sign that looked promising so we pulled up outside the hotel and went in to see if they had anything available. The man at Reception wasn't particularly welcoming but he showed us to a clean, if spartan, room which had tremendous views over the Pyrenees.
After lugging the cases up to our room I dived into the tiny bathroom and had a bath. We were all soon clean and dressed so decided to take a walk around the beautiful village which had gorgeous houses and masses of flowers everywhere. Sophie loved exploring and found an old fountain that must have been used to wash clothes in days gone by.
Dinner that night was delicious. We had an aperitif in the small bar first while we studied the menu and Sophie played with her new Barbie dolls. There wasn't many of us eating but there was a nice atmosphere and the waiter was very friendly and helpful. By 9.30pm we were all more than ready for bed!
The next day dawned bright and sunny and after a quick breakfast (how I hate continental breakfasts!) we set off through the mountains. After just half an hour's driving we were suddenly stopped by the French police who demanded that we open the boot of the car and then started asking us questions about Andorra and whether we'd visited the country. The policeman noticed my two bottles of Martini and wanted to know where we'd bought the Lladro. All the questions made us feel guilty even though we had nothing to worry about but we were just glad we'd decided not to go to Andorra after all!
As we drove further into the mountains the weather grew worse and it began to rain. Grey dismal villages appeared out of the gloom and we were glad we'd stopped where we did. Very soon we'd left the mountains behind and were heading for Toulouse on a busy road. The weather hadn't improved at all and we all felt disappointed as we'd imagined driving through spectacular scenery.
We drove on and on, reaching the Dordogne area where we'd had a previous, disastrous holiday two years before. It had rained every day and we'd eventually decided to leave early because of the terrible weather. Things hadn't changed as it was still raining and grey!
After leaving the Dordogne we eventually reached a motorway and stopped near Limoges for a lunch of sandwiches eaten in the car. The services were spotlessly clean and had a wonderful array of gifts to buy from the local area.
We followed the motorway to Tours and then turned off to drive to the wine village of Vouvray where we were hoping to stay the night at a hotel we'd visited six years before. The road was only a single carriageway and inevitably we became stuck behind every slow vehicle on the road. I'm always nervous about overtaking on the "wrong" side of the road (in a right hand drive car you just cannot see very well!) so a slow journey ensued, made even worse by Sophie suddenly saying she needed the loo!
We reached the town of Tours at the height of the rush hour but successfully negotiated our way through and arrived in Vouvray in the early evening. Unfortunately the hotel was fully booked so we were very disappointed. We carried on towards Amboise and saw an Auberge that looked promising. The lady in charge spoke very good English and showed us to a room overlooking the road. Again, it was very bare but spotlessly clean. We wondered why the French never think to provide a television or even tea and coffee making facilities that seem to be standard in British B&Bs.
There was no restaurant in the hotel so after a quick shower we headed into Amboise to look for somewhere to eat. We arrived in the town in the middle of a storm and as it was pouring with rain and the streets were full of cars, we drove around for a while until it stopped.
Amboise was lovely. It's extremely picturesque with cobbled streets and some beautiful old buildings. There were lots of tourists wandering around the streets and after a wander we found a lovely restaurant called Le Parvis tucked away down a side street. We were the first customers to arrive so we took a table in the corner and studied the menu.
The restaurant was very popular and was soon full. The main feature is a huge grill where the chef cooks the meat dishes and we loved the ambiance of the place with the wonderful smells of woodsmoke and grilled food. Our dinner was delicious and was accompanied by a local Rose wine. Sophie ate most of her meal but she didn't seem quite as adventurous as I was at her age!
Walking back to the car we enjoyed seeing all the beautiful old buildings lit up and promised ourselves we would return.
After breakfast the next morning we drove into Vouvray to buy some wine from a favourite shop. We bought six bottles of wine, including a 1970 vintage and four from the 1980s.
