![20260218_153319.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/2432DB2L1yEQY2BLtwExyoDGE5RKMu6fJJk3NSCjkBGCGsXj7EHY2um5byNjKCVCqXDoD.jpg) If I asked you to estimate how old the city of Benidorm is, what would you say? 50 years? 100 years? Maybe 300 years? Benidorm, or as we sometimes call it *BeniYork*, is today known for its skyscrapers, its long sandy beaches and an island that reminds me of a shark's dorsal fin. Well, that would be a huge shark then hahaha, we shouldn't swim then there... I have come here countless times, especially when our son was small, to the part of the city called Poniente. It is a residential area. The other part, Levante, is the part of Benidorm well-known for those holidaymakers who are searching for sunshine over the whole year. Later, we used to visit other smaller towns, so it has been a while since we passed under this bridge to reach the beach. That is why I was surprised yesterday when we came here to spend my break between rehearsals, seeing this new mural. ![20260218_150705.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/EppJjKhEUF1mBF67ASFLgovix2f8miYPBBPWFTDcN7CGuNMcUVJr59ydQJMMvk1M8Eu.jpg) Huge flowers are embracing the concrete structure and female figures are watching the passers-by. ![20260218_150724.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/EpNpqXCKLProwNZuRT6sbv3pTEyjgGEPuL5gkL8SAkBebJawwW2KAEDQ9U3EC5zY6Fp.jpg) ![20260218_150732.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/EpT57ZCjL9NUmz5p4mpYwyQRYubjiQmDczpQExJqKzx2xvxuAAXofKJSzQoGVCp4hP2.jpg) ![20260218_150716.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/EowHzNkd5dZaWT6ERpPG1gY1H5huEFD4iSNSwYZ2rbBcthY9m53WDVpKEWAgYuzDhBW.jpg) Dreaming lady among soft flowers. ![20260218_150751.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/EoiUkczqxXBGEwbmoJWbDwq69wYcS9DivkRX1jJKwg6v7XrNJVrkQgsuczAoRwNzHJg.jpg) ![20260218_150816.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/Eq9SruMK6DBxJV3XCeQs3G3nLctNArFZ1J9PuYVEeM9NeuWW9tcwrDktuBxpqmhzEzK.jpg) Oh, but what is this lady reading in the next photo? That Benidorm is 700 years old? 😯 Correction, 701, as it celebrated its 700th birthday last year. It was new information for me as we didn't imagine this concrete jungle was founded in 1325! True, it looked nothing like today, but anyway, officially it was founded then. What was your answer to my question from the beginning of my post? Were you close to this number? ![20260218_150740.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/Eonk2DRFXEMH8VbzjETdmYBoL8gmtRM19tYNJ5ZRGXnfCc9K5emGo3qV5PTo1hWkF8V.jpg) Leaving behind the mural, from the same spot but looking towards the other side, we can already see the blue of the Mediterranean Sea. ![20260218_150835.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/EqDiagrt7tsVrX3Xvzjay95HTHnPwAxMqRct9KLwkDm2qjN6CJYhcucgBEa3qP7Tv8i.jpg) In a minute or two, we were walking barefoot on the sand... as I don't like it when the sand enters my shoes. 😆 It is easy if it is summer and you wear sandals, or have flipflops for the beach in your backpack. But it is supposed that we are still in the winter season here, so I just preferred taking off my shoes and socks. ![20260218_150930.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/EpT3koLmugXTeb2NaXyLfvqfoCriiNMQ9r1aTPFXqTyP7fdjWyUFs8bWND3kY9usVhL.jpg) ![20260218_153307.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/EptavCqznJi7sdN3y6BW59PhDRcxeY6UkiBYmoCiKoyXx3jfy7QuqU3NiintufMDy59.jpg) My husband sent a photo of the beach to his friend who is living in Germany. He responded with a snowy photo and said that this is probably a photo from last summer! 😂 ![20260218_153241.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/EoeEWZJmugx4AFJxBiA54W9esUfi2nEkoXhKAJHpXjMj5c22F3zpVSEUPPDVg8zi8ru.jpg) Wrong! It was yesterday, the 18th of February. But if a friend says it is a summer photo, then let it be. Summer vibes, why not? 😁 I even tried the water. It was a bit chill, but not so cold. I liked to have my feet dipped in water for a few moments; however, I think for a proper swim, I will wait for the real summer. And close my eyes not to see the huge shark's dorsal fin. 😂 ![20260218_153314.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/2432DB2KfsxvSZiKiqt9T4JrYTGRn1T3wAaYuAgZ5Y5oCM1m4gXqUaqXtT2FNKV7enKer.jpg) ![mipiano_-_MP.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/mipiano/23t6v65U5xSUdQwQgDBm3ERa5YV6jZV5YngwBAQoU2GEuJpS2M9G853GRaVf5BLnHGa6y.png) [//]:# (!worldmappin 38.534860 lat -0.156147 long d3scr)

Taormina Sicily