El Palmeral

09/09/2024

Waiting for the start of the Amy Boucher Pye retreat.

Have I missed something?

I wish we’d all been ready …

13/08/2024

The weather’s changing tonight. Hopefully there’s some rain arriving! In the meantime,

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.”

Thanks Rachel for the photo!

11/06/2024

Proper rain now! We definitely have chosen a good week to be closed!

Forecast to be hot and sunny well before the weekend. Why not come and join us? 3 standard rooms available from 20th to 29th June, last minute decisions are often inspired! (And we’ve only got a few spaces left in Autumn, probably our final season 🥲)

08/06/2024

Ok, so that was short lived then!
Also be aware that Alicante still has the 100ml rule when you return to the UK.

On that note, we are getting pretty full in Autumn of this year, so don’t rely on that for a break.

However, one gap we do have is pretty soon, so 20th - 29th June we have 3 Standard rooms available, if you want some last minute fun and sun!

All of the airports which are affected have upgraded to new high-tech CT scanners.

01/06/2024

A good day for House Closed methinks.

Not much sunbathing today, we do need the rain though, so no complaints.

23/05/2024

Yes, it’s a late post, but Midnight at El Palmeral …

12/05/2024

So, we’re in Morning Prayer today, and an extra visitor turns up, surprisingly, he could talk.

He said “Hi chaps, I don’t know if I’ve got the right address, but if you’re the ones who are keeping my people in slavery, I might need to tell all my mates. Not a big problem, but we’re likely to cover the whole land, the whole place will be darkened. We’ll probably eat all the plants of the land, and the fruit of the trees, and not a green thing will remain, is that OK?”

“Look mate”, I replied, “I think your Sat nav has gone wrong with all these solar flares, you’ll need to go t’Egypt, and ask again”

“Ok” he replied in a slightly disappointed manner “I’m a bit tired with all that flying”

I said “Just chill mate, make it easier for yourself, take a Lo Cust airline flight …….”

Pleasant encounter for a sunny Sunday, crisis averted.

10/05/2024

When to get to the Chapel you have to cut a few branches off. This weeks guests will have the best fruit on their muesli. Níspero season is here.

09/05/2024

On the way home from a lovely curry on a day off seems like we have to navigate via Orodruin (Mount Doom).

Hopefully no more Rings will be forged this evening … it’s just quest, quest, quest at the moment ….

02/05/2024

A moment of mindfulness can be found in the busiest of places.

Learn from the Lemurs ….

20/04/2024

RyanAir must want to fill April flights, extending yesterday's offer over the weekend. Come and enjoy seeing through a glass sparkly next week - and fit in some mindfulness out in the Spanish countryside learning from the beauty and life of birds. (Thanks Andrew Stott for the photo from last week!)

RyanAir offers link here:-

https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/lp/promotion/getaways?utm_source=crm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_R_FLIGHTTACT_FS200424Ext_gb_noseg_noab_nodiv_nop_nols

19/04/2024

Ever thought about making a crazy last minute decision? Our Bird Watching retreat starts on Monday, yes Monday 22nd April, led by Dale Hanson. There are a couple of Standard rooms available, and RyanAir seem to have a significant sale on today, with last minute prices from most UK airports to Alicante from about £19.99. We'll be out and about in the local countryside, and the usual warm welcome here at El Palmeral. email us or call us if you are tempted!

10/04/2024

Orange Whip, Orange Whip, Orange Whip?

Three Orange Whips at El Palmeral.

It must be a Mission from God…

(See Blues Brothers (1980) for further detail)

21/03/2024

Mike has kept in touch with friends from University for many years, His last get-together was here at El Palmeral to celebrate 3 Kings Day in January. It's such a worthy cause, and he's someone we can certainly recommend if you're looking for personal connections to the London Marathon. Besides, no way Mike could have done it ... what, with these knees?

I'm a Listening Volunteer and first time marathon runner at Samaritans. We answer calls every 10 seconds, 24/7 for people at their lowest ebb. If we can be there for them, there is just a chance they

10/03/2024

With the chapel temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, the alternative venue for services has proven controversial.

01/03/2024

Our beloved city of Elche gets a (albeit brief) mention by Monty Don in his latest episode. Unsurprisingly, Palm trees and irrigation are the featured topics. If you want to come and see the Huertos (palm orchards) in person, why not pay us a visit this year, local tourist guide and taxi included!

