Missing Blue (Neil Heywood) in Spain | Has been found safe and well

[TheGhost]

I travel via Alicante 6/7 times a year, the flight is full of youth, boys and girls on their way to sample the delights of Benidorm. Some on their first trip abroad.
I go South, they get their connection to paradise.

The return flight is different, one or two missing, black eyes ,swollen faces. Tales of how on the first night they were honey potted, led astray, and robbed. Normally with full wallets.

Spain is such a wonderful place, not short of bars, why are people attracted to the wart on the arse of the coast.

A fair few blues live in Alicante and I am sure they would give the same advice, stay away from Benny, unless you are not getting slaughtered , then there would be no pint in going there.

Got a mate who lives in Cartagena which is lovely.

I think La Manga is a shit hole too. No idea why anyone goes there either.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

I think La Manga is a shit hole too. No idea why anyone goes there either.

My mate Paul went there once with a couple of mates.

Suffice to say they’ve never been back since.

 

[asahartford1]

Got a mate who lives in Cartagena which is lovely.

I think La Manga is a shit hole too. No idea why anyone goes there either.

I agree, la manga and the strip is awful
I spent a whole week there one afternoon.
On the other hand, as you say, Cartagena is a melting pot of history. From the phoenicians to the Romans, and the Scots at the beginning of the C20.

Flights to Corvera, and a 20 minute bus ride. Perfect place for weekend breaks.

Your mate made a good choice, Property doing well there too !

 

[TheGhost]

I agree, la manga and the strip is awful
I spent a whole week there one afternoon.
On the other hand, as you say, Cartagena is a melting pot of history. From the phoenicians to the Romans, and the Scots at the beginning of the C20.

Flights to Corvera, and a 20 minute bus ride. Perfect place for weekend breaks.

Your mate made a good choice, Property doing well there too !

He met a Spanish girl in London. Now married and bringing kids up in Cartagena. Not a bad life.

 

[Phil1]

La manga is still living on the reputation of the late 90s early 2000s when a few footballers started going over and buying places.
It’s a soulless place that has been left behind. Shame as it could be so much more.

 

[citymad]

I agree, la manga and the strip is awful
I spent a whole week there one afternoon.
On the other hand, as you say, Cartagena is a melting pot of history. From the phoenicians to the Romans, and the Scots at the beginning of the C20.

Flights to Corvera, and a 20 minute bus ride. Perfect place for weekend breaks.

Your mate made a good choice, Property doing well there too !

Thats pretty impressive:)

 

[Indaparkside]

I think it's great advice to be wary of all these things when going to Benidorm. And for any holiday resort for that matter, although I appreciate that the issues might not be as bad in other places.

However, I would add that the vast majority of people have a great time in Benidorm free of any hassle. It's not just about the main strip either. There's something for everyone and there are some very nice parts to it. The old town is lovely. Where I was staying for the Villarreal match was on the other side of Benidorm to where the old town is but a good 20 or so minutes walk away from the main strip so it was pretty chilled. The hotel I was in was mint and very reasonably priced considering I was a solo traveller staying in a double room. Sure, I went down to the strip on Monday night and did a few hours in the Red Lion with @Indaparkside and hundreds of other blues but I made sure I didn't hammer the drinking too much (which makes a change for me!) as I didn't fancy staggering out of there at 5 in the morning and barely knowing where I was. Got out of there at around 2.30am, grabbed a kebab, and jumped a taxi back to my hotel. For all the bad reports about the place and certain bars, the taxis have a generally good reputation for being safe so I'd recommend using them instead of walking back to your gaff. That said, I didn't do that on Tuesday when the coach dropped me off near the strip after the match. I walked back after having a couple of pints in the Silver Dollar pub with a few other City and buying the obligatory kebab but again, I wasn't wankered. And the street that my hotel was on was just round the corner from there so it was pretty much a straight walk up.

That guy was comatosed though who was out of it who we helped outside then became an arsehole:). I noticed some bird already had him in her sights looking at his phone etc but you can only help people who want to be helped, offered to pay him a taxi back to his hotel but unfortunately this was declined on numerous occasions I’m sure he woke up next day with a few things missing pal

 

[standupifyouhatemanu]

So the women grab you then demand money ?

No as they hug you they’ve picked your pocket and in some cases have taken your watch, they are professionals. In most cases they ask for directions and when you help them they hug to thank you and do the deed.

 

[Maintainin]

Good. I once saw a little team of blues take on a group of pickpocket scam geezers in Barcelona. They shit themselves, being used to easy targets.

Funny as fuck chasing em in n around the square/Plaça Reial n beyond at night :-)

 

[asahartford1]

Thats pretty impressive:)

Stolen from Harry Chapin, refers to him introducing a song" a better place to be" at the Apollo ,Ardwick 1980.

Like being in Droylesden for a full afternoon and feeling like you have been there a week. -:)

 

[Bigg Bigg Blue]

Great news ,on that strip near the red lion there was lots of people getting mugged girls coming putting there hands all over you then there pimp coming out of the entry, big big blue launched one of them pimps who was trying it on with him, keep your wits about you

Got home last night about midnight. Great trip and enjoyed drinking with you.
The pimp got what was coming to him, he thought he could scare me.

 

[Indaparkside]

Got home last night about midnight. Great trip and enjoyed drinking with you.
The pimp got what was coming to him, he thought he could scare me.

Good man glad your home top trip see you soon my friend, that rag you’ll never win 4 in a row when the whole table got up fucking classic pal take care bud

 

[Bigg Bigg Blue]

Good man glad your home top trip see you soon my friend, that rag you’ll never win 4 in a row when the whole table got up fucking classic pal take care bud

You too mate

 

[pride in battle]

Got home last night about midnight. Great trip and enjoyed drinking with you.
The pimp got what was coming to him, he thought he could scare me.

Well done mate ;)

 

[Bigg Bigg Blue]

Well done mate ;)

Thanks mate

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

It’s a hell hole.

The only words needed to sum up that place.

I went a few years ago for a big birthday of a mate and to be honest I hated it. Felt edgy all the time like it was going to kick off. Saw 3 fights in 3 days including one between 2 women in the middle of the street. popped my head in Cafe Benidorm! Straight back out. The only bar I quite enjoyed was The Shamrock as they had a band on.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

To be honest mate, most people dont know anyone's number of by heart nowadays, you just tap the name on your phone, hopefully he is safe and well and it is the case he just lost his phone

I couldn't tell you my mobile number. When I have to enter it I always ask Mrs Ewing!

 

[i kne albert davy]

Good man glad your home top trip see you soon my friend, that rag you’ll never win 4 in a row when the whole table got up fucking classic pal take care bud

Great time in Benidorm again as long as you know what the place is and there's enough of you it's ok, weather was spot on as well. Funny as fuck the big fat Rag getting a chorus of 4 in row good seeing you again mate here's to the next one.