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safereturndoubtful · 2 years ago

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Day 69 - above Brañosera (derelict Refugio at 1700 metres)

The campervan area at San Salvador is a new one, built by the community. These have big advantages to the businesses in the village, who have, in effect, paid for it. There are two restaurants, both supposedly good ones, a couple of bars and a cheese shop. The village has Roman origins, and some low level sedate walks around it. Consequently it attracts quite a few motorhomes from the nearby cities at weekends (Gijon, Santander, León, Burgos). It’s always been the same when travelling in term time, though either I notice it more than ever in Spain since the pandemic, or people are actually getting away for the weekend more often.

Though it was quiet last night, two motorhomes arrived just after midnight. It’s perfectly possible to make a quiet arrival, but this was not the case here.

As well as being cautious about the choice of overnight stopovers at weekends, and this is a long weekend of course, one must also beware of rented motorhomes. The people who inhabit these are usually unaware of the unwritten etiquette that is associated with the pursuit. Hence, another reason to get on roads and tracks the bigger motorhomes cannot tackle.

These two motorhomes were families with about 8 children between them. The parents allowed the kids to use the playground on arrival, which didn’t go down well with the other people staying. Arguments ensued.

This morning there was a steady stream of departures of the other 5 or 6 vehicles staying. The parents of the two motorhomes sat between the vehicles having breakfast while the kids played. No problem in theory, but three of the older boys kicked a football, but not skilful passes, rather powerful and inaccurate shots that bombarded the vehicles that had stayed. Accidental and poor shooting for the first 7 times, but thereafter one suspects an element of the intentional, trying to wind up those not immersed in their Cantonese folklore, to whom it was all old hat.

I was greatly amused, though trying to concentrate on my Cantonese ghost story. I’ve seen this happen so many times, these days I just concentrate harder on the dead bothering the living in the rural village in my book (which actually turns out to be the reverse). I had already planned to be away by 10:30.

I continued around the south side of the National Park through the town of Cervera, where I picked up some bread, and on, as the road climbed again, to Brañosera. There are some very pleasant villages here, and despite the change of weather, all busy with weekend visitors. There’s a road though, that leads north west out of the town up into the mountains, to an old derelict Refugio at 1700 metres. It’s called a Refugio, though in its day, it was built for a different purpose.

In the early 1960s a ski resort was planned here with several lifts and a large building as the base. The building was constructed first, but even before it was completed the company went bankrupt and it was never completed.

Sadly now it just makes for sore eyes, an unsightly septic pustule on the dramatic and arresting face of the mountain, even if it is a very bleak refuge for exhausted and weather-beaten mountaineers, and they would have to be very desperate. I’ve said it before, downhill skiing and it’s associated damage to the mountains, has a lot to answer for.. It should make the most of its death throes.

I mentioned before that the weather had changed. Today, though humid and overcast in San Salvador, at 20C, it only 10C, and in the cloud up at 1700 metres at the car park (by way of an apology for so few photos, and so much cloud in them). From the car park it is only a few kilometres hike up to Sestil peak, at 2065 metres, and the dog and I took in the neighbouring peak at 2100 metres also.

Sestil is just a couple of kilometres away from Cobre cave where I was two days ago.

Mid-afternoon the rain set in, as it was forecast to. Locals had been hoping for it also. The landlady at the bar last night told me that this spring so many times rain had been forecast, but never arrived. There is a serious drought at the moment. Though the rain did come, it was short-lived, lasting an hour at the most.

I had the European rugby semifinals on in the van.

The temperature is hovering around 8C, so far too cold for any Spanish to be up here in their vans, perfect..

Here’s a couple of maps that show my wanderings over the last couple of weeks..

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mac2214jv · 2 years ago

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Winter Tour 2022/2023 🚐☀️🍊🌴🍊🌴🍺🇪🇸 28 days, 4821km, We didn’t gone as deep south as on previous winter tours but thanks to the good weather it wasn't necessary this time. In the midst of millions of orange trees and palm trees, sometimes 50km south of Valencia, sometimes 100km north or a few days in the city itself. Two nice new camper spots found, also thanks to the ADAC camping card ;-) , A highlight besides the weather were the bike paths in and around Valencia. Illuminated, wide, well-developed paths into the city, well-connected bike paths in the city. Top! It's been a long time since we've stayed in a big city that often. =================== .*unpaid advertising because of links and mentioning possible!* #vwgrandcalifornia #grandcalifornia680 #4wdcamper #highuptransporters #campervans #busblog #buslife #vwcamper #vwbus #volkswagen #camperlife #vanagon #furgovw #vanagonlife #westfaliaddicted #campervan #campinglife #268international #freiheitsmobile #buscamper268 #livingsmall #roadtrippin #wanderlust #spain @campingplayatropicana @xeracocampers @campingcarnomadic (at Nomadic Valencia Camping Car) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnuhLy1oddJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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jaydeemedia · 1 year ago

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[ad_1] Spain’s treasures are seemingly infinite, and you’ll need a lifetime to appreciate everything the country has to offer; even after more than 20 visits, my list of places to visit is growing longer, not shorter. Still, on a one week visit to Spain, you can get a fantastic introductory taste of the country, its culture, and its people – but how should you spend those seven days in Spain? The most obvious multi-city route would take you across three of Spain’s best cities by high-speed rail: Barcelona, Madrid and Seville. However, these large cities are crammed with attractions and deserve at least three (or ideally more) days each. As such, I’d recommend combining only one metropolis with smaller regional towns or cities and visiting at most three or four places during your one week Spain trip – unless you’re on a fast-paced road trip. This is a country where slowing down and enjoying life is more important than speed, after all. Here, I’ve aimed to split the “big three” into their own multi-city Spain itineraries that would suit travellers who may have already visited one of Spain’s largest cities before or those who want to dive deeper into one or two regions. Most of these one week Spain itineraries can be done by public transport, and I’ve included tips on how best to get around on each route. However, a car sometimes makes more sense, especially if you want to explore the islands or smaller coastal villages. Start and end your road trip in Palma de Mallorca Mallorca’s peaks, playas and Palma Best for: An island adventure road trip The route: Palma > Valldemossa > Deia > Port de Sóller > Fornalutx > Pollença > Playa de Formentor > Cap de Formentor > Caló des Moro > Palma Why visit: Skip Magaluf and take yourself on a tour of Mallorca’s best playas (beaches), peaks and tucked-away villages on this seven day Spain itinerary which fully embraces island life. Starting and ending in the island’s sophisticated capital city of Palma, this whirlwind road trip packs in plenty. Being the largest of the Balearic Islands – a four major isle group south of Barcelona – you’ll never see everything in one week, and you might want to adapt this itinerary to have a more even spread across the island. However, during this seven day trip, I’ve focused more on the west of Mallorca, where the jagged Serra de Tramuntana mountain range holds many of the island’s best treasures. When to go: Mallorca is a decent year-round destination thanks to its Mediterranean location. From November to March, evenings can be chilly and the sea water less inviting, but you’ll be able to take in the historic villages and epic vistas with far fewer crowds. I would avoid the summer months, as the most popular beaches become so crowded they can be hard to enjoy. How to get around: Mallorca’s limited train lines make getting around by public transport quite hard, although the heritage rickety wooden train to Sóller is well worth the ride. As such, this seven day Spain itinerary is best enjoyed as a road trip; relying on buses would mean cutting out some stops. If you’d rather hire a campervan than a car, companies such as ROIG car rental in Mallorca Airport offer this service alongside standard and convertible vehicles. Port de Sóller, Mallorca Daily highlights: 7 day Mallorca, Spain itinerary Whether you choose to enjoy Palma de Mallorca at the start or end of your itinerary, I suggest allowing at least one full day and two nights here. There’s plenty to keep you entertained, from visiting the imposing Gothic Palma Cathedral (La Seu) and the Royal Palace to frequenting some of Spain’s best vermouth bars and fine-dining restaurants. Rising early on day three, set off into the Serra de Tramuntana range to visit two idyllic mountain villages just 15 minutes apart: Valldemossa and Deia. Cobbled streets, Moorish history and religious architecture abound (Valldemossa’s Real Cartuja is a highlight), while Deià’s valley setting is postcard-perfect.

