Attention Europe…clocks go forward tonight…it can only mean one thing SUMMER TIME BEGINS. Oh, oh, I forgot…many of you are still reeling from the Beast from the East aren’t you?

Well, if it makes you feel any better, last night we got our own weather front…the, er, ahem, ‘Pest from the West’. Yes, weather-front-comrade…we’ve got gale force westerly gusts if you please. I could hear them in the night you know, so this morning, Steve and I did a community spirited stroll around the streets of the naturist zone in order to survey the damage. The devastation we found – oh my! A fallen over lamp post, the remains of a cardboard box in a flower bed, and a palm tree by our swimming pool toppled over and causing a major diversion for all foot passengers of at least two, yes two meters! And the wind we experienced while doing this stroll, oh! It’s like walking into a hairdryer on heat setting…wreaks havoc when wearing just shorts and a t-shirt and certainly not practical when your hiking footwear is a pair of flip flops. Oh well, it’s a cross we have to bare I suppose.

Talking of crosses, and there’s no pun intended here, but we are coming up to the Spanish Semana Santa – the week of the Saints...or Easter (Holy) week as we know it and it clearly marks a new part of the year. Literally this is the week when everything around here springs back into new life with gusto – just in the spirit of the meaning of Easter. The Spanish who have holiday homes here will spend the Semana Santa period in the area, so all along the stretch of beach, the bars, restaurants and cafes get spring cleaned, repaired and start to open properly for the year.

In the naturist zone, Natsun chirunguito (Inna’s), Puntonat, Oh La La and Sol y Luna have been open (albeit on more relaxed timetables) most, if not all, of the winter months. Nevertheless they have joined in the seasonal spirit by getting themselves spring-cleaned and spruced-up.

We’ve witnessed Inna’s getting a new lick of dazzling white paint and a delivery of new tables for example. Meanwhile, restaurant Paso Doble we noticed today which closed for winter is getting ready to re-open and very nice it looks too. It was also nice to welcome back ‘La Cañita Loca’ and the legendary Pirate Bar this week. Additionally, we noticed a brand new ‘resto bar’ called Koa open down Hotel Street.

The town hall commissioned the first tractors of the season to rake and clean the beach this week, and of course all the proprietors of Vera Playa’s new shopping centre ‘Vera Plaza’ are working really hard to make sure their new ventures are open and ready in time for Holy Week.

I can confirm from this newsdesk that the bike shop (where you can hire bikes and well as buy them), hairdressers, gift shop and estate agents are already open with more set to open any day now.

As part of the wider works in the Consum/Plaza area, the council have temporarily closed the road between the Plaza and the salinas while the water company carry out essential works. This reminded Steve and I to take a walk over and see what migrating birds are currently in residence. We were thrilled to see the annual visit from the lovely pinky-white flamingos! 

Talking of birds, just now, we took lunch on the terrace of 'Mediterráneo' and while we were taking a moment enjoying the view across the naturist beach and feeling the warm breeze on our legs, we spotted a bird of prey on our very own terrace and could hear in the distance our favourite Hoopoe chirruping its mating call. While all this was going on, we could also see our neighbour taking a dip in the sea followed by a bit of homespun Yoga. Vera Playa really does have such a great energy about it – even when it’s a bit blowy!

So, as the clocks go forward tonight, a new season begins...the gentle run-up to summer commences. If you are reading this safe in the knowledge you have a holiday booked this year in sunny VP, then don’t be too down with the effects from the Beast of the East because in no time at all you’ll be here, taking the sun and having a great time. So, as we say in Spain, ¡hasta pronto! 

Steve and Chris offer two beautiful apartments to rent for the discerning naturist traveller. One is directly on the Vera Playa naturist beach, the other just a few footsteps away. See more. here