We love meeting up with friends and family around Europe, so when two of my cousins wanted to plan a little family vacation, we jumped at the chance. With a four-day weekend, we all met up on the Costa Blanca, for a weekend in Spain with the Cousins.
A quick hop brought us from Stuttgart to Munich, with just enough time to grab a sandwich, and then we were off to Alicante. As we were in descent for our landing at ALC, the plane suddenly pulled up, gaining elevation quickly. With everyone remaining calm-ish, the pilot explained that the tower warned him off due to a very strong crosswind coming off the sea. We circled and landed from another angle.
Safely on the ground, a 15-minute taxi ride took us to our Airbnb on the edge of Alicante’s Old Town, where we met up with Jim, Catherine, Frank, and Sue. It didn’t surprise us that right across the street was an Irish Pub, as Jim knows I love to have a pint in a pub wherever we travel.
Alicante is a picture-perfect beach town, with the deep blue-green of the Med, sandy beaches, palm trees, and sun. The Castle of Saint Barbara sits on top of a steep hill, watching over Alicante since the time of the Moors. We took a short walk to look at our surroundings, had a taste of the local Sangria, and then on to dinner, enjoying the cool breezes and the smell of the sea air.
Walking Tour and Tapas
The next morning, we caught up on life events with each other over breakfast cereals before setting out for our scheduled Walking Tour. We met our guide, Isaac, for our Small Group Tour with Tapas Tasting, booked through Viator. As we toured the central market, Isaac gave us some local history and legends as well as a taste of local specialities: Iberian ham and goat cheese with honey and oregano.
We moved from the market to the Castle of Saint Barbara, where the panoramic views of the city and coastline are breathtaking. A van took us up to the hilltop, but we walked back down, over many steps, seeing the Santa Cruz neighborhood in Old Town along the way. The tour ended with an excellent hearty tapas snack.
San Juan Beach
Next, we took a tram to San Juan beach, a 6.2 km stretch of white sand and blue water. After a walk along the boardwalk, we ate lunch beachside, followed by an ice cream and a beer, before taking the tram back for a siesta.
Favorite Restaurants and Pub
After this full day, we opted for dinner in our neighborhood, and enjoyed excellent Italian food at Civita Vecchia Pizzeria, then crossed the street to The Robin’s Irish Pub @robinsalicante for a nightcap. A couple of pints with lots of stories and laughs was a perfect way to end the day.
On Sunday, we explored more of Alicante and its esplanade, admiring the incredible ficus trees, quirky streets, and alleyways. We had coffee and croissants, tapas, sangria, and cervezas, all the while enjoying both the warm weather and the company.
For our last night, we ate dinner at Las Brasas de San Miguel, a steak restaurant that is really excellent. Walking back through the fresh sea air, and wanting to extend our last bit of time together, we opted for a nightcap at our Italian spot, before going back to the Airbnb to pack.
Monday morning, we said our goodbyes and headed to the airport, back to Stuttgart. What a lovely get-away full of stories and sunshine in Spain with the Cousins.
6 responses to “Spain with the Cousins”
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A new destination I’ve never heard of – and with the Castle of Saint Barbara, too!
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Yes, Barbara liked that a lot.😊 Thanks for reading!
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Wonderful photos. Nice places. I like.
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Thank you!
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What a pleasant sunny holiday with family! Love the sound of that walking tour, tapas and ham for breaks
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Thanks for reading, Tanja!
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