Travel Writing

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Benidorm

        I peered down at the lush shrubbery surrounding the hotel and the bright blue pool. The look of pleasure plastered over people’s faces was a joy to see, the tall elegant building towered over me…

        Then I lowered the brochure. I had been promised one of the top notch hotels in the whole of Benidorm yet here I was, greeted by a musky smell. It made the air misty and filled my nostrils with I smell that I can only describe as making me want to retch. A dingy looking council flat towered over me, literally. It seemed as though it was swaying to one side and about to fall flat on my face. So much for ‘The perfect place to stay’.

        My eyes stung and my gaze swayed down towards my feet as I tried to heal my eyes of pain. I was welcomed by the smell again when I realised it was appearing from the floor. Black liquid oozed from under the sole of my sandals.

        After dumping my luggage in a tacky room just containing a bed, a bedside cabinet and a bathroom; don’t get me wrong this is all I asked for but it could at least be clean, I made my way out towards the town to check out the locals and see where the main attractions were. No-one was in sight. Where was everyone? I paced down through a cut in the trees and followed a greyish looking cat; they were all over the place. I found everyone. There was a market on today. I strolled down the first aisle and took in my surroundings; it smelt of dusty rugs and plastic. I looked on the hand made walls and saw copy’s of all the latest fashion labels; they looked very fake but I couldn’t go away from Benidorm without something like that. I chuckled to myself. I was being shouted at by a local, “Please Miss, come buy – amazing bag – very cheap…” I waved my arm and dismissed the idea. Was it really that obvious that I was British?

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        I scrunched my eyes tight and fought against the sun, squinting at the brightness of it; I made out the outline my hotel. I had walked around in a colossal circle. I came here for one main reason, the sun. I could mainly get that at the beach. Off I wandered.

        I arrived at my destination. I walked along the paved edge of the sand. Taking in the smell of the salty water being rose by the hot sun. I looked around and people on scooters were appearing to have a death wish as they swerved in and out ...

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