Chairman's Blog

Chairman’s Blog - Season 2, Edition 8 (January 2024)

• A very happy New Year to one and all.

• Here we are then in 2024 and into La Quinta’s 38th year!

• Although January is one of our cooler months, it is still considerably warmer than the UK or northern Europe with hours of sunshine and blue skies.

• If we follow the weather patterns of December 2023, it will be warm and sunny with above average temperatures.

• La Quinta is certainly becoming more and more popular during the winter months, particularly with our Scandinavian, northern European and sporting rental groups.

• We already have fairly strong bookings throughout January, February and most of March starting with a corporate IT group of around 30 staying with us from 6th January.

 

******Special Offer 23rd-30th March 2024******

•  As Easter falls early this year, there is good availability for the red week of 23rd-30th March. We are therefore running a special offer, initially for members for visits during this quieter time.

• We will accept any day of the week arrivals, including a day or two earlier than the 23rd subject to availability.

• 2-nights minimum stay.

• No upgrade fee to this red week for yellow, green or blue members using either their allocation or accrued weeks.

• Short break 2–3-night stays from €170 per night, including electricity.

• A full week charged at dues rates only, plus electricity.

• Contact reservations@laquintaclub.com or call +34 968 331131 for further information and/or to book.

• We shall extend this offer to non-members from 1st February 2024, but not at these reduced member rates.

 

New La Solana Manager!

• I am delighted to announce that we have secured the services of a new La Solana manager.

• He is called Enrique Botia but is known to everyone as ‘Kike’ and comes with great credentials, experience and restaurant management skills having run the renown La Manga Yacht Club, (Club Náutico) restaurant in La Manga for many years.

• This change has been brought about by Céline, (our former La Solana manager), leaving us at short notice followed by an announcement that she has taken a position with a local property sales company at La Manga Club.

• Anyway, more importantly, I hope you will join me in warmly welcoming Kike to our La Quinta family when you meet him in La Solana during your next visit.

• La Solana itself will be re-opening again from mid-January, offering amongst other things our fabulous Menu del Dia.

• As we start 2024, we already have substantial bookings for the year and hopefully will exceed the record 83% occupancy level achieved in 2023.

• So, if you haven’t already done so, I would advise booking without delay.

•  Another reminder to visit our events calendar on our website showing you all the activities we are hosting at a glance. To access the calendar visit: https://www.laquintaclub.com/about-us/events-calendar.html

• So, it’s Season 2 blog #8, my first blog of 2024, with updates and information for the month of January, about the people, activities and events happening in and around La Quinta, La Manga Club, and the Cartagena/Murcia regions. This, as always, is sent directly to your email inbox, but it is also accessible on our website see…Chairman's Blog (laquintaclub.com) I hope you enjoy!

 

Meet the staff

For my first blog of 2024, I am featuring one of our long-standing members of staff, someone most of you know and love, Maria Ramirez from reception and one of our much newer members Cynthia Mendez, who is part of our La Solana team.

 

Maria Ramirez

• Maria has been working with us since May 2008. Originally in reception, she took over the role of Food & Beverage Manager in La Solana in January of 2009. However due to issues with her back and at her request, she was reassigned to reception duties in 2023.

• She is one of five siblings and grew up in various cities around the country as her father was a Captain in the Spanish Navy, although she lived most of her younger years in Ferrol (La Coruña).

• In 1995 Maria moved to London to learn English, where she had a great time and met many wonderful people who she still remains in contact with today.

• Whilst in England she continued her education, reading business studies at Southampton (Solent) University.

• In 2000 she moved back to Spain (Barcelona) where her family were living and began working in customer services for Citibank, in Barcelona, London and India.

• Her next job was working for Avis before moving to Cartagena with one of her sisters and getting a job at La Quinta.

• Maria says a big part of her life has been work and loves being part of the La Quinta family.

• She likes to spend her free time with friends and family and loves reading and travelling.

• Maria often returns to her hometown of La Coruña, but also has a few countries on her ‘wish list’ to visit, especially Nepal.

 

Cynthia Méndez

• Cynthia is 24 years old and lives in the nearby Los Beatos, a small town in the Campo de Cartagena area.

• She has been working for us for 2-years, as part of the Solana team, having been recruited through an employment agency and leaving her job in retail, in order to do so.

• Cynthia really wanted to join team La Quinta because she loves working in the hospitality industry, (having previously studied at Hostelry School) although she says she has learned so much whilst working here.

• She lives with her parents, but mainly grew up in her mother's clothes shop in La Unión, which her mother opened shortly after she was born.

• Cynthia has a passion for all things relating to art and history and for photography, which she studied with her father. Although neither of them pursued it professionally, it remains a significant part of their lives.

• Her boyfriend is called Leo, who she met three years ago at a party. It was love at first sight, and although he may not admit it, apparently, she won him over with her fabulous dance moves. 💃🏼

• Cynthia’s favourite season is summer, when she enjoys the sea, beach bars, diving, and going on excursions to the many coves in the area, particularly Cabo de Palos, where watching the sunsets is her favourite pastime.

• Her hobbies include spending time with friends and family, and walking/playing with Olaf, her dog.

• She continues to study English to better understand and have fluent conversations with La Quinta members, loves travelling and wants to discover as much of the world as possible.

 

Update on December Events

• On the 9th of December the lights on the 32m high Christmas tree in Murcia’s Plaza Circle were switched on by none other than famous world no.2 and local tennis star Carlos Alcaraz alongside singer Ruth Lorenzo.

• Alcaraz used an illuminated racket to launch an LED ball into the tree as part of the switch on, which was accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.

 

• On 15th December, the 6th annual Bellaluz Christmas market was held. Starting at 5pm, there was live music and over 20 food and drink stalls. It was very successful and was well received by all who attended the event.

 

La Quinta Staff - Team Building Day & Charity Donation

• On the 12th December, all La Quinta staff participated in a team building day.

• Overseen by a coach, they undertook a variety of activities to enhance team bonding, communication, and staff wellbeing.

• All the departments took part and were divided into 4 x mixed teams.

• One of the activities was constructing 4 x children’s bicycles.

• These bikes were donated by La Quinta to the Jugueta children’s campaign a project organised by the Cartagena town hall.

• In total, 3,200 toys were donated for children this Christmas at the event, which was attended by members of La Quinta and also the Mayoress of Cartagena, Noelia Arroyo on Friday 22nd December.

• The event was featured in an article in the Cartagena.es see: https://www.cartagena.es/detalle_noticias.asp?id=75979

 

 

   

Our Swimming Pools as You’ve Probably Never Seen Them Before! 

• As I mentioned in last month’s blog, both our main and spa pools were closed and emptied for maintenance and refurbishment during December.

• This work is now complete, and both have been refilled and the main pool heated, as always.

• So here are some photos of the empty pools as I doubt you’ve seen them before.

• I do believe it is also the first time I have ever seen Laura in the pool… 😂

    

La Quinta has a Rising International Cricket Star!!

•  The son of one our members has been selected to play in the under 19’s cricket world cup, to be held in South Africa from 19th January to 11th February 2024.

• Jack Carney, whose parents are Celine and Andrew will be part of a squad of 16 players.

• Although he has already played some test matches for England against Ireland, Australia, India and Bangladesh during the summer and autumn, this is a great honour and opportunity for him to showcase his cricketing skills on the world stage.

• The under 19’s team will initially play matches in group B against South Africa, Scotland, and the West Indies, before hopefully progressing through to the final stages of the competition.

• I am sure you will join with me in wishing Jack and the England squad all the best.

• See: Men's Under-19 World Cup to run from January 19 to February 11 in South Africa (msn.com) for more information and schedule.

 

Breaking News: LMC Owners Win Court Case!

• Some 200 La Manga Club founder members have recently won an important court case in regard to the provision of sports rights against Hesperia, who reneged on this contractual agreement in 2021.

• This judgement has been well received, but will no doubt be subject to appeal.

 

Events, Activities and News for January 2024

• I would like to wish everyone in Spain a very happy 3-Kings.