In either town, you’ll find a few boutique guesthouses in old stone buildings to spend the night. On day four, continue to Port de Sóller for a little beach time before visiting Sóller town further inland. Fringed by citrus groves, it’s a pretty sight with a few museums (especially Can Prunera art gallery) worth visiting. Later in the day, head to the isolated and idyllic village of Fornalutx to spend the night. Day five of this seven days in Spain itinerary is all about hiking and reconnecting with nature in the Serra de Tramuntana. From Fornalutx, there are plenty of trail options nearby, and it’s only a short drive to Cúber reservoir, where some of the island’s best tracks begin. End the day in the laid-back honey-hued town of Pollença, ready to spend day six swimming at pristine Playa de Formentor and exploring the cinematic Cap de Formentor, the island’s northernmost point. On day seven, you can either head straight back to Palma or speed over to Caló des Moro – one of the island’s most beautiful and busy beaches – via the town of Manacor. Take a bite into San Sebastián’s excellent food scene Spain’s best wining and dining Best for: Foodies to sample the country’s finest culinary sceneThe route: San Sebastián > Logroño > Laguardia > BIlbao Why visit: If you want to savour some of the best gastronomy and ruby red wines in Spain over seven days, you can’t go wrong with combining the two autonomous communities of La Rioja and the Basque Country. San Sebastián has long been celebrated as the country’s culinary cradle thanks to its underground gastronomic societies, first-class chef school, and bar tops laden with pintxos – the local mouthwatering tapas-style finger-food bites. In Rioja, home to Spain’s best-known red wines, the focus is all about tastings and cellar tours, while the once gritty port city of Bilbao has been reborn with a revived focus on the arts and Basque culture. When to go: Set in the country’s north, near the border with France, the climates here lend themselves more to a late spring until early autumn visit. That said, late September or early October is perhaps the best time to enjoy this itinerary, as you’ll catch both the San Sebastián film festival and the wine harvest in La Rioja. How to get around: This one week itinerary is easily achieved on public transport – allowing you to make the most of all the food and wine available. From San Sebastián to Logroño, it takes around 2.5 hours by bus, while Laguardia is just 20 minutes more on a local service. You can then continue from Logroño to Bilbao in about 2.5 hours by bus or train. Under Laguardia’s streets. wine caves are ripe for tastings Daily highlights: 7 Day Basque & Rioja, Spain itinerary Start this Spain itinerary with three days in San Sebastián. Sun yourself on La Concha Beach, sample as many pintxos as you can, book a cooking masterclass in an underground gastronomic society, take in the panoramas from Mount Urgull’s fortress, and learn more about Basque culture in San Telmo Museum. Next, continue to Logroño, the capital of La Rioja, for two nights, which you can also use as a base to visit nearby Laguardia. The focus here shifts to the ruby reds, and you can tour vineyards, visit the Museum of La Rioja, and enjoy a pincho bar crawl – where the focus is on bars’ signature moreish morsels rather than booze – into the early hours. Laguardia, a gorgeous mediaeval walled town just 20 minutes away, makes for a perfect day trip. Below the pretty streets, a labyrinth of wine tunnels and caves await, and I highly recommend a wine tasting at Bodega El Fabulista to explore them. Finally, wind up this seven day Spain itinerary in Bilbao. Best known for the futuristic Guggenheim Museum, a vast space focused on modern and contemporary art, this Basque city also has an excellent culinary scene to pair with plenty more monuments. Tossa de Mar is one of the Costa Brava’s highlights Catalonia’s cities and coastal towns

