Celebrating Our 34th Wedding Anniversary.

The hotel viewed from above.

On Monday we celebrated our thirty-fourth wedding anniversary. Peter told me several days before it, that he had booked us a night in a hotel, but refused to say where it was. We don't travel much nowadays, so I was quite excited.

On the day of our anniversary, it turned out he had booked us a night in the Auberge Hotel, which we both found very funny, because it is about fifteen minutes walk from our house. Well, even though it was so close, going there as a guest was the only way to see inside the rooms, or try out the pool, so why not?

We checked in around 3pm and were given a beautiful room with huge floor length windows overlooking the sea. Everything was very clean and comfortable. We had a king-size bed, a comfortable seating area, tea/coffee making facilities, a room safe and a very posh bathroom with a huge bathing area and a fixed and detached shower. Peter was pleased that he could actually see the TV. We have not watched TV at all for several years now, not since his eyesight got so bad he couldn't see it. After his two eye operations, he could see it a bit. Unfortunately, there was nothing exciting on. I've got so used to no TV, I don't miss it.

Peter enjoying our room.

Our Room.

Selfie in our room.

View from our window.

The hotel is currently offering Moomin themed staycations. We did not go for one of these. To be honest I know absolutely nothing about the Moomin books. There were Moomin linked things dotted all around the place. Apparently you can even have a Moomin themed afternoon tea if you so desire.

Moomin themed area.

Moomin themed area.

Moomin themed area.

Moomin themed area.

Our package came with breakfast. I was told at check-in that there were two sessions and I would have to go to the restaurant to book one, so I left Peter in the room and went off to do this. I booked us the later breakfast, so we could swim first. After sorting out breakfast, I took a quick wander around the hotel. I started by wandering around the lobby.

Hotel lobby with Moomin themed floor.

Hotel lobby.

Looking around the hotel.

Replica of, famous Chinese explorer, Zheng He's boat.

Peter in the hotel taken later.

The hotel also has a garden on the sea shore with lots of seating. Its restaurant is also located on the seafront with indoor and outdoor seating. Near the hotel, there is a beautiful glass building called the White Chapel. This is used in wedding packages offered by the hotel.

In the hotel garden.

The hotel garden.

The hotel garden.

View of the White Chapel used in the hotel's wedding packages.

I also went up to the second floor where the pool is located. There's a spa, a gym and a kids play area here. There were some nice decorations in this area, mainly animal themed for children to enjoy. There was also a very elaborate glass bead decoration which extended all the way down to the lobby.

Spa area.

Giraffe outside the kids' playroom area.

Giraffe .

Hippo outside the kids' playroom area.

Leopard, or is it a cheetah, outside the kids' playroom area.

Hotel decoration and leopard.

Hotel decoration.

Hotel decoration.

Hotel decoration.

Children's play area.

Children's play area.

The swimming pool is set in a landscaped garden from which there are good sea views and views over the North Plaza. There's a sunbathing area with a gazebo that can be used even when the pool is closed. There were some lovely plants and trees in this area.

View over the North Plaza from the pool garden.

Gardens at the pool.

Flowers in the pool garden.

Flowers in the pool garden.

Flowers in the pool garden.

The gazebo.

The gazebo.

Gazebo and fountains.

The swimming pool was a available in sessions. There are seven of these each day. We were told that, as it wasn't a weekend, we didn't need to book and could just go and queue up and get in. We were just about to go when we hit a disaster. I had forgotten to pack Peter's swimming shoes. Ever since he had to have a toe amputated, he will not swim without these. My excuse was, it's now so rare for me to have to pack for anything, I no longer know how to do it!!! Anyway, it wasn't a complete disaster, we were just fifteen minutes from home, I just walked back there and got them. We had intended to swim in the second last session, but due to my packing error, we had to swim in the last session of the day. It's strange swimming in sessions, as there is no clock on view so you don't really know when to get out, though if you overstay the lifeguard will remove you, as we soon found out.

Peter at the pool.

The pool as the sun went down.

Peter swimming as the sun goes down.

Peter swimming as the sun goes down.

Sunset over the pool.

The pool after dark.

The pool after dark.

There was a lower shallow pool you could cross on a stone path.

The gazebo at night.

After our swim, we went out for dinner. We ate in the Bounty Bar. This is a sports bar that belongs to the hotel. We actually used to eat here a lot, but we have not done so recently. There are two reasons for this. One, bars were forced to close here for ages due to COVID, and two, when they did finally reopen it was, and indeed is, necessary to show a negative RATS test to get in. It's not necessary to do this to use a restaurant. Anyway we were sad to learn our favourite waiter had left and our favourite waitress was leaving in three days time. That waitress very kindly gave us a free beer each for our anniversary. We are going to miss her. The staff here have always been so friendly. I can only hope the replacement staff are nice, too.

Restrictions on bars has meant the number of people going to them has gone down and, in this one, the menu has also been reduced. I had Hainanese chicken which I like and Peter had a cheese and ham toasted sandwich which he likes. There were not that many other choices. This restaurant serves excellent ice cold Estrella beer.

Dinner in the Bounty Bar.

Dinner in the Bounty Bar.

Toasted cheese and ham sandwich with fries.

Hainanese chicken.

After dinner we retired back to our room. It was certainly dark looking straight out to sea. The bed was lovely and comfortable and the hotel was peaceful and quiet.

View from our room at night.

View from our room at night.

In the morning we got up quite early and just caught the end of sunrise.

Sunrise from our room.

Sunrise from our room.

We headed down to the pool to swim in the first session of the day. Fortunately, it was not getting too hot until near the end of the session, so we had an enjoyable swim.

Peter in the pool garden.

The pool by day.

The pool by day.

The pool gardens by day.

One last walk around.

Me at the pool.

Peter in the pool.

Peter in the pool.

The pool from a different angle.

Breakfast was buffet style. It was possible to get freshly made eggs or noodle dishes. We both had freshly made omelettes. I then had some dim sum and Peter had sausages, ham and baked beans. There were also some delicious carrot muffins. Shamelessly, I had two, while Peter had cheese and crackers.

Breakfast.

Peter at breakfast.

Me at breakfast.

After breakfast we decided to be indulgent and put water into our rather large seaview 'bath tub' . Then we sat in there drinking prosecco while gazing out on the waves.

Prosecco in the bath.

Prosecco in the bath.

All too soon it was time to check out and we were pretty soon back home again. What a kind and loving husband I have!!! You can see why I have hung onto him for thirty-four years. Not sure why he has put up with me though.