• Held on 5th & 6th January it is a time of celebration, processions and for giving and receiving presents.

• As always Cartagena will be hosting evening events with music, floats, processions etc on Friday 5th of January 2024.

 

Christmas Market in Cartagena

• Open from 15th December until 7th January this market is located on the seafront in Cartagena and offers a wide range of festive entertainment, food and drinks for children and adults alike.

• The entertainment runs from 11am-2pm and 5pm until 9pm daily and is entitled La Fábrica de Elfos (The Elf Factory) and includes over 15 individual stalls.

 

 

News about Espacio Mediterráneo Shopping Centre nr Cartagena

• The area around this popular commercial shopping centre is to get a huge facelift over the coming months after being purchased by the new French owners – Frey, last year.

• Known as Parque Mediterráneo, the area surrounding the shopping centre will see changes to traffic lanes and pedestrian walkways with the inclusion of a lot more shaded areas.

A New Padel Tennis Club at La Manga

• A La Manga Club resident is starting a padel tennis club.

• It will take place on Wednesday evenings between 4-6pm at the Racquets Club.

• The cost is €10 per head for court fees and includes a drink afterwards.

• To join or partake contact Patrick Field via WhatsApp on +44 7900 933354

 

Ten new Easyjet routes into Alicante for 2024

• Easyjet is making Alicante one of its seasonal bases, it’s fourth in Spain.

• As a result, it will be flying 10 new routes into the airport in 2024 as follows:

1. Southampton (UK)

2. Birmingham (UK)

3. Newcastle (UK)

4. Belfast (NI)

5. Zurich (CH)

6. Prague (PL)

7. Lyon (FR)

8. Lille (FR)

9. Nantes (FR)

10. Nice (FR)

• Flight seats for many of these routes are already on sale.

 

New Mercadona Supermarket Opens in Cartagena.

• A new Mercadona supermarket has opened in the La Rambla area of Cartagena, a little over 4-years after the popular Eroski closed. It will be open from 9am-9:30 pm, every day.

• This news has been well received following the recent closure of another Mercadona at ‘Calle Ramón y Cajal’ in Cartagena.

 

Beach Cleaning of Mar Menor Beaches

• The Scientific Advisory Committee has authorised specialist teams to commence removing sludge from Mar Menor beaches having allocated around 1 million Euros for the project.

• The initial beaches being targeted are; Los Nietos, Los Urrutias, Punta Brava & Estrella de Mar.

 

New - Additional Free Car Parking for Cartagena in 2024

• Two new free car parks are under construction in Cartagena.

• Located next to the La Rambla and Mandarache shopping centres, they will provide over 800 new spaces.

 

A visit to the Cierva Reservoir?

• About an hour from La Manga Club and to the north of the town of Mula, the Mula River meets the spectacular Cierva reservoir.

• A wonderful and peaceful place to walk around and take in magnificent scenery and vistas.

• Construction plans for the reservoir (named after Juan de la Cievra y Peñafiel the minister for development and representative for Mula), began at the beginning of the 20th century, but it was not until 1915 that the works were inaugurated and then not until 1929 that it was officially completed.

• However, it was not then actually filled until 1946.

• Today it is a beautiful touristic area, popular with walkers, hikers, fishermen, kayaker’s and cyclists.

• There is ample parking and a picnic area with benches to enjoy a drink or a packed lunch, located at Área Recreativa Pantano de la Cierva, 30194 Mula, Murcia.

• See: La Cierva Reservoir – Official Tourism Website of Mula (turismodemula.es) for more information.

 

Astronomy Evenings During the Winter Months?

• For all you stargazers out there, Astronomy Tours at Finca Astronomy now offer overnight stays in their glamping pods or spacious tent rooms, kitted out with comfortable bedding.

• Both also have heating so you can be nice and warm even when the temperature drops outside.

• See Facebook or Home - Astronomy Tours for more information.

 

La Quinta Golf ‘Winta Classic’ - February 2024.

• Andy Clyde, the organiser of this year’s Winta golf classic has asked me to let members know that the competition will be held on 8th February. More info in next month’s blog.

 

Driving in Spain - Part 4 - Motorways

•  Autopistas & Autovίas, so what’s the difference?

• In this fourth article about driving in Spain, I will explain the difference between 'A' and 'AP' roads, junction numbering and marker boards.

 

Autovías (‘A’ Roads)

•  These are generally toll-free dual carriageway roads, often designed for high-speed travel but may have intersections, roundabouts, and entry points.

• They can be found throughout Spain and are often older roads upgraded to cope with increased traffic.

• In the main, these roads are found in regions where the construction of high-speed toll roads may not be economically viable.

 

Autopistas de Peaje (‘AP’ Roads)

• ‘AP’ roads are also dual carriageways designed for high-speed travel but are of a higher standard than A Roads and typically have fewer direct entry/exit points, which are normally controlled with grade-separated junctions.

• As the word 'Peaje' indicates, these are toll roads. Drivers are required to pay based on the distance travelled with toll booths strategically located at motorway entry and exit points.

• ‘AP’ roads often connect major cities, ports, and tourist areas and are intended to provide a faster, more direct route for long-distance travellers.

• The tolls collected are used to maintain and upgrade the highway infrastructure.

 

Junction Numbering

•  Historically, most Spanish motorways employed a sequential junction numbering system, which were numbered consecutively, starting from the beginning of the motorway.

• So, the first junction would be ‘Salida 1’ (Exit 1), the second ‘Salida 2’ and so on.

• However, many roads now utilise a kilometric numbering system, where junction numbers correspond to the distance in kilometres from the motorway's starting point (a junction located 15 kilometres from the beginning of the motorway would be therefore labelled ‘Salida 15’).

• This assists drivers to understand where on the motorway they are based on the junction number and allows for new junctions to be added without having to re-number the entire motorway.

 

Marker Boards

• As well as junction numbers, motorways have a series of small, rectangular marker boards placed at regular intervals alongside the road.

• Here's what they denote:

 

Distance Markers

• These are the most common type of marker boards.

• Placed every kilometre, they display the motorway’s code (e.g., A-7 or AP-69), followed by the distance in kilometres from the start of the motorway.

• The number increases/decreases as you travel further along the motorway. It's a great tool for drivers to gauge their location, especially if they're awaiting a specific exit.

 

Emergency/Additional Information Markers

• Another type of marker board is the emergency board. These have an added SOS sign and provide crucial information for emergency services.

• In case of an accident or breakdown, by quoting the nearest marker board's details, drivers can ensure a quicker response as the emergency services can pinpoint their exact location.

• Some marker boards may also display additional symbols or codes that denote features like tunnels, bridges, or other significant infrastructure points.

• Safe travels.

 

Members Photographs

• Thank you all for the great photos you have sent to us throughout last year. These are available to view on our gallery, see them here: Members' Photos (laquintaclub.com)

• But please carry on sending them in to us in 2024 from your visits to La Quinta….we really want to see more!

• Just email Angel - and he will gladly add them to our gallery for you.

• We’re looking forward to increasing our gallery and to seeing your 2023/24 memories.

 

Also please don't forget to:

• Visit our website where we have lots of other useful information particularly in the info+ section (see +Info (laquintaclub.com).

• See our new event planner (Events' calendar (laquintaclub.com) for activities taking place at the club.

• Use the members forum where you can swap, exchange, rent or sell weeks and share information, ideas, suggestions or just ask questions. If you haven't signed up yet, please visit: La Quinta at La Manga Club - Official Forum - Index (laquintaclub.com) to register.

• Visit, like and leave feedback or comments on our social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and read our articles in Murcia Today, La Manga Life and the General Community magazines.

 

Well once again, it’s a very warm welcome to 2024 from us all at La Quinta, we hope you have both a very happy New Year and Three-Kings on the 5th & 6th January.

A new year, with exciting times ahead, new challenges and projects.

I would like to extend my personal wishes to you and your loved ones for 2024 and look forward to seeing and welcoming you back to La Quinta during the year. 

Chairman’s Blog - Season 2, Edition 7 (December 2023)

• Ho, Ho, Ho and the season’s greetings from me and all at La Quinta.

