Apparently airport security staff, before they are kitted up with their new x-ray specs, are trained to look out for people who are anxious, sweaty, and distracted.  These people could be potential terrorists and bombers I guess…. however, they could also be passengers with the lovely Ryanair.  Wearing as much of their luggage as humanly possible, stressing about the threat of having their bags measured or god forbid weighed, wondering if the costcutting and profit squeezing is one day going to hit safety and fuelling margins, and fuming with resentment at the endless scratchcard and merchandise pushing.  Not to mention the self-congratulatory announcements about ‘yet another on-time flight’ just because they describe Alicante to London as taking 2 hrs 45 minutes when it always takes less than 2 hrs 20…

But before you even get to peel off the layers at security, you have to find the airport in the first place.  Of course we’ve done this a few times now and it’s getting easier, but it’s strange how one of the largest portals in Europe can be so invisible on approach.   It’s in a kind of dip in the landscape, and a lot of flight paths are over the sea, so you are practically on top of it before you notice the airport at all.  Driving from the North as we do, you go right past Alicante city to reach it, and there is sod-all signage, so you pass all signs to Alicante and see the city going by off on your left long before you see a sign saying ‘aeropuerto’ (which is also helpfully right next to the sign ‘Murcia’, which happens to be in the same direction, but also has an airport.  Not the one you are booked to fly from though, which adds to the fun).  Even when you’ve driven it many times its weird how there’s always this moment of doubt - have we missed the exit?  WTF has the airport gone this time?

All in all, I can only conclude, one should never leave the Costa Blanca at all, it’s way too stressful, and I am all for staying put.