Zimbali Playa Spa Hotel Vera

... I would have to cycle 70 miles the next day. I am not going to lie, I was scared.

Quote of the day from Alex: "its illegal to wear clothes on a nuddist beach".

Also, a bit of advice, nuddist beaches are full af pretty mental people. Generally though, people who are just walking around thinking "hey, look how much I dont care, whatever man, its natural". So, I´m lying there thinking "who cares how much you care","what you are is mental". We stayed just ...

... friends). On our way there we stopped in a supermarket. Outside there was a german guy selling hot chickens and as a celebration of a good day we got a couple. Olly doesn´t normally splashout but he decided to get a whole one. After finishing his whole chicken he made a shocking/interesting/hilarious/disgusti ng/hilarious discovery. . . Maggots . . . about 6 or 7. Honestly, you should ...

... cycling yet. We were supposed to nail 100 miles to make it to Tracy's but after a full day of effort we only managed 75. Anyway, during this epic uphill struggle we encountered a petrol station in the middle of no where. Here they had a hose pipe where we could riskily fill our water bottles. It was at this point i decided to add the quote of the day section.

Whilst Alex was ...

... The prices are very reasonable. The most fantastic village was Mojacar. It is a white village up in the mountains and winds down into the sea. Each town has its own square and on weekends they have activities going on all the time. Please bring your own sun blocker. Even though in Spain it is labeled SP 30 it doesnt do anything and we ended up with sunburns. All in all it was worth it and we saw the Spain ...

I had to wean myseft away from the area, and the next day just drove a bit up the coast, past more un(der)-developed beaches at Escullos and El Playazo, and ended up staying in Las Negras, another fishing village which is sleepy by the water-front but with massive construction going on behind it.

... selling UK style food cheaper than the supermarkets but still far more expensive than at home. Most resorts have an "English" butcher, which sells cuts of meat that are more recognisable, but at a higher price than the Spanish butcher. There are the inevitable English-style pubs and Paddy's Bars. There are a number of free local papers, which advertise "English" plumbers, "English" electricians, whist ...

... is Brazilian and divorced from Dad (who is half French and half Dutch), I'm English (and regularly confused) whilst the kids normally travel on a French passport... OK!... this time they're travelling on their Brazillian passports (you know, just to keep things simple). Hence having to go to the Brazillian consulate to certify everything in Madrid.... This has been going on for the last 2 weeks. Firstly due to Spanish beurocracy being what it is, and secondly ...

... though, we should also tell you about a gigantic beach party we went to, for the St.Jean Baptiste day, Spanish style, which meant lots of people of all ages on the beach late at night listening to everything from Cuban music, to 90s mtzzee-mtzee dance music, to 70´s rock, all the while drinking beer and red wine eating free fried sardines, smoking copious amounts of cigarettes (and other substances) and lighting gigantic bonfires. All in all, quite a party!

Jetted back to London from Mumbai and then on to Spain for Tania and Ivan's wedding. Was nice to get back to the land of sit down toilets again. Had a great week eating, drinking and being merry. Nice to be able to leave my bag in one place for the week and chill out by the pool or beach each day as well. The wedding itself went off without a hitch. Lovely chapel, beautiful reception and plenety of food and drink. Tania and Ivan are off to the states for the honeymoon...enjoy!

... lent. There will be drinking, dancing, COSTUMES and who knows what else. I will be awake for 24 hours straight trying to figure it all out. I hope everything is wonderful at home!!! I miss you all as usual. Thank you to Mom and Alap for putting up with me and my homesickness. I know I will be homesick until the day I leave, so I am only just learning to deal with that fact. It was great to hear from Dad, Emily, and Margaret! Keep calling! Siempre, Estefani