Monty Don continues his journey through Spain, visiting the gardens of the south.

22/02/2024

https://mailchi.mp/488a06e7577e/2024_feb

A link to our latest newsletter, headlines are the Bird Retreat Apr 22 - 26 (Today is a Ryanair flash sale btw). Get yourself on the mailing list, and be the first to know about availability.

It's an important year! (do read the newsletter ....)

Cracking photos - thankyou to Dale Hanson.

24/12/2023

Have you been busy? What time do you finish? Forgotten anything for tomorrow? Hopefully there will be some time today to be still, all as finished as it can be, with hope and expectation for tomorrow.

As promised, www.palmgrovecommunity.com and http://www.m.palmgrovecommunity.com/ (mobile) are updated with our 2024 Calendar - Open for booking!!

When you get a spare moment on Boxing Day, you never know, you might fancy retreating away from it all in the New Year, or maybe just a holiday. We can help .......

19/12/2023

If you're on our mailing list, we've sent you our draft 2024 Calendar, so you can start looking and booking early!

The website hasn't been published with the new dates yet, so keep checking - it'll be done before Christmas. If you're not on our mailing list, send us a message and we'll add you to the list and send you the dates.

29/09/2023

Another amazing Photography Retreat, Seeing beyond seeing, draws to a close. Guide Brad Berglund helped participants focus beyond technique, choosing instead to emphasize the artistic, the gift of seeing life in new and surprising ways.

Here's a small selection, more to follow (please ask permission before any use, thankyou)

26/09/2023

Our Photography retreat is well underway this week. At the moment, they're in a session, awaiting the bar opening at 7pm. We reckon they'll be thirsty by then, as it's been a busy, hot, sunny day.

This is one we prepared earlier!

22/08/2023

It's not too late to book that last minute holiday and retreat combined to Sunny Spain in September. Amazingly, we do have a couple of rooms free the FIRST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER, Fri 1st or Sat 2nd to Fri 8th. We've just checked some flight prices, and they aren't too bad.

Don't defer until later in the Autumn - we don't have any other spaces for TimeOut retreats! The pool will be warm, sun is pretty likely, and a warm welcome, great company with others and tasty Spanish cuisine is guaranteed! See www.palmgrovecommunity.com for details, or email us at [email protected], or give us a call (see website for contact details) to reserve your space before they go.

04/08/2023

If you're on our mailing list, you know there is ONE DOUBLE ROOM remaining for our fantastic Photography retreat, Seeing beyond seeing, Sep 24 - 29 2023. It's led by Brad Berglund from Colorado USA and is a truly unique experience.

Here's a small selection of photos produced over the years, no prior experience or fancy expensive cameras required!

You may even get some Autumnal warmth and sunshine...

further information can be found on http://m.palmgrovecommunity.com/brad (mobile site) and
http://www.palmgrovecommunity.com/seeing-beyond-seeing-led-by-brad-berglund/ (desktop site).

or email us at [email protected]

03/08/2023

It's a good job for Paws the Cat that placing yourself prostrate near the Altar has significantly less personal danger than in the original Old Testament days.

01/08/2023

The sunset moon over El Pinet, as we enjoy Sobremesa for the soul at Hostal Restaurante Maruja.

As with so many after dinner conversations, it improved as the evening went on!

17/07/2023

You know it’s been quite a warm day when the swimming pool thermometer reads 34°C ….. 93°F in old money.

¡Scorchio!

26/06/2023

Well, that’s rather odd. You can see the sky, but it appears to be raining quite heavily… 🤔

… albeit mainly on the plain …

By George! I think I’ve got it!

11/06/2023

You have to love a village where a foam party is put on for the little ones, and a lady takes a shopping trolley full of empty beer bottles to recycling.

11/06/2023

So, we didn’t win the Paella competition today, but we did win a beach towel and a drinks cooler for trips to the seaside!

01/05/2023

Team Gin seem to have acquired new players in the recent Transfer window. How many Retreat Houses do you know with a wider Gin selection than Wetherspoons?

While we're doing comparisons, a) we're less expensive b) there's no groups of lads on a Friday night c) I don't know a Wetherspoons with a swimming pool ....
.. btw, Drink Responsibly!