So, as you may have noticed by now, we’ve been on the road and “homeless” since January. These last eight months have been wild, to say the least. We’ve been living out of suitcases and backpacks, with all our actual belongings packed away in boxes in a basement somewhere in Switzerland. I threw in the towel on my life and decade spent in France, Ananda turned in the keys to her place in Switzerland, and we embarked on a journey of finding ourselves a new home. Some moments were tough, I must admit. It’s not an easy feeling to not have a go-to place to just rest and recuperate. We were constantly in someone else’s bed, in someone else’s space, checking in and out of hostels and Airbnbs. Not only not having your space, but not even knowing where your next home is going to be, or if you’re even going to be able to find it. It’s been tough.

That being said, as of September, we will have a new home. I’m not going to share the details just yet, but before we move in, we’re going to have one last girls’ trip to go out with a bang and celebrate this new adventure. Ananda, her best friend Manu, and I will be taking a two-week van trip down the Spanish coast—from Costa Brava to Costa Blanca. Before we make it to that trip, we will be U-hauling our belongings along with us.

I wanted to share with you the breakdown of our upcoming trip and how it all came about. Last June, during the low season, Ananda and I rented a van for a week in Barcelona and drove it down to Valencia. We had the best time ever and absolutely loved the experience. Taking a shower right outside the van, having the freedom to sleep wherever we wanted, setting up a little table outside, and prepping meals in our van kitchenette—it was such a liberating and fun experience. We spent our days on beaches and visiting historical towns, and at that time, it was the best vacation I’d ever been on in my entire life.

I’ll always remember the drives through the mountains and along the coast, with just the two of us chatting and snacking on dried mango and Takis. I was already in love with my wife—then girlfriend—but this trip really deepened those feelings. I felt so at peace and profoundly happy, which was a first for me when traveling with a partner. We’re hoping to recreate that experience this time around. So, as I did last year, I’ve laid out an itinerary with the cost breakdown and stops we’ll be making, and I want to share that with you as well. Here’s how it went last year when we did the trip:

Now, since this is also a girls’ trip, we’re mixing things up a bit. Instead of always sleeping wherever we want, I’ve planned out some camp sites to make the trip smoother. We’ll only be doing dog-friendly activities since Grimes will be joining us. Our itinerary includes a mix of activities to meet everyone’s preferences, and we’ll be limiting driving time as I’ll be the sole driver. I put all this together in a PowerPoint presentation, which I then shared with the group. Here are the slides:

Day 1

A few days before the trip starts, we’ll be picking up the van in Lyon, France. It’s going to be a long ride. From there, we’ll drive the van to Switzerland to pick up our things, which are currently stored in a basement. After that, we’ll be driving from Switzerland to Spain. Since the drive is long, we’ll be making a stop in Carcassonne to visit the town, which I’ve never seen. The heart of the town is held within a medieval fortification that dates back to the Gallo-Roman period. The town itself was first settled in 3500 BC, which is absolutely insane. The van will be jam-packed with our boxes—hopefully, they all fit—so we might end up staying in a hotel for the night before continuing to Barcelona the next day.

We’ll meet our friend in Barcelona, where we’ll have dropped off our things somewhere along the way, and be ready to start van life fresh and new. From there, we’ll head north to the city of Cadaqués. This sleepy fishing town became a hot spot for tourism, especially for artists, as Dali spent his summers here. Other artists, including Picasso, later followed, seeking inspiration. The town is gorgeous and full of history, and we’ll enjoy a dinner and stroll before heading to Pals, a small village about an hour and a half away, where we’ll sleep. Costs and kilometre details are listed in the slide.

