Some friends are visiting our apartment soon and want to experience "real Spanish life". Any ideas for locally (Playa Flamenca) on foot in the evenings and also by day by car? TIA

Not a lot of 'real spanish life' in Playa Flamenca, most bars are owned by expats from many countries, and there is, as far as I know, only one Spanish run restaurant in the area. By day you really do have to go inland as most of the area is very well populated by expats of many nationalities-

Elche is good place to head to for there Palm Groves and here two sites aswell

http://www.turismedelx.com/en/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elche

World Footwear Capital is Elx

I would have thought Orihuela would be a very "Spanish " place to visit and not to far.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh Stay in by the fire its far too cold

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=582650

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=583076

Certianly not 'WALKING DISTANCE' from Playa Flamenca as was requested for evening trips.