A taste of normality
THE EASTER weekend gave us a brief glimpse to what Benidorm was like before this wretched pandemic turned our lives upside down.
Overall, we had spectacular almost summer-like weather which was a blessing considering that just two days later, on Wednesday it was positively grim and autumnal. Mind you, back in Blighty they went from sunburn to frostbite within the space of a week!
I was torn between being delighted and concerned at the number of people that had suddenly descended on the resort – pleased for the businesses who would at long last see some activity and ultimately make some money but also a little anxious as to where all these cars had come from, considering that the borders of the Valencia region were all technically closed.
Every year Benidorm would be bursting with both Spaniards - the dreaded Madrileños flocking here in their cars and Brits flying in for the Easter school holidays… which we all know hasn’t happened for the second year running.
It was somewhat strange seeing literally every blue parking bay across the resort taken, bringing back memories of peak summer holiday time when everyone would drive around and around in the hope that someone was about to leave. You would almost stalk anyone walking towards a car then feel as if you’d won the lottery if someone nodded yes that they were leaving.
I drove through Benidorm on Tuesday morning and it was back to the deserted streets once again. The mass influx of Friday had all but disappeared again by Monday evening – short and sweet.
The Hotel Cimbel was one of 14 hotels open here; it’s located in an enviable position directly on the Levante beachfront. It was positively brimming and on Good Friday, the poolside was full of hotel guests soaking up the rays.
It was also the first time in months that I saw and heard live entertainment – two gents, one playing keyboard and the other singing from the terrace. Passersby on the promenade stopped to listen and one couple even had a dance together. It was truly heartwarming to witness how such a seemingly small thing could bring much joy to so many – or maybe it was the choice of song - Gimme Hope Jo’anna.
It was nice to see families on the beaches here, in their plots, building sandcastles, playing games, walking up and down the shoreline and even swimming in the sea – yes it was warm, but for me personally, not quite warm enough yet!
Then Easter Sunday arrived and so did the grey overcast skies for the first half of the day. Restaurants that were open had huge queues, with people patiently waiting outside on the pavements, many in their Sunday best.
Growing up as a child, I remember that I always had a new outfit bought for me for Easter to go to church in and I love that in Spain, on Sundays, children are beautifully turned out with siblings often in matching outfits.
Thankfully, come Sunday evening the sun broke back through the clouds and everyone seemed to come back out for their evening stroll along the prom. Easter Monday was another simply glorious day and the beaches once again had a last good turnout before many departed back home at the end of the day.
Sadly, the Rincón de Loix – deemed the British zone, didn’t really benefit from this Easter spike of visitors. The predominantly Spanish and European visitors could be seen in their masses in the old town and along the Levante and Poniente beachfronts.
We must all just hope and pray that flights from the UK will be allowed to restart, bringing some much-needed trade to the expat-run bars and cafes prevalent in the Rincón area.
Also work for the numerous entertainers who have been on ERTE for the past year… and that's the lucky ones!
Some have already written the summer off, hoping for September, but with stiff competition from the likes of Greece, Turkey and Egypt, everyone is bracing themselves for a rocky road ahead.