Reluctantly we left and began the last leg of the journey, heading towards Paris which we negotiated via the peripherique. We stopped in Cite Europe to do some more shopping and then we made it onto the next available train. It was very busy at the terminal but we were soon on our way back to the UK and Sophie made friends with a little girl who had been camping in the Dordogne. Her family were very impressed when we told them we'd been all the way to Javea in Spain.
Arriving back in England on a dull Saturday afternoon we were home quickly and back to reality. Our trusty Volvo had completed almost 3000 miles and we had enjoyed the experience of taking it to Spain and back rather than flying. Would we do it again? Yes, we would!
Saturday 18 September 1999
Sunday 5 September 1999
Javea, Costa Blanca September 2-18 1999 Part 4
The next day we took my parents to Moraira and showed them the sights of the town. We also drove into Javea and they were of the same opinion as us so we didn't repeat the experience. My Dad especially loved the wine shop in Moraira and we chose two different wines from the barrel to try with our lunch of salad and ham.
Mum and Dad enjoyed their stay with us and we found some lovely restaurants near the villa. One day we drove into the mountains, to the town of Guadalest and Keith and I bought some Lladro to take home. This beautiful moutain village is cool and full of shops selling local produce. We all spent a very happy hour wandering around and taking in the breathtaking scenery. We took lunch at a nearby restaurant where the food was barbecued and served on wooden platters with salad, but the flies everywhere were a bit off-putting!
For Mum and Dad's last night with us we went to a great restaurant out in the countryside. The eating area was partially outside and we had a delicious meal with particularly good desserts! It was a popular place with a lot of loud English voices about!
The next day we took my parents back to Alicante airprt and said goodbye. It would take them just two hours to fly back home. We didn't want to think about our return journey which we had decided to change. A trip home via the Pyrenees sounded a good idea and we had even thought of leaving a day earlier and re-visiting some wine areas in France.
After waving goodbye we drove to Benidorm to spend a couple of hours on the beach. We turned off the motorway at the junction before Benidorm and became embroiled in an horrendous traffic jam. We slowly crawled towards the resort and parked the car in what used to be a quiet area next to the hotel we'd stayed at in April. Then, the beach was almost deserted but now, although not over-crowded, it was definitely busier. After a drink at a promenade bar we went onto the beach and Sophie and Keith went for a swim. The sea was lovely and warm, but salty! We could see our hotel in the distance but I was really glad we'd decided to rent a villa this time.
After a couple of hours we'd had enough and so dressed back into our crumpled clothes in the car. All three of us were sweaty and salty...not a very nice feeling at all! As soon as we got back into the car Sophie fell asleep and we negotiated our way out of the very busy resort. The coast road was packed with cars as well and we literally crawled all the way to Calpe where thankfully the roads became a bit quieter.
That night we decided to "slob out" and have fish and chips from an English takeaway on the road to Moraira. It was very windy as we drove to the small arcade of shops and bars and the clouds were increasing. Almost every night, sitting on our balcony, we had seen lightening over the mountains and tonight was no exception. As we were eating our supper back at the villa the wind grew even stronger and tore down the awning that sheltered the terrace. We were dismayed and worried about this as the awning was vital for giving us welcome shade from the fierce sun.
The next day we called in to see the agents to explain what had happened but their response was very laid back and they never did send anyone out to repair it!
We decided that we were going to leave on Thursday, a day earlier than planned, and take our time getting home. We spent Wednesday packing and washing clothes and at night we drove to a restaurant called Bacchus which we'd been trying to find. The restaurant was French-run and specialised in fondue dishes. We sat outside in the warm evening air and commented that my parents would have loved it there as it was just their sort of place, despite the fact that Keith wore a bib when he was eating his main course!
Mum and Dad enjoyed their stay with us and we found some lovely restaurants near the villa. One day we drove into the mountains, to the town of Guadalest and Keith and I bought some Lladro to take home. This beautiful moutain village is cool and full of shops selling local produce. We all spent a very happy hour wandering around and taking in the breathtaking scenery. We took lunch at a nearby restaurant where the food was barbecued and served on wooden platters with salad, but the flies everywhere were a bit off-putting!
