Where did the year go?

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Where did the year go?

Steve • 12 December 2021

Ladies and gentlemen it’s: ‘The final blog of the year’

Looking across the beach and out to the mountains at dusk and the purple sky makes everything blue and purple with lights on in buildings by the beach

As I sit down in the sunshine and contemplate writing this long overdue blog, it strikes me how lucky we are to be enjoying such lovely weather in mid-December. Although officially it’s only 21C today, our terrace thermometer in the sun (which never lies) is telling us it’s 35C! That’s more than most countries get in the height of summer and we are just about to enter the Christmas silly season!

Not only are we fortunate enough to enjoy uninterrupted views of the coast but in the distance I am also keeping an eye on the highest point in Almería to see signs of substantial snowfall…nothing much to speak of yet, but we’re so looking forward to our next trip to the mountain when the snow does fall . The wellies will get their annual airing!

And our imminent trip to a nearby pine forest also gets us in a seasonal mood to smell the pine and collect some fallen cones for our Christmas display.

Not sure if a woolly jumper and a bobble hat will be required however…

So you see it’s not just the sun, blue sea and sky we enjoy here.

Talking of skies we have been treated to some absolutely phenomenal sunrise and sunset skies lately, ablaze with every colour imaginable. Knockout! In fact I have taken so many photos of them that I made a pact on social media not to post any more such photos. I’m boring myself let alone anyone else! Not sure how long that will last, but in posting them I have received some useful advice. When one of our followers saw one such dramatic photo the firm advice was a definitive ‘Do not go sailing tomorrow’. Thankfully we heeded that advice since our super yacht is currently in dry dock being anti-fouled anyway…

So here we all are, the year has virtually disappeared hasn’t it? Is it just us or is it all just one big blur that has been going on for a couple of years?

As we look back we can be thankful that this season was a much better year for us and Vera Playa as a whole. We have needed to be flexible and adapt to the ever-changing travel landscape but in so doing we have realised that operationally everything is working better for us.

Despite the late start, the season was very busy and we continued to welcome an eclectic, international clientele.

If enquiries are anything to go by it really looks like 2022 will be another busy one. Staycations are all very well and good but can you rely on the weather for comfortable naturism at home like you can at Vera Playa?

What has been on our minds since the new dates for Dreambeach 2022 were announced is just what kind of impact on the area it will have, changing the dates from the usual second week of August to mid July.

Apparently, in consultation with local hoteliers and other accommodation providers, it was thought that the influx of 150,000+ ravers (‘Dreamers’ as they are known) would be more useful to the area in July than in August, which is always really busy anyway. Effectively this would mean accommodation should be a little easier for Dreamers to find and will also be good news for businesses who can spread out their trade.

After 2 successive Dreambeach festivals were cancelled it’s a given that 2022 will be the biggest ever. Dust off those glowsticks….

Finally about the condition of the beach, I won’t harp on about it at length as it’s kind of old news if you follow social media, but if you did miss anything then here is a short update.

A good few weeks ago now Vera Playa naturist beach suffered quite badly at the hands of a heavy storm. Usually advancing high tides and crashing waves are to blame for the biggest devastation to the beach. This time however it was the huge amount of rainfall in a short time that saw roads and ramblas become fast flowing rivers with all the water and debris heading rapidly down to the sea, carving out huge chasms in the sand and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

Thankfully the council were straight onto it and over the course of the next two weeks we saw the beach repaired and also widened at the narrowest Natsun section of the beach. In the pictures below you will see the progress of the works.

Of course now the beach is fixed it remains unprotected, having no sea defences such as the mooted groyne in place. If reports are correct it seems that administrative red tape is to blame for holding up the signing off of the groyne project which would protect the beach from further erosion.

If nothing more substantial is done soon then of course with further winter storms the sand will need to be replenished again in time for the 2022 season.

So if everyone could now just write to Santa or the Three Kings requesting the gift of a breakwater for the naturist beach, maybe everyone’s wishes will finally come true.

Here’s hoping eh?

All that remains to say now is that we hope you all have a peaceful, relaxing season and here’s to a more positive new year. Hope to see some of you back after a long break away.

Salud!

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.