Yesterday Christmas officially came to Benidorm with the inauguration of the Plaza de la Navidad and switching on of the Christmas lights by Gema Amor, the Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Tourism in the town.
The plaza is actually the square underneath the Town hall and is a made up name - only last week I asked a local policeman where it was but he looked at me blankly and told me that there wasn´t such a place... he´d obviously not been briefed yet!

Gema delivering a Christmas greeting to everyone

Proceedings began at 6.30pm with a short  Christmas play for the children. Gema then came on stage to give a quick speech and switched the lights on, which was followed by a firework display... oh how the Spanish love their fireworks. No occasion is complete without a flash and a bang!

There are a number of fairground type rides for the younger children, a few stalls including one selling freshly fried churros and a shooting gallery. But the busiest by far was most definitely the ice skating rink in the big tent.
It´s rather lucky that there is one this year as the Town Hall announced that they didn´t have any money for one  (last years one cost over 20,000 euros) before a company stepped forward and said that they would provide one free of charge to them.


The skate hire is 6 euros and you have a one hour skating session for that - but this time for the first year it is compulsory to wear gloves. If you do not have any you can hire them for 2 euros - my advice is get your own, you don´t know who´s hands have been in them! You can buy a pair at any of the numerous Chinese shops locally.

It all looks very festive so if you are in the Old Town then have a stroll over - it will be there until 5th January 2013.

And talking of the Old Town, if you are at a loss of what to do on New Years Eve that doesn´t entail taking out a second mortgage then Tapas Alley may be an option for you. They are hosting a Cava Party on both Xmas Eve and New Years Eve.

Festive red carpet down Tapas Alley

Most of the Tapas bars and restaurants will be taking part and although not free it almost is! All the participating establishments will be charging only 5 euros for a bottle of Freixenet Cava and providing pinchos (snacks) for 1 euro! This is actually cheaper than the price in the supermarkets PLUS there will be live music to entertain you.

You could spend 10 euro per couple for 2 bottles during the course of the evening and soak up what I am sure will be a fabulous night with plenty of atmosphere... you won´t find better value for New Years Eve! So there´s an idea for anyone that is here on holiday over the festive season or living here and unsure where to go....