For Mum and Dad's last night with us we went to a great restaurant out in the countryside. The eating area was partially outside and we had a delicious meal with particularly good desserts! It was a popular place with a lot of loud English voices about!
The next day we took my parents back to Alicante airprt and said goodbye. It would take them just two hours to fly back home. We didn't want to think about our return journey which we had decided to change. A trip home via the Pyrenees sounded a good idea and we had even thought of leaving a day earlier and re-visiting some wine areas in France.
After waving goodbye we drove to Benidorm to spend a couple of hours on the beach. We turned off the motorway at the junction before Benidorm and became embroiled in an horrendous traffic jam. We slowly crawled towards the resort and parked the car in what used to be a quiet area next to the hotel we'd stayed at in April. Then, the beach was almost deserted but now, although not over-crowded, it was definitely busier. After a drink at a promenade bar we went onto the beach and Sophie and Keith went for a swim. The sea was lovely and warm, but salty! We could see our hotel in the distance but I was really glad we'd decided to rent a villa this time.
After a couple of hours we'd had enough and so dressed back into our crumpled clothes in the car. All three of us were sweaty and salty...not a very nice feeling at all! As soon as we got back into the car Sophie fell asleep and we negotiated our way out of the very busy resort. The coast road was packed with cars as well and we literally crawled all the way to Calpe where thankfully the roads became a bit quieter.
That night we decided to "slob out" and have fish and chips from an English takeaway on the road to Moraira. It was very windy as we drove to the small arcade of shops and bars and the clouds were increasing. Almost every night, sitting on our balcony, we had seen lightening over the mountains and tonight was no exception. As we were eating our supper back at the villa the wind grew even stronger and tore down the awning that sheltered the terrace. We were dismayed and worried about this as the awning was vital for giving us welcome shade from the fierce sun.
The next day we called in to see the agents to explain what had happened but their response was very laid back and they never did send anyone out to repair it!
We decided that we were going to leave on Thursday, a day earlier than planned, and take our time getting home. We spent Wednesday packing and washing clothes and at night we drove to a restaurant called Bacchus which we'd been trying to find. The restaurant was French-run and specialised in fondue dishes. We sat outside in the warm evening air and commented that my parents would have loved it there as it was just their sort of place, despite the fact that Keith wore a bib when he was eating his main course!
Saturday 4 September 1999
Javea, Costa Blanca September 2-18 1999 Part 3
Over the next few days we explored Javea, which sadly we did not grow fond of, and Moraira which we liked very much. We had originally been based in Moraira before our villa was changed and it was a very pretty little fishing village with several restaurants overlooking the yacht marina. There was a small beach at one end and lots of shops selling clothes, gifts and souvenirs. One wonderful shop sold local wines straight from the barrel and this was a favourite with us! We had stocked up at a supermarket in Javea on Sunday morning but we always needed something every day, normally fresh bread and ham for lunch, along with the delicious tomatoes that were grown locally. It was wonderful to stop at a small cafe and sip a cold beer while watching the world go by.
The days took on a regular pattern of exploring in the morning followed by lunch at the villa with the afternoon spent around the pool. We tried with Javea again but felt there was something about the town that we just didn't like. We really couldn't say what. Perhaps it was the empty pebbly beach we visited one morning but we didn't have any urge to return.
We much preferred Moraira and went there regularly, always parking on a very muddy expanse of land at the back of the town. One morning we took the pretty, winding road to Calpe, passing villas and lots of little shops on the way. The road hugged the coastline and we could see the huge outcrop of rock which stands at one end of Calpe's bay as you approach the town.
Calpe was a miniature Benidorm with a long sweeping promenade lined with hotels, restaurants and bars. We walked the length of the beach and then stopped for a welcome drink. The weather was beautiful and sunny with plenty of people enjoying the beach and the sea.