• We all hope you and your families have a fabulous time over the forthcoming festive period.

Merry Christmas from La Quinta

 

• As the busy Christmas period and the end of the year fast approaches, I would like to briefly reflect on 2023.

• It’s been a very successful year here at LQC, where we have experienced hotter than average temperatures.

• Occupancy has been high, with increased revenue from both rentals and in La Solana.

• We have introduced a variety of new entertainment offerings for both Monday nights and at our pool party and have hosted lots of private events.

• Members seem to have had a great time during their stays and feedback has been very positive.

• I would like to thank everyone for supporting La Quinta throughout the year as we look forward to improving even further in 2024.

• So, although it’s now December here, it is still considerably warmer than back home with average daily highs of around 17˚- 18˚C and still a great time for a pre-Christmas or Christmas/New Year visit.

• A perfect month for sightseeing, walking, hiking, or playing outdoor sports.

• However, do be aware that the bar and restaurant in the clubhouse are closed from 1st December until mid January, as staff need to take their annual leave. The clubhouse itself however will remain open and available as a meeting place, or to watch TV etc with complimentary tea/coffee provided.

• The pool is also closed from 11th to 29th December as it needs to be emptied for maintenance and re-grouting.

• Although La Solana is not open, many of the local restaurants are for Christmas & New Year celebrations and parties, so lots to do if you decide to visit us in December and the festive period.Don’t forget to check out our events calendar on our website showing you all the activities we are hosting at a glance. To access the calendar visit: https://www.laquintaclub.com/about-us/events-calendar.html

• So here we are, Season 2 blog #7, the final blog of 2023 with updates and information for the month of December about the people, activities and events happening in and around La Quinta, La Manga Club, and the Cartagena/Murcia regions. This, as always, is sent directly to your email inbox, but it is also accessible on our website see…Chairman's Blog (laquintaclub.com) I hope you enjoy!

 

Meet the staff

For my final blog of 2023, I am featuring two fairly-new members of our bar/restaurant staff, Lorena Sánchez & Álvaro Sáez Vicente. So here is a little bit about them both.

 

Lorena Sánchez

• Lorena is 32 and from the nearby village of El Algar.

• She is one of our newer members of staff having only been working with us for 2-years in La Solana.

• Lorena is Antonia’s niece’s best friend, which is how she came to be introduced to, and subsequently offered a position at La Quinta.

• When she was 23 years old, Lorena decided to broaden her horizons and went to live & work in Edinburgh, which she says was one of best decisions of her life, both personally and professionally.

• These two years helped her greatly in learning English, which she now speaks and understands well.

• However, missing the Spanish climate, two years later she moved back to Spain to Mallorca, where she worked for 5-years.

• Lorena was (is), a travel junkie and dedicates all her free time to this pursuit.

• She met her partner and love of her life, Jorge (an agricultural engineer), 5-years ago and just 6-months ago gave birth to a lovely daughter named Atenea.

• Amongst her hobbies and interests are diving, hiking and of course travelling as much as possible!

 

 

Álvaro Sáez

• Álvaro is aged 31 years old, was born and still lives in Cartagena.

• He is one of the new additions to La Quinta and is part of the La Solana restaurant team having been recruited after leaving his CV at reception.

• Álvaro speaks very good English having worked as a waiter in various hotels in Dublin and Killarney in Ireland.

• He holds a degree in Tourism from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, which led him to work in various reception and reservation departments in different hotels.

• Álvaro has also worked as a tourist information provider at the Cartagena City Hall and in the back office of the groups and congress department at Viajes El Corte Inglés in Murcia.

• His father, Antonio is retired military and his mother, Pilar is an early childhood educator.

• He also has a brother, Pablo, aged 35, who is an English teacher in primary education.

• In his free time, Álvaro is involved in the world of music and from a young age has been a vocalist and lyricist. He not only performs in cover bands for events but also composes and performs his own songs.

 

• Update on November Events

• November continued the exceptionally warm weather theme that has prevailed throughout most of the year, although it was a little breezy for the opening first few days of the month.

• As with October, La Solana continued to be busy throughout November with members enjoying the fabulous warm, sunny conditions.

• The November Getaway was also enjoyed by those that attended with an interesting and enjoyable wine tour and lunch at the Madrid Romero bodega near Torre Pacheco.

  

• The festive crafty coffee morning held in Bellaluz square on 10th November was well attended and was very successful with lots of vendors showcasing their artisan products, so much so another is being held at La Sabrinas on Friday 1st December.

 

 

• Farmfoods European Senior Masters Golf Competition 2nd-5th November 2023

• The 2nd Farmfoods Senior Masters Golf to be held at La Manga was very successful and after a hard-fought competition, was won by the Swedish player Patrik Sjöland with a score of -14.

• Watch highlights of the final day’s play here: https://youtu.be/RRC3uwxz-OU?si=ziqmUhCEcbo9pnRd

    

• Thursday saw the Pro-Am competition played with stars such as Ian Woosnam, Peter Baker, Paul Lawrie and Kenny Dalglish taking part.

• The Essex Eccentrics were the eventual winners with a score of 90.

• The winners of the closely fought Alliance (played on the 3rd & 4th November), were Michael Jonzon & Alfie Hunt with 65 in round one and 63 in round two.

• La Quinta were one of the sponsors/contributors at this 4-day event and as well as having a full-page advert in the programme, had 10 x Tee boards strategically placed around the course.

• On Thursday a charity gala dinner hosted by Champions PLC (UK) Events, was held at the hotel with in-excess of 200 invitees attending, including Laura and myself.

• Once again, La Quinta had a strong advertising presence at the event with strategically placed promotional roll-up banners.

• At the auction (conducted by the athlete Derek Redmond), held later in the evening the great news is that La Quinta raised £2000 for the Pablo Ugarte children’s cancer charity for a week’s stay in one of our villa’s.

 

• La Manga Club Owners’ Golf Championships 19th - 24th November 2023

• After 5-days of competitive golf, the 2023 owner’s golf competition culminated in a prizegiving gala dinner held at the hotel.

• 250 players, guests and dignitaries enjoyed a great night at La Manga Club’s biggest golf tournament of the year.

• For full results see: C:\Users\rpkfi\AppData\Local\Temp\mso4450.tmp (lamangaclubowners.com)

 

Buggies Again!

• There have been a number of incidents involving buggies at La Manga Club again this summer/autumn, particularly involving drunk or young people.

• So if you are considering using one, or are asked to be a passenger, here are the regulations for their use.

 

A good holiday book for La Quinta members?

• One of our long standing La Quinta members, who also served on the committee, Sandra Ramini, has written a book that will no doubt be an essential holiday read for around the pool at La Quinta.

• It's called 'Act III - The Essential Handbook for Those Not Born Yesterday' and is a humorous guide to the golden years of the third part of our lives.

• It is available in both Kindle and paperback editions from Amazon: ACT III: The Essential Handbook for Those Not Born Yesterday: Amazon.co.uk: Ramini, Sandra Harris: 9781916852242: Books

 

Events & Activities for December 2023

Christmas Lights in Cartagena 2023

• The big switch on for 2023’s festive Christmas lights in Cartagena is set for the 5th of December.

• With the city spending more than half a million euros this year, the display should be truly spectacular.

• Covering the centre of the city to the outskirts, they will remain illuminated until 7th January 2024, so plenty of opportunity to see them in all their glory.

• You will be also able to view the iconic LED almond tree lights, known for their spectacular display on Calle del Carmen, and in several other prominent locations, including Puertas de Murcia, Santa Florentina, Jabonerías, and Plaza San Sebastián.

• These lights will be adorned in gold with hues of violet and pink, ensuring they remain eye-catching even in daylight.

  

• A group coach visit at €16 a head is planned for 20th December, (6pm-10pm) departing from the Owners Clubhouse. Contact Gill Schofield for more info via WhatsApp +34 639 426 475

  

Caves of Calasparra

• Not specifically for the month of December, the caves in Calasparra are an intriguing and spectacular place to visit anytime.

