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Wednesday, 03 June 2009 |
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We are lucky to be living in an area with a large number of beautiful beaches that have qualified for the prestigious Blue Flag Award and June is the month to get out there and enjoy them! The flags are awarded each year following rigorous inspections.
"The award of a Blue Flag beach is based on compliance with 29 criteria covering the aspects of:
1) Environmental Education and Information
2) Water Quality
3) Environmental Management
4) Safety and Services
Some criteria are imperative (I), some are guideline (G) and some are non-applicable (NA) for certain regions. All imperative requirements have to be fulfilled, and in addition a maximum number of guideline criteria. All Blue Flags are only awarded for one season at a time. If some of the imperative criteria are not fulfilled during the season or the conditions change, the Blue Flag will be withdrawn."
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Wednesday, 03 June 2009 |
 Aqualandia
Aquopolis: Situated near the Habaneras Shopping Centre in Torrevieja. The water park is open every day from the 5th June 2009 until the 13th September 2009. Opening hours are from 11:00 to 19:00. Tickets cost 21.50E for adults (age 11-64) and 16.50€ for children (height between 0.9 m and 1.4 m) and seniors (over 65). Children under 0.9 m are free.
There are a lot of hidden charges at the park, starting with the car park. If you want somewhere to store your clothes or a safe box for your valuables, there are charges for both of these. If you want a rubber ring for your own use during the day, you have to pay for that also. Sun beds under umbrellas also cost extra.
This is an ideal park for the whole family. There are big slides for the brave ones and gentler ones for the not so adventurous. New this year is a revamped children’s play area. There are life guards throughout the park. A suggestion is to head for the picnic table area and leave your stuff there. If you are with active younger children, most of your time will be spent whizzing down slides, or waiting to whizz, so hiring a sun bed is a waste of time. Be aware that queues for the larger rides can be very long, especially in August.
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Wednesday, 03 June 2009 |
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The main fiesta in June is the Hogueras, celebrated in the week or so leading up to the Noche de San Juan on 24th June. Most of the towns in this area join in the celebrations, but the biggest display by far is in the city of Alicante.
The festival owes its origins to pagan times and coincides with the summer solstice. Traditionally, old bits of furniture or other unused wood was burnt on bonfires. Nowadays, however, special creations, called niñots, are made depicting everything from cartoon characters to caricatures of local and national politicians.
These are made by skilled craftsmen who spend all year coming up with the designs and building the models. They can cost thousands to make. The models are put on display in the streets of each town for a week or so prior to the 24th June. In Alicante, the models tend to be huge and very impressive. Prizes are awarded for the best ones and the winner is saved from destruction to go on display in the Hogueras museum.
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