Best for: Cosmopolitan cities and charming seaside towns The route: Barcelona > Blanes > Tossa de Mar > Girona Why visit: With just seven days in Spain, you’ll struggle to see everything the autonomous community of Catalonia has to offer. But this itinerary will at least introduce you to two of Spain’s best cities – Barcelona and Girona – while allowing time for swims and a couple of spectacular towns on the Costa Brava, one of Europe’s best beach destinations. World-class restaurants and sensational museums sit side by side in Barcelona, where Gaudí’s architectural wonders shine brightest, while Girona’s mediaeval Old Town (a firm favourite with Game of Thrones fans) offers a slightly more intimate city feel. This southeastern corner of the country might feel distinctly different due to the Catalan language and culture. Yet, it remains a spectacular showcase of Spain’s best assets: delicious dishes, gorgeous beaches, and excellent nightlife. When to go: As with Mallorca, I’d suggest avoiding the height of summer for a slightly more serene experience (Barcelona never really has an ‘off season’) and visiting in spring or autumn, when the waters are still pleasant for swimming, and the smaller resort towns haven’t shuttered for winter. How to get around: This Spain itinerary is fairly simple on public transport, as Barcelona, Blanes and Girona are all connected by train in less than two hours using Maçanet-Massanes as an interchange. From Blanes, it takes a little over an hour by bus to Tossa de Mar. That said, the Costa Brava is a gorgeous stretch of coast with plenty of mediaeval towns and villages worth visiting, so a car could come in handy for detours. The day trip to Montserrat takes around one hour by train. Start your journey in Barcelona to see Gaudí’s magical architecture Daily highlights: 7 day Catalonia, Spain itinerary This one week in Spain itinerary can be reversed if you find better flights in/out of Girona rather than Barcelona, though I’d suggest starting in Barcelona so you can have your chill beach days after staying in Spain’s most visited city. Allow yourself three full days in Barcelona (two will be really pushing it) to see the city’s most iconic sights, such as Gaudí’s colourful Park Güell gardens, soaring near-completion La Sagrada Familia church, and the ornate and fascinating Casa Batlló. Other Barcelona attractions worth trying to fit in (as well as eating and drinking your way through bars and restaurants) include walking down La Rambla thoroughfare and dipping into the (touristy) market, admiring the collection at the Picasso Museum, and exploring every corner of the historic Gothic Quarter, including Barcelona Cathedral – or if sightseeing gets too much, just chillout on central Barceloneta Beach. On day three, you might want to head to Montserrat, a mountain range which snuggles a Benedictine Abbey amongst its most mighty peaks – it’s an easy day trip. Plan day four and five on the Costa Brava, first visiting Blanes, where swathes of sands and the pretty sea-view Marimurtra Botanical Gardens await, before enjoying a day in one of my favourite ‘hidden gems’ in Spain, Tossa de Mar. This mediaeval beach town is a blissful blend of shorelines and historic walls, with the panoramic views from the towers reason enough to drag yourself away from the beach. Wrap up in Girona, exploring this charming mediaeval town over the last two days. Highlights include the Arab Baths, Jewish Quarter and Game of Thrones filming locations, such as Girona Cathedral’s impressive staircase. Plaza de Espana, Seville Southern Spain’s sizzling storied cities Best for: Moorish history, iconic palaces, and Andalucia’s signature tastes and sounds The route: Seville > Cordoba > Granada > Malaga Why visit: Andalucia, Spain’s seducing, sun-kissed southern region, holds most of the traditions and stereotypes that the country conjures: sizzling long days punctuated by a siesta, flamenco singers and

dancers stomping on the streets and mouth watering tapas dishes which (in some cities) are served free with every drink. But it’s also a land of history and architecture, monuments and museums, and – if you head away from the cities – scenic canyons, historic caves, and breathtaking beaches. For me, no region in the country can beat Andalucia, and you’d need to spend far longer than one week in Spain to truly appreciate it. This Spain in seven days itinerary focuses on four of the region’s most captivating cities, though if you’d prefer to turn your attention to Eastern Andalucia and have more beach time, then this alternative one week in Andalucia road trip from Malaga might be more appealing. When to go: Andalucia gets hot (read scorching) in the height of summer; there’s a reason you won’t see many locals on the streets in the afternoon. So to make the most of sightseeing you should aim for spring or autumn when the temperatures are more pleasant for exploring the cities. If you’re visiting Europe in winter, this itinerary is a good call for the culture rather than the coast, as the attractions and restaurants will keep you away from any potential showers. May is a nice month to visit as you can include the Córdoba Patio Festival. How to get around: This itinerary is easily done by public transport, with the train journeys taking less than one hour between Seville and Córdoba, and under two hours to Granada. Travelling from Granada to Malaga, your best bet is to book an ALSA bus. The Alhambra of Granada is an architectural wonder Daily highlights: 7 day Andalucia, Spain itinerary Start your seven day tour of Spain with three days in Seville, the pulsating capital of Andalucia. Over 72 hours, you’ll be whisked away into a land of palaces, performances, architecture and art as you tour some of the country’s best attractions. Stroll around the ceramic tile-decorated Plaza de España, be enamoured by the Islamic-inspired architecture and gardens of the Royal Alcázar of Seville, climb La Giralda, the cathedral’s tower for sweeping views, and catch a flamenco performance – your days will be fast-paced, but unforgettable. On day four, head to Córdoba, where a trio of UNESCO-listed sites await. The most impressive is the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, a vast house of worship which combines both a historic Islamic mosque and cathedral into one jaw-dropping space – the city’s renowned flower-adorned courtyards are also worth a tour. Continuing east, you’ll arrive in Granada, a city I fell in love with during my three month Spanish course. The standout here is the incredible Alhambra complex (book tickets in advance), which has looked down on the city below since the 13th century. An extensive medley of Islamic palaces, leafy gardens and soothing water features, you’ll want to allow at least half a day to do it justice. The final stop is Malaga, Andalucia’s more modern and cosmopolitan city. Being on the coast, you can spend the last two days of this Spain itinerary lounging on the beaches and visiting the city’s excellent Picasso Museum and the Alcazaba fortress. Cuenca is the perfect mid-way stop on this Spain itinerary Capital to coast between Madrid and Valencia Best for: Cosmopolitan Spain with a spot of nature en routeThe route: Madrid > Cuenca > Valencia Why visit: You could easily spend one whole week in Spain’s capital city, hopping between Mardid’s excellent museums, royal palaces, leafy parks and trendy neighbourhoods. I know it’s less celebrated internationally than Barcelona, but once you start to dig into this underrated city, you’ll find much more than expected. But if you only have seven days in Spain, then visiting a couple more smaller cities will maximise your time, and this itinerary takes in three different regions: Madrid, Castilla–La Mancha and the Community of Valencia. This will allow you to see the coast, one of the country’s most forward-thinking cities, and get lost in the historic core and surrounding nature of Cuenca after spending a few days in Spain’s capital.

When to go: This one week in Spain itinerary works year-round thanks to the abundance of museums, monuments, and attractions you can visit. If you want to enjoy the beaches around Valencia and rain-free hikes near Cuenca, plann your trip between spring and autumn. Summer can be hot, but the heat is more manageable than in Andalucia, especially as many of Madrid’s attractions are inside and air-conditioned. How to get around: For this Spain itinerary, no car is needed. Utilising the country’s rail network, both of these train journeys between cities will only take one hour. The best part is that Iryo, a private train company and new rival to RENFE (the national rail operator) serves this route. Book ahead, and a ticket can cost as little as €11. Madrid, the Spanish capital Daily highlights: 7 day Madrid to Valencia, Spain itinerary Welcome to Madrid. Plan to spend your first three days in the city to do it some kind of justice, splitting the time between palaces, museums, galleries, leafy gardens and gastronomy. The recently-opened Royal Collections Gallery is one of the city’s newest and flashiest spaces, but old favourites such as the Prado Museum – the collection is so extensive, less than 20% of it is on display – the Royal Palace, Temple of Debod and El Retiro Park remain must-visits. On day four, hop on the fast train to Cuenca, situated in the neighbouring region of Castilla La Mancha. Beyond the less attractive new town, you’ll find a hilltop historical core where homes hang above ravines and retired religious buildings serve as boutique hotels. There’s plenty to do during your 48 hours in Cuenca, such as visit Cuenca’s Gothic Cathedral, admire the 16th-century monastery turned parador (upscale hotel), witness the Casas Colgadas (hanging houses) whose wooden balconies protrude over a ravine and get out into nature in the nearby Ciudad Encantada, a geological site of eroded rock formations. The last two days of this 7 day Spain itinerary will be spent in Valencia, one of Spain’s most futuristic cities, in part due to the modern design of the City of Arts and Sciences. This contemporary complex lies in a riverbed that once circled the city and clusters together futuristic architecture, an impressive science museum, an oceanarium and a fantastic concert hall – check for tickets in advance. In the Ciutat Vella (Old Town), you’ll find a more traditional-looking Spain, with Valencia Cathedral, La Lonja de la Seda – the spellbinding old silk exchange – and the Fine Art Museum being headliners. Don’t forget to sample Paella – Spain’s celebrated rice dish which hails from the region – and squeeze in some beach time; there’s some beautiful sandy spots just beyond the city limits. No matter how you choose to spend one week in Spain, I can promise you this: you’ll certainly need to plan a return visit to explore more of Spain’s hidden gems. Pin it: How to spend 7 days in Spain (5 different itineary ideas) [ad_2] Source link