Mum and Dad were due to arrive on Thursday and after a lazy day around the pool we drove to Alicante airport in the early evening. The sun was just setting as we drove south along the motorway and we were able to admire the magnificent scenery with the mountains on our right and the sea on our left. As we passed the huge resort of Benidorm we could still make out the Bali 3 hotel that was still not finished and we wondered whether it ever would be! (We'd visited Benidorm earlier in the year on a short break and marvelled at the amount of building going on. The Bali 3 was an imposing hotel that was surrounded by cranes when we were there!).
We arrived at almost the same time as Mum and Dad and we were soon loaded up and on our way back to the villa. They were extremely happy to be on holiday even if it was just for a short time. As we headed back darkness fell so Mum and Dad couldn't see the stunning views.
Back at the villa we toasted their arrival with beer and champagne and showed them to their lovely private quarters! They thought the villa was wonderful and loved the pool and terraces!
The days took on a regular pattern of exploring in the morning followed by lunch at the villa with the afternoon spent around the pool. We tried with Javea again but felt there was something about the town that we just didn't like. We really couldn't say what. Perhaps it was the empty pebbly beach we visited one morning but we didn't have any urge to return.
We much preferred Moraira and went there regularly, always parking on a very muddy expanse of land at the back of the town. One morning we took the pretty, winding road to Calpe, passing villas and lots of little shops on the way. The road hugged the coastline and we could see the huge outcrop of rock which stands at one end of Calpe's bay as you approach the town.
Calpe was a miniature Benidorm with a long sweeping promenade lined with hotels, restaurants and bars. We walked the length of the beach and then stopped for a welcome drink. The weather was beautiful and sunny with plenty of people enjoying the beach and the sea.
Mum and Dad were due to arrive on Thursday and after a lazy day around the pool we drove to Alicante airport in the early evening. The sun was just setting as we drove south along the motorway and we were able to admire the magnificent scenery with the mountains on our right and the sea on our left. As we passed the huge resort of Benidorm we could still make out the Bali 3 hotel that was still not finished and we wondered whether it ever would be! (We'd visited Benidorm earlier in the year on a short break and marvelled at the amount of building going on. The Bali 3 was an imposing hotel that was surrounded by cranes when we were there!).
We arrived at almost the same time as Mum and Dad and we were soon loaded up and on our way back to the villa. They were extremely happy to be on holiday even if it was just for a short time. As we headed back darkness fell so Mum and Dad couldn't see the stunning views.
Back at the villa we toasted their arrival with beer and champagne and showed them to their lovely private quarters! They thought the villa was wonderful and loved the pool and terraces!
Friday 3 September 1999
Javea, Costa Blanca September 2-18 1999 Part2
After a wonderful buffet breakfast the next morning when Sophie tried everything on offer and left most of it, we loaded up the car again and set off. The first toll we came to put us into a blind panic as we hadn't got a card and so assumed we had lost it (well, the blame was put on me!). However we soon realised that it was just a normal toll, like Dartford Tunnel, where you pay to enter a certain stretch of motorway. The road was not at all busy but we were entertained by the sight of two Mercedes who were weighed down like nothing we'd ever seen before. The amount of stuff piled on the roof was unbelievable and must have posed a hazard! How they weren't stopped by the police I'll never know! They looked like they were headed towards the southern Spanish ports that serve Morocco and Algiers and I do wonder if they made it without mishap!
As we headed further south the weather worsened and the rain started again. The surrounding countryside was hidden by low cloud and we hoped that this wasn't going to be the pattern for the next two weeks! The motorway, a well-maintained dual carriageway was very quiet and we saw the odd British registered car so we knew we weren't the only mad ones!
We by-passed Valencia mid-morning and our next goal was Javea itself. As we left the suburbs of Valencia the sun came out and the temperature rose. The sea was always on our left and soon we came to hills dotted with white villas and signs advertising holiday resorts. I took out the directions to the James Villas office and we turned off the motorway for the last time.
