Last Post from Spain – Coastline Journey

We’ve now reached the end of our time in Spain. From the French border, we drove the entire Mediterranean coastline all the way down to Seville — and soon we’ll be crossing into Portugal.

While we were still building the van, we took time to enjoy different places along the way. But the truth is, not every stop felt welcoming. We’re not big fans of huge cities, mostly because we like to walk and explore at our own pace. Cities like Barcelona or Valencia (especially during summer) can feel complicated. Places are overcrowded, or the local authorities simply don’t allow us to stay.

Don’t take us wrong — it’s not about wanting everything for free. But when official parking spots are ridiculously far from the city or priced in a way that makes no sense, it doesn’t feel worth it. We travel as four — two humans, two dogs — so we always have to keep their wellbeing in mind too. Campsites aren’t our favorite either: doors slamming, people yelling at 7am, when we could still sleep a little more before starting work.

The further south we traveled, the clearer it became: motorhomes are often not wanted. Five-meter length limits, endless “no camping” or “no motorhome” signs. And to be clear, we don’t camp — we just park and sleep. These rules pushed us to move quickly along the coast. When we found gems like near Mataró and Dénia, we stayed a little longer, enjoyed the peace, and then got back on the road.

Seville left us with a good taste of Spain to carry forward as we get ready to cross into Portugal.

And then came Seville. What a surprise. One of the most beautiful places we’ve seen so far — easy to park close to the city, safe, and simply wonderful to explore on foot. We spent time in Parque de María Luisa, where little ducks swim around quietly under the trees. The Plaza de España is breathtaking with its bridges and tiled alcoves, and wandering past Puerta de Navarra gives the feeling of stepping into another time. The whole city has this mix of history, warmth, and space that makes you want to linger.

Fuengirola – Feria de Abril

We drove to Fuengirola to meet up with some friends and had no idea what was waiting for us. By pure luck, our visit happened to land right during the Feria de Abril. The XXVII Feria Internacional de los Países (FIP) ran from Thursday, April 27 to Monday, May 1, 2023.

For anyone who doesn’t know, Feria de Abril is a traditional Spanish fair, originally from Seville, celebrating Andalusian culture with music, dance, food, and colorful tents. Many cities now host international versions, and Fuengirola’s is one of the liveliest.

The feria area is packed with tents — 32 countries participating, each bringing their music, food, and culture. The Jamaican tent is alive with good live music, the Peruvian corner has dancers moving to the rhythms of their homeland, and the Mexican section is full of art and colors. Belgium has an amazing tiny Smurf village that’s oddly charming and fun to explore.

Walking through it all feels like jumping between countries in a few minutes. Every corner has something new to taste, hear, or watch — and somehow, it all works together in one huge, vibrant celebration.

We highly recommend anyone visiting next year to join in, try the foods, enjoy the music, and have a really good time.

Dénia

After finishing the window install in Vilassar de Mar, we followed the coastline south and ended up in a city called Dénia. It’s one of those stops you don’t plan for, but feel glad you stumbled into.

The old castle sits on the hill, watching over the city. Walking its streets, you get the sense that life here has always carried on in a mix of noise, laughter, and sea breeze.

Friday night turned into something unexpected. We found ourselves in the middle of a street party that started with food, music, and drinks. By the time the evening deepened, the whole thing had shifted into a street disco. DJs set up right there in the open, and the narrow streets filled with dancing. Everyone — locals, travellers, strangers — moved together like old friends.

We ended the night sweaty, happy, and a little dizzy from the beer. Dénia treated us well. We met a lot of lovely locals and fellow travellers — the kind of people who make a place stick with you long after you’ve moved on.