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wanderings-of-alan-and-caz · 2 years ago

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Gorgeous day out on the bikes before we find tonight’s parkup. Onda is a beautiful place to cycle round. We went around the lakes and up to Serra d’ Espada national park. Beautiful area 😍🏔️🚐🚲 #vanconversion #vanlife #campervan #vanlifediaries #homeiswhereyouparkit #homeonwheels #camper #hiking #vandesign #mountains #vanbuild #vanlifemovement #vanlifestyle #travel #vanlifeexplorers #vanlifeideas #roadtrip #camperlife #adventure #campervanconversion #diycampervan #exploring #campervanlife #cycling #vanlifeeurope #vanlifeuk #boxervanconversion #travelcouples #europevanlife #spain (at Onda, Valenciana, Spain) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqciRBzI_B0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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bryonysimcox · 5 years ago

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Four wheel driving, van repairing and living slowly: Week 6, Spain

It was a week mostly spent in a cottage in the hills, editing films, fixing the van and exploring Iberic villages. It was a week of taking things slow. Here’s my round-up of week six on the road.

By far, this has been the least ‘eventful’ week on the road. By that I mean we haven’t done loads and loads of travelling around, exploring or seeing lots of different stuff. But it has made me realise two things. Firstly, the reality of vanlife is that there will always be weeks like this one just past, where we knuckle down with work and van admin. And secondly, that time is the greatest asset of all.

Living slowly is a revelation.

I’ve always been the kind of person who tries to cram as many things as possible into a day. Even if I’ve got a spare ten minutes, rather than just chill out I’ll look for any small job or activity I can do to ‘make the most of’ that time. The downside of this approach is that you’re always rushing around, you sometimes don’t give a task or activity the attention it deserves, and you’re often late because you never quite finish one thing before another pops up!

Life on the road feels like a therapeutic process which is deconditioning me from being so busy all the time. Rather than thinking about the next job I need to do or how I could make something even more time-efficient, I’m taking things one by one and really relishing activities which I might’ve previously avoided because they were ‘indulgent’ or slow. That has meant reading more books, cooking, and this week even playing my violin (which I promised myself I’d play, given that we’ve brought it all this way!). It has also meant reaching out to friends and family, and being there for others.

(image) ‘It’s okay, I’m right behind you’, my latest collage for Analogue Bryony which was made in the Barraca.

I think there’s something in the ‘slow movement’ that we should all consider. In the modern world, the idea that time is the most valuable resource we have and that we should indulge ourselves in it has been replaced by the idea that time is money and efficiency is king. It’s kind of scary that I’ve had to embark on a trip like this to see how wrong that is, and to unburden myself from being a slave to efficiency.

Spending solid days and long hours working on filmmaking and admin for Broaden makes day trips and adventures even sweeter when they come.

On Thursday, I insisted that we get out and about. Even though we have spent most of the week staying in the ‘Baraca’ (the small cottage in last week’s post), George transformed the van parked on the driveway into his own editing office and practically locked himself in there from 9am - 8pm most days. By Thursday, I was keen to explore the region around us, and George was keen to test Suzi’s 4x4 abilities, so we headed north, up towards the Iberic villages of Ullastret, Peratallada and Palau-Sator.

It was only thanks to recommendations from a family friend that we found the villages, as they were tiny settlements away from the coast. We took some pretty sketchy roads to get there, but were really impressed by how well the van can handle off-road situations, especially when put into four wheel drive. Suzi the HiAce has selectable 4WD, which means that she’s only in 4WD when you switch a button and go outside, twisting the locking hubs on the front two wheels. This manual 80s style approach may seem antequated, but so far seems pretty foolproof and means that we can cruise along in 2WD most of the time when it suits.

(images) A pretty fun morning of proving Suzi’s off-road abilities!

A series of fortified medieval towns with narrow streets and stone buildings, the Iberic villages were utterly charming.

Ullastret, Peratallada and Palau-Sator all had a similar urban structure, with an old town wall and circular street pattern. Churches, markets, towers and prisons were some of the key historic buildings, and Peratallada even had a castle situated in its core. Ullastret was perhaps my favourite, not least because so many of the modified buildings featured beautifully-designed and understated architectural interventions. It was definitely apparent that Catalunya is a wealthy region, because even civic elements like street lamps, bins, railings and paving stones are well-designed and well-made, carefully crafted to remain in-keeping with the impressive historic setting.

(images) The historic Iberic villages: peaceful and charming.

(images) Sophisticated architectural detailing characterised these towns.

From the villages, we headed east to find one of the famous beaches along the Costa Brava - a beach I’d been recommended called ‘Aigua Blava’. We’ve had so many great travel recommendations, and surprisingly many of them have been from Australian acquaintances (it really is true that you Aussies see a lot of Europe when you visit this part of the world!). Aigua Blava lived up to its name, with aquamarine water framed on both sides by fancy hilltop houses and a small sandy beach. Unspoilt by the tourists of summer season, we practically had the whole beach to ourselves. Of course, I had to go in for a swim too.

Wild swimming feels like another part of living ‘slowly’ and of being present. It’s my way of connecting with my surroundings, of celebrating the natural world and the incredible opportunity George and I have to explore these places.

(image) Another wild swim in the bag, still cold this time of year but the stunning setting of Aigua Blava made up for it.

On the note of celebrating the natural world, I’ve been determined to spend as much time as I can outside. That said, it can still be pretty chilly here in Spain even though it’s been really sunny. Whilst George spent most of the week putting the final touches into the running documentary in his van-office, I stubbornly insisted on working on my laptop outside, on the porch in front of the cottage and wrapped up in lots of layers! From my ‘outdoor office’ I wrapped up some graphic design for the running documentary (artwork to be released soon), researched film festivals to enter it into (any recommendations welcome), and pitched our videography services to countless potential clients.

