Hi, Everyone,
I have decided to add a section to show our favourite local restaurants and places to visit etc.
Restaurants
We have some favourite eating places when we come over:-
Punta Marina shopping complex.
This is the local shopping centre just down the road and apart from restaurants and a supermarket it boasts a few shops, such as Millar electric (like Curries) a decent shoe shop, a chemist, a card shop (also has an internet service) plus a couple of other shops.
There are 5-6 restaurants on the upper floor, including a Chinese Wok Buffet, and a posh restaurant called , a sports bar called Dav'e's there is even a Subway, and on the ground floor there is a macDonalds, but our favourites are:-
Playa Fllamenca.There is a Shopping and Bar complex just down the main road (south) at Playa Flamenca and right at the 1st roundabout. (Just past Burger King)(Not the 1st complex, but the bigger
one further along.) There are lots of Bars and restaurants here and it is a fun place to visit and spend the evening. Our favourite is a restaurant called "Esterhay" which is a Hungarian restraunt and the menu of the day 9.99 euros is pretty good value. There is also one called the "Witchery". This place looks good but is was expensive and we wouldnt recommend it.
There are plenty of bars here that have entertainment on, karaoke or singers or DJ's.
Punta Prima on the Main Road
Quite a few restaurants here, we have tried the Austrian restaurant which gives 3 courses for about 9 Euros, food was OK, but service can be slow. There is an Italian restaurant which serves excellent food, but is not the cheapest. Next to the Italian restaurant there is a small restaurant that serves half a chicken with chips for 8-9 Euros, this is quite tasty. Also there is a large "Wok Buffet" restaurant on the apartment side of the road (near the blue pedestrian bridge) that friends have tried and recommended.
There is also a Kebab bar (run by a guy from Birmingham) I must admit we haven't eaten there. and there is a new restaurant called Robert's that looks OK. There are several bars along here as well and sometimes have entertainment on at night.
Nautilus. If you go straight down the road, across the roundabout, from punta marina, and down to the beach front, there is a beach front restaurant called Nautilus that is in a great location, serves reasonable food, and sometimes has entertainment.
On the Punta Prima beach promanade is a large (quite posh) restaurant (I think its called the Punta Prima). On Friday night it has a couple doing Spanish Flamenco dancing and this is worth a visit. (it cost us 35 Euros, I didn't think that much of the meal (we had paella again, will I never learn) but the entertainment was OK.
Central Cafe There is a cafe on the next community (go across the gardens past the pools and out of the south gate) across the road there is another community, there is a fence with a gate, go through the gate and along the road and you will find a small complex with a cafe, an Irish bar and a small 24hr. supermarket/shop.
Abbey Tavern (also see my Aug 09 blog)
Places to visit
Mar Menor.
This is a large inland sea a few kilometers south of the apartment. (you will need to drive to it) It is shallow, usually very warm and extremely safe for children. There are lots of resorts on the Mar Menor, and on the far side is La Manga which is a thin outcrop of land with the Mar Menor on one side and the Med. on the other. You get to the Mar Menor by driving down the N332, then onto the AP7, and it starts at:-
Lo Pagan. This is a nice resort (hard to park in summer months) but has a long walkway/promenade out into the sea which is great for a walk. There are salt lakes on the left hand side that people bathe in and cover themselves in mud. (supposed to do you good)
Santiago de la Ribera. Again nice resort, just along the coast from Lo Pagan, reasonable beaches and you can catch a ferry across the Mar Menor to La Manga, which is a nice trip. Look at the section "Local Area Pictures" to see some pictures of our trip across on the ferry.
Los Alcazares. Great place for swim, or to eat out. It has a great looking old hotel on front, plus the Pier restaurant looks OK as well. I believe you can get a bus from Punta Prima to
here.
Islas Menores and Mar de Christal. These resorts are further down, just before the La Manga, and are well worth a visit.
La Manga. Well worth a visit, it has a road going straight up the middle of the isthmus, beaches on both sides. (Mar menor on one side, mediteranean on the other) There are some
nice shops on this road. Right at the end is an incredible bridge, Jules didn't want to go over it in the car, but I just had to. It is Steep!!
Cartagena. This town has a nice port area to look around, and some interesting buildings. It is a really easy trip by car, just head down the AP7, and keep going and turn onto the A30 towards Cartagena (nice dual carraigeway) and you end up right into the town. I always park near the port area as I find it easier. (Note: there is also a bus to Cartagena. but I havent been on it as I always hire a car)
An update from our latest trip is that close to the port area is a park with a Roman castle/fort in it. it is situated high up (lots of steps and slopes) but there is a lift for part of the way. I found this really interesting, with great views over the port and the town of Cartagena. There were lots of birds (plenty of trees) and peacocks wandering around. A good viewing area with pictures to show you what you are looking at. Unfortunately as this was a Sunday in January the castle itself wasnt open, and I am planning to go again when it is open. The other unfortunate thing was that our camera battery died and we couldnt take any photo's.
I have decided to add a section to show our favourite local restaurants and places to visit etc.
Restaurants
We have some favourite eating places when we come over:-
Punta Marina shopping complex.
