Mar Menor Chitty Chat

Hi Jane

What is the name of the restaurant you and Milli are talking about? When i was near your place on the beach heading from carrefor are the restaurants to the right or left? Only stayed around briefly so didn't see any. Going to pop down there when we are over next. So the bit we saw was called El Mojon? Venturing further every time. Going to take your directions for the spa too. It'll be great to have a relaxing time without having to put furniture together. Can't wait.

Milli

Rojales, that sounds very familiar, is it a little further inland? I'm sure we went to view properties there once. Not far from Pilar and san pedro?

Gina

Just been sat for the past half hour trying to catch up on this thread - hope this link works -

www.balneariodearchena.com/english/index.html

Wish I'd thought about the place at Easter - would have been perfect for those rainy days!!

That's it Annie, but you don't have to stay in the hotels.  Most people go for the day - I didn't see any saunas or mud baths during my visit, but there again I didn't go outside into the huge open air swimming pool either as it was too cold on Easter Monday!!

My friend paid for our group, but it seems you register the number of people on entry, and pay on exit with the price including the length of time spent there.

Hi Gina

if you head for the beach from the Carrefour roundabout at Pilar you arrive at Playa Higuericas, the long beach that spans the villages of El Mojon (on the right as you face the sea) and Torre de la Horadada on the left.  There are two huge free car parks for the beach, one to the right  and one to the left, so never any problem about parking even in the height of the summer.  There's a lovely boardwalk between the 2 villages, next to the car parks. it runs alongside the sand dunes at the edge of the beach.  It is usually very safe for bathing and in the summer months has lifeguards and play facilities on the beach and in the water.  Also Blue flag status every year so very clean. 

Torre is more established and has better facilities than El Mojon. The central square (Plaza) is just behind the marina and has good restaurants.  Great ice cream/coffee shop overlooking the marina at the front.  Further into Torre there is an area called Pueblo Latino.  This is a large enclosed area that looks like just apartments from the outside, but is full of restaurants and buzzes in the summer.  it reminds me of a scene in a square in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!!  It's designed with lovely water fountains but these have been turned off in recent years because of the drought.

El Mojon is smaller but growing rapidly.  At the right end of Playa Higuericas it joins Play del El Mojon.  This is a rocky area in front of the village.  Walk or drive to the far end of the village ( few steps really!) and the restaurant is facing the beach - it's called the Mediterraneo.  I can't recall the name of this beach, but it runs alongside the nature reserve leading to San Pedro Marina.  Walkways are laid out to explore the nature reserve (sand dunes), it's not huge but a nice walk.  El Mojon is split across two townships - Pilar and San Pedro.  This beach falls into San Pedro, and whilst it's a lovely area, it does not have the same facilities as Pilar's beaches, and no car parks. It has a very natural feeel to it and is an ecologically protected area. Flamingos (and lots of other birds) arrive every year in the lakes just behind the reserve. It's also known to the locals as a place for nude bathing so don't be surprised if you go there!! 

The menu at the Mediterraneo is not as good as some in Torre, and can be expensive for basics like steak and chips, but it's always good quality, tastes fantastic and I can't fault the location.  The service is hilarious so you need patience!  There are a couple of other restaurants in the roads behind the beach.  They are ok but run by people from the UK so don't have quite the same effect and no paella! 

Sorry that's so long winded ! Hope it's what you wanted.

Jane

Hi Jane,

That's great. Directions I can understand. Will be mozying over when we go in May. Yes Barbara from the Ceasers Arms is in the Gwaelod with Richie, so as you say no wonder the food is so great. Definetly be spending a day up in Pilar. Will be trying out the restaurants if I can prise Annie out of the pasty shack................. LOL.

Gina

Janice,

Yes it is where i thought it was. Thanks. BTW why would I buy a map when I've got you to tell me LOL

Gina my friend don't worry!! - they'll have restocked the pasty shack for next time  - mind you......... am I over before you in May .....................?????

We had a lovely lunch in Torre at New Year - think we must have been in the Plaza - then walked along the beach to the marina for a coffee - great place to sit in the sun & people watch. Really pretty round there.

Not sure about the mud baths Jane - or do the ones in the spa not smell as bad  - all the rest looks great though - how long did it take you to get there?

Hi Annie - didn't get to see the mud baths myself, only on the link you posted.  I have previously posted my reservations about the mud baths at Lo Pagan and how close they are to the sewage plant!! No further comment needed.

It took a while travelling from the coast to Archena, but it was Easter Monday and lots of Spanish were returning to work.  There were also hold ups due to road works in Murcia.  my friend says it's usually a good run - motorway all the way and not too long at all.  Well worth a visit.

Thanks Jane - next time we're over & the weather is like it was at Easter (!) it would seem an ideal place to go for the day. Someone had told me about it before but had forgotten all about it - memory like the proverbial sieve .

The mud baths don't attract me either - unless they are 100% guaranteed to make me ten years younger & then I might put up with the smell .

Thought I'd drag this thread up from the second page -  where's everyone gone?? Or are you all in Spain .

Hi Annie,

No still here unfortunately, wish I was in Spain though. Jane where are you? Are you still in the spa? Looks like the weather is picking up there now, was beautiful here today too. Won't be too long now and we'll be back over. New wok buffet in LA to try so I hear. Do you know where it is o font of all knowledge, seem to remember passing it last time, near el patio? Maybe you are right everyone is in Spain except us.

Gina

Hiya Janice

Yes we are fine. How do you do that?? Pasty shack and wok buffets all in the space of a day. Unbelievable. Well done you. Annie has me hooked to the pasty shack and they do homemade chips too!!!I was googling for hours earlier looking for lyrics for prefab sprout. Does anyone remember them? They are brilliant. Wasn't giving up and eventually found them so now I can singalong a prefab.

Yes I knew it was Jo but just wanted to make sure I was in the right spot. Can you se my house from your window??

Gina

food, wine and entertainment.

A great value night at just £35 per person, including all food, wine and

Gina - wow - what a place to live  -  you lucky thing - don't know if I could stand the noise of the peacocks tho' !!  Seriously, Cardiff is a great place to live.  My ambition is to be able to afford to live part of the year here and part of the year in Spain - I wish!

Haven't been in Spain, but go back next Saturday for a week.  Looked at the weather forecast and it looks seriously sad again.  Got everything crossed it's wrong.  Obviously have to get some new music on my shuffle to compete with Prefab sprout ......any ideas.

Hope you're all well, I've been keeping an eye (sorry!!) on the site but been bit busy.  Never been to the pasty shack - you'll have to show me the delights, but can it beat the chip shop in Whitchurch?

Yes we bought it off plan but thinking of maybe downsizing now. Those peacocks do get a bit wild now and again if I don't take them out for walks.  Excellent link Janice.

Pasty shack or Top Gun? Think pasty wins in the chips department.

Hope they are wrong with the weather, I'm sure they will be. It keeps changing. Have a great time.

Gina

Wow - it's amazing what a quick one line message can start  .  Gina, love your 'little home' - I'm coming to visit - for about the next year or so ............................ Looking forward to your harp playing!!!

Jane - can't believe you've never been to the pasty shack - I have to get up really early to get there before Gina though, otherwise there's nothing left  - fortunately, have managed it so far!!

Thought the weather was on the up - on bbc & gmtv forecasts it looks good all next week - but then when I was over in Feb & the weather was fab it was forecast rain so, who knows.