Monday was our first full day at La Manga.

La Manga is close to Murcia and after its urbanization in the second half of the twentieth century, is now a large and significant tourist centre. It has more than 3000 hours of sunshine per year with an average temperature of 18C.

It belongs to the municipalities of Cartagena in its southern part and San Javier in its northern part.

The coastal cord of La Manga forms a tongue of land that is 21 km long and extends from Cabo de Palos to the Salinas and Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar. With a width between 100 and 1200m it partially separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor.

To the west of this tongue of land is the Mar Menor, a salt water lagoon connected by channels, through which the water is exchanged with the Mediterranean Sea that is to the east. The central connection (El Estacio) is an artificial extension and provides access to the marina.

Today we set off on the bikes to Cabo de Palos which is at the nearest end to Cartagena of the La Manga spit. The entire journey was mainly on cycle tracks and gravel roads. We visited the lighthouse there which was first lit in January 1865. The lighthouse features a large pedestal and can be seen from a distance of 24 miles away.

Thursday and we decided to cycle to the far end of the La Manga spit of land. This was disappointing. Tower block upon tower block and the entire strip was close to deserted. We did manage to find somewhere to have a spot of lunch and a three course menu of the day for 12 Euros each. I’m sure that some of the dishes which arrived were not what we ordered but who knows. This is Spain.

I can only imagine what this place must be like in the summer months and frankly, we wouldn’t want to experience it! It was a nice cycle ride, despite the architecture…