(images, left to right) George editing in his van office, me wearing all the necessary gear to be working outside, and the grape vines which surrounded our cottage.

Launching a videography channel and company can feel like a bit of a daunting task, but I’m generally finding that George and I have a lot of complementary skills. It’s really nice having someone to bounce ideas off, and the more we produce, film and edit together, the more we can learn from each other and fill in the gaps of our knowledge. I know it feels like every week I say we have video content coming soon, but I really can’t wait to release some stuff to show you all. That said, filmmaking is a time-consuming process and in the name of living slowly, I’m going to embrace taking as long as we need to get the videos ready!

Sunday was our last day at the cottage and saw us dedicate our time and energy to Suzi the van.

There had been a growing ‘to do’ list for the van, and so we finally set about getting it done - cleaning her out and fixing her up. It’s hard to admit it after the painful van-building process, but George and I have realised we actually really miss having a building project on the go. We both love making things, and are already plotting future tiny-houses and electric campervan conversions (yep, just six weeks into this trip…!). So on Sunday, it was all hands on deck. I cleaned the floor and all the drawers and shelves, which collect dust and dirt so quickly. I also installed some latches on cupboard doors, which have been propelling themselves open when we drive around corners.

Meanwhile, George set about replacing the headlights and reversing lights with LED bulbs. A few had blown, so we decided that if we were going to try and take off the light clusters, we might as well upgrade all the bulbs for brighter ones at the same time. The light clusters are an absolute pain to take off, and involve removing the grill and other parts (confusing construction seems to be a trend for 90s Japanese car design). Unfortunately the bulbs we had ordered for the rear lights and the fog lights weren’t the right fit, so those two are a job for the future.

George also fitted an LED light bar below the rear bumper so that we can see more with the reversing camera, and it worked first time! It’s so cool how many different types of LEDs there are on the market these days and how affordable they are. With a little bit of electrical knowledge you can do a lot of lighting modifications.

(images, left to right) Replacing old (and dim) bulbs, removing the headlight units to get to the bulbs, and George working underneath the van to wire up our new reversing light.

Ready to hit the road again, we rounded the week off by heading south towards Valencia.

Valencia is our next destination, but we plan on splitting the journey over a few days. The first leg involved us skirting around Barcelona, naïvely taking the ‘no toll road’ option which involved a huge detour and some insane elevation. The price of the toll would’ve probably been less than the time (and fuel) spent slogging up towards Manresa at about 40MPH! Nonetheless, we battled the hills and some insane winds and finally made it back to the coastal road.

Late Monday afternoon we stopped at Torredembarra and wandered along the beach. Eerily quiet, it seems this area is popular with holidaymakers through peak season and almost abandoned off-peak. We only stayed for about an hour, walking against strong winds with a beer in hand and photographing repetitive apartment block designs. It is the curious places like this that make travelling by road so worth it, because you can stop by for a short stay and see the in-between places, places just as locals see them, and places in their off-peak state.

(images) Golden hour scenes from the empty beachfront of Torredembarra.

It feels great to be living in the van again. We had a marvellous stay at the cottage near Palamós, but Suzi is our home, wherever that may be. I’m going to carry on living slowly and take each day as it comes.

Next week, Valencia.

#traveldiaries #SuziTheVan #toyotahiace #overlandadventures #digitalnomads #vanlife #BryonyandGeorge #vanliving #hiacevan #lifethroughalens #consciouscommunity

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daryljdugdale · 5 years ago

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THE WACKIEST OF RACES ! PART 3

As we headed through the Basque Country the rain pelted down, the spray from the over taking articulated lorries crashed on to the van and my eyes became stuck to the windscreen, the wind was also moving the van sideways as we crossed the many viaducts traversing the mountain slopes. As I focused on my driving skills and attempted every thing to stop us leaving the road TC was giving me updates on the various political positionings of European leaders. Eventually at 11pm Monday evening we crossed the Spanish French border at Irun. The sense of relief was palpable, we gave each other a very fatigued high five then realized we may have just infected one another. Desperate to stop and sleep after 13 hours of driving we missed the first aire and pulled into the second about 10 km into France. The aire was full of Campervans and lorries but luckily there was a disabled parking space left and I slotted the van straight in. I knew that blue badge would prove valuable at some point! As TC made beans in toast for a very speedy and most needed supper I walked smithy around the glorified car park. I couldn’t even enjoy a beer I was so tired and we were both emotional, any attempt at addressing our travel plan from here would have to wait until the morning, we just needed to sleep. At 4 am I woke with a start, I suddenly remembered where we were and what we were doing. Realizing our plan to get back to the UK was in tatters and needed addressing I started to look for routes home. I quickly realized ferries weren’t the option and we would need to drive to Calais ten hours ahead of us. The French had announced lock down was going to happen from noon so we had to get moving. I managed to book us the last available train on the Chunnel at 8.20 that evening. The train through the channel tunnel looked like our only option. Having unilaterally made the decision to get up and go and Calais was to be our destination I went to rouse TC. I didn’t realise she had taken her cannabis oil capsule as we’d gone to bed and she was in the middle of a very pleasant trip, not the most helpful of positions when your husbands in flight or fight mode!! I gently wrapped her into the passenger seat, covered her with the duvet pushed everything else under the bed and at 5 am we were on our way. Although it was still dark when we set off at least the rain had stopped. As we passed Bordeaux the sun rose and I began to believe perhaps we could do this. By midday and the beginning of the French lockdown the traffic had reduced to a trickle. Most of what over took us were British Campervans and cars full with peoples belongings, it gave even more of a feel of a mass evacuation. We stopped a few times to fill up with diesel and to allow smithy his wee break. Finally at 6.30 pm we arrived at the embarkment area for the train through the Chunnel. We had made it, we were too tired to celebrate and we hadn’t got onto the train yet, there was still work to do. TC went to process Smithys papers and this nearly turned to disaster. You will remember our vet in Spain had deliberately put a different date on his passport, it was today’s date. Protocol for pets having their anti worming meds demands a 24 hour period between taking and being allowed to travel. The supervisor at border control explained to TC that under normal circumstances we would not be allowed on the train, but as we were in exceptional times he would turn a blind eye and urged us to keep smithy in quarantine for 24 hours. Once again the law is ignored in order to ensure common sense prevails. We were given permission to board the train and it was only then we both realized the magnitude of our achievements. We were on our way across the channel at last to the UK. Our emotions were all over the place and we both struggled to make sense of them. Bizarrely the train journey only took 25 minutes, it seems incongruent that after such a challenging road trip the final element was so quick, it really felt like an anti climax. After arriving on UK soil we had to find a place to park the van.