• Part of the ‘Sierra del Puerto’ mountain range, approximately 700 meters long and 50 meters deep, they maintain an ambient temperature of 18˚C all year round.

• A pleasant place to walk around during the summer or winter months, with much of the caves yet to be fully discovered.

• A tour guide will take you through the caves (which lasts about an hour), explaining how all the different formations have been created.

• This is a fascinating and educational visit, with a magical atmosphere in breathtaking surroundings.

• See www.cuevadelpuerto.es for bookings and more information.

 

The Salt Lakes of San Pedro del Pinatar

• Again, not something just confined to December, this is a very pleasant walking route running through one of the most spectacular natural parks on the Costa Calida.

• A circular nature trail allows you to experience breathtaking views of the lakes, the picturesque landscape and the abundance of wildlife in the area including flamingos and other migratory birds.

• The route includes a bird watching observatory looking out to the lake and the Torre Derribada beach (close to the port).

• The location for the start of this walk is Punto de Información El Coterillo, Parque Regional Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar, Av. de las Salinas, s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia.

  

La Manga & The Mar Menor 

• This is a little bit of history and information about La Manga and the Mar Menor.

• La Manga del Mar Menor, meaning ‘The Sandbar of the Minor Sea’ is the strip of land separating the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor (Minor Sea) and the Costa Calida.

• It’s 21 kms long, on average only 100 metres wide and stretches from Cabo de Palos in the south to the Punta del Mojón in the north.

 

 La Manga & the Mar Menor

• Historically known by the Romans as Palus and by the Moors as Al Buhayrat Al Qsarand, its name changed in the 17th century to Mar Chico, meaning ‘small sea’ and later to El Mar Menor.

• Originally, it was a bay opening into the Mediterranean at either end, but volcanic reefs formed gradually holding back the sand and sediment, forming dunes and rock vegetation with long beaches.

• Natural channels keep the two seas in contact with each other allowing flow from the Mediterranean into the Mar Menor.

• La Manga was virtually untouched until the 1960s, when it was discovered as a potential tourist destination and quickly underwent a transformation creating the urbanisations and tourist infrastructure that we see today.

• Since it first began to be developed, it has become a popular tourist destination with both the Spanish and the English.

La Manga in the 1960’s

 

• As mentioned, the Mar Menor coastal saltwater lagoon, separates the Mediterranean, called the Mar Mayor (greater/larger sea) with the mainland Costa Calida.

• The largest lagoon in Spain, it has a surface area of 135 km2, a coastal length of 70 km, is no more than 7 metres in depth, has relatively high salinity, (aiding flotation) and is virtually non- tidal.

• Four municipalities border the Mar Menor: Cartagena, Los Alcázares, San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar.

• There are also five islets located within the triangular shaped Mar Menor; Perdiguera, Mayor or El Barón, Ciervo, Redonda and del Sujeto all of which can be visited by boat.

• Today the many beaches, boating and water sports, bars, restaurants, chiringuito’s (beach bars), shops and various types of accommodation attract people to La Manga and the Mar Menor area for vacations, to purchase holiday homes or as a place of permanent residence.

 

La manga del Mar Menor today

Members Photographs

• Thank you all for the great photos you have sent to us this year so far, which have been uploaded onto our gallery.

• But please carry on sending them in to us from your visits to La Quinta…. we really want to see more!

• Just email Angel and he will gladly add them to our gallery for you.

• We’re looking forward to increasing our gallery and to seeing your 2023 memories.

 

Also please don't forget to:

• Visit our website where we have lots of other useful information particularly in the info+ section (see +Info (laquintaclub.com).

• See our new event planner (Events' calendar (laquintaclub.com) for activities taking place at the club.

• Use the members forum where you can swap, exchange, rent or sell weeks and share information, ideas, suggestions or just ask questions. If you haven't signed up yet, please visit: La Quinta at La Manga Club - Official Forum - Index (laquintaclub.com) to register.

• Visit, like and leave feedback or comments on our social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and read our articles in Murcia Today, La Manga Life and the General Community magazines.

 

As we say goodbye to 2023 here on the Costa Calida, I would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas, a peaceful but prosperous 2024 and to extend my thanks once again for your support throughout the year.

Take care….Mark.

Merry Christmas

 

 

Chairman’s Blog - Season 2, Edition 6 (November 2023)

• Well, its November now and the nights are certainly drawing in back in the UK, especially as the clocks have gone back.

• But don’t fear, it is still pleasantly warm here in the region of Murcia with average daily temperatures normally in the low 20’s and sunset not until around 6pm.

• A great time to visit us, November is an excellent month for sightseeing, walking, hiking, or playing outdoor sports.

• Ideal for sporting groups and don’t forget our heated pool is still warm for a swim!

• The Farmfoods European Senior Masters golf tournament is due to tee off on Thursday 2nd November, I will give you a full update of how it went in December’s blog.

• * We are sponsoring the charity auction, (in support of a children’s cancer charity in Cartagena) on the evening of 2nd, but will be accepting pre-auction bids by email to either Laura (director@laquintaclub.com) or myself (chairman@laquintaclub.com) in advance. So bid away to support a really good cause and for a chance to win a week in a 3-bed villa at the club! *

• As we have high occupancy this November the bar and restaurant should remain busy too.

• In late October we introduced our updated La Quinta logo, with new brand awareness wording. I am sure you will agree it looks great and will help to identify us as a first-class holiday destination.

• New Events Calendar: We have also recently introduced a new events calendar on our website. This will enable you to see all the activities we are hosting at a glance. To access the calendar visit: https://www.laquintaclub.com/about-us/events-calendar.html

• So, Season 2 blog #6, it is then, with updates and information for the month of November about the people, activities and events happening in and around La Quinta, La Manga Club, and the Cartagena/Murcia regions. This, as always, is sent directly to your email inbox, but it is also accessible on our website see…Chairman's Blog (laquintaclub.com) I hope you enjoy!

 

Meet the staff

For my November blog, it’s the turn of two of our long standing members of staff Christina, (Cling) Vallejo from accounts and Angel Comas our IT and systems wizard.

So let me tell you about them both.

 

Cristina Vallejo (Cling)

• Cristina known to most as ‘Cling’, is 58 years old and has worked at La Quinta since 1991.

• Born in Manila, Philippines, she is part of a large family of 14 having a Spanish father and Filipino mother.

• Cling moved to Spain when she was 14 and since that time has always lived in La Manga.

• She initially joined La Quinta as a waitress, (working alongside Enrique) before moving to the reception & reservations department where she worked for six years.

• Cling left La Quinta for two years after having her second child, (during which time she lived in Reunion Island and in St. Tropez), before returning to work in the accounts & sales department, where she has remained ever since.

• She speaks 4 languages, and her hobbies and interests include cooking, travelling, yoga, watching films, and taking leisurely walks with her two dogs.

• Cling is married to Cheche (a Maritime Customs Officer from Cartagena) and has two grown up children: Vanessa, aged 34 (who manages a yoga/wellness centre on the strip) and Marco, aged 27, who is a cook in a local Crepería.

• Cling also part-owns and operates a hostel named the ‘Lunazul Guesthouse’ in Port Barton, on the island of Palawan in the Philippines. She visits the hostel twice a year.

  

Angel Comas

•  Angel turned 60 in October and is proud to be an integral part of the La Quinta team having worked with us for 30-years.

• Born in Cartagena, he moved to La Manga when he was 23 years old and has lived there ever since.

• Before joining La Quinta, he worked as a sailing instructor, a DJ, and at Bellaluz BBVA branch.

• He was originally employed as an assistant in the accounts department but later became our systems manager. He also holds the role as the club’s deputy manager.

• Angel says, “It's been quite a ride, and I can't help but smile when I think about how far I've come”.

• He has been happily married (his words), to Madeleine for 35-years, who is from Sweden and owns a successful real estate agency called ‘Imagine Villas’.

• They have one daughter Aitana, who is 22 years old and lives in San Francisco - USA. She recently graduated from university there having earned a tennis scholarship. They are both very proud of her.

• Angel’s hobbies include most water sports, but he particularly enjoys sailing and fishing.

