Spain

Day No. 192 - Farewell to Ibiza

Day No. 192 - Farewell to Ibiza

"Men need women so they don't die when they sniffle" Saturday 14.03, this is a very special day. - Not because we are already at 9:48 at the ferry from Ibiza in the direction of Denia. - But simply because this is our wedding day. - Today...

Day No. 191 - Corona is more than a beer

Day No. 191 - Corona is more than a beer

Today is Friday the 13th - Should that have given us pause for thought? I say no! - This morning everything is still relaxed. We have slept in and are still feeding off the positive energy of the last day. While Torgit prepares our muesli, I research...

Day No. 190 - Ibiza awakes from hibernation

Day No. 190 - Ibiza awakes from hibernation

When we wake up this morning, we are again standing in our riverbed near Beach Benirrás. - But tonight another van has sneaked in here. It is not completely in the riverbed, but in our exit. - The color is familiar to us....

Day No. 188 - Off to Ibiza Town

Day No. 188 - Off to Ibiza Town

Have you ever participated in a meditation that was not in your native language? The meditation that we want to do in the next few weeks, so to speak, as a start to the day, is in English. Means, while you meditate, you...

Day No. 187 - Benirras - Good Vibes only

Day No. 187 - Benirras - Good Vibes only

This morning it is cold, just over 10 degrees. Marc had already reported that we have been in the habit of meditating in the morning for a few days. This is a very conscious and beautiful start to the day. One makes things clearer to oneself. And not only in the head,...

Day No. 186 - World Women's Day

Day No. 186 - World Women's Day

"Equality between man and woman is only possible if the woman subordinates herself." Since Marcus Valerius Martial spoke the above words, almost 2,000 years have passed. - But would you as a man in the evening in the pub, so completely without source reference...

Day No. 185 - Healthy Eating Day?

Day No. 185 - Healthy Eating Day?

For some, the focus today is on healthy eating, because since 1998, March 07 has been considered Healthy Eating Action Day. For the health of people, nutrition is known to be one of the most important factors. Through wrong food and too...

Day No. 182 - ½ year on the road

Day No. 182 - ½ year on the road

Today is a very special and at the same time an absolutely unspectacular day for us. - But the former we notice only towards evening. We also wake up later than usual today. This is probably due to the fact that we are both restless because of the strong wind....

Day No. 181 - Ibiza - Santa Gertrudis

Day No. 181 - Ibiza - Santa Gertrudis

This morning I wake up quite late, it is only shortly before 8. The night was restless, it was very, very windy. Although we took shelter in an old dried out river bed, our van was shaking quite a bit from time to time. According to our app Windy there was....

Day No. 180 - Ibiza - Wind, Waves and Nature

Day No. 180 - Ibiza - Wind, Waves and Nature

Today's post starts with a little review of yesterday evening. - Around 17:00 we decide to drive from the beach up on the cliff to look for a place for the night. But as luck would have it, our wind-protected corner, from...

Day No. 177 - Chrystal Mountain

Day No. 177 - Chrystal Mountain

Torgit: Illona, Isa and Hugo want to show me Ibiza and especially Crystal Mountain. I have already heard a lot about it and am already very excited. So we drive towards San Joan in the north of Ibiza. Since there are hardly any street names on Ibiza, we just follow...

Tag No. 176 - The Making of XXX

Tag No. 176 - The Making of XXX

Even the best salesman sometimes sells himself short. - But a deal is a deal - when Geronimo asks me if I could help him create a drone video, I'm all fired up. Even more so when I see what he has in mind. When...

Day No. 175 - Ibiza - Benirrás Beach

Day No. 175 - Ibiza - Benirrás Beach

We slept wonderfully, only when I step out of the van, we become aware of the beauty of the property. Right next to us, are some palm trees and behind them a small but nice pool. The finca, which we saw yesterday only from the inside, is decorated with...

Day No. 174 - IBIZA is coming

Day No. 174 - IBIZA is coming

This morning, for once, the alarm clock wakes us up. Our daily program is tightly timed. Something that rarely happens on our tour. But of course, our morning coffee ritual is on the agenda first. Then we get Hector ready for takeoff....

Day No. 173 - Nobody is an island - IBIZA is coming

Day No. 173 - Nobody is an island - IBIZA is coming

Do you know the movie "About a Boy"? - Yes, it's a bit older, but that doesn't hurt. - It's about Will, a 38-year-old single guy living in London, and it's based on the novel of the same name by Nick Hornby. As Will's father composes a successful Christmas song, he...

Day No. 171 - Valencia - Tips & Tricks

Day No. 171 - Valencia - Tips & Tricks

For a visit to Valencia with camper, the campsite Coll Verd is ideal. It is nothing special, rather plain and simple and you can hear the highway, but the staff is particularly friendly and the location is great for a sightseeing tour to Valencia....

Day No. 169 - Gandia

Day No. 169 - Gandia

Torgit: When I wake up this morning it is cold, not to say freezing cold. We haven't had the heater on for a few days, because it was quite warm at night, 13 degrees. Today it is much colder, only 8 degrees. Quickly down to Marc warm cuddle. He is...

Day No. 167 - On the beach - Santa Pola

Day No. 167 - On the beach - Santa Pola

After spending two wonderful days in Orihuela Costa, we set off again yesterday afternoon. - We searched and found a little north of Santa Pola a small tranquil place for the night. - 38°12'25.7 "N 0°30'31.6 "W - Here are...

Days No. 165/166 - Friends of friends - Murcia

Days No. 165/166 - Friends of friends - Murcia

"Friends of friends are also my friends." - Surely one or the other knows this phrase. I have always tried to take this wisdom to heart. So we have had one or two friends of friends as guests in Cologne. Some shorter, some...