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nightcore07-blog1 · 5 years ago

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Ireland on the canvas

>In particular the Nordic mythologies of the Celtic[9] and Germanic[10] peoples can be found in the concept of Tolkien's imagined world Middle-earth. There are also numerous echoes and borrowings from medieval heroic sagas or Icelandic saga literature. Tolkien was also inspired by classical Greek mythologies or heroic epics such as the Homeric Iliad or Plato's depiction of the fall of Atlantis. One area nominally belonging to the Shire is Bockland, a narrow strip of land on the eastern border of the Shire. It lies between the Brandywein and the Old Forest and is surrounded on the east side by the hedge complex Hoher Hag. Spain - Sea Battle Arena, Dorne and the Battles of the seventh season|}

Where is the Shire located in Middle-earth?

The Shire, the home of the Hobbits, was located in the northwest of Middle-earth. The Shire was, along with the Breeland and southern Gondor, the most densely populated area of Middle-earth.

Read more about campervan hire New Zealand here. It is probably explained by the fact that Hobbits like to give presents often. A lucrative business is the trade and cultivation of pipe herb. It is cultivated on plantations in the Southern Quarter and is the only export article of the Shire. Fireworks, for example, are imported from Thal; occasionally dwarf articles also reach the Shire.

Frodo Baggins (2968 to after 3021 D.Z.) was a hobbit of the Shire, who lived from 3018 to 3019 D.

Bilbo Baggins is considered a living legend of the Shire people.

There they find the tomb of Balin and meet the Balrog, who fights against Gandalf.a loveless, psychedelic fairy tale landscape, cute kindergarten hobbits and elves, who were not dissimilar to Barbie dolls, romped about. He does not marry and has no children, even if he adopts his young nephew Frodo Baggins. Suddenly his orcs had beaks and feathers and the Elven forest LothlÃ³rien degenerated into a "Castle Neuschwanstein" copy with white roofs and minarets. And to make matters worse, the eagles appeared every few minutes in the Disney version, whose king was now called Radagast, by the way. "This is no way to disfigure the Lord of the Rings," wrote Tolkien in an angry letter to Forrest J. Ackerman. Disney withdrew its option in 1959 after the failure of its ambitious Sleeping Beauty film adaptation. Ten years later, the American film production company United Artists acquired the rights for the film adaptation.

accommodations around Fort Myers & Sanibel Island

After the death of Isildur on the sword fields, the fragments of Elendil's sword Narsil were kept in Imladris. For months the team, led by location scout Dave Comer, crossed New Zealand by jeeps and helicopters. They roamed through forests, nature parks and swamps to find the perfect spot for Rohan, the Misty Mountains, Mordor or the Shire. New Zealand has both the alpine mountains and the grass steppes and pristine forests described by J.R.R. Tolkien in his novel. Hardly any other country offers such excellent possibilities for a fantasy film in its unspoilt nature and the rich variety of landscapes in such a small area. {

What is the order of the Hobbit?

The name Frodo is derived from the Nordic "fro" (cheerful) or from the Old High German name Frodobert (the

#hobbingen new zealand

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fromrusttoroadtrip · 6 years ago

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We never really had a “vision” for our van, no theme, concept or aesthetic. Our van is just reflective of us, of who we are, an amalgamation of the different cultures we’ve experienced and the countries we hope to one day explore. We have blankets from Mexico, tapestries from India, curtains from Thailand, herbs and spices from Spain, from Greece, from Albania. We have Cornish slate on our walls and Guatemalan coffee sacks on our seat. This fusion of cultures so visible in our decor yet invisible inside ourselves, each country weaving itself into our home and our souls simultaneously.⁣⁣

Our van is also never really “finished”, it’s an ongoing project, constantly improving and evolving just as we are as people. Its face is ageing and taking on its own patina over time just like the wooden cladding on our walls. The sunlight from a thousand views has shone through our windows, and the flakes of a dozen snowfalls has fallen on our roof.⁣⁣

We only hope our new project van, who has already lived a far longer and fuller life than our own, will become as loved and well-travelled as a campervan one day soon. ⁣

Follow the hashtag #Fromrusttoroadtrip to follow our van conversion project and our travels around Europe! 🌍

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fanficshiddles · 6 years ago

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As thick as thieves, Chapter 30

Last chapter! Well, I say chapter. It’s very short, more like just a wrapping things up kind of chapter.

2 years later

Josephine and Loki were lying next to each other under the stars on the sand, with a small fire going next to them. The two were taking turns smoking a hookah while the waves crashed in on the beach, making the perfect background noise.

‘This is perfect... Life is perfect.’ Josephine smiled and handed the pipe back to Loki.

He took a drag before putting it to the side. ‘It certainly is. There’s no-where else I’d rather be and no one else I’d rather be with.’ Loki let out a puff of smoke and slid his arm around his girl so she could rest her head on his chest.

‘What time is it back home again?’ Josephine asked.

‘Uhm. Not sure. I don’t have my phone on me. Early morning I think.’

‘I better phone my parents to see if they are coping with lil Loki.’

‘I’m sure they will be.’ Loki smiled and turned his head so he could take her chin between his fingers and guide her in for a kiss.

The kiss was gentle and slow, both of them grinning from it. ‘Perhaps it can wait.’ She giggled.

Josephine and Loki made love on the beach, no one around for miles. Just them and the ocean. Their campervan was parked not far away, waiting for when they were ready to move on around the coast.

The two were getting through Josephine’s scrap book like it was candy. Over the last two years, they’d been on trips to Hungary, Germany, Iceland, Thailand, Spain, India, Austria, Ireland and back to their home in France six times. But New Zealand was their biggest adventure yet. They were a week into spending a month there to travel around the country in a campervan they hired.

And it was only the beginning of their adventures together, exploring the world.

#Loki #Tom Hiddleston #as thick as thieves #fan fiction

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imagine-loki · 6 years ago

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As thick as thieves, Chapter 30

TITLE: As thick as thieves

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 30

AUTHOR: fanficshiddles ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine you were in the same school as Loki and you met when he saved you from bullies. You became the best of friends throughout secondary school, always getting up to mischief and into trouble. You both had a crush on one another when you were in your mid teens, but it never went further than an innocent kiss…

RATING: M

NOTES: Last chapter! Well, I say chapter. It’s very short, more like just a wrapping things up kind of chapter.

2 years later

‘This is perfect… Life is perfect.’ Josephine smiled and handed the pipe back to Loki.

‘What time is it back home again?’ Josephine asked.