The directions we'd been given were easy to follow and we soon came to the town of Moraira. The weather was beautiful and hot and we suddenly felt like we were now bona fide members of the holiday maker set! The office was set back from the road and up a steep hill and we arrived to find another British family waiting with their hire car. They looked at our poor dusty Volvo in amazement and we felt quite smug that we'd driven all the way from England. Their flight had taken just over two hours while our journey had taken two days!
We waited in the office while all the paperwork was being sorted out and hired two fans to keep us cool at night. After a considerable while we were asked to follow another Brit who would take us to our villa which was being cleaned ready for our arrival. The family in the hire car followed us as well and we took a road out of Moraira towards Javea.
There were villas everywhere! Dotted in the hills above the road and stretching down towards the sea, whole colonies of them, all whitewashed and looking identical. The journey took about fifteen minutes and our villa was in a residential area just outside Javea, on the slopes of a mountain. Luckily the cleaners had just finished so we could get in immediately.
The agent showed us around and then came out with something a bit worrying. "As you were originally booked into a two bedroom villa, we really should lock the donwstairs bedrooms (two of them) but I don't have the key with me." This referred to our original booking for a smaller villa. James Villas had made a mistake with the booking a few weeks before our holiday and had re-located us to a much bigger four bedroom house and taking advantage of this, we'd invited Mum and Dad out to stay with us!
Despite the cock-up we were delighted with the villa as it was wonderful. Upstairs there were two bedrooms, a bathroom, shower room, kitchen and large lounge/diner with a big terrace overlooking the pool. Down a narrow flight of stairs were two further bedrooms, another large bathroom and a utility room with washing machine and sink. A door led out to the terrace and swimming pool and further on was a shaded area with a table and chairs and a barbecue.
The villa had satellite television and big comfortable sofas. It was perfect. We also found a much smaller terrace off the kitchen with a table and chairs but we never used this, preferring the lovely terrace overlooking the pool and mountains.
While I unpacked our colossal amount of luggage, Keith took Sophie down to the pool where the water was wonderful and warm. She was very happy indeed, delighted with the villa and the fact that she could get the
Cartoon Network!
The first evening we decided to eat out in Javea. The weather had turned overcast again as we drove into the busy town and we made sure that we kept an eye out for landmarks as we didn't want to lose our way back to the villa! We parked the car on the front by the beach and wandered down a long promenade that reminded me of the far end of Levante Beach in Benidorm. There were several restaurants on the front so we picked one that served children's meals and settled down with an aperitif to watch Javea wander by. There were lots of children passing by dressed in costumes and in the distance we could hear a band practising so we assumed there was a special event taking place later in the evening.
As our starters arrived it began to rain and people passing by dived for cover underneath the awning of our restaurant. We were sitting in the front row and so had a wonderful view of the ensuing storm over the sea and the tremendous flashes of lightening. The rain poured down in torrents but we felt very cosy watching this spectacular display from under the awning. Our meal was nothing very special but we felt that the entertainment more than made up for it!
After our meal we wandered further along the promenade. We could hear the band playing and so headed in that direction. It turned out to be a carnival in progress and Sophie was delighted when the participants threw sweets into the crowd who themselves then threw back confetti. It was all very festive and colourful with lots of people mingling about in the warm evening. As the carnival finished we wandered back to the car amongst the crowds and felt that we had had a wonderful start to our holiday.
As we headed further south the weather worsened and the rain started again. The surrounding countryside was hidden by low cloud and we hoped that this wasn't going to be the pattern for the next two weeks! The motorway, a well-maintained dual carriageway was very quiet and we saw the odd British registered car so we knew we weren't the only mad ones!
We by-passed Valencia mid-morning and our next goal was Javea itself. As we left the suburbs of Valencia the sun came out and the temperature rose. The sea was always on our left and soon we came to hills dotted with white villas and signs advertising holiday resorts. I took out the directions to the James Villas office and we turned off the motorway for the last time.
