For many people moving to Spain means buying a house or apartment at one of the Costa's.
My guess is, most of these people are trying to relive happy childhood memories, a day out at the seaside with Mum and Dad, donkey rides, candy floss and sticks of rock.
What could be more refreshing than cooling off in the sea? Actually the few times this year when I've been to the beach, the sea was less than refreshing; I would liken it to taking a hot bath! So when the sun has reached its zenith and your shade offers little respite, in our area of inland Valencia we cool off in one of the many crystal clear rivers.
What an incredibly exhilarating feeling it is plunging into waters harvested by natural mountain springs.
However, some people are not keen on the rivers and having to contend with some current, so they opt to have days out by the dams or lakes, the more popular ones having picnic areas, play areas for the children and cafés or restaurants nearby.
There are many places to go: the Rio Xuquer is controlled at Embalse de Tous, making areas to the south very popular, with Sumacarcel and Antella being firm favourites.
The Rio Albaida is controlled at Embalse de Bellus.
Areas to the north are worth exploring with the opportunity to find whole stretches of unspoilt shallow waterways.
In edition to this there are deep natural watering holes, some of the favourites being at Anna and Enguera.
But what if you've just finished work and you don't want to drive to a river or dam? The answer is simple - if you live in a village or town, the likelihood is they will have their own municipal swimming pool, with attendant, shop or café (showers are also provided with toilet facilities) and the fees are very reasonable.
This is quite an achievement as some of these villages are very small.
My own village has a population of 2,500 people but boasts a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts and refreshments bar, another village nearby has a population of only 800 people, but they still have a great pool.
Having lived 50 years at a seaside resort in England, I can say I don't miss the sand in my sandwiches, or having my body painfully sandblasted when it's windy, or swimming in polluted waters, you can keep your Costa's, I want to spend my next 50 years enjoying the inland waterways.
My guess is, most of these people are trying to relive happy childhood memories, a day out at the seaside with Mum and Dad, donkey rides, candy floss and sticks of rock.
What could be more refreshing than cooling off in the sea? Actually the few times this year when I've been to the beach, the sea was less than refreshing; I would liken it to taking a hot bath! So when the sun has reached its zenith and your shade offers little respite, in our area of inland Valencia we cool off in one of the many crystal clear rivers.
What an incredibly exhilarating feeling it is plunging into waters harvested by natural mountain springs.
However, some people are not keen on the rivers and having to contend with some current, so they opt to have days out by the dams or lakes, the more popular ones having picnic areas, play areas for the children and cafés or restaurants nearby.
There are many places to go: the Rio Xuquer is controlled at Embalse de Tous, making areas to the south very popular, with Sumacarcel and Antella being firm favourites.
The Rio Albaida is controlled at Embalse de Bellus.
Areas to the north are worth exploring with the opportunity to find whole stretches of unspoilt shallow waterways.
In edition to this there are deep natural watering holes, some of the favourites being at Anna and Enguera.
But what if you've just finished work and you don't want to drive to a river or dam? The answer is simple - if you live in a village or town, the likelihood is they will have their own municipal swimming pool, with attendant, shop or café (showers are also provided with toilet facilities) and the fees are very reasonable.
This is quite an achievement as some of these villages are very small.
My own village has a population of 2,500 people but boasts a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts and refreshments bar, another village nearby has a population of only 800 people, but they still have a great pool.
Having lived 50 years at a seaside resort in England, I can say I don't miss the sand in my sandwiches, or having my body painfully sandblasted when it's windy, or swimming in polluted waters, you can keep your Costa's, I want to spend my next 50 years enjoying the inland waterways.
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