Walking Club

Actually, the club was started by two local gentleman Antonio and Bartolo. They have been following the Bahia de Portman route for years and it was only by good fortune that I met up with them and joined their group. Since that time the walks have been a joy, especially when Bartolo provides entertainment.

Lately more have joined the walk and I have started to accumulate pictures of our ventures. More will be added as time progresses.

Please join us at the bay end of Paseo de Colon Mon-Sat at 0830 and Sun. at 0930 for walks. Tuesday is bag day when we pick up discarded litter along the way. Regards, Jim Finnegan

Antonio (on the right) and Bartolo (on the left) are the original founders and the current guides of the walking club. Antonio was the mayor (Alcalde) of Portman for many years and Bartolo a member of La Manga Club Staff for over 35 years. Both were born in Portman and have a wealth of interesting information about it's history.

Photo Opportunities

180808 - The intrepid warriors of the walking club reviewed the progress of the restoration of the Calzada Romana. August has been a hot month but now that we are experiencing cooler weather we will be joined by others, especially our founders.

More March 2008 Pictures:

150508 - Faro walk - pictures of the walk across the bay, past the lighthouse and through the pine forest and back through the barrack area. Not the results of the tree trimming in the forest in the picture on the right.

020408 - Pictures from the Ramsjø's (PV55) during a walk to the lighthouse and up the mountain into the pins forest and through the Barrack area.

12/03/08 - Daily walk pictures of the group for the day and 'Tres Amigos', note the consistency of hats.

28/02/08 - An outing to the battery at the top of Monte de Las Cinezas - slightly overcast but good for walking. Left to right: The main gate; a snack by the big guns, compliments of Bartolome; in front of one of the big guns.

Scaling the heights of the Portman Lighthouse (Faro de Portman) we stopped for a photo break. The date is 070208, Temperature about 75F (24C). The boats in the background are loading tuna for the Japanese market. As members of the community arrive for a stay they join the group.

A short stop and performance at Playa Lastre -

halfway through the regular walk.

Click here for short movie.

Overlooking the bay from the Road into Portman.

The club has expanded to eight on a regular basis

(the wheelbarrow is used to gather pine cones for a BBQ -

and if necessary to carry the injured)

Walking Tours

Cartagena - Walking Tour of Old and New Cartagena - See more on page 47 of the 103 issue of the Reporter. The tour is in English and starts (supposedly) every Sunday at the Main Tourist Office by the Plaza de Bastarreche (across from the main bus station and the FEVE rail station - so you can take the train in from La Union) at 1100 for €10, children under 12 go free. Charming Anna was our guide and provided a wealth of information and insights into Cartagena's 3000 year old history over 3.5 hours. We visited the Punic Wall, Bull Ring, Conception Castle Gardens, Roman Theatre overlook, Calle Mayor and found out about many other places of interest. There is reference to Baal Tourist Guides (no website I can find however Baal was a pirate that sacked Cartagena in the 1500's and took all it's gold bullion) who in spite of their name association seem to give you your money's worth. Note that this is a casual walk for all ages.

Torre Pacheco - Visit the windmills of Torre Pacheco - Follow the link, scroll down and click on the Mapa del sitio web. Then scroll down to Torre-Pacheco and look under Itinerarios for Los Molinos de Viento and click to obtain information regarding the restored molinos (windmills) and the route you can take to see them. Bring your pike to defend yourself. See more on page 47 of the 103 issue of the Reporter.