Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2024 3:49pm
Hi John,
I'm not clear whether you're committed to a specific location yet, but have you considered Guardamar del Segura? It's a lovely town on the coast, about 20 minutes drive north of Torrevieja. It has a great municipal sports centre right on the coast and less than a 2 minute walk to the main beach and promenade, with bars and restaurants. Here's what you can find at the sports centre:
https://murciatoday.com/municipal-sports-facilities-in-guardamar-del-segura_1575323-a.html
If you like walking and running (at 63 I can walk all day, but I run "carefully" since incurring a knee cartilage tear - from salsa dancing, LOL!), you can also access two lovely parks in a couple of minutes (Reina Sofia is more formal with ponds and wildlife), and Alfonso XIII which is huge and from where you can walk to Guardamar marina, a lovely setting for a traditional Spanish breakfast.
Also, Guardamar is on the main N332 coast road so, unlike inland towns, it's on the main bus route from the airport through to Torrevieja, shoud you want it.
As for practicing Spanish, I can recommend the weekly classes I attend in the village of Heradades (about 10-15 minutes inland from Guardamar), or one-to-one classes in Benijofar, and also weekly conversation classes in either San Luis in Torrevieja, or Los Palacios in Formentera del Segura.
Kind regards,
Kim
P.S. I can't recommend dancing lessons - for obvious reasons! - and I don't work for the Guardamar del Segura Tourist office! ;o)