The directions we'd been given were easy to follow and we soon came to the town of Moraira. The weather was beautiful and hot and we suddenly felt like we were now bona fide members of the holiday maker set! The office was set back from the road and up a steep hill and we arrived to find another British family waiting with their hire car. They looked at our poor dusty Volvo in amazement and we felt quite smug that we'd driven all the way from England. Their flight had taken just over two hours while our journey had taken two days!
We waited in the office while all the paperwork was being sorted out and hired two fans to keep us cool at night. After a considerable while we were asked to follow another Brit who would take us to our villa which was being cleaned ready for our arrival. The family in the hire car followed us as well and we took a road out of Moraira towards Javea.
There were villas everywhere! Dotted in the hills above the road and stretching down towards the sea, whole colonies of them, all whitewashed and looking identical. The journey took about fifteen minutes and our villa was in a residential area just outside Javea, on the slopes of a mountain. Luckily the cleaners had just finished so we could get in immediately.
The agent showed us around and then came out with something a bit worrying. "As you were originally booked into a two bedroom villa, we really should lock the donwstairs bedrooms (two of them) but I don't have the key with me." This referred to our original booking for a smaller villa. James Villas had made a mistake with the booking a few weeks before our holiday and had re-located us to a much bigger four bedroom house and taking advantage of this, we'd invited Mum and Dad out to stay with us!
Despite the cock-up we were delighted with the villa as it was wonderful. Upstairs there were two bedrooms, a bathroom, shower room, kitchen and large lounge/diner with a big terrace overlooking the pool. Down a narrow flight of stairs were two further bedrooms, another large bathroom and a utility room with washing machine and sink. A door led out to the terrace and swimming pool and further on was a shaded area with a table and chairs and a barbecue.
The villa had satellite television and big comfortable sofas. It was perfect. We also found a much smaller terrace off the kitchen with a table and chairs but we never used this, preferring the lovely terrace overlooking the pool and mountains.
While I unpacked our colossal amount of luggage, Keith took Sophie down to the pool where the water was wonderful and warm. She was very happy indeed, delighted with the villa and the fact that she could get the
Cartoon Network!
The first evening we decided to eat out in Javea. The weather had turned overcast again as we drove into the busy town and we made sure that we kept an eye out for landmarks as we didn't want to lose our way back to the villa! We parked the car on the front by the beach and wandered down a long promenade that reminded me of the far end of Levante Beach in Benidorm. There were several restaurants on the front so we picked one that served children's meals and settled down with an aperitif to watch Javea wander by. There were lots of children passing by dressed in costumes and in the distance we could hear a band practising so we assumed there was a special event taking place later in the evening.
As our starters arrived it began to rain and people passing by dived for cover underneath the awning of our restaurant. We were sitting in the front row and so had a wonderful view of the ensuing storm over the sea and the tremendous flashes of lightening. The rain poured down in torrents but we felt very cosy watching this spectacular display from under the awning. Our meal was nothing very special but we felt that the entertainment more than made up for it!
After our meal we wandered further along the promenade. We could hear the band playing and so headed in that direction. It turned out to be a carnival in progress and Sophie was delighted when the participants threw sweets into the crowd who themselves then threw back confetti. It was all very festive and colourful with lots of people mingling about in the warm evening. As the carnival finished we wandered back to the car amongst the crowds and felt that we had had a wonderful start to our holiday.
Thursday 2 September 1999
Javea, Costa Blanca September 2-18 1999 Part 1
An account of a family holiday we took to Javea on the Costa Blanca, Spain in 1999, when Sophie was 3 years old. This is an account of the first few days and is quite long. I will post subsequent entries in the 1999 archive.
After a busy day spent packing mammoth amounts into the car, we were on the road by 5.20pm, only 20 minutes behind schedule. Shunning the normal route to the M1 because of terrible roadworks at Junction 15, we travelled through the sunlit Northamptonshire countryside to Junction 16 and the start of our long journey south.