• Regarding his job at LQC, Angel says he is genuinely content and happy and it’s the place where he feels at home, He says he couldn't ask for more.

 

Update on October Events

• October was a fantastic month for weather, a real Indian summer!

• Someone forgot to tell the seasons that it is now autumn, as the temperatures hovered around 27˚ for the first 3-weeks of the month with lots and lots of warm sunshine.

• Even during the half-term week, it was warm and sunny, averaging around 23-24 ˚C.

• There were a couple of unseasonal very blustery days during the month although it remained very warm.

• As with the rest of the season, La Solana continued to be busy throughout October with 83 guests attending on Monday 2nd October, 75 on the 8th and 60 on the 16th and 50 on the 23rd.

• As half term was earlier this year, rather than have a Monday night Halloween party nearly a week early, we decided to host another Masquerade ball like the one held back at half term in May.

• Those who attended had a great time and were entertained by the fabulous Vanessa Soul.

• The winner of the best mask was Christina Bradley, well done to her.

   

 

• We did hold a kids Halloween party later in the week on Friday 27th, which was thoroughly enjoyed by our younger guests.

  

 

• As I finish writing this blog, our 2023 ‘November Getaway’ is in full swing having commenced on the 28th of October. I will provide a full update of this in next month’s blog.

• Two groups of ladies from Sweden (33 & 25 pax), visited the club during October taking part in activities such as tennis, hiking, water aerobics, gymnastics, and evening events in La Solana. They all had a great time and intend to re-book again.

• La Manga Adventure Golf held a Multiple Sclerosis Fundraising Event on 18th October. €1107 was raised by the 45 golfers taking part in the golf tournament with Tim taking the honours with an impressive score of 48.

• The British Isles tennis team won their 2nd consecutive tournament this time against Norway in the Micasamo Nations Cup tournament. Held over two days 22nd - 23rd October they won emphatically with a 5-1 scoreline on both days. Well done to them.

 

A New Route to be Added at Corvera Airport from 2024

• Although Corvera airport remains much quieter than Alicante, new routes are slowly being added.

• In addition to the cities of Madrid and Barcelona that commenced earlier this year, Porto in Portugal will be the latest new route flying in and out of RMU from 2024.

• Currently, there are 20-destinations using Corvera airport, both internationally; (UK, Ireland, Belgium, Morocco, & the Chez Republic) and nationally; (Oviedo, Gran Canaria, Menorca, Majorca, and Santander).

  

EU Calls for Flight Luggage Standardisation

• On Wednesday 4th October, MEPs in Strasbourg voted to support a resolution calling for airlines to scrap fees for ‘reasonable’ sized carry-on luggage, and to standardise rules on the size of cabin bags.

• It calls for airlines to respect a 2014 ruling from the EU Court of Justice, which says that cabin bags - provided they are of ‘reasonable’ size and weight - are a ‘necessary aspect’ of air travel and therefore passengers shouldn’t be charged for them. 

• The plan still needs support from the Commission and the EU countries so watch this space!

 

 See Fantastic Views of Cartagena City from the Panoramic Lift

•  A comfortable and fast way up to the highest point of 

• Concepción Hill, it is 45 metres tall and saves you the climb to the top of the hill where the beautiful Torres Park and the Concepción Castle Museum await.

• Providing the best views of the city and the bay, it is located on the slopes of the hill where the galleries of the old shelters are located and with the base of the elevator serving as an entrance to the Refuge Museum of the Civil War.

• As it is all glass, it affords panoramic views of some of the most historic buildings in the city including the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, the 18th century military constructions, the Antiguones Barracks, the fishing port of Santa Lucía and the El Batel Auditorium.

• Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am-7pm, a combined ticket for lift and castle is only €4.50 for adults and €3.50 for children & pensioners.

• It can be found at Castillo de la Concepción, Parque Torres, 30202 Cartagena, Murcia, see: Panoramic Elevator | Transport | Cartagena Puerto de Culturas for further information.

 

Javier Outdoor Aeronautical Museum

•  Opened in 2020, the new Typhlological Aeronautical Museum (MΛT), is an open-air space, located on the beautiful seafront of Paseo Colon in Santiago de la Ribera.

• The museum uses an easy-to-install QR code system, offering visitors detailed information about each of the models exhibited along the 1km route.

• It also caters for those with visual or hearing disabilities, providing information through sight and touch.

• San Javier has a longstanding relationship with aeronautics, dating back to the 1920’s when the first naval airbase was built.

• Amongst the displays are five models of the most characteristic aircrafts from the air base’s history: the Dornier J “Wal”, the Beechcraft T-34 “Mentor”, the North American T-6 “Texan”, the Hispano Ha-200 “Saeta” and CASA C-101 “Mirlo”.

• For more information see: Air City (sanjavier.es)

   

 

Events and Activities for November 2023

November Cartagena Harbour Tours 1st, 8th & 15th November 2023

• A reminder of a good sightseeing trip in Cartagena. It is well worth doing.

• The last for this year, there are 3 x tours running in November on the 1st, 8th & the 15th, a great way to see historic Cartagena.

• The 3-hour tour includes a guided visit to the fort area and a 50-minutes boat trip around the harbour of Cartagena.

• The cost is only €20 per person.

• See https://www.facebook.com/events/651982830226693 or info@mediterraneancartagenatours.com for more info.

 

42nd Cartagena Jazz Festival 2nd - 19th November 2023

•  If you are a jazz fan or just a music lover, this could be for you.

• Held at the terrace of the wall of Batel, the Batel auditorium itself and at the new circus theatre in Cartagena with acts playing from 2nd - 19th November.

• These will take place during the daytime and the evening throughout the 18-days.

• See: 42 Cartagena Jazz Festival for tickets, artists, programme or more information.

 

 Magic Festival in Murcia 11th - 12th November 2023

• On 11th &12th November the Teatro Romea, (Theatre Romea) in Murcia will host the Festival of Magic.

• The two-day event will feature around 20 different national and international acts from illusionists to magicians.

• For more information see: www.teatroromea.es

 

Wine & Warm Waters - Trip to Jumilla & Fortuna - 15th November 2023

• Continuing with her monthly daybreak-trips, Gill Scofield is organising one to the Murcian towns of Jumilla & Fortuna.

• The wine & warm waters trip will comprise of wine tasting in the morning followed by free time to partake in some food and wine then a relaxing afternoon in the thermal pools at Fortuna Spa.

• The cost will be a very reasonable €59 including entrance to the wine experience and the spa.

• As there are many places to eat, lunch is not included.

• To book or for more information contact Gill via WhatsApp +34 639 426 475

  

La Manga Club Owners’ Golf Championships 19th - 24th November 2023

• This annual owner’s competition will be played to the Stableford format in three handicap divisions. The exact divisional splits will depend on numbers.

• If you wish to enter follow this link. Please check out the menu for the gala dinner and add your meal choices when you enter. The table plan will open in early November.

• There will be prizes for divisional winners, runners up and places depending on the numbers in the division. 

• The best Stableford score irrespective of the division will win the overall trophy. 

• In addition, there will be prizes/trophies for the best scratch score, the best man and woman over 70 years old plus nearest the pins and daily best score prizes. 

• There will be a cut after two rounds to determine those who will play in the final round on Friday. For those who don’t make the cut there is a four ball ‘Better Ball’ pairs competition on Friday with its own trophies and prizes. 

• The itinerary for the week will be as follows:

 

• Sunday evening - players gather at the Owners’ Clubhouse

• Monday morning - all ladies divisions and men’s division three - North Course

• Tuesday morning - men’s divisions one and two - North Course

• Wednesday morning - all ladies divisions and men’s division three - West Course

• Thursday morning - men’s divisions one and two - West Course

• Thursday evening - pre-final day party - last round draw and pairs competition organisation

• Friday morning - final championship round on South Course and pairs competition on North Course

• Friday evening/night/early morning! - gala dinner and prize presentation at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

 

• See entry form (link here) and competition terms and conditions (link here) before signing up.

