Benidorm Conclusion

THE Benidorm chess festival is rather unusual for an amateur event in that the prize-giving takes place the day after the last rounds are played.
Since neither I nor the friends I was hanging around with were required at the closing ceremony, we took the chance to head west along the coast to the next coastal resort of Villajoyosa.
Two of us walked the five-miles-or-so along well-trodden paths that allow you to enjoy the scenery without constantly having to watch where you are stepping (the other two took a taxi).

Looking back to La Isla de Benidorm (Spanish name)

Fisheries can just about be made out in the centre-distance

Another retrospective of L'Illa de Benidorm (Valencian name)

Picturesque bay on the outskirts of Villajoyosa

After coffee and a lovely lunch in Villajoyosa, I was the only one who walked back to Benidorm.
I followed the same route as in the morning, but the views were very different when facing east rather than west.
The sun was quite burning at times, and there was almost no breeze, but I understand the daily high in the area was 'only' 17C.
Nevertheless, it was quite a bit warmer in the sunshine, and I was glad to get back to my hotel for a thorough shower and change of clothes before meeting up with the others to hit a bar to watch the Brighton-Wolves game (Brits abroad conforming to stereotype).

At last … returning to civilisation

I can heartily recommend the annual Benidorm chess festival at the Gran Hotel Bali for chess-players U2301 looking to combine a tournament with winter sunshine.
This year we had three wet and/or cloudy days out of 11, which is the worse I have experienced in the 12 years I have been playing.
If you are tempted to give it a try, it is definitely best to book flights, and especially hotels, as early as possible because the congress coincides with Constitution Day and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which combine to create a short period of full hotels, despite December being off-season even for Benidorm.