Luck seemed to be on our side as the traffic, although heavy, was flowing freely and we made Dartford in good time to see Eastenders (for some reason I was a fan back in 1999!). My Nan made sure we didn't go hungry by supplying us with ham sandwiches and doughnuts with ample coffee to keep us going through the long night ahead.
By 8.30pm we were on the road to Folkestone where we were booked onto the 10.21pm train. However, we made such good time that we were able to board an earlier shuttle, at 9.51pm, which was a bonus!
We lined up with other travellers and tried to fix our headlamp converters into place. The man in the car in front decided it would be a good time to try his, too, but there seemed to be universal confusion as to the correct way to place them and he kept looking at ours with a worried look on his face! (We later found out that ours were indeed wrong, and after attempting to fix them, they fell off never to be seen again!).
The journey to Calais was short and smooth and before long we were in France although in the darkness we could have been anywhere! Gradually we found ourselves all alone on the dark and empty motorway, little orange lights illuminating the way into the impenetrable blackness. We passed very few cars and only several lorries but the road stretched on and on with nothing to alleviate the dark. Sophie had finally fallen asleep on the shuttle and was snoring peacefully in the back. She looked comfortable and warm and both Keith and I envied her.
Time passed and the hours crept forward. We fortified ourselves with flasks of hot coffee and took it in turns to drive. Our arrival at Reims was a little bright spot in the otherwise black night but we were soon past and alone on the empty road.
Our journey continued with only one brief stop to use the toilets at an "Aire". These are brilliant stopping places, mostly with only toilets and picnic tables but they appear at regular intervals along the autoroute and are a haven for the tired traveller. Little clusters of cars with their sleeping occupants were dotted about and there was a temptation to stop as well and have a sleep but we pushed on into the night. With hindsight I realised we were in a dangerous position; we were both tired and the road was completely empty and dark with absolutely nothing to concentrate on. Driving was like being on autopilot, with no other traffic to overtake and no landmarks to keep us interested. It took all my concentration to keep awake and focused on the driving. Luckily (or not!) whenever we went over about 85mph an ominous droning noise would start, a legacy of a replaced windscreen some weeks before. The noise in itself was enough to keep us awake!
Gradually we crept further south and a weak dawn appeared as reached Lyon at about 6am. We somehow missed the "Peripherique" and ended up going right through the centre at a steady 70 miles an hour! Lcukily it was very quiet. I'd been looking forward to the section of road from Lyon to the border as it runs through some beautiful countryside but it began to rain and the surrounding hills were covered by thick mist. The traffic grew heavier, as did the rain, and we couldn't believe that we driven under clear starry skies all night through the rest of France! It wasn't supposed to have been like this!
We stopped for a quick breakfast after Lyon and made some ham rolls which were washed down with coffee. Sophie woke up and joined us, a complete look of bewilderment on her face! The weather certainly didn't look very summery and we were soon back in the car heading towards the Spanish border.
Unfortunately the weather grew worse the further we went, with torrential rain at times. This didn't deter the French drivers who kept up their incredible speeds, often in tiny Renaults or Peugeots. What do they put in their tanks? Rocket fuel? I phoned Mum who gleefully told me that the weather at home was beautiful...great!
We had planned to stop overnight in France before driving into Spain the next day but we were in the South of France by 11am and so decided to push on and perhaps stay in the small resort of Tossa de Mar, not far from the border.
We halted briefly outside Narbonne to stretch our legs and eat some more rolls and let Sophie play on the climbing frames that the French throughtfully provide. The weather was humid, muggy and very warm.
Soon we were at the border and with just a cursory glance at our car from the officials we were into Spain. After a few junctions of the motorway we turned off to Tossa de Mar and followed a busy road through several villages. We soon came to the mountain road that I remembered so vividly from a previous holiday in 1981 and although it had been improved it was still winding and scenic with stunning views towards the sea.
