Summer holiday in Spain

Marguerite, Jude and Ben recently went on a lovely family summer holiday.  Here is the story of the adventure in the wonderful land of Spain.












Ben was full of excitement as he rode the ParkandFly shuttle bus from the airport car park over to the airport.












A couple of hours later and they were looking down on the city of Barcelona.  Nice view from there!












Marguerite and Jude used to share the window seat.  Not sit in it together ...... their bums are much too big for that ....... I mean one would get it on the way over and one would get it on the way back.  Nowadays Ben hogs it and chances of him sharing it are akin to the chances of Jude winning next year's Wimbledon.  So there's hope I hear you say ....... well very little if truth be told.






The hotel was the Best Maritim in Cambrils.  A lovely spot which Marguerite and Jude stayed in in the 'BB' years.














'Jude ........ let's get our shoes off and hit the beach', said Ben moments after arriving at the hotel.   

Marguerite and Ben enjoying their first day on Holiday.













Kids club.  Ben wasted no time in joining in and making friends.













Can you spot anything familiar in this pic?  Well besides Maria who manages the activities at the Best Maritim Hotel in Cambrils (she was also there when Marguerite and Jude last stayed here way back around 2004).  So what else is familiar?  The drum kit is exactly the same model as Ben's ........ the exact same Pearl kit as Ben's was played tonight by the band.







And Marguerite and Ben boogied the night away.














'What me ...... a milk bottle .......... what are you talking about?













Ben is normally adventurous but he took his time getting into the water today.  Not because he can't handle the water, he can as he has been at swimming lessons all through the winter and spring, but because the water was really quite chilly.










'Well done son ....... now get your shoulders wet', said Jude.











 

'Don't be a chicken now son ..... you're not in properly until your shoulders are wet'.













Two tough guys but chicken to get their shoulders wet. 

Check out the muscles on those two!











Still trying.  This went on for some time.














'What ...... a chicken ....... who me ....... what are you talking about ....... I'll get in tomorrow', said Ben.













As I said he's adventurous ....... so moments later he was climbing all over this frame on the beach.













And making more new friends.   














Finally Ben has made it into the water.














Now here is a cool summer beach scene.  A can of Spanish beer ....... the foot of someone who is obviously laying chilling out (Marguerite perhaps) and Ben building a sand castle at the  water's edge.










Is it a whale ......... is it a shark ...... or is it some Olympic swimmer?  No ..... it's Jude showing Ben how tough guys get their shoulders wet!!












Ben and Jude chilling out at the waters edge ...... riding the waves and whatnot.  Great fun. 

Ben making more friends ......















.......... this time in the pool.














Ready for dinner and looking cool.

Jude and Ben shooting the breeze on the balcony.














The Kids disco is always something to look forward to and tonight Ben get warmed up before dinner with some 'flossing'.












After dinner Ben and Jude shoot some pool ......














............... while Marguerite helped herself to a nice gin.













Sometimes some friends are more important than others.  Here are Clarisa (white) and Kerisse (pink).  So in this pic the dude in the middle fancied the girl in the white ...... but the girl in the pink fancied the dude in the yellow ......... que a few nights of funny scenes where this one wanted to stand beside that one and vice versa. Elbows were even used at times to leverage a spot.  It was funny but ultimately these three were best friends.   
 





It's a no-no-no ....... it's a no-no-no .....














....... Kerisse has elbowed her way in between Clarisa and Ben.














Ben and Marguerite pull some moves on the outside stage.














Marguerite proving the age old saying - 'you never lose it', with these cool moves.

Wha?












Peek-a-boo!!!! 















Ben, Kerisse and Clarisa play volley ball on the beach right across from the hotel.













'It's my bucket'.

'No it's not, come back here with that bucket'.

Ben and Kerisse having fun on the beach.










Ben and Marguerite are choosing bikes for today's adventure. 














And moments later they were all set ......














......... and headed along the waterfroont for a nice casual cycle.














Ben took a pit stop after half a mile so he could have a wee dander on the beach .........













....... and Marguerite took the chance to catch some rays and gaze out over the water while thinking 'this is the life'.












Back from his stroll ...............















............. 'ok, lets get back on the bikes then', said Ben.   

This is a great pic ......... such a beautiful scene ...... the gorgeous bike ......... the lovely sand ........ the beautiful blue water ......... the boardwalk ........ the bike rack ..... and whatnot.











Oh .................... and Marguerite ....... I forgot about her. 

Nice pose (hand on hip .... wha?)...... nic pic ..... cool chick!











After Marguerite's brief moment of modelling they were off again making their way back to the hotel.













Ben loved this pool ............















and he loved playing with his friends ........
















............. while Marguerite and Jude were able to sit and watch and relax.   

Sucking on a lolly pop ...............














................. and having a laugh.















