14 January and our next stop was La Manga campsite which is situated on the Mar Manor, a massive salt water lagoon in the Murcia region. This was to be our first taste of an overseas Caravan & Motor-Home club rally. The advantage for us being new to caravanning in Spain was having rally stewards and fellow campers who could give us some good advice. It was also good value. What we didn't realise is just how sociable and a good laugh it would be.
We had been warned by friends that La Manger campsite is a bit like Marmite you either love it or hate it. As well as touring pitches that site has a large amount of "parcellas" which are basically shanty like buildings on pitches, they range from an old caravan with a tin roof to a small well appointed villa and everything in between. At first sight they can be a bit off putting but we came to appreciate the character of the place. What we loved was this was by far the friendliest campsite of our trip. The facilities are a little bit dated but the pitches are surrounded by mature hedges and trees and are very pleasant.
On the map below you can see the Mar Manor which is separated from the Med by the 21 km long thin La Manga strip of land. The campsite is at the very bottom on the shore of the Mar Manor near Los Belones.
The La Manga strip is very built up with apartments and hotels, bars and restaurants which at this time of year is mostly deserted which is a little strange. We found it hard to imagine just how busy it would be when the place was full in the summer.
Looking up the strip on the Med side
A view up the strip on the Mar Manor side
Just across the road from the campsite on the Med coast is a nature reserve with lovely dune lined beaches and walks in the hills.
In the hills are the remains of old mine workings. We were told that the parcellas on the site were originally small plots of land given to miners by the Government in compensation for their poor working conditions. These plots have been passed down over the years to family and many sold on to Brits and Germans who now live or holiday in them.
We were lucky to meet up with Mel and Martin. Mel we worked with for a time at West Runton, as well as Bob and Tracy who we knew from Sizewell. Mel and Martin took us to a restaurant in Los Balonas where we had a four course menu of the day with a beer for e12 per person. No wonder it was packed with locals having their lunch break.
Another great find was a Sunday morning trip to the market at Capo de Palos. We start the morning with some churros, then buy our veg, then a hot chicken to take back for lunch.
We went to a couple of dinner dances with the rally, a Burn's night (with haggis in Spain), and had a laugh at the quiz nights, meeting some great folk. We even played walking football which was good fun.
In the 17 nights we stayed we felt we had only scratched the surface of the local area and will return. Our only regret is we didn't stay longer.
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