The Valencian Regional Government has given the go ahead for Benidorm to get extra National Police over the peak summer months of July and August. Juan Carlos Valderrame, Deputy President of the Regional Government came to Benidorm last week and met with the Mayor, Toni Pérez, the new Security Councillor Lorenzo Martinez and members of the police.
This is in addition to the ten beach police, which were sworn in at the Town Hall this morning - consisting of nine men and one lady. It was good to see that they are all young and fit - so will be able to run or chase if necessary and will be patrolling from tomorrow until the end of the year. With last weeks beach massacre in Tunisia at the forefront of everybody’s mind, will it reassure people coming here to see a more prominent police presence on the streets and beaches I wonder?
You cannot possibly prepare for such an act and it made me shudder at the thought of something like that happening here. Can you imagine – Levante beach is jam-packed at the moment and will be until September at least. I expect many more families to be booking Benidorm for their summer holiday this year – with packages being cancelled to Tunisia and the ongoing financial crisis in Greece, Benidorm will top the list of Mediterranean destinations.
The euro hit another high on Monday with an exchange of 1.40 to the pound – but one important point on exchanging your money, never ever change it at the airport. They give the absolute worse rate I have ever seen and their excuse is that they offer a 24 hour service so is reflected by a lower exchange. Take a few euros with you to pay for immediate purchases and taxis then change the rest here as you need it.
The UK is currently experiencing a Spanish type of heatwave – temperatures have been hitting the 30´s across the country but there it is always very short lived and followed by rain! We can only wish for some here – the reservoir up in Guadalest has never been so low and everyone should try and use water responsibly – shower (together even – good excuse to add a bit of excitement!) instead of baths and do not let the tap run when brushing teeth etc. Just look at how many hotels there are in the resort - if everyone took small steps then together it will make a big difference.
At least here we are somewhat more prepared for the hot weather with air con and a swimming pool more or less standard in most homes – plus we have our beaches! Not one – but four; Levante, Mal Pas, Poniente and La Cala in addition to two coves, Tio Ximo and Almadrava…. we really are spoilt here.
Another important thing to remember is sun protection. Please do not try and save a few pounds by taking suncream from last year. A recent post I read on social media showed a young lady with her legs bandaged up. No she hadn´t been in a fight or fallen over drunk and cut herself – it was second degree burns. The reason you´ll be shocked to hear like I was. She had been applying liberal amounts regularly but it was from the previous year. When she arrived at the hospital she told the doctors that she had been using sun protection but was horrified to discover that out of date sun cream actually turns into cooking oil and has the opposite effect! Another few hours and it would have been first degree burns she was told so please please at the end of the year throw away any unused lotions.
For the sake of saving perhaps 10 pounds is it worth taking the risk, even more so if you have children – you´d never forgive yourself. If you don´t want to carry it over then buy it here – go to Mercadona supermarket, Carrefour or the Vanessas Super drogueria at the Indoor Market, where she stocks all UK branded products. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, stay out of the midday sun – because as the song goes, only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun and stay protected!