‘Uhm. Not sure. I don’t have my phone on me. Early morning I think.’

‘I better phone my parents to see if they are coping with lil Loki.’

‘I’m sure they will be.’ Loki smiled and turned his head so he could take her chin between his fingers and guide her in for a kiss.

The kiss was gentle and slow, both of them grinning from it. ‘Perhaps it can wait.’ She giggled.

Josephine and Loki made love on the beach, no one around for miles. Just them and the ocean. Their campervan was parked not far away, waiting for when they were ready to move on around the coast.

And it was only the beginning of their adventures together, exploring the world.

#Loki #Lover #Submitted fic #submission #As thick as thieves #chapter 30 #fanfichiddles

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safereturndoubtful · 1 year ago

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St Ninian’s Beach

27th June 2023

The sunset was at 10:39 pm last night, and it was a cloudless sky. There’s a few beach walkers at that time, though the light doesn’t fade much, until the official sunrise at 3:23 am.

I soon put off any thought of leaving this morning. It was a clear sky again at 7 am, though in the late morning it clouded over for the rest of the day. We took on the reverse hike to yesterday, getting the rocky headland views that were behind our backs yesterday. There weren’t many people around, but the ones I did see were a real variety..

A couple from Sierra Vista in Arizona, looking down from 1500 metres altitude to the Mexican border below. They were taking plenty of photographs, which they told me they showed with stories of their travels, to the folk of an old person’s community close by. A captive audience, perhaps that would put my writing on a bigger stage..

A couple from Berlin who had been fascinated by the story of St Magnus when on Orkney, so much so, they were staying in a hotel with that name in Lerwick. To them, I recommended the wonderful George Mackay Brown book, Magnus.

A couple from Tasmania who were hoping to spot Arctic Terns. Strangely there were none around today. Yesterday there were quite a few. We just about avoided talking cricket.

In the last bit of sun before the cloud arrived, I took a swim off the north side of the tombolo when we got back to it. Here, in the busy car park, it’s a better bet than the outdoor shower. It is really good fun swimming with your dog, something I last did in the Mediterranean off southern Spain, and I must do more of. Geographically, this is the North Atlantic, or the Norwegian Sea. It only becomes the Arctic Ocean north of the Faroes, which is the Greenland Sea. Anyway.. my point is, that it wasn’t very warm. Not that I had expected it to be. It was five minutes in, maybe even less, but a lot of fun.

A few other campervans and motorhomes rolled in during the afternoon, but almost all left again. A couple stayed overnight, and there was a guy, with his family, who like me, had been there two nights. He came over for a chat with his dog. He was from Lerwick, and said they often come across and spend a few nights in their camper. This time, before the schools break up next week, when it will be busier.

By the time we took an evening walk around the tombolo it was windy and overcast, with a significant drop in temperature from the morning’s mid-teens to about 10C. Some locals come to exercise as they did yesterday; a gang of swimmers with wet suits, a group of kite flyers, a family of kayakers, and a noisy bunch on a jet-ski. There is still the odd walker at midnight, in the fading light.

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mac2214jv · 3 years ago

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Fatwesty hashtag. Incredible. In February 2017 I created the hashtag based on my VW T3 Westys. It took 144 posts and 16 months before it was picked up by @humboldt_the_van and then went almost around the world via @campervanman.co.uk in the UK 🇬🇧 and @dreamcampers, @rolandsbusfarm in 🇫🇷 France @colorado.westyfest @jonvic94 @cactusgarage Spain to the USA. And now there's even a Fatwesty meetup this weekend. Great job humboldt_the-van! Sad that our Florida had to go, he was replaced by one of his grandchildren, unfortunately not a Westfalia but a VW. But space and time are limited. We still mourn the fatwesty. All Florida drivers have fun at the Fatwesty meeting 🤘🚐 ================ #campervans #vwcamper #vwbus #busblog #vwt3california #westy #vwltflorida #classic_vw_lt #westfalia #vwt4california #volkswagen #vw #camperlife #vanagon #furgovw #fatwesty #vanagonlife #westfaliaddicted #campervan #buslife #buscamper #freiheitsmobile #buscamper268 https://www.instagram.com/p/CcpczYFuGCV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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wanderings-of-alan-and-caz · 2 years ago

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Heh everyone! Episode 2 is live now as we travel around Spain on our #NoTollsTour23. Go check it out and maybe even give us a Like & Subscribe. (Link in the bio) 🎥 😃🚐🇪🇸🗺️ #vanlife #campervan #camper #camperlife #homeiswhereyouparkit #vanlifers #vanconversion #travelcouples #selfbuild #builtnotbought #exploring #boxervan #peugeotboxerconversion #vancamp #homeonwheels #van #vanbuild #victron #lifeontheroad #diycamper #nomad #travelcouple #travel #travelling #motorhome #travelgram #camperculture #spain #mountains (at Pedraforca) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQhmmmIdPe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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bryonysimcox · 5 years ago

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The internal battle of forced monotony: Week 13, Spain

The negative emotions associated with isolation have reared their ugly heads this week. Amid tales of homemade ramen, torrential rain and a new film we’re working on, this post also reflects on the less positive moods that lockdown has gifted us.

Life feels more surreal as each week passes. The end of our sixth week in lockdown also marks a quarter of a year since we set off from England in our freshly converted campervan. When I frame it like that, our overland adventure to date both stretches back into eternity and only feels like a couple of days ago. Little did we know that ‘life on the road’ would entail confinement indoors and restrictions on all kinds of activities, like going to a cafe, seeing friends, making videos and driving through Europe.

There’s certainly something deep within me that is inherently optimistic. Even though if I was realistic about it, I knew that the ‘State of Alarm’ here in Spain would likely extend beyond the date of 26th April (which had already been extended twice), I had sort of psyched myself up towards regaining some of our freedom on that date. So when one morning this week, I flicked my phone onto the website for EL Pais (a major Spanish newspaper) and Pedro Sánchez had announced he was set to ask congress for another extension until the 9th May, my heart sank.

If there’s one thing I’ve wanted this weekly blog to be, it’s authentic. I’ve wanted to use it as a record of where I’ve been - not only geographically, but emotionally, and that means reflecting on the lows as well as the highs.

It’s hard putting into words the feeling of being so helpless in your own life - the feeling I’m experiencing now in lockdown. I guess one way that this helplessness has taken effect is in my increased empathy and consideration for people who live much larger parts of their lives facing uncertainty and helplessness - whether that be living under an unstable dictatorship, drought and famine, civil war or poverty. It’s not that I’ve only just started caring about these people, but in experiencing a fraction of the emotions that they must be going through, my sympathy deepens into something much more.

