# Day 21 Guardamar by the sea

It's Sunday morning and dry. There's nothing standing in the way of the bike ride. We have chosen the nearest larger town, Guardamar del Segura, as our destination. The national road N 332 is good for driving, but we feel uncomfortable on the bike. However, to get to the city, you have to cross the Segura River, which flows into the sea here at the port. And the only crossing is the national road.

We follow the signs to the port, which is always a good starting point. However, it is located outside the city center on the edge of the development but directly at the wide river mouth of the Segura. Behind the port basin is a promenade for pedestrians and cyclists, which we initially ride towards the lighthouse on the harbor mole.

The sun and the waves of the sea attract some surfers for wave riding. They lie in the water and wait for their wave. If they manage to stand on the board, it's over after 5 seconds and the surfer is in the water again, paddling out for the next 5-second fun.

On the promenade behind the dunes, we continue towards the city center. We are amazed by the well-maintained dune landscape with pine forest. This is unusual, considering that every meter by the sea is built up here.

In fact, the forest was planted 100 years ago to prevent the city from being buried by the dune sand. So, in addition to the practical aspect, a beautiful 11-kilometer coastal section was created with one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain (which is, of course, a purely subjective assessment).

The promenade in the city is well-filled with Spaniards who go out on Sundays in the sunshine and eat in the restaurants. We do as the Spaniards do - strolling along the promenade with the bike in hand.

At the end, there is a simple restaurant/café 'Jaime' that is somewhat wind-protected and tempts us with fish and tapas.

At the end of the cozy meal with grilled sardines, small fried squid, aioli potatoes, crab salad, and a bottle of wine, the plate starts to burn.

Could this be the beginning of sunburn?

Little conclusion about the area:

Guardamar is a pleasant city with urban restraint compared to the neighboring cities Alicante in the north (metropolis) and Torrevieja in the south (high-rise settlements).

We really liked the beaches with the pine forests behind them. A clear recommendation for all who land in this area.

Tomorrow, we will continue to Playa Percheldes - the snake bay.