Google maps led us safely out of Alicante to Cartagena and through the city's narrow streets to the Hotel Centro Historico. Here we had booked a room on Booking.com.
We stopped the car when Google maps announced that the destination was on springes left side. The destination proved to be a 4 storey property with 3 apartments on each floor.
Strange
Maybe the front desk was somewhere else?
We started the car, drove around the small streets to find the hotel. Suddenly the phone rang. There was a Spanish number in the display.
- Hello this is Gregorio from Hotel Centro Historico. Have you arrived?
- Yes we are 2 minutes away from the building right now, we answered
- I will be down in a moment, Gregorio concluded.
We drove back and stopped the car next to the property. Shortly after, a young man came out the front door, walked over to the car, and introduced himself as Gregorio.
- Your room will be ready at 3pm, he explained, after which he showed us on a map what we could pass the wait with.
Gregorio was 4. generation of a family running the city's oldest hotel. He had decided to start his own business, had bought 4 apartments, as he himself planned for the rental, and was buying one more.
He looked optimistically at the city's future and believed there was huge potential within tourism.
- We have a very old history, a fantastic coast line and are renovating the old City, he said and continued
- and the chinese have not yet discovered us.
Hi Carl, Nice to hear from you again. It sounds like Gregorios Hotel Centro Historico lacks a bit of the classic hotel atmosphere - but on the other hand no Chinese - that's a clear advantage
Well, today's good advice to you was to rent a car with Park Distance Control - in parking everything too close to the car in front of you
We are off to Playa Blanca in the morning - it fits nicely as there is snow and sleet here - really nasty weather - add!