SIMPLY LA MANGA DEL MAR MENOR!

La Manga del Mar Menor, a strip of coral and sand separating the Mar Menor (the Little Sea) from the Mar Mayor (the Mediterranean). It is situated on the Costa Cálida, southern Spain's 'warm coast'. For most of the year, the Mar Menor is a tranquil, shallow lagoon, having a surface area of some 170 square kilometres (60 square miles), its crystal clear waters playing host to many snorkellers and scuba divers interacting with the myriad of tiny creatures that live there.

For a real flavour of La Manga, why not have a look at this short slide-show of images taken around La Manga del Mar Menor,

Equipment may be hired on the beaches of the Mar Menor for participation in sports such as jet-skiing, windsurfing, paragliding, kite-surfing and even pedaloes! Most of these activities are offered with instruction for first-timers - but not for the pedaloes! There is also a local sailing school and the scuba diving centres will introduce you to your first underwater experience. For the more ambitious, PADI certification courses are also available. Golfing enthusiasts can enjoy some of the finest courses in the whole of Europe - so don't forget your clubs!

The Mar Menor is warmed by the sun for an average of 320 days a year and is swimmable for most of that time. With an average depth of only three and a half metres, its sandy beaches stretch for over thirty five kilometres, hiding many little coves and bays where it is possible to enjoy the special solitude offered by this resort.

The sparkling water is mineral rich and for many years, Spanish holidaymakers have visited La Manga to immerse themselves in it, covering themselves from head to foot in the grey mud, with its inherent medicinal qualities, from the seabed. Other nationalities have now discovered this therapy and so this practice is now widely followed - it can be quite amusing at times to watch "the grey people" parading up and down the beach, slowly baking in the sun! However, there is good evidence to suggest that rheumatism, arthritis and some skin complaints respond very favourably to this practice and people return year after year.

For the energetic holidaymaker, La Manga is vibrant and lively in the summer. Its bustling shopping centres and large Sunday market make it a shopper's paradise, while in the evening, the discos, bars and many restaurants will keep you 'buzzing' until the early hours of the morning - if you so wish! For the true bargain hunter, there are many other local markets in the vicinity, each on a different day of the week, offering everything from antiques to souvenirs.

The fish restaurants of La Manga serving high quality, locally caught fresh produce are certainly worth a visit by the discerning seafood lover - try the sardines and the paella. Chinese, Indian, Italian, Greek, and German are some of the other 'dining-out' options available - there is even an English fish and chip shop and Burger King has just arrived! For those who prefer to eat at home, there are supermarkets of varying sizes along 'The Strip', offering a wide range of fresh produce.

The local bus service operates all year round, albeit more frequently during the summer months. It offers the opportunity for stress-free travel at a very reasonable price to Cartagena with its historic architecture and to Murcia, the capital of the province, with its upmarket shopping malls and pavement cafes. For the more adventurous, there is even a daily coach service to Madrid - although it is a long trip! Bicycles and quad bikes can be hired at reasonable rates and cycle lanes stretch the whole length of 'The Strip'.

Finally, August/September is the time when our local fiestas get underway - enjoy the colour and the spectacle in the unique Spanish tradition, or why not enjoy a Saturday football match at the local Cartagena Stadium - the team is presently in the Spanish Second Division, but is expected to move up at the end of this season.

The most convenient airports to reach La Manga are Murcia (San Javier) which is around 30 minutes away and Alicante which is an hour from La Manga.

So, if it is merely your wish to relax on a beach and take the occasional pleasant boat trip, or dance the night away to live music, all in all it's a holiday experience that is hard to describe - let's just say it's 'simply La Manga del Mar Menor'.