WE know of course that Calpe is located in the Mediterranean section of Spain. Although it is admittedly unoccupied during most winters, right now is different. A lot of British visitors who have trooped to Tenerife and Ibiza last Christmas were dismayed with the rainshowers prevailing in the area thus spoiling their holidays. Thus, they had made last minute arrangements to go to the Spanish mainland and spend a couple of nights just in time for New Year’s Eve so they can continue their vacation here. And I’m pretty sure they have made just the right decision since the weather forecast for the next few days is really sunny. That’s no surprise at all because even in the middle of winter, Calpe has a very temperate climate.

To prepare the visitors for the upcoming New Year celebrations, a barrage of activities has been lined up by Calpe organizers. Among other things, a bowling tournament has been organized. Earlier this week, there was exhibition match between the teams from Calpe and El Cid. Another activity up for grabs for visitors is a rowing tournament for all, including locals from Calpe. In this way, visitors from Britain and other countries will have a chance to prove themselves that they are equally competent with the locals. There are also various golf courses here in Calpe and they are all inspected and certified by the PGA. In fact, all the instructors and caddies here have undergone PGA training. The PGA folks themselves have come here to give a two-week crash course on the basics of golf and how to treat amateur players. That’s how booming the tourism hospitality in Calpe is.

But if sports is not your passion, there are still other ingenious ways to enjoy Calpe during the rest of the days this year. If you are an avid art collector, then there are lots of indigenous materials in Calpe which are quite worthy to possess at a reasonable price. Or if you do not dig into Calpe materials, then there are also lots of French antiques in Calpe that are up for sale. There’s one Belgian businessman I know who has a habit of collecting antique French furniture and reselling it to tourists in Calpe. He’s based in Calpe by the way. This just goes to show that there are lots of Scandinavian expats here in Calpe aside from the regular British tourists. Aside from the Belgians, there are also a few folks from Holland here.

The wide appeal is due to the fact there really is everything in Calpe! With Benidorm being a neighbour, you can escape the tranquil destination for one weekend for some big nights out in the tourist hotspot. It would be recommendable to plan something special for the weekend you choose however - Benidorm has so much to see and do that it may be a little overwhelming! A great place to start is to do something you couldn’t do in the quiet Calpe - a superclub maybe and dancing til dawn? Or a casino? It is a glamorous night and would be able to entertain the whole travel group! Cards is a typical Spanish activity and so you really would be experiencing some of the culture, though preparation is everything! Practise some poker online in the weeks before you go (you may even win before you’ve left the house!) and amaze your friends with the knowledge of the game and your expert skill! And after the excitement of a real casino later on, you can retire safely to Calpe the morning after, to relax and plan your next trip!

Or, you could wait for the excitement and “jaleo” to come to Calpe - Christmas is a big celebration here, even though it is known as a quiet place otherwise. Let us not forget though that Christmas season is for Christ and for children. Is it not nice that while you are here in Calpe, you can donate to a charitable organization? In fact, there are lots of such organizations here in Christmastime and they are the conduit to help underprivileged children here. But if donating is not your cup of tea, you can still help the organization by being a volunteer for a few hours this Christmas season.

No matter when you choose to come to Calpe, you are assured of a great time! And the same goes for how long you spend here - with so much to do, and so much to see nearby, visitors often come back for the long haul, that is to say, to live. Emmigrating is not a light step to take and one must be able to guarantee a number of things before deciding to go ahead - are there enough means to live comfortably whilst away (jobs such as giving one to one English class or child minding help with this type of obstacle)? Are there commitments at home and would it be easy to travle back if need be? Assuring all this then why not go ahead and consider your Spanish life?