Saturday, 7 March 2009

4 stars and 3 close encounters of the wrong kind.



Whilst we were slumming it PG&G were at the Costa Meloneras Hotel.

With some nifty card shuffling we were able to enjoy the (slightly) heated pools, but did not indulge in the aquarobics!



The weather was pretty kind, with a lot of sun, but several wet afternoons. We had a trip to Puerto Mogan - which needed nifty footwork to find seats on a bus, and Bob took Gregory on a serious bike ride along the coast.



...and .. on the day when we went our separate ways... two "People like you!" confrontations for us!

First, a denunciation of the very nasty outfit Anfi! Further down the coast is a striking cliff-side development which started as a time-share, and there are some satisfied share-owners. Now it is marketed in a very aggressive manner all over the resorts, with desks that look like normal information spots and dodgy offers of free rides. PG&G had been caught when in Puerto Rico and had survived the process - which is the usual hard-sell process related now to a "holiday club" and so exempt from European legislation on, say, cool-off periods.

Our first engagement was near the Maspalomas beach where we avoided eye-contact and refused to say we were British. The staff ran after us saying "We areen't doing scratch-cards, Honest!"

It was bit too windy for the full beach experience so we walked off towards the bus stop. Suddenly a young Scots guy flew past on a bicycle and shouted to his partner a loud remark about the size of Ruth's boobs. We shouted something back and he expressed amazement that we understood English! (The same guy probably assumes it all the time in shops, bars and restaurants!) Anyway, Bob abandonned his bag and ran after them. He soon found the woman sitting down, and told her a few home truths about residents and their intolerance of gross tourists. The man was seen riding off. Point made!

An hour later and we are on the promenade in Playa del Ingles! Anfi are out in force again. We refuse to engage and give them a disparaging look. Three of them start to hurl abuse. We say we live there (well, almost!) and the remark comes back - "Yeah! Looks like it!"

Penny later sent us a link to a forum where this nasty organisation's sharp practices are exposed. Be warned if you go to Gran Canaria!