Camping Playa Tropicana, Alcossebre

Yesterday - Thursday 6th February - we decided that it was time we put down some roots again, so a short phone call to the Caravan & Camping Club secured us a place at Playa Tropicana for the next two weeks. 
Breakfast in the sunshine at the camperstop before setting off yesterday morning.


We'd stayed here at Tropicana for a couple of nights (we think it was 2007) when we met cousin Val and Bernard before moving on to Benicassim.  So we knew it was rather a pleasant place to be. 

The pool looks very inviting but we understand the water is extremely chilly.  But to the right of this one, there's a covered, heated pool - looking forward to giving that a go.

So for the next 2 weeks we are part of a C&C Club Rally - with 2 couples as Rally Stewards who arrange various trips, activities and meals for those who wish to participate.  We jumped straight in (although we won't be doing everything by any means!) and booked for the Friday Lunch Club!

So, soon after midday today, we cycled along the rough road behind the beach to Restaurant San Antonio, 

 where we enjoyed a super lunch along with about 70 other Brits! We got to know a few at our table so we feel a bit more at home.  We were served up with a pre-starter starter of a slice of bread with something savoury on top, then 2 loaves of freshly-baked bread, pots of olive oil and chopped tomatoes arrived at our table for 10.  Eventually we got the starters that we'd pre-ordered - John had paella and I had a salad (both large enough for lunch on their own really), then the main courses - John had lamb shank and I had BBQd chicken - then a chocolatey-creamy tart, coffee/tea.  Oh I forgot to mention the aperitif and a bottle of wine between 2.  This lot all for the princely sum of 12€ each!!
Hence the necessary bike ride past the campsite and on to Alcossebre afterwards! 

 The big storm that hit Spain a couple of weeks ago caused quite a lot of damage along this coast.  Here several patches of the road are still covered in sand and in this picture part of the boardwalk has disappeared

 and the fence has collapsed in lots of places along the seafront.

Alcossebre itself seemed to be asleep this afternoon - maybe like other places, it comes alive on Sunday afternoons.
Tomorrow we will go to the Rally coffee morning to find out what's in store for the coming week .....