• 200 golfers can be accommodated for this competition on a ‘first paid, first served basis’.

• The cost is 90 euros for the week for players and guests inclusive of drinks, (within reason) and tapas for both for the Sunday gathering and at the Thursday evening pre-final day party. Contact lmcownersgolfchampionships@gmail.com for competition queries or event clarification.

 

Festive Crafty Coffee Morning in Bellaluz - 10th November 2023

• To be held in Bellaluz Plaza Square from 10:30-13:30 on the 10th of November 2023 is a Christmas Craft sale and coffee morning.

• So why not go along and support local businesses, pick up some gift items and partake in festive food and drink?

• Contact Gill Schofield via WhatsApp on +34 639 426475 for more information.

 

 

Local Markets

• Whilst on the subject of shopping, who doesn’t love going to a local market, experiencing the hustle and bustle, the sights, sounds, colours and culture and more than that, getting a bargain?

• Here is a list of the locations, opening days & times of the local markets in and around the Costa Calida.

• Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and sometimes these markets change days and/or locations, so I would highly recommend double-checking before you visit.

 

1. San Pedro del Pinatar (Monday)

Calle Mercado Avenida San Juan Bautista and surrounding streets - fresh market produce and household goods. Open 09:00-14:00.

2. La Union (Tuesday)

Calle Mayor and Calle Jacinto Conesa - food, clothing, souvenirs, and household goods. Open 09:00-14:00.

3. Los Alcazáres (Tuesday)

Calle Catalanes and Calle Parque Penas Huertanas - local produce including vegetables and fruit, dairy products, household goods, textiles, and clothing. Open 09:00-14:00.

4. El Albujón - Tuesday

Calle Descartes - a new market selling general goods. Opens 8:30-13:00.

5. Los Belones (Tuesday)

Plaza de la Iglesia and Calle Marcos Sanz - mainly fruit and vegetables. Open 09:00-14:00.

6. Santiago de la Ribera (Wednesday)

Avenida Patrulla Aguila having moved from the old site of Carrero Blanco - a general market. Open 09:00-14:00

7. San Javier (Wednesday)

Avenida Carrero Blanco and Calle Federico Guirao - fruit & vegetables and dairy products. Some household goods. Open 09:00-14:00.

8. Los Urrutias (Thursday)

Only operates in the summer months June-September a general market - Avenida Unificación.

9. San Javier (Thursday)

Calle Coronel Fernandez Tudela and surrounding streets - local produce and household goods. Open 09:00-14:00.

10. San Pedro del Pinatar (Lo Pagan) - (Thursday)

Avenida Salzillo - general market. Open 09:00-14:00

11. El Algar (Friday)

Avenida Filipinas - fruit and vegetables, clothes, jewellery, locally produced handicrafts and household items. Open 08:00-14:00.

12. Cartagena (Wednesday)

Calle Ribera de San Javier - general market selling food, fruits & vegetables, Clothing, footwear, etc. Open 08:30-13:30.

13. Los Alcazares (Los Narejos) - (Saturday)

Calle Leonardo de Vinci and surrounding area - fruit and vegetables, household items and clothing. Open 09:00-14:00.

14. Cabo de Palos (Sunday)

Spar Supermarket - fruit and vegetables, souvenirs, household goods, clothing, and shoes. Open 08:00-14:30

 

An Introduction to Scuba Diving

• Our general manager, Laura took her family on a dive experience recently and she told me they all had a fantastic time, so it got me thinking, why not write an article this month about Scuba diving? So here goes.

• Thinking about learning to become a scuba (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus), diver?

• Diving is not only a great sport and pastime, but also fun and allows you to explore and experience the aquatic world beneath the waves.

• There are a number of worldwide instructional diving associations, but as I am myself trained with them, I shall be focusing on the biggest one which is PADI.

• PADI stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors and is a recreational diver training agency.

• The standard HSE approved course called 'Open Water Diver' takes 3-days and teaches you the rudiments of diving.

• As well as demonstrating practical ability, you will also be required to do a bit of studying and pass a written test.

• Once qualified, as an 'Open Water' diver you will be able to dive to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet).

Essential equipment for scuba diving.

 

1. Fins, snorkel, and mask.

• These are fairly self-explanatory items which help you see, move around underwater and breath on or near the surface. 

• Top tip…never refer to fins as flippers 😂

2. BCD - Buoyancy Control Device.

• This is a vest that can be inflated or deflated, allowing you to control your buoyancy. It houses your air tank and allows attachment of various dive items such as air pipes, dive computer, torch etc. Some have integrated weight pockets too.

3. Air tanks(s).

• Made from aluminium or steel and fitted with a valve, they come in various sizes with 12L being the most common.

• These are not pure oxygen tanks but a mixture of breathable gases, (21% Oxygen and 79% Nitrogen). For deep diving, Nitrox is used which contains a higher, (22-40%) ratio of Oxygen to Nitrogen.

4. Regulator.

• This is the device that delivers air from the tank to the diver. It is essential that the regulator is properly maintained.

• It consists of two parts - a first stage and second stage.

• The first stage reduces the high tank pressure to a breathable one for the diver, with the second stage comprising of two elements:

a) the primary demand valve (DV), - the part you put in your mouth and 

b) the alternate valve, often called the Octopus used to share air with a dive buddy low or out of air.

5. Weights.

• These are attached via dive belts or sometimes in the pockets of the BCD.

 6. Submersible Pressure Gauge (SPG) and Dive Computer.

• The first allows you to view how much air you have remaining in your tank and must always be carried when diving.

• The dive computer helps with dive planning, measures your depth, dive time and also assists in calculating how long you can stay at particular depths underwater. 

 7. Wet and Dry suits.

 Wet suits: 

• These are normally made from neoprene and come in different thicknesses. They can be short or long and are essential for keeping you warm and protecting your skin when underwater.

 Dry suits: 

• As the name suggests these keep you dry when diving and are suited to colder climates.

• They are waterproof and have built-in boots and seals around the neck and wrists to keep water out and to keep you warm.

• An additional course is required to use this type of suit.

• So, if I have whetted your appetite (no pun intended), why not first experience a pool try dive at La Quinta?

• Every Sunday our partners - Adventure Divers, based at La Manga Club visit us and offer free in-pool try dives.

• They are PADI accredited and offer a vast range of diving experiences and courses as well as other water-based activities. Some of the best dive sites in Spain are in or around Cabo de Palos and the ‘Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve’. See https://adventurediversspain.com/ for more information.

 

Members Photographs

• Thank you all for the great photos you have sent to us this year so far, which have been uploaded onto our gallery.

• But please carry on sending them to us from your visits to La Quinta….we really want to see more!

• Just email Angel - and he will gladly add them to our gallery for you.

• We’re looking forward to seeing your 2023 memories.

 

Also please don't forget to:

• Visit our website where we have lots of other useful information, particularly in the info+ section (see +Info (laquintaclub.com).

• See our new event planner (Events' calendar (laquintaclub.com) for activities taking place at the club.

• Use the members forum where you can swap, exchange, rent or sell weeks and share information, ideas, suggestions or just ask questions. If you haven't signed up yet, please visit: La Quinta at La Manga Club - Official Forum - Index (laquintaclub.com) to register.

• Visit, like and leave feedback or comments on our social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and read our articles in Murcia Today, La Manga Life and the General Community magazines.

 

• As we head towards the end of the year here on the Costa Calida, I do hope that everyone has had a very memorable stay with us at La Quinta throughout the year.

• Thank you for continuing to support us and for helping make La Quinta one of the best holiday destinations and experiences in the region of Murcia.

• Best regards….Mark.

 

• Finally, check out this amazing photograph. Taken from the space station, some 400kms above the Earth, it shows La Manga Club, La Manga Strip, the Mar Menor and the Costa Calida.

 

 

 

Chairman’s Blog - Season 2, Edition 5 (October 2023)

• October is upon us already at La Quinta! Where exactly has this year gone?

• The summer months seem to have flown past although members have enjoyed it and it’s been fantastic for everyone here at the club.

• October is another lovely month in the region of Murcia as we begin to head into autumn. It’s great for sports such as golf, tennis, padel, cycling etc.