Tossa de Mar was a busy little resort full of cars and people. I had planned to visit the Tourist Information Bureau and see if we could find a hotel for the night but they were closed until 5pm and we couldn't afford to wait that long to see if we could find a bed! We parked the car and walked to the sea-front as we had promised Sophie that she could go on the beach. We felt very scruffy and tired, a feeling made much worse by the jolly holiday-makers all around us who were sitting in the bars and restaurants without a care in the world. After reaching the beach, Keith took Sophie off to play while I ordered some drinks from the bar overlooking the sea.
The bad weather had followed us into Spain and suddenly the heavens opened and everyone, including Keith and Sophie, dashed to the shelter of the beach-bar. We all huddled under the awning and watched as the rain grew heavier, feeling alarmed as the first rumbles of thunder began overhead and flashes of lightening zigzagged across the sky. Little did we know that this was to be the pattern of weather for the next few days!
During a short lull in the rain we ran back towards the town, hoping to get to the car park but another burst of heavy rain sent us fleeing to the shelter of a restaurant where we cowered in the corner, watching the diners happily eating ice-creams and drinking Sangria. We all felt utterly miserable as we'd had next to no sleep, we were still wearing the clothes we'd set out in yesterday evening and we were wet, bedraggled and covered in sand. Not the best of feelings and a disappointment from a town where I'd had so many happy memories!
The rain continued and reminded me of a violent storm I'd witnessed when I visited Tossa de Mar the first time, with my parents back in the early 80s. We'd stood on the balcony of our apartment and watched as the storm approached over the sea, the rain making everyone flee from the beach and into the nearby cafes and bars, much the same as we were doing now!
We waited half an hour before we felt it was safe to sprint to the car and carry on our journey, making the decision to return to the motorway and stop at the first hotel we saw. All three of us were exhausted by now and we all badly needed a shower and a change of clothes!
Shortly after getting back into the car, Sophie fell asleep and we saw signs for a motorway hotel just outside of Barcelona. We'd never used a motorway hotel before but regardless of the cost we decided to stop and see if they had a room. It was part of a large service area and looked modern and comfortable. Keith carried his sleeping daughter into the Reception area and we were told we could have a room for the night at £64.It was more than we'd wanted to pay but by now we were desperate for some sleep. Keith took Sophie up to the room while I went back to the car to fetch our passports and luggage. There were signs everywhere warning motorists of thefts from cars so we made sure we took out anything of value to avoid a broken window or break-in!
After we had dumped our luggage (which almost filled the room) we both took welcome showers and scrubbed ourselves until we gleamed. Sophie slept on; she must have been exhausted, poor thing! After his shower Keith decided to explore in the hope of finding a bar where we could get a drink, but he returned empty-handed. There was no bar at all! He decided to pop next door to the shop and returned with a large bottle of San Miguel, some lemonade and a huge packet of crisps! We ate the crisps with the last of our rolls and settled down for a nap.
We awoke later to the sound of thunder and pouring rain. Our room overlooked the car park and the motorway and when we'd arrived in the early afternoon the car park had been almost empty. Now it was full of cars of differing nationalities. We sorted out some clean clothes from our luggage and then made our way downstairs in the hope of finding somewhere comfortable to sit and relax over a drink.
It was not to be! The only place that served drinks was a noisy cafeteria next to the lobby so we bought some beer for us and a bottle of Orangina for Sophie and took them back to the lounge area where Sophie was entertained by the fish-tank. The Reception area was busy with travellers arriving to check-in and as I went back to our room to fetch some crayons for Sophie I met a middle-aged man who was determined to engage me in conversation, even letting me know about the sort-porn channels available later that night!
Dinner was very relaxed and informal. Most of the guests staying at the hotel ate in the large restaurant and we had a lovely meal with some delicious wine. Sophie played up a bit towards the end of the meal and I had to take her away from the table and threaten her with dire punishments, but looking back she was just probably tired and completely out of her normal routine. Soon after we'd eaten we decided to call it a day and returned to our room. An evening walk was out of the question!
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