2. Arriving in Alicante - The Vall de Pop

Our first planned destination was Jalon, capital of the Vall de Pop (Jalon Valley), approximately 30km inland from Dénia. As forecast, the weather was horrendous for the latter part of the drive, with torrential rain and strong winds. Ironically the worst of it occurred as we passed south of Valencia city, and we were so acutely reminded of the devastating floods that happened here last autumn. Fortunately we arrived safely in Jalon, although the torrential rains didn’t stop all night 😢 

Having discovered this region last year, we were keen to return and spend more time - we’re very excited 😛 It’s a beautiful area, one of the most lush areas within the south of Spain. Lovely little villages, surrounded by stunning mountain ranges, and what seems a very slow and gentle pace of life. Loads for us to do as well - great walking, mountain biking, fabulous wine producing region, and loads of interesting little cafes and bars. 

Countryside surrounding Jalon

Staying at the Jalon camper park in the centre of the town was a perfect location - a newly developed Aire run by a lovely Spanish family. Thank goodness we booked in advance as the place was chocca - it really is a very popular time to travel in this part of the world 😃 Arriving on the Friday we were in time for the famous Flea and Artisan market that lines the streets of Jalon every Saturday. After a good potter round, looking at various interesting curios, (Ruby didn’t enjoy it 🤣) we settled on coffee in the main town square. It felt so lovely to be out in the warm sunshine, very spring like 😃

Jalon main square

Wine sold direct from the barrel 

Interesting bodega 🤣

Took Rubes for a walk through the surrounding countryside, saving ourselves for the much tougher Serra de Bernia round which we had planned for the next day (not one for her!). The blossom was starting to burst, and the fruit trees laden with oranges and lemons. Passed by the neighbouring village of Alcalali where we stayed last year, and where we found a fabulous restaurant - we have our eyes set on that! 

Around Jalon

Heavily laden orange trees

Carpets of wild flowers

Headed out later to a lovely bar for drinks, and surprisingly a very nice Nepalese  meal. Unfortunately I’d started to feel a bit unwell, before the meal, and ended up going home early. That was the start of it! Later that night both Dave and I started with the most horrible Noravirus / gastric flu type symptoms 😢 Goodness knows where we picked that up, but needless to say we felt very unwell, and that put pay to the next day’s activities 😢 The next day was a blur - no walking of the Serra de Bernia round for us! Sadly we were due to leave Jalon the following day, to travel a little further up the valley to stay at the small village of Benigembla. So much we missed doing in Jalon - we didn’t even visit (and sample) any of the famous bodegas of which the town is famous for 😢

Arriving at the camping at Benigembla, with an exceptionally warm welcome from Maria the owner, we could very quickly see why it was so popular. A beautiful location, fabulous facilities (and cheap) with everything we would want to do on our doorstep - even a tennis court! (Yes, we have the rackets with us 🤣). And yes, the sun was shining 😃 We’d tried, unsuccessfully, last year to get in here (last minute, admittedly), but all fully booked, so learned our lesson this time and planned in advance. 

Benigembla 

Sadly though there is very little to say about our week in Benigembla - we’ve both been really unwell and not been up for doing much at all. We’re SO disappointed ☹️ Tried a couple of short walks, but even Ruby wasn’t up for that! No biking, and no tennis either 😢 Dave got to know the local pharmacist well though 🤣  Before leaving the UK we’d planned, and hoped, that this week in Benigembla would help to turbocharge our fitness levels - desperately needed after all the miserable weather we’d recently had, but sadly I think our fitness levels have taken a bashing, and gone backwards! All efforts have been focused on trying to get well again 🤞

View from Benigembla 

Further up the Vall de Pop

First signs of blossom 

As seems to be par for the course on our trips, Dave’s bike developed a fault that unfortunately he couldn’t fix - so off we went to the bike shop in Denia. Fortunate in some ways that he was just tinkering with the bikes this week, and spotted the fault. Frustrating though that the fault wasn’t showing while we were in the UK, and now the bike is holed up in Denia waiting for a new part - with us actually leaving the region tomorrow! So looks like a return trip will be necessary 😃

While in Denia we took the opportunity for a bit of an amble around the old part of town, and up to the Castell  - a remarkable structure, over a thousand years old, with traces of a many different cultures. Surrounded by quaint narrow streets, with brightly painted houses, there was a certain charm to the place, but given the huge number of cafes, restaurants and bars, goodness only knows how busy it would be in the summer - perhaps less appealing then 😃

Castell de Denia

Castell de Denia

Castell de Denia

Denia

Denia

Back in Benigembla it’s been an interesting week, sitting around and watching 😃 It’s a very popular winter destination for Northern Europeans, loads of Dutch, Germans, and of course English. Many people here for a couple of months, or even longer, many with additional small cars or motorbikes to get around. Seems like the whole valley is a blend of all nationalities living here permanently. Our Dutch neighbours here are trying to buy a house to settle, and Dave was chatting with a retired GP from Nottinghamshire who now lives here permanently with his wife - all extolling the virtues of this wonderful region, and particularly if you love good weather, food, wine and the great outdoors 😃

There’s quite an activity vibe at the campsite - people off out walking, running, cycling etc - but we’ve also noticed that drinks and socialising seems to start around 3.30 in the afternoon, before the sun goes down around 5ish 🤣 A perfect blend I think 😃 It’s dark by about 6:30, and getting a bit nippy, so outdoor fun tends to shift earlier in the day. Have also noticed that drinks start even earlier in the day for some people - maybe the less active 🤣 For the super fit, this valley is a top training ground for professional cyclists, with various teams of different nationalities racing up the hills. Mirador Coll de Rates is a famous Spanish climb, which passes through the adjacent village 😃

Professional team out training 

Professional team out training 

Feeling a little better, we went out for another short walk - this time Ruby stayed at home 😃 Next door to the camp is a lovely little homestead, developed by an English couple who moved out here quite a few years ago. We loved their little piglets! Walking over to the next village, Murla (Helen, know you know this well!), we followed what seemed to be a dried up river bed, only to find out that the river does flow underground, and at sporadic points bubbles up through, and occasionally does flood 🤣

Our piglet neighbours 

Our piglet neighbours 

Think this got lost in translation 🤣

Dried up river bed - or so we thought 😃

Although disappointed how the week panned out, we couldn’t have asked for a better place to recuperate. We’re definitely feeling much better now 👍 Oranges are sold by the net full, so we’ve definitely been topping up on vitamin C, as well as getting as much natural vitamin D as we can 😃 Ruby has certainly relaxed here, making friends with passers by, showing off her monkey teddy 💕  We need to leave tomorrow for our city break in Alicante old town, but have decided to come back here later in our trip, to try to do all the things we’d hoped to do this time. Knowing that this place gets very booked up (in fact people booking spaces for 2 years ahead!), we were so pleased to get the one available slot for later in February 😃 

So off to Alicante tomorrow for a few days, and fingers crossed we continue to feel better 🤞

Hasta luego 😃

Footnote 

Feeling loads better so had a quick knock about on the tennis courts 🎾 Loved it! 

Looking forward to coming back in February 😃

Our tennis court in Benigembla 😃

Feeling better and happy to be back on court 😃

Good night 💕