Spanish Lullaby – LGBTQ Fiesta In Benidorm
When I first got the invitation to join a group of LGBTQ bloggers and vloggers – Wandering Wives, Alvaro Laforet, Dutchiefied, and Live Like Tom – travelling to Benidorm Pride, I honestly had no idea where I’m heading to. I’ve been to Spain countless times – from Calella through Barcelona to Sitges – but no one ever told me about this town close to Ibiza.
Hell I said yes – this is how I found myself with a bunch of complete strangers in a city stranger than fiction, yet having so much fun, by the third day I was a true #benilover at heart.
Never Ending Summer In The City
Who saw an episode of the British show, or ever googled Benidorm is probably thinking: the whole city is a jungle of skyscrapers and tower houses built in the 60s – yet the once-upon-a-time sleepy fishermen’s village has a beautiful old town, showcasing classic Spanish architecture. The centre of the old city is around the The Church of San Jaime, looking down to the concrete jungle of the new town.
Pool Parties and Beauty Naps Around The Clock
A Vegan in Benidorm – Is It Possible?
Vegan Fine Dining at Villa Venecia
Get Outta Yer Comfort ZoNe – Waterpark, Jeep Tour, Bike Ride, and So Much More…
Marco Polo Expediciones Jeep Tour‘s cool cat Dannis took us to an unforgettable trip to the top of the surrounding mountains, showcasing the rich nature – the hills are filled with pomegranat and carob trees – it really reminded me on the climate of Israel’s North hills, the Carmel mountains. We also took an electric bike trip to the hidden shores of Benidorm – many don’t know that the busy city has a nature reservoir right next to it, aligning natural beach shores where bathing pants are optional, but beautiful sights are guaranteed. Riding a Tao Bike made it fun and easy to spin up to the top – actually I’m now considering getting an e-bike in Tel Aviv.
Bendorm Pride, Here Comes The Whitecity Boy!
The first night we kicked off the celebration with an opening party, then we just never stopped going out, night after night. The Pride Parade was such a treat! Being on the top of a bus dancing for hours, just purely enjoying the moment with British radio station, Gaydio‘s übercool hosts, Emma, Chris and Toby, I was hoping this afternoon will last forever – just like Atomic Kitten did, a gay reference joke for whoever remembers them apart from me.
White Party in the old city – I was happy to discover: Benidorm Pride is open for all. I ran into elderly and golden aged trans and gay couples, curious teenagers, families with kids, and of course classic Pride-goers with their muscles and tank tops, and confused tourists as well who had no clue what they got into, but they enjoyed it anyway. Some of the outfits were super creative and sexy, while others, let’s just say, quire revealing… yup, that’s me rolling my eyes down there.
¡Hasta luego! Till Next Year
Now back in Tel Aviv I’m thinking about these past few days with such nostalgia and warm, fuzzy feelings, as if I spent my holiday with best friends at some place close to my heart for years. This is the true magic of Benidorm: it brings together people, and before you’d notice, you’re hooked. Big heartfelt thank you to my fellow bloggers for making this trip such joy (and of course for picking me up from the street as I fall asleep by the gate of a club, and helped me remembering my room number back at the hotel – oh, fun times!). Gracias from the bottom of my heart to Lucho Perez from the Visit Benidorm team (and to his lovely Marta), you are such a beautiful couple! Big thanks to Auston Matta at OUTfluential for picking me to experience the Beni-magic, and of course thank you for the Spanish Tourist Office of Italy for making it possible for me to fly across the world to do so.
Benidorm, I’ll be back – next year with my boyfriend, who this time had to stay home, but next year nothing can save him… #MadeInTelAvivDestroyedInBenidorm 😉