Day 2

We’ll start bright and early with a visit to Pals. This small village, with a population of about 2,000 people, is rich in history, featuring medieval towers and winding streets through its quaint center. We’ll take a quick and leisurely stroll here before continuing on to Begur. This town boasts a historic center and a stunning coastline. Hopefully, we’ll have time for a dip, as the three of us bought snorkels to explore the aquatic wildlife in the area. Our hunger and the need to move on to our next stop—Calella de Palafrugell—will cut our visit short. We’ll also have the opportunity to swim here, and for lunch, we’ll enjoy something we’ve prepared in our van and take it to the beach with us. From there, we won’t be in a rush, as we only need to drive down the coast to the town of Sitges. There, a campsite awaits us, where we’ll be staying for two nights. The cost of the stay, as indicated above, covers both nights.

Day 3

We’ll be waking up in Sitges! This is one of my wife’s and my favorite cities in Spain. Often considered the “Gay Capital” of Europe, or even the St. Tropez of Spain, Sitges offers 17 beaches to choose from and a vibrant nightlife. We’ll be staying here to celebrate our friend Manu’s birthday. We’ll likely start the day at our campsite, enjoy breakfast outside the van, spend the morning exploring the area, and then head to the beaches for the afternoon and evening, followed by dinner and sangrias at a restaurant. Ananda and I visited Sitges last year and spent the night in the van on a quiet street. That evening, we wandered the city’s soft limestone cobblestone streets and shared a pizza. The weather was pleasant, and we felt incredibly safe—10/10, a must-visit if you’re in the Barcelona area.

Day 4

We’ll be driving to Tarragona, another historic city overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you can visit several Roman monuments, including a colosseum built right on the water’s edge. Throughout history, this site has served various purposes, including as a prison. The town itself is a beautiful place to explore, and the crystal-clear blue sea in front of you adds an extra touch of beauty. From there, we’ll head to Peñíscola. This town was used as a filming location for some episodes of Game of Thrones. Inside the old town, the streets make you feel like you’re in Greece, with white houses and blue window shutters lining the light-colored cobblestone paths. The only downside is the parking situation, but since we’re traveling in the low season, hopefully, that won’t be an issue.

Day 5

Here we go again, another day of van life! On the fifth day, we’ll revisit Peñíscola in case we didn’t get to see everything the day before. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Salto de la Novia, a waterfall with a rich history. “Salto de la Novia” translates to “The Bride’s Jump.” According to legend, in the past, the townspeople would gather here, and soon-to-be brides would jump across the waterfall to prove their love to their future grooms. However, one fateful day, a young girl jumped across the waterfall in front of the town and tragically fell to her death. Her devastated fiancé then jumped after her, and both perished. To this day, the townspeople believe that at midnight, the water at the waterfall turns white like a wedding dress, and you can hear the calls of the young couple in the stream.

As eerie as that sounds, Salto de la Novia is a beautiful spot for a picnic, a dip in the water, and a little hike. The roaring sound of the waterfall is relaxing, and the breeze and mist from the falls keep you cool. There isn’t just one waterfall either—you can enjoy several smaller ones on the way to the main falls as you walk from the nearest parking lot. After our visit to Salto de la Novia, we’ll drive to our campsite a couple of hours away, check in, and enjoy a relaxing evening.

Day 6

Day six is going to be much more relaxed. We’ll take a break from long drives, have a slow morning, and just unwind. After spending the beginning of the trip along white sand beaches, we’ll now be enjoying fresh water and thermal springs. Montanejos is the perfect destination if you appreciate rugged, raw landscapes. The thermal baths are carved into the stone mountains, with crystal-clear, warm water. In the absolute silence, you can float or swim along the stream and simply relax. We’ll bring a picnic to enjoy by the water. Ananda even bought Grimes a pool floaty, so she can float along with us. She’s a water-loving pug who adores swimming, but she tires out easily and then just wants to leave—so the floaty will be a great compromise.

In the evening, if we’re up for it, we can visit Sagunto, a village with Roman ruins. This village is a treat for history buffs, dating back to ancient times, with several wars and battles having taken place there. However, we might just choose to spend the afternoon relaxing at the campsite instead.

