Alicante: Half-Term - October 2009

Date: Saturday 31 October 2009

Mrs Newton and four pupils – John Bungay, Gabby Hodnett, Ben Pape and Seth Scott Deuchar left Gatwick on Sunday October 18th for a week long intensive language course in Alicante. In an early September Spanish lesson John had announced that he might be attending a language course in Spain. By the end of the lesson the plan had multiplied somewhat and it was agreed that we would all head off to Spain at half-term ………

Day one dawned and we all met up at Gatwick ready to Easyjet it to Alicante. Luggage checked we all headed off to departures to await our flight. With the flight a little late Seth was able to watch the end of the Grand Prix, with Jenson Button taking the title. Then it was time for our scramble – Easyjet style - onto the plane. The flight would have been uneventful were it not for the fact that Mrs Newton got locked in the loo on the flight and had to rather inelegantly kick the door to be released ! On arrival in Alicante, after what must be one of the quickest baggage collections ever, we were taken by taxi to our home for the week – a seventies retro apartment in the centre of Alicante. Weird but nice.

Day two meant an early start and the four pupils went to enrol at school and be tested. They returned at about 2.00pm. asking ‘when’s lunch, ma’am?’. I had said that I wouldn’t be playing mamá for the week but somehow I ended up preparing lunch and supper every day (they cleared up!). The weather was great and we spent the afternoon walking around the marina and sitting in cafes. We had our first sighting of ‘el irlandés’ – an omnipresent Irishman. After supper we headed off for another walk unaware of the drama as yet to unfold…..Ben and Seth popped out to the shop leaving us in the flat on the third floor. On their return five minutes later we discovered that they couldn’t get in and we couldn’t get out. After lots of attempts I had to resort to ringing the emergency contact numbers provided by our tour company and the language school itself…..useless!. Having failed to get any response and it getting later and later I phoned the Spanish emergency services and requested assistance from the bomberos (fire brigade)….Whilst awaiting their arrival I made a final attempt . Using a knife and fork (resourceful!) I removed the door handle and as if by magic John – the hero of the hour – managed to open the door. I duly cancelled the fire brigade and spoke to the Alicante police to assure them that all was well. Phew !!!

Day three and off to school for the morning. I ‘phoned the language school to complain about door lock and lack of assistance.Our cleaner came today spending an inordinate amount of time cleaning the flat and hiding Seth’s shoes. A quiet afternoon was then had by all with Gabby reading half a novel and Ben, Seth and John and I all crashed out in the living room. Revitalised, we headed off to the Corte Ingles to buy a Spanish Monopoly game. Great fun and VERY competitive.

Day four School for them, beach and very long walk for me. Yet more highly competitive Monopoly played, and then we tried and failed to find The Alicante Museum of Modern Art. Then it was time to sample the delights of Alicante nightlife. We headed off to the ‘Casco Antiguo’ (old town) for a cocktail in one of the many bars. We forewent the delights of the ladies’ night in the Havana bar where mojitos were being offered free – the boys were interested but sense and my overruling prevailed !. Irishman seen again ! Finally off to another outside café and back to the apartment.

Day five School again in the morning prior to which Seth fused all the lights. I ‘phoned the language school yet again to ask for maintenance to fix the lights and I most definitely heard an audible sigh as the director thought - ‘not her again’. Cleaner returned and hid my shoes.

Alicante is dominated by the Castillo de Santa Barbara – an old castle set high on a steep hill – a visit to which is a must. We set off to the castle although getting there became difficult as our first pathway was completely blocked. Undeterred we headed off round the coast for the lifts. It was about 30 degrees and climbing the path to the castle was an unappealing proposition. I asked a local man the way to the lifts and he informed me that they were closed but it was only a 1 kilometre walk up to the castle – that’s ok then ! At this point Gabby and I decided that a cappuccino and diet coke in the marina might be a more tempting way to spend the afternoon.We saw the Irishman yet again and someone who looked exactly like John driving a bus! So,we headed to the marina and the boys headed onwards and upwards ! After a very pleasant afternoon. in the marina we arrived back at the apartment quickly followed by the boys who told us of their exploits scaling the hill to get to the castle…finally ending up in someone’s garden in a bid to escape the mountain!

After purchasing a pack of cards we spent a very pleasant evening playing a variety of games in which Gabby proved herself a demon card player – more of which on day 6.

Day six was our final full day in Alicante and so last lessons at school. Time to say goodbye to David (Swiss) and Alex (German), their fellow classmates. More time to shop and play a final game of Monopoly. We bought Gabby a prize from the 2 Euro shop for her card playing skills and we are looking forward to her modelling the shoes and handbag – see photo.

For our final meal I got a break from cooking and once again we headed off to the Old Town, this time for a paella. Irish man spotted again. After a lengthy wait – about which I expressed a degree of disapproval – we ate a good paella , drank our beers and finished off with an ‘on the house’ glass of limoncello. Back to the apartment and time to pack………

Day seven and we were up bright and early to await our taxi to the airport. Whilst checking in we met up with Jake and Oz Andrews, Alex Rawlins and Holly Richards - so quite a St Ed’s presence on the flight back. An uneventful flight and with bags collected we headed for home.

This was a great trip and I have to thank Ben, John, Seth and Gabby for their excellent company during the week. There was much laughter and I think I can say that we all had a great time whilst practising our Spanish.