August, head for the beach!

August is vacation month in Spain when for four long hot delirious weeks everybody slows down to working half-day or closes shop and heads for the sea. The city streets empty while the beach towns become home to half of Spain and northern Europe.

Naturally! The beaches here are covered with beautiful white sand running miles up and down the shore. They are equipped with showers to rinse off and water fountains to get a drink. Sun umbrellas and hammock chairs can be rented for those that haven't brought their own. A little off shore, a floating dock equipped with slide invites the better swimmer to break away. Most people hardly venture away from their sun burning beach towels, content just dipping and playing where soft warm waves drift up and across the sand.

A megaphone touting lifeguard rules over this small world from high atop his towering flag crowned throne.

When you need a bite, or when your beer cooler goes dry, just walk to the beach walk, where you can find hotdog and hamburgers stands, bars, and outdoor cafes with shaded patios.

Alongside these permanent establishments, newly arrived immigrants and gypsies sell pirated CDs, sunglasses, jewelry, African, Indian and South American craft items. Their wares are laid carefully at their feet on blankets so as to be swept up in a wink, and thrown, knotted over their backs to flee, should a policeman show up.

White sandy beaches along the Levante coast