Ice Hockey.  Ben loved this.  He won most games he played.  Marguerite and Jude quickly realized that anything other than a Ben win could result in someone taking the hump ...... therefore in the interests of a great holiday experience with minimal drama ..... Ben won most times.

'Don't forget your shovel if ye want to go to work'.

Ben is busy on the beach.












Marguerite taking a stroll on the beach just opposite the hotel.

What a great location this place was.











Sign him up.

'Ben ...... Ben ...... come over here', Marguerite shouted over to Ben.

But why?











Well there's a famous Stranglers song that goes like ....... 'walking on the beaches looking at the peaches'.












Let's just say Ben's hovering and glancing was making it kind of obvious he saw something he liked over there.  Lol.













Chillin with a wee beer.  Around 5pm each evening Marguerite and Jude would pop open a beer by the pool.  Nice.   

Wha?










Ben and Marguerite having a laugh by the pool.   














Dinner time.

Massive dining room with lots of choice ....... perfect for any fussy eater..

It's kiddies disco time again and the buddies are all set .......














.......... to boogie.

Marguerite helping the kids out with some dancing advice perhaps!













Nice pic!















What's this?  Maria has dragged Marguerite up on stage for the quiz questions.  Getting a question wrong meant you had to ..........













...... dance.

Look I told you ....... good dancers never lose it.













See?

Marguerite was really showing off now.   












Next it was Ben and Jude's turn.

Each night the entertainment was great craic.












The next morning and Ben is saying goodbye to his friends Kerisse and Clarisa. It was hugs all round.  What was so sweet was that Ben had prepared a lovely card for them to say goodbye.  He gave it to them here and off they went back to England.










Where could they be going?















Portaventura!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 














Ben was last here when he was three so with being five now he was super excited for the day.

He got this pic taken when he was three, and now again when he was five.  I wonder will he run over to it again next time?












Three messers - Take 1.















Time to get soaked .......















..... and to squeal with excitement .......














........ and have lots of fun.















Marguerite ready to go on the Buffalo dodgems.














Walking through the Wild West park.














For two years Ben has talked about one highlight of his first Spanish holiday ...... the Wild West show ........ Bang Bang West. 













Three messers - Take 2.















Ben enjoying the Carousel.















There are rides for everyone at Portaventura and sometimes you can't beat a simple swing. 














The Wild West Show has started .................. and all eyes are glued on the action.













Ben loved this ..............















....... especially when Darth Vadar made an appearance!














Ben got a new gun so he could shoot the cowboys.













The action was brilliant with lots of funny scenes thrown in.













Ben meeting one of the actors after the show.














'Where next Mummy?


'Let's go to ............











........ Tutuki Splash Ben ...... this is great', replied Marguerite. 

This was the splash when Marguerite did the run ............













......... and when Jude did it he was completely soaked.













Ben steering the Pirate ship ......... just like Captain Jack Sparrow.













The Polynesia Show is great fun.  Here Ben joins in the pre-show fun ........... 













........ before the real deal.














Ben meeting Woody Woodpecker and Betty Boop characters.














So what was next?















Roller-coaster time!!!














Marguerite is all set!

Aaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!














Tomahawk is a great roller coaster as Ben can get on it but it is really fast and thrilling.













Ben and Marguerite just love this ride ....














....... hold on tight!















'Ahhhhhhhhhhh'.















Get your arms up in the air!!!














After all the trills of the day it was time for ............














.... the Portaventura parade.

On the next morning Marguerite and Ben are practicing their football skills while Jude waited at the bus stop.

Where were they going?












To the city of Reus. 

After stepping off the bus Jude walked over to a large map on a board and there were two girls debating about how they were going to remember all the directions to get to where they were going.  Jude pulled out the camera and took this pic and the girls said, 'well why didn't we think of that'.  It was really funny ..... but you had to be there ....... to get how funny it was .... wha?




Ben playing with a skeleton in a shop in Reus.















Lunch time in Reus. 















Reus was a beautiful city with a real nice old town in it's center.














Ben got a new watch today ........ here he is checking it out.














A quick stop in a wee pub in Reus and a set up 'timer' photo.  'Timer' pics are always fun photos.












Jude enjoying his afternoon beer.















Is that Sangria I see there? 

Yes it sure is ....... Marguerite ordered this cheeky wee number for dinner tonight.

Meanwhile Ben is busy eating his greens.











The last kiddies disco.  Ben had a great time at this all week.   













And on the last morning Ben and Jude still had time to visit the beach.













This was a great holiday.  It's a magical time for Ben ...... being five and all ....... well five and a half to be precise ......... he just loved it as did Marguerite and Jude.












Time for one more great pic of Marguerite.  In this pic her top nicely blends in with the colour of the sky and the balconies and whatnot. 

Wha?











Back to Barcelona for one night and then home.  Ehhh ........ it was a really nice hotel in Barcelona but the camera ran out of charge ....... ehhh so no pics.

Anyway t'was another great holiday in Spain. 

Roll on the next one.