Well, excuse me…while you are battling wind, rain and fog in what is supposed to be your summer, we have been battling high sun and temperatures into the 40s! You try working in this heat! It’s no wonder that generally speaking, most businesses in Spain more or less close down during the month of August and flee to the “costas.” You try organising anything formal at this time of year and it just won’t happen…we wanted to order a new front door but no-can-do – factory’s closed for August holidays…we needed to contact our solicitor about a matter – office closed due to August holidays…contact our accountant – closed due to August holidays ad inifinitum…you get the picture. And so in that spirit, this blog and my creative brain have been closed due to August holidays.

But I’m feeling generous. I’ll give you an August update for all things that have been happening in and around the naturist zone, although much is old news by now! Sorry about that!!

Firstly: Surviving Dreambeach. Every year, at the far end of the bay a massive music festival is held called Dreambeach. It looks amazing, the lasers, the ferris wheel all lit up, the various stages and platforms. The headlining acts are pretty impressive and no wonder they attract over 150,000 people over the four-day period. In fact the audience this year topped 160,000 ravers! Now if those headlining acts were the likes of Bananarama, or Spandau Ballet, or our plumber’s mum’s favourites Duran Duran…then yours truly would be there in the blink of an eye. Sadly for me though, the main demographic are teens/early 20s and the music…techno dance. You should read the local on-line forums…the sympathisers, the haters…the ambivalent (that’s us). In any case, the music boom, boom booming through the night, the packed-out supermarket and the general crowds certainly challenge the senses. We always warn people about staying with us over those four nights because our demographic is definitely, erm, mature-ish, so they do appreciate the advance warning. But the bars, restaurants, and other business make hay during the festival and the kids enjoy it (get me, “the kids” …I feel old) so there is a balance to the argument. Wouldn’t say ‘no’ to a more diverse mix of music on offer though!

Second: The annual naked run. During a baking hot August evening and these crazy people run the 2.5 or 7km (two options) route around the naturist zone. Did we attend? Of course! Wine glass in hand, cheering on the runners – well someone’s got to encourage them. And local photographer/legend Tony Unwin has immortalised the event in photos.  

Flags around the naturist zone: A certain community-spirited group are trying to arrange with the town hall a scheme where flags are suspended from lighting poles around the zone making it clear where you are free to be naked in the streets. It’s early days at the moment but on the night of the naked run we bumped into one of the organisers of this charming idea, and he showed us some impressions and explained the latest developments. It’s a case of ‘watch this space’ so I’ll certainly be sure to keep you informed as I hear anything new.

Our Vera Playa Galleries page has been updated: Yes, during one of these hot August evenings, I locked myself away in an air-conditioned room, sorted through all of Steve’s photographs, re-arranged the ‘Galleries’ section of our website and added a new section entitled “Local Festivals and Fiestas” in an effort to show some of the more cultural events that take place annually in the area. As Steve takes more photos, I’ll add them but if you are a past guest then please feel free to send me any you think may be of interest as there are already a few there that are courtesy of some trigger happy guests of ours already. Check out the galleries here. 

See you soon! ¡Hasta pronto!