• We are full again this month as we look forward to the two very busy half-term weeks in the latter part of the month followed by our very popular ‘November Getaway’, which commences this year on the 28th of October.

• The bar and restaurant remain busy too with use by both members and non-members.

• Monday night dinners have also been popular with an average of 70-guests each week.

• Shared airport transfers?

• Just a thought but with the cost of car hire and taxi's ever increasing, why not think about car or taxi sharing with other LQC members for transfers to and from the airports and the club?

• The member’s forum is an ideal medium in which to offer spare seats or request shared transfers.

• So, it’s off we go then with Season 2 blog #5, with lots of things to do and see and updates and information for the month of October about the people, activities and events happening in and around La Quinta, La Manga Club, and the Cartagena/Murcia regions. This, as always, is sent directly to your email inbox, but it is also accessible on our website see…Chairman's Blog (laquintaclub.com) I hope you enjoy!

Meet the staff

For October, it’s the turn of the one and only Dani from reception and to introduce to you one of our newer staff members Saray from the kitchen.

Dani Alvarez

• Dani is 33 years old and is an integral part of our reception team.

• He was born in Cartagena but he now lives in nearby Los Belones.

• Dani started working at La Quinta when he was only 16, as a pool attendant alongside Enrique.

• He then became a waiter but when he was 23 years old he left to go travelling.

• Dani resumed his role as a waiter three years later, when he was 26. The following year, he started working on reception, where he has remained for the past eight years.

• His hobbies and interests are playing sports, particularly football and CrossFit.

• Dani is a nature lover and enjoys hiking and running in nearby Calblanque.

• He is married to Nekane who gave birth to their first child, a son named Uani on 8th September (see photo).

• The baby and the proud parents are all well, but you won’t see Dani to congratulate him for a bit as he will be on paternity leave for 3-months.

• I am sure you will join me in offering them both big congratulations.

• As we know, Dani loves to travel and has visited Thailand, Philippines, Japan, and the United States, among other countries. Now that he has his son Unai, he wants to travel even more and show him the world.

 

Saray Rodriguez

• Saray Rodriguez is one of our newer members of staff and works as a cook's assistant in the kitchen, assisting in the preparation of the wonderful dishes that we offer.

• She is 34 years and has only been working with us for 2-years, having originally been temporarily employed through an agency.

• Saray isn’t married, but has a boyfriend named Alberto.

• She was born in Cartagena but moved to La Manga, where she has been living for a number of years.

• Saray loves working at La Quinta and gets on very well with her colleagues who she says she has a great relationship with.

• She is a real animal lover owning 2-cats and three dogs. One of her cats she actually adopted from here at La Quinta and who she describes as being ‘very naughty’.

• Saray’s hobbies are travelling and shopping.

  

Update on September Events

• August closed with very hot and sunny weather whereas September, although still very warm began with somewhat unseasonably (wind, rain and a Calima).

• Whilst the UK basked in very warm weather and mostly unbroken sunny skies, this bizarrely wasn’t the case in Spain.

• Although it remained warm, the overcast/ broken skies continued on and off, until normal service was resumed with mostly sunny skies returning from the third week of September. The average daily temperature remained at around 27˚C though.

• As with the rest of the season, La Solana continued to be busy throughout September and the Monday night dinners were also well supported.

• By popular demand, our saxophonist @alexsanchezsaxo returned to play on Thursday 14th September and we had a new singer Dora Helena, entertaining us for the first time at the Monday night dinner on the 18th.

• On the 16th & 17th September the Racquets club hosted the ‘Micasimo Nations Cup’, an amateur tennis competition between Belgium and the British Isles. Congratulations to the British Isles team, who won with an overall score of 12-6.

• During September we also hosted a number of successful private events, two for Miradores (an AGM and a community dinner), and a birthday party for 40-guests.

• At the end of September, we were joined by a party of 34 Swedish ladies who had booked their holiday package to include breakfast daily and 2 x private evening events.

• This will be followed a week later, by another group of 26 Swedish ladies, here to play tennis with a similar package of breakfasts and daytime/evening events.

• Don’t forget that if you have a group of friends or colleagues (sporting or otherwise), who are interested in holidaying at LQC, we can accommodate most specific package requests such as B&B, half board and evening functions.

• After a long wait for approval, on 19th September, a new street market opened in the El Albujón area of Cartagena. This coincides with the end of season closing of several local markets in the area.

Driving in Spain - Part 3. Spanish road signs

• Following on from my previous articles about driving in Spain’ I would like to provide you with some info regarding Spanish road traffic signs.

• From June 2023 the Spanish Traffic Service (DGT) began introducing new, revised or updated road signs across Spain.

• Here are most of the important ones.

Beginning of a multi-lane road	Presence of bike lane in urban areas	Pedestrian crossing shared with cyclists	Electric scooters & bicycles prohibited	Electric scooters prohibited

 

Road for electric scooters only	Road for electric scooters  and bicycles only	Riders of electric scooters,  bicycles etc must dismount and proceed on foot	Low Emission Zone, certain based on emissions

 

Danger due to proximity of elderly person	Danger vehicles crossing paths

 

Pedestrian crossing	Cycle route	Animals on road

 

Danger reduced visibility	Danger due to proximity of children	Danger level crossing without barriers

 

Exchanging Your La Quinta Weeks  

• Have you considered exchanging to other resorts worldwide?

• La Quinta is affiliated to 3-exchange companies, which allows members to use their annual allocation or accrued weeks to exchange to other resorts.

• You will of course need to join the exchange program of each company, book you week(s) with LQC and then bank them with them in order to do so.

• This is a brief introduction to our three partner exchange companies.

 

Interval International (II)

• Established in 1976, Interval International (II), offers exchanges to members across a large network of resorts.

• It has over 3,200 resorts in 90 countries and territories to choose from.

• There is a cost to become a member of II, an annual membership fee and exchange fees.

• Membership of II also offers other benefits such as ‘Getaways’ - week-long stays at destinations around the world at an exclusive price.

• There is also Interval Gold and Interval Platinum upgraded memberships on offer.

• See: https://www.intervalworld.com/web/my/info/ownership/about for more info.

Resorts Condominiums International (RCI)

• Founded in 1974 and like Interval International, RCI are an annual subscription membership travel-exchange company.

• RCI has some 4,200 affiliated resorts worldwide giving members the opportunity to exchange their ownership week(s) for trading power, enabling them to visit destinations worldwide for a single exchange fee per week, regardless of accommodation size.

• There is a fee to join for annual membership and to exchange.

• Members owning at an RCI Weeks resort, can also access discounted rates at more than 600,000 hotels, 4,200 affiliated resorts, 345,000+ activities and leading car rental brands. They also benefit from exclusive member travel perks.

• See: https://www.rci.com/pre-rci/gb/en/join-rci/join-us for more information.

 

7-Across

• 7-Across is the newest exchange company and was originally called Dial-an-Exchange (which was launched in 1997), then rebranded to 7-across in 2020.

• Similar to II & RCI, 7-Across offer direct-to-consumer, timeshare exchanges.

• They differ slightly however as they have no joining or ongoing membership fees and offer a simple 1:1 exchange model with fixed fees.

• They also have both exchange and bonus weeks options.

• 7-Across have around 6500 timeshare holiday complexes linked to the company's global network in more than 135 countries.

• See https://www.7across.com/ for more information.

The History of San Javier

• San Javier is a small town and municipality covering an area of 29 Square miles in the province of Murcia.

• Situated at the northern end of the Costa Cálida it is some 35kms from La Manga Club.

• There is little historical indication of early human occupation in the municipality itself, but there is however, evidence of prehistoric human presence at several nearby locations, such as Torre Pacheco and the Mar Menor. 

• San Javier was revered by the Romans for its climate and for the Mar Menor, where a salt industry was developed, and traces of Roman & Carthaginian presence remain in the area.

• A major Roman road, the Via Augusta runs through the area and artefacts from that era have been found in and around the Mar Menor.

