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The ride into Alicante was gentle and we awoke at 6 about an hour before the pilot boarded the ship to guide us into port.
We had arranged a tour with Spain Day Tours that met at 8:15, 15 minutes after we were due to be cleared to go ashore and only an hour after the restaurants opened for breakfast. (Lido buffet was open earlier but we generally avoid that.) We ordered breakfast to be delivered to our cabin and enjoyed a great breakfast while getting ready for the day.
We met our guide at 8:15 and at 8:30 all participants arrived and we were off to begin with a walking tour of Alicante including downtown, the old cloister and the main church
After we made our way back to the van/bus for a 1.5 hour ride to Guadalest, a village of 200 with St. Jose’s castle. We walked through the village grabbed some local lunch before returning to Alicante.
Upon our return we visited the Castle of St. Barbara. For those who might have seen Janice’s Facebook post about pacemakers. The top of the castle has been used to mount a number of antennas that might cause disruptions to pacemakers.
Here is the stadium for bull fighting and our ship as seen from the top of the castle
We then return to the ship at 3:05, 25 minutes before the all aboard time. We spent some time out on the back deck before returning to change for dinner.
After dinner we went the to the main show with a comedian who was likely the best we have ever heard on a ship and then stopped to listen to a set in the Rolling stone Rock Room.
Alicante, Benidorm, and Guadalest
kevinmaxey 
What, no ice cream???
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