Port Denia is a very popular ferry port and private yacht departure port for visitors to Ibiza and Formentera in the Balearic Islands. This port is absolutely bustling with wealthy holiday travelers and yachtsmen. The marina is beautiful, and although we expected it to be very expensive it was only moderately so. There is a stunningly built raised promenade along the high breakwater, lined with little shops, cafés, bars, restaurants, and large areas where families come to stroll and to picnic with a lovely view of the bay. We immediately felt a wonderful energy as we secured Destiny‘s dock lines and stepped ashore. We freshened up and walked to dinner at one of the attractive restaurants on the promenade. We ordered the mixed seafood grill platter for two and thoroughly enjoyed the extensive variety of local fresh food while gazing at the full moon rising across the bay. What a dreamy evening! Afterward, we strolled the entire waterfront past massive haciendas perched high over the bay. On Sunday, we rode our bikes all over town and down the beach area until we found a cozy café along the pedestrian mall. We literally parked ourselves there for hours watching the passers by.
We departed early Monday morning for Alicante, and of course had a little bit of sailing, and a fair bit of “motor bobbing”. The coastline was so dramatic and interesting that we got over the discomfort and enjoyed watching the cliffs and villages pass by.
Arrival at Alicante was a real eye-opener. We had originally prebooked two nights here, but then at check-in were shocked to hear the price which was equal to 6 nights in Valencia. We thought it must be one heck of a marina, but not so! The berth we squeezed into was tiny with no laid mooring lines and only a small finger pier that came about 15 feet alongside Destiny. We used s combination 5 dock & spring lines trying to secure the boat. If any weather at all came then we would be in big trouble. The amenities block was too far away, as was the pedestrian exit. As soon as we got Destiny tied up Frank walked back to the office to request a refund for our second night. Weather for the following day was not good for moving on but this would not do at all. We did enjoy a superb dinner at El Portal, a very trendy and popular venue for the IN CROWD. How we got seated is a mystery. Perhaps they thought we were celebrities traveling incognito. The food was divine. The clientele were absolutely snobbish. We finished dinner after 10 PM, but the city as most in Spain, was still going strong until 3 or 4 AM.
 |
| The laughable berth we were assigned in Alicante |
 |
| Lovely sunrise on our departure from Alicante |
Early up and out - we motored to Cartagena on Tuesday, August 28th. No wind at all, and very lumpy seas nearly all day.
No comments:
Post a Comment