Property and local area description
Casa Macarena - The Macarena House
This attractive , brightly coloured two bedroomed house is in the centre of a secure closed, smart , gated community. It is ideal for families, couples or singles who are looking for an inexpensive, value for money holiday in the sun with use of a pool , but who do not need a beach on the doorstep. The complex benefits from being in a quiet, mostly residential area, yet only five minutes walk away from the famous salt lakes and only a couple of minutes walk away from buses into Torrevieja town centre and local shops and bars.
The two large natural saltwater lagoons that form the well-known "Salterns of Torrevieja" are considered to be the biggest in Europe and second in the world. Some people bathe in the salt lakes as they are renowned for their healing properties. They are also a pleasant place to visit during an evening stroll after the heat of the day.
The house has a North facing patio at the front and a small South facing patio at the back where guests can enjoy the constant sunshine on one of the sun loungers provided. Should you need to cool off, the crystal clear water of the pristine communal pool is only a few meters away from the front of the house for you to enjoy a dip. There is a shower and separate children’s section of the pool, along with ornate tables and benches for your added comfort. The pool is surrounded by well kept, pretty gardens, which the house overlooks at the front.
The front door leads into a bright airy lounge which is open plan , incorporating the well equipped kitchen and downstairs cloakroom with wc. The lounge has a double sofa bed, another sofa,coffee table and smart built in cupboard. There is a large TV with 35 UK and Irish satellite channels and a couple of local channels too, plus a radio/CD player for your added enjoyment! At the other end of the lounge is the dining area with table and four chairs facing the patio area at the back, where the sliding doors open on to - ideal for a warm evening.The patio is furnished with four garden table and chairs ideal for an al fresco drink or meal .The well equipped kitchen has a built in breakfast bar and includes a large fridge / freezer,microwave, hob and extractor fan. There is a brand new washing machine and water heater in the utility area to the back of the house. Throughout the house is a fresh, cool feeling which is created by the light shades used in the décor and the tiled floors and wall to wall tiling in the bathrooms and kitchen.
The ornate tiled staircase leads from the lounge up to the second floor where there are two bedrooms and the bathroom. The Master bedroom has a double bed, a large built in wardrobe, two bedside tables and a door leading to the upstairs terrace.From here you can enjoy an impressive view all around with the added comfort of a small table and three chairs. The second bedroom is to the back of the house and has two single beds, a bedside table and small built in wardrobe . Because everything was bought brand new, the single beds have never been slept in! The bathroom is stylishly decorated and tiled and has bath, shower, bidet and wc with a sink and useful cupboard.
To the front the house has the added advantage of two parking spaces for guests use. Within easy walking distance are several local shops and bars, offering excellent value for money. Bar Patricia and a typical Spanish restaurant are amongst the favourites with locals and holidaymakers alike. You won’t believe how cheap it is to eat out – a three course meal with wine will only cost you 7.25euros !!
There is a frequent bus service ‘ B ‘ to Torrevieja town centre for more choice of bars and shops and for the fit amongst us there is a cycle track to town. Should you wish to visit one of the beaches, you can take the bus into the centre of Torrevieja and spend the day at Playa de la Cura, which is approximately a 10 minutes walk. Alternatively if you hire a car during your holiday, it is around a 10 to15 minute drive to one of the stunning, blue flag, sandy beaches in the area.
Surrounding Area
As well as the town centre the local Bus ‘ B ’ also stops at the main bus station from where you can catch buses to various parts of Spain, including Alicante and Orihuela if you fancy a day out further afield. It also stops at the Parque las Naciones – the popular Park of Nations and Carrefour – a large hypermarket where you can buy just about anything.
Torrevieja holds one of the biggest markets in Spain on a Friday morning where a variety of purchases can be made. Torrevieja is situated next to the sea in the south of the Valencian Community. In Torrevieja town there are several churches, The Archpriests Parish Church of the Inmaculada Concepción being the most famous in the main square in Torrevieja ‘Plaza de la Constitution’. The building of this church on the site of former temples began in 1880.It holds the statue of the town’s patron saint, La Purisima Concepcion. This image arouses popular fervour in Torrevieja, especially on the two occasions a year that it is taken out for processions. One of the main attractions to Torrevieja are the variety of festivals and carnivals which take place every month.
There are many beautiful beaches, squares, walks, parks, gardens and other natural beauty spots (Ferriz), as well as some wonderful historical monuments such as the Modernist Casino which dates from the begining of the century and has a famous hall in the mozarabic style. Also there is the Recinto de las Eras de la Sal an open, air theatre.
There are a variety of restaurants and bars catering for all tastes, pockets and ages plus a good choice of shops from budget to designer. On the outskirts of the town centre there is the popular ‘Habaneras shopping centre’ with the Ozone complex next door which has a cinema and bowling alley. There are also several large hypermarkets with a huge selection of goods for sale at very reasonable prices. You can take boat trips from the port and a variety of activities are available including go karting and golf. The nearest golf course at Algorfa, is only a ten minutes drive with three others within a 20 minutes drive including the famous and popular Villamartin. There is also a waterpark, Aquapolis, open June to September nearby offering fun for all the family.
La Mata and Further afield
The pretty and small town of La Mata is only a 10 to 15 minute drive away and can be reached by bus A from Torrevieja town or by road if you have your own car. It has a stunning sandy quiet beach with sunbeds and shades for hire should you require them.At La Mata are the remains of the old port at Torrevieja, called the Embarcadero Romano, or Roman Docks. Along this coast are the ancient watchtowers called El Moro and La Mata, used in the Middle Ages to warn the coastal inhabitants of attacks by Barbary pirates. La Mata is a smaller, more village like town than Torrevieja and the bus takes you into the town centre, just neare the square, which is a gathering point for the locals, especially of an evening when they take their stroll. La Mata is a traditional small Spanish town with a friendly atmosphere. There are pretty bars and restaurants, catering for all tastes, budgets and cuisines, for a beachside drink or meal. There are several tasteful bars lining the beach and along the promenade to stop and enjoy the view of the aqua blue warm sea and never ending sandy beach and dunes . The beach at the La Mata town end is particularly attractive and there is a children’s play park set back from it which is popular with tourist and locals alike. On a Wednesday morning a market is held in the colourful back streets where many a bargain can be found.