Day 7

It’s checkout day at the campsite! I love the idea of staying at campsites because it allows us to recharge our batteries—literally and metaphorically—since the car needs to charge too, hehe. Today, we’ll be heading to Villajoyosa, which will bring us back to the Mediterranean coast and into the Costa Blanca region of our trip. We’ll explore the city, enjoy the beaches, and relax in town before driving to Altea. There, we have another campsite lined up, where we can walk to the city center and enjoy the old town by night. Altea is nicknamed the ‘Santorini of Spain’ and has a very calm and relaxing vibe. It’ll be the perfect spot for a chill evening after a day of traveling and exploring.

Day 8

I’m really proud of the morning activity I’ve planned for us. We’ll wake up at our campsite and head straight to the beach as soon as our eyes open. Now I’m wondering if we should have just slept on the beach… Anyway, I have a detailed Google Maps route that will guide us to the beach shown in the top right. There, we’ll have breakfast and take a refreshing morning dip. In the afternoon, I’m second-guessing my plans. I had intended for us to visit El Castell de Guadalest, but it seems like a mountainous area I’m not too familiar with. There’s a castle up there, but I’m unsure about accessibility. The view from the top is stunning, but I might put it to a vote with the group and decide later. In the afternoon, we’ll check into our next campsite in Fonts de l’Algar. Fonts de l’Algar is a picturesque nature reserve with waterfalls, walking trails, swimming holes, and picnic areas. We’ll stay here for a couple of days to enjoy fresh water and take a break from the saltwater. I’m aiming for a Yin-Yang balance in our activities, if you haven’t noticed already.

Day 9

This day is pretty straightforward—we’re just going to enjoy ourselves. The campsite I’ve chosen is stunning and perfect for us, with beautiful and refreshing surroundings. We’re just hoping for good weather to ensure we have a great time!

Day 10

On day 10, we’ll be driving back up the coast. I’m not a huge fan of Valencia—maybe I visited it wrong last time? Last year, we came to explore the city with potential intentions of moving here, but we didn’t quite click with it. Sometimes things just don’t work out. That said, if you’ve been to Valencia and have any tips or places to see, please let us know! We’d love to check it out this time around.

The following day, we’ll be returning the van, so I’ll be the one ensuring everything is in perfect order. We need to empty the gray water, return all the dishes to the plastic crate, clean out the cabinets, and get all our things in order. I’m sure in the evening, we’ll just enjoy a drink at our campsite and take in the last night of our trip.

Day 11

No more slides to show, at least none of importance. We’ll be dropping off the van before 10 a.m. in Valencia and taking a train back to Barcelona. From there, we’ll have other adventures to share, but I’m going to keep those to myself for now.

Trip breakdown :

1,354 km driven in Spain

2,466 km total from Lyon to Switzerland to Spain

325€ for the campsites

+/- 230€ for gas in Spain

18,32€ per person / night with the gas and campsites

Van cost : 2,050€ (170€ the night / different city drop off / insurance / km package)

Once we’ve completed the trip, I’ll write an entry detailing our experience, including the campsites we chose, a food cost breakdown, and more. For purchases during our trip, the three of us have pooled money into a bank account that we will use at restaurants and grocery stores. We’re so excited for this adventure; it’s the last time we’ll have this much time with my wife’s best friend, and we’re in love with the Spanish coast. I’ll try to stay active on social media during the trip, so please follow along and look for updates starting in mid-September. 🙂

As I mentioned, after this trip we’ll be settling into our new home, and the ‘homeless traveler’ adventures will come to an end. I’m looking forward to sharing this new chapter of my life and seeing what the universe has in store for us. I am, and forever will be, grateful for every moment we were able to have this past year, if it was feeding monkeys by hand in Brazil, or running along deserted beaches in Portugal, or getting married surrounded by my family in Texas. It was a rollercoaster year and I really can’t wait for what’s in store, you’re going to love it too. See you then.

All my love