Dine by the marina at the Meliá alicante Alicante hotel spain alicante international airport (alc), 9km

47,737,941 +34 23°C Euro (EUR) Three times weekly

SLEEP If sea views are a prerequisite honours the Virgen del Socorro with / info for your Spanish break, you can’t do games, paella competitions, parades BUS Bus route C-6 better than the Meliá Alicante (Plaza and street decorations. runs from the airport SHOP to the centre every del Puerto 3, 965 20 50 00, melia.com, Alicante is famous for the 20 minutes, from rooms from €117), where all rooms quality of its leather products, such 6.40am to 11pm. It stops at the station overlook either Postiguet Beach or as shoes and bags. To get your hands and also connects Alicante marina. You can also enjoy on some of these, head to the old El with the Metropolitan Tram at Alfonso X El excellent seafood and traditional rice Barrio district or the open-air market Sabio and Plaza de dishes at the three dining venues. on Esplanada de España. los Luceros. A single journey costs €3.85. EAT For more spectacular vistas, with LATER It may be small, but trendy NIC TAXI A taxi to the amazing flavours to match, dine at (Calle Castaños 22) serves the best city centre from La Ereta (Parque de La Ereta). Located cocktails in the city. It’s also well known the airport costs approximately €20 at the top of La Ereta Park, near the for its excellent gin and tonics, which with a €4.25 castle, the restaurant offers two tasting are fashionable in Spain right now. surcharge. menus. Dishes are innovative and put a TIP Head to Horchatería Azul (Calle TOURIST INFO alicanteturismo.com modern twist on traditional ingredients. Calderón de la Barca 38) to try a CULTURE The Fiesta del Raval Roig is delicious horchata – a typical drink one of Alicante’s best and oldest from the region of Valencia made from celebrations. Held from 5-7 September crushed tiger nuts. They serve almond in the old fisherman’s district, it versions here, too. Esme Fox

Bar and gallery TAF is a buzzing evening hangout ElEfthérios Venizélos International Airport (ath), 33km

10,775,557 +30 24°C Euro (EUR) three times weekly

SLEEP Close to , / info NEW Hotel (Filellinon 16, 210 327 3000, BUS Express bus X95 yeshotels.gr, doubles from €107) is runs to Syntagma Square in the city a member of Design Hotels. It features centre every 20 funky recycled 1950s furniture, minutes. It takes one hour and costs €5. a rooftop lounge and a wellness centre. EAT In Pangrati, a 20-minute walk from METRO Metro Line 3 in a lovely walled garden draped with garden, close to . It stages (blue) runs to Syntagma, Mavro Provato (Arrianou Syntagma Square bougainvillea and jasmine. ever-changing art exhibitions, serves 31) is a trendy but unpretentious every 30 minutes SHOP Greek designer Ioanna Kourbela exquisite cocktails and hosts occasional from 6.30am to gastro-bistro serving reasonably-priced 11.30pm. Journey (109 Adrianou) is known for her DJ nights. time is 40 minutes TIP delights such as shrimps with fennel and tickets cost €8. minimalist aesthetic and use of natural To discover the capital’s and ouzo, or veal with aubergine. organic fabrics. Call in at her flagship contemporary creative scene, join CULTURE TAXI A taxi to the For a film beneath the stars, city centre takes 40 store in to see the new autumn- Alternative Tours of Athens’ two-hour visit a therino (open-air cinema) – films minutes and will set winter 2014 collection. Greek Designers walking tour. You’ll you back €35 (day) are shown in original version, normally or €50 (night). LATER The perfect choice for a balmy visit boutiques and studios producing English, with Greek subtitles. The most September evening, TAF (Normanou 5) original clothes, jewellery and household TOURIST INFO central is Cine Aigli (aeglizappiou.gr), thisisathens.org is a bar-gallery set in a courtyard items (atathens.org). Jane Foster

FLY TO alicante and athens three times weekly. brusselsairlines.com september 2014 67

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