I’m so used to being in control. I trust that I will wake up tomorrow and night will turn to day; that I will put my keys in the ignition and the van will start; that I will be safe from persecution and oppression and that I will be able to access food and water. Even the element of my life which is the most uncertain as we undertake this overland adventure, which is money, is usually tempered by the knowledge that George and I have the skills and resources to find work, even if it has to be something we don’t particularly like. And yet now, life has thrown us a curveball. Coronavirus has left us spinning out of control.

Not feeling in control of my life has sapped my motivation. I still manage to get out of bed, and get various things done for our film channel Broaden or just general life admin, and I still eat well and exercise where possible. But things have lost their shiny glow, and I lose the energy to focus on a task for long.

It’s not like every waking moment I’ve spent has been devoid of positive energy. Back at the start of the week we ventured out to the supermarket on foot which was a welcome change of scene, I sat out in the sun and bleached my hair with lemon juice, and George learnt to eat crisps in a handstand. We laugh, we have fun and we create little activities like this to pass the time. But somehow, even investing in positivity like this can be tiring. You spend one day trying really hard to be grateful for what you’ve got in this time of crisis, and focus on celebrating the silver linings of copious free time, only to wake up the next day with your energy reserves run dry. Is anyone feeling this too? I know I’m not alone.

(images, left to right) Bleaching my hair with lemon juice, filming snippets for our upcoming ��Place Portraits’ video and learning to eat crisps in a handstand.

Meanwhile, frontline workers continue to fight for us all. To save our lives.

The juxtaposition of the chilling images we see on the news about Covid-19 against the confines of the little cottage we’re currently staying in is bizarre. Each day I read new statistics about people dying, articles about PPE shortages and quotes from global health authorities telling us the worst is yet to come.The boredom and helplessness I’m feeling shrink in comparison to the intensity of this global pandemic. My emotions seem petty and mundane, perhaps even pathetic. And yet, something tells me these emotions are still legitimate. That all of our emotions are legitimate, as we each attempt to process the situation and what it could mean for the future.

The future is no longer a thing which feels predictable. We have stepped over the cliff edge, and as each day that the pandemic unfolds, we are in new territory. Of course, one of the opportunities presented by such an enormous global event is the chance to reassess how we live on this planet, redefining the new ‘normal’.

I have always been interested in the study of the future, and using different approaches to imagine how it may play out. And yet whilst there are opportunities amid the crisis, right now, I’m terrified by what I see. Yes, there are clues and behaviour changes that we can use to project future scenarios, but most of what is in front of us is completely unknown. We don’t know how long we have to work from home, furlough our staff, keep our children educated and occupied indoors or talk to loved ones through a screen. We don’t know what horrors tomorrow’s headlines will bring.

It feels like the world is staring into a dark abyss, reaching out for something to hold onto.

From a selfish perspective, not having any control over the future is a huge spanner in the works. Driving across Europe in a van and working as freelance videographers is the least ‘essential activity’ there could be, and we are conscious that governments have much more to focus on than two British travellers running out of money and desperate to continue their adventure. But it’s still so disheartening to be at the whim of something, something bigger and greater than you, particularly in light of the arduous year we spent preparing for this trip. There have certainly been a few tears here this week, and waves of the same emotions I felt when building the van and knowing there was a chance we would have to give up.

The weather really hasn’t helped lift the mood either. This region of Spain faced endless days of torrential rain this week which rendered the garden inundated and the road flooded. We couldn’t even get out to the supermarket and even worse, a leak developed in the roof of our van! It all felt rather doom and gloom.

(images, left to right) Torrential rain turned the road into a river, the point where we had to reverse all the way back home and couldn’t get to the supermarket, and a neighbouring lane which is closed off by Police.

One of the other realisations that brought me crashing down this week was sussing out that we’ll still be in lockdown for George’s thirtieth birthday. He’s not even someone who cares much for birthdays, but it had always been such an important milestone in my head and I was really looking forward to doing something nice together - going to a restaurant or watching live music or mooching around a city. Hilariously, back when we left Sydney we made a plan with our friends to have a reunion for George’s 30th… in Goa, India! It’s actually quite amusing to see how monumentally wrong we were in predicting the future, as we are thousands of miles off India right now.

All that said, George has been a cornerstone. Not just to comfort me about his birthday, but to be there through this all. We sort of balance one another out, ready with a positive mindset and hug when the other one is feeling super low.

If there’s one thing life in lockdown has strengthened, it’s our relationship.

On a lighter note, George embarked on a grand mission to make the best homemade ramen on Sunday. It all started with the broth, inspired by a zany French chef he follows on YouTube, and by mid-morning the cottage was filled with the smell of this incredible broth combining vegetable peelings with burnt garlic, ginger, miso paste and soy. What started as a broth-making test unfolded across the day, and saw him make handmade noodles, a sticky garlic and sesame sauce, soy soaked eggs and grilled tomatoes. Needless to say, watching George’s ramen odyssey was definitely the most entertainment I had all day!

(images, left to right) George’s homemade noodles (as food stocks were running low), the finished ramen, and the delicious oily and fatty broth in progress.

The two of us have also been working on a new video that will be released on the Broaden YouTube this Saturday (25th April). It’s a far cry from ‘The Hundred Miler’, but hopefully will be well-received nonetheless. It’s called ‘Place Portraits’, and we filmed it back in Paris, in the first week on the road back when temperatures lingered around zero degrees. Whilst we haven’t been as excited about making videos as we usually would be, I continue to be grateful to have a creative focus amid the pandemic, and being stuck inside is forcing me to get inventive with ideas for upcoming projects.

I also love seeing things that people have baked, sung, written, built and performed across the world each day online. The internet can be an incredible place.

As I write this, I reflect on a rocky week battling the internal voices and contradictory emotions of lockdown.

It’s a strangely tiring combination: of not knowing what the future looks like and trying to make sense of a world devoid of human contact or normal routines. Each day, let alone this whole week, has been filled with so many highs and lows that by the evening, I’m left feeling exhausted and churned up inside.

But we made it. We made it another week in lockdown and I’m so glad I have this blog as a place to reflect. I hope it’s also a place where my honesty (and in this week’s post, my negativity) makes you not feel so alone in your emotions.

As if she knew I needed her right now, Mother Nature has finally blessed us with glorious sunshine and I can already feel my mood lifting. Perhaps the pain associated with this period is also signifying something else: growth. As we face this together, and all of the ugly emotions that come along with it, we learn more about ourselves and human nature, and in doing so, we grow.

p.s. apologies if this week’s post was all doom and gloom! If it was, may I redirect you to last week’s ‘photo essay’ as a soothing antidote.

#traveldiaries #life in lockdown #covid-19 #estado de alarma #coronavirus #BryonyandGeorge #suzithevan #digitalnomads #vanliving

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