This is the local shopping centre just down the road and apart from restaurants and a supermarket it boasts a few shops, such as Millar electric (like Curries) a decent shoe shop, a chemist, a card shop (also has an internet service) plus a couple of other shops.
There are 5-6 restaurants on the upper floor, including a Chinese Wok Buffet, and a posh restaurant called , a sports bar called Dav'e's there is even a Subway, and on the ground floor there is a macDonalds, but our favourites are:-
- Chinese Restaurant. I think it is called teh YU, (it is next door to the Captains table) and is excellent value for money. You get a good 3 course Chinese meal for 4-6 Euros
and this includes Wine - Captains Table. Really big portions and fresh fish. Other guests and friends have also commented how nice the Fish and Chips are. They also do a very nice 2 Euro breakfast.
- The Wok Buffet also offers good value for money at around 9 Euros for all you can eat.
- Next to the shopping centre there is a Spanish Restaurant, that serves good food (don't have the Paella) and sometimes has Spanish entertainment on.
Playa Fllamenca.There is a Shopping and Bar complex just down the main road (south) at Playa Flamenca and right at the 1st roundabout. (Just past Burger King)(Not the 1st complex, but the bigger
one further along.) There are lots of Bars and restaurants here and it is a fun place to visit and spend the evening. Our favourite is a restaurant called "Esterhay" which is a Hungarian restraunt and the menu of the day 9.99 euros is pretty good value. There is also one called the "Witchery". This place looks good but is was expensive and we wouldnt recommend it.
There are plenty of bars here that have entertainment on, karaoke or singers or DJ's.
Punta Prima on the Main Road
Quite a few restaurants here, we have tried the Austrian restaurant which gives 3 courses for about 9 Euros, food was OK, but service can be slow. There is an Italian restaurant which serves excellent food, but is not the cheapest. Next to the Italian restaurant there is a small restaurant that serves half a chicken with chips for 8-9 Euros, this is quite tasty. Also there is a large "Wok Buffet" restaurant on the apartment side of the road (near the blue pedestrian bridge) that friends have tried and recommended.
There is also a Kebab bar (run by a guy from Birmingham) I must admit we haven't eaten there. and there is a new restaurant called Robert's that looks OK. There are several bars along here as well and sometimes have entertainment on at night.
Nautilus. If you go straight down the road, across the roundabout, from punta marina, and down to the beach front, there is a beach front restaurant called Nautilus that is in a great location, serves reasonable food, and sometimes has entertainment.
On the Punta Prima beach promanade is a large (quite posh) restaurant (I think its called the Punta Prima). On Friday night it has a couple doing Spanish Flamenco dancing and this is worth a visit. (it cost us 35 Euros, I didn't think that much of the meal (we had paella again, will I never learn) but the entertainment was OK.
Central Cafe There is a cafe on the next community (go across the gardens past the pools and out of the south gate) across the road there is another community, there is a fence with a gate, go through the gate and along the road and you will find a small complex with a cafe, an Irish bar and a small 24hr. supermarket/shop.
Abbey Tavern (also see my Aug 09 blog)
Places to visit
Mar Menor.
This is a large inland sea a few kilometers south of the apartment. (you will need to drive to it) It is shallow, usually very warm and extremely safe for children. There are lots of resorts on the Mar Menor, and on the far side is La Manga which is a thin outcrop of land with the Mar Menor on one side and the Med. on the other. You get to the Mar Menor by driving down the N332, then onto the AP7, and it starts at:-
Lo Pagan. This is a nice resort (hard to park in summer months) but has a long walkway/promenade out into the sea which is great for a walk. There are salt lakes on the left hand side that people bathe in and cover themselves in mud. (supposed to do you good)
Santiago de la Ribera. Again nice resort, just along the coast from Lo Pagan, reasonable beaches and you can catch a ferry across the Mar Menor to La Manga, which is a nice trip. Look at the section "Local Area Pictures" to see some pictures of our trip across on the ferry.
Los Alcazares. Great place for swim, or to eat out. It has a great looking old hotel on front, plus the Pier restaurant looks OK as well. I believe you can get a bus from Punta Prima to
here.
Islas Menores and Mar de Christal. These resorts are further down, just before the La Manga, and are well worth a visit.
La Manga. Well worth a visit, it has a road going straight up the middle of the isthmus, beaches on both sides. (Mar menor on one side, mediteranean on the other) There are some
nice shops on this road. Right at the end is an incredible bridge, Jules didn't want to go over it in the car, but I just had to. It is Steep!!
Cartagena. This town has a nice port area to look around, and some interesting buildings. It is a really easy trip by car, just head down the AP7, and keep going and turn onto the A30 towards Cartagena (nice dual carraigeway) and you end up right into the town. I always park near the port area as I find it easier. (Note: there is also a bus to Cartagena. but I havent been on it as I always hire a car)
An update from our latest trip is that close to the port area is a park with a Roman castle/fort in it. it is situated high up (lots of steps and slopes) but there is a lift for part of the way. I found this really interesting, with great views over the port and the town of Cartagena. There were lots of birds (plenty of trees) and peacocks wandering around. A good viewing area with pictures to show you what you are looking at. Unfortunately as this was a Sunday in January the castle itself wasnt open, and I am planning to go again when it is open. The other unfortunate thing was that our camera battery died and we couldnt take any photo's.