• During the time of Islamic occupation (8th -11th century), while there was little Arab or Berber presence in the municipality there is evidence of use of their fishing techniques, known in Spanish as encañizada.

• In the 13th century when King Alfonso X of Castile conquered the tiafa of Murcia, the area was only sparsely occupied mostly by shepherds and fishermen, but the region gradually began to be populated between then and the 16th century, with churches and chapels being built as the population increased.

• At the beginning of the 18th century, one of these small churches founded the hamlet of San Javier named after the Apostle San Francisco Javier.

• In 1809, the population of the villages of San Javier, Roda and La Calavera was only 428.

• During the three years of the Trienio Liberal (1820–1823), a number of town councils were established in the region. One of these was in San Javier but when this period ended, the town council was abolished, and the area once again became a district of the municipality of Murcia.

• In wasn’t until 1836 that the San Javier town council was reinstated.

• During the last 30 years of the 19th century, economic hardship and poverty led inhabitants to migrate to find work in La Unión and Oran in Algeria.

• At the end of the 19th century the area had 3,770 inhabitants of which half were farmers and the remainder fishermen and artisans, although some families prospered despite local poverty.

• They became wealthy through dealings in land and a new middle class of administrators of country estates, entrepreneurs, mine owners, moneylenders and farmers emerged.

• Today the population of the area is around 32,000.

• A Naval Flying School was founded in San Javier in 1932 and in 1943, the San Javier ‘General Air Force Academy’ was established, founding a new neighbourhood called Ciudad del Aire (Air City).

• It remained a military air base until finally, on 20 July 1964, San Javier was officially opened to civil air traffic.

• The airport prospered as tourism increased and continued commercial operations until 14 January 2019, when the Region of Murcia airport in Corvera opened and became the region’s civil airport.

• Today St Javier is a thriving tourist town, hosting three weekly markets and playing host to numerous cultural and musical events, such as the annual international Jazz festival.

 

Events and Activities for October 2023

 

Breathtaking Views from the Top of the ‘Green Staircase’ at the La Muela Mountain Peak!

 Perfect for the hardier hikers, this spectacular walking route takes you through the La Muela mountainous region of Cartagena.

• A trek of about an hour, with rocky pathways and steep climbs rewards you with incredible sea and mountain views from the top of the famous green vertical staircase, a spot not suitable for people with vertigo!

• There is a parking lot called Parking Lot La Muela with route signposts to guide you.

• See Experience breathtaking views from the top of the daring staircase at the La Muela mountain peak - Cartagena - Apartment Costa Blanca (costablancaapartment.eu) for more info.

Spanish National Day - 12th October 2023

• On 12th October the Spanish celebrate Hispanic Day (Día de la Hispanidad) or National Day (Fiesta Nacional de España).

• The day is a national public holiday, celebrating Spain and commemorating the date when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the Americas in 1492.

• Most government buildings, banks, post offices etc are closed on this day.

Day trip to Finestrat & Benidorm - 18th October 2023

• Following the success of the trip to Mojácar in September, long-time resident Gill Schofield is putting together another day trip to the beautiful village of Finestrat and to the area of Benidom. On the Costa Blanca

• The trip includes lunch at Finca Fabiola. (with drinks included), fabulous views and sightseeing opportunities around the local area.

• The cost is just €65.

• Contact Gill via WhatsApp on +34 639 426 475 to book or for the itinerary, menu etc.

 

Candlelight Tribute to the Band Queen - 21st October 2023

• Performed by a string quartet at the Cloister of the Muralla del Mar Campus of the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, this will be a magical night.

• Commencing at 7pm and lasting for around 65-minutes tickets range from €17- €38.

• Seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis.

• The programme will include the songs; Somebody to Love, Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Killer Queen, Love of My Life, Another One Bites the Dust, I Want to Break Free, We Are the Champions, We Will Rock You, Don't Stop Me Now, Bicycle Race, Who Wants to Live Forever, Under Pressure, The Show Must Go On and Radio Ga-Ga.

• See: Candlelight Cartagena: Tribute to Queen | Fever (feverup.com) to book or for more information.

 

VIII Carrera Solidaria (CPC) 10km Race - 21st October 2023

• On 21st October a 10km charity running race is being held around the streets, harbour, and port of Cartagena.

• It’s for a great cause; the local Multiple Sclerosis Association.

• There are events and activities starting from 11am with the pram-pushers, under eights & other events from 4:30pm and the main 10km race starting at 6:30pm.

• For more information see: ! Murcia Today - October 21 Charity Running Race In Cartagena To Raise Funds For The Multiple Sclerosis Association 

 

Gastromar - Los Alcázeras - 20^th-22^nd October 2023

•  Attention all foodies!

• This gastronomic weekend will be held in Los Alcázeras on 20^th-23^rd October and includes food tasting, gourmet market, food stall, food experiences with guest chefs, music and much more.

• Most activities will be centred around Plaza Manuel Floreal Menarguez and Plaza Real de la Feria in the centre of the town.

• Tickets go on sale from Monday 9^th October, see: Gastromar Los Alcázares - Gastromar Los Alcázares (gastromarlosalcazares.com) for more information.

 

A Day Trip to the Estrella Brewery in Murcia - 26th October 2023 

• This trip Incudes a historical guided tour of the brewery and the sampling of the 4 different beers brewed there.

• Established in 1876, go behind the scenes at Estrella, (one of Spain 's biggest breweries) and see the brewing process from grain to glass.

• You get to visit the brewhouse, fermentation and lagering tanks, and the bottling plant, followed by a guided tasting of several beers.

• After the tour you will have free time in the beautiful city of Murcia for tapas, lunch or shopping including El Corte Inglés.

• There are limited seats available at 30€ per person with various local pick-up points. Contact Begoña Josa via Facebook messenger to book. However. if you can’t make this date you can book a tour direct with the brewery. See: https://visitas.estrelladelevante.es/muslinkIII_lev/venda/index.jsp?lang=1&nom_cache=LEVANTE&property=LEVANTE&grupActiv=1#close

 

Farmfoods European Senior Masters Golf 2nd- 5th November 2023

• Hosted again for the second year by Ryder Cup star, Peter Baker, this competition starts on Thursday Nov 2nd and will feature stars such as Ian Woosnam OBE, Michael Campbell, Peter Fowler and Spanish players Miguel Angel Martin and Jose Manuel Carriles.

 

• I am including this article in October’s blog as I have secured 150 'access all areas' VIP passes from the promoters for our LQC members.

• So, if you would like to attend, please ask for a pass at reception.

• LQC will also have advertising boards at various locations around the courses and are further involved as we are raising money for charity by auctioning off one of our weeks, at the Thursday’s nights gala dinner.

• The auction is in support of a Carthaginian cancer charity, called Asociación Pablo Ugarte and is mainly aimed towards child cancer.

 

Dish of the month

• This month’s offering is Adrián’s warm tempura shrimp salad.

• This is a fabulous dish. A warm salad with tempura shrimp, cream cheese, a fig dressing and sugared sesame.

• Delicious!

• If, however you are not a fan of seafood or you are vegetarian, the shrimp can be substituted for tempura chicken strips or tempura vegetables.

 

 

Members Photographs

• Thank you all for the great photos you have sent to us this year so far, which have been uploaded onto our gallery.

• But please carry on sending them in to us from your visits to La Quinta….we want to see more!

• Just email Angel - and he will gladly add them to our gallery for you.

• We’re looking forward to seeing your 2023 memories.

 

Also please don't forget to:

• Visit our website where we have lots of other useful information particularly in the info+ section (see +Info (laquintaclub.com).

• Use the members forum where you can swap, exchange, rent or sell weeks and share information, ideas, suggestion or just ask questions. If you haven't signed up yet, please visit: La Quinta at La Manga Club - Official Forum - Index (laquintaclub.com) to register.

• Visit, like and leave feedback on our social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and read our articles in Murcia Today, La Manga Life and the General Community magazines.

 

 

I trust that you and your families will continue to enjoy your visits to the Club as we head into autumn, particularly during the half term weeks and for the November Getaway. Have a fantastic time…Mark.