District Grand Lodge of Spain - Visit -1st to 5th February 2019
 
It started in October last year when the Provincial Grand Master mentioned to a few Brethren who were in his company at a Team Visit that he would like to attend the District Grand Lodge of Spain Annual Meeting in Benidorm on 2nd February 2019. Immediately two or three people in the group said they were interested in such a venture and within a short time a plan emerged that we should also include our wives/partners, and stay for four nights to make a short holiday of our stay.
The small group of interested Masons soon became nineteen (including wives/ partners). Research commenced regarding flights and hotels and after many emails between all the interested parties it became apparent that a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Alicante was the most appropriate and tickets/seats were obtained. The emails continued in order to decide which hotels were suitable and again, within a short period of time, two hotels were identified and accommodation booked according to preference/price/location etc.
February soon arrived, with us all at Terminal 2 on a dark, cold Friday morning ready to embark via bus to our plane. The flight went without incident and we arrived at Alicante with the sun shining brightly. The transfer to one hotel was completed in an hour, but unfortunately the other group in a larger bus seemed to
go round and round Benidorm eventually arriving at their hotel one hour and forty minutes later!
We all met later at a restaurant which Eric Hart had recommended and booked, where we were able to sit together at a long table and enjoy a wonderful meal, with everyone eating and drinking whatever they wished. It was a great evening with a lot of ‘Masonic banter’ enjoyed by everyone present. The party eventually broke up with some people retiring to their hotel, whilst others went to ‘Jimmy’s Bar’ for the last drink (or two or three!!!)
The next morning we had to be at the venue for the District Grand Lodge at 10am, because the ladies were leaving by bus for the ‘chocolate factory’ followed by the winery tour/tasting and then lunch.
Once the ladies’ coach left we went into the Masonic rooms to register, find our seats, have a coffee and take in the atmosphere of the District Grand Lodge. It was a splendid occasion with a few Provinces sending deputations, including Sussex, Durham, Gloucestershire, North Wales and London and of course West
Lancashire. The Grand Mark Master of the Spanish Constitution was also in attendance.
When the District Grand Master was placed in his rightful place in the Lodge the proceedings were spoken in English but then immediately repeated in Spanish. Once the D.G.L. was closed we all moved into an adjacent bar in the complex where the atmosphere was noisy, friendly and as one would expect at any large
Mark meeting there was a definite ‘buzz’ of Mark Masons enjoying themselves. We were soon directed to a very large dining room, where we all enjoyed a very tasty lunch which was very ‘Spanish’ with many different tapas type morsels served between each course.
At the end of all the Masonic proceedings, the ladies had not returned from their day out so some of our party returned to their hotel, whilst others adjourned to the bar to await the ladies return.
It was quite obvious that the ladies had enjoyed a great day out without their menfolk. They were carrying bags of chocolate and other goodies and wanted to tell us about ‘their great day out’.
Sunday was again sunny but with a cold wind and we all enjoyed the day exploring Benidorm. Later after pre-dinner drinks in the bar Eric Hart led us to a ‘tapas restaurant’ where once again we were able to sit together and eat at a large table. After our meal and copious amounts of red and white wine it was not long before dancing started and did not finish until the restaurant closed and taxis were called to take us to the hotels.
Monday was again sunny but with a cold wind. More exploring seemed to be the order of the day, with Benidorm able to provide interest and entertainment to most of us. Evening drinks were enjoyed again, then Eric Hart led us to yet another great restaurant, where we enjoyed another really Spanish meal.
Tuesday was our last morning in Benidorm, with our transfers leaving around noon to take us to Alicante airport and a flight home to Manchester airport. The end of a great four days in Benidorm with some wonderful Mark Masons and their wives/ partners.
Words and pictures by John Waring