Days No. 162/163 - Playa de las Covaticas

Days No. 162/163 - Playa de las Covaticas

Our journey to happiness today is to take us from Camping la Caleta further north and into the Murcia region. - The stage takes us first a little away from the coast and into the mountains. But we try to get back to the coast as soon as possible....

Day No. 160 - Tabernas Desert

Day No. 160 - Tabernas Desert

Today we leave the hot springs at Santa Fe. - We want to go further east, to the desert of Tabernas. - We say goodbye to Dirk from Spich. Dirk had caught our eye two days ago. Or was it first his Defender. In any case Dirk comes...

Day No. 157 Alhambra - Granada - The Red Palace

Day No. 157 Alhambra - Granada - The Red Palace

We wake up relatively early. Expectantly. After all, we have big plans for today: The tour of the Alhambra. We spontaneously booked tickets online yesterday. Although we have previously read everywhere that you have to buy tickets weeks in advance, we spontaneously...

Day No. 156 - Antequera

Day No. 156 - Antequera

Coming from the reservoirs Guadalhorce and Lobo Park, we drive past Antequera and see already from a distance a castle. It is quickly clear that we are not just passing by here, we are going to see it. The Alcazaba is one of the largest medieval fortresses...

Day No. 155 - Among wolves

Day No. 155 - Among wolves

Even though I told you a story about bumblebee and dung beetle in the last days, today follows not the story of bees and pigs. Although we had our fun with both of them. Above all, we are grateful to the bees for their hospitality....

Day No. 154 - Caminito del Rey - The King's Path

Day No. 154 - Caminito del Rey - The King's Path

So today is the day, already early we drive along the reservoir Embalse del Conde de Guadalhorce, towards the north. The destination is Sillón del Rey, the dam wall of the lake. From here the access road leads to the northern entrance of the Caminito del Rey. Torgit still accompanies me...

Day No. 152 - Teba - Málaga Province

Day No. 152 - Teba - Málaga Province

Also today we continued on our tour through the white villages. We want to Teba, about 40 kilometers, or 35 minutes drive slightly north, but mainly east of Olvera located. The route leads us, through a hilly countryside. Again and again...

Day No. 151 - Of bumblebees and dung beetles

Day No. 151 - Of bumblebees and dung beetles

Moin Together, certainly has not escaped one or the other that I have "Marc" in the last few days in our blog a little restrained. - Is clear, he has once again done nothing!? - It was not quite so, I draw me for example for the...

Day No. 149 - Olvera - Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos

Day No. 149 - Olvera - Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos

Our next stop here in Andalusia on the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos (Road of the White Villages) is Olvera. Olvera is also a typical white village on a hill, i.e. around a mountain extends a white sea of houses. However, here you can already see...

A day in Ronda - Tips & Tricks

A day in Ronda - Tips & Tricks

Ronda Andalusia is not only known for sun, beach, flamenco and red wine, but also for its beautiful capital Seville and the white villages in the mountains of Andalusia. Only 50 km north of the Costa del Sol lies Ronda, probably the most famous white village...

Day No. 142 - Friendship is ...

Day No. 142 - Friendship is ...

...when someone praises you for swimming well after you have capsized while sailing." - Werner Schneyder We were asked the following questions: "How do you actually get along with your own new time calculation? - No time pressure, no third party expectations? -...

Day No. Day 141 - I just wanted to tell you...

Day No. Day 141 - I just wanted to tell you...

splash, splash, splash, splash, splash, splash, splash, splash.... For the whole day the rain drums on us. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But steadily. - We made ourselves comfortable in the bus. Time to do little things. Once things on the net...

Day No. 140 German-French Day

Day No. 140 German-French Day

In the past, we've already gotten into the habit of focusing a little bit on the issues of the day. - Today is the anniversary of the Élysée Treaty. What was that again? - But first we switch to the weather... This morning we are already early by the...

Day No. 139 - International Sweatpants Day - Gibraltar

Day No. 139 - International Sweatpants Day - Gibraltar

The Spiegel magazine deals with the subject of sweatpants under the headline "You are not what you wear! - Oh yes, today is the day of the sweatpants. - We have spontaneously moved the same to tomorrow, because this would coincide perfectly with the weather forecast. -...

Day No. 138 - Little Italy - Roman Town in Bolonia

Day No. 138 - Little Italy - Roman Town in Bolonia

When we look out of the van this morning, the weather is cloudy. We've also been sleeping a bit fitfully as other companions have joined us during the night. Does that sound like we're complaining? - No, quite the opposite. North-east of...

Day No. 137 - Thunderstorm? - Not in Tarifa

Day No. 137 - Thunderstorm? - Not in Tarifa

Torgit: When I wake up in the morning I am happy, because the storm has spared us. The night was a bit stormy, some gusts shook the retractable roof quite a bit, but the sound of the rain was almost a bit romantic. Can it be because of...

Day No. 133 - Out of Africa - At Baraje de Betis

Day No. 133 - Out of Africa - At Baraje de Betis

This morning we wake up already around 6:00. - We spontaneously decide to have a coffee first, and then to explore the mountain behind us. When we start marching, it is still very cold up here. Above our campsite is still an old...

Day No. 131 - Cadiz - Old or Young?

Day No. 131 - Cadiz - Old or Young?

Torgit: When I wake up, it's still pitch black. That always irritates me a bit here. From Portugal I am still used to it being light in the morning when I wake up. The clock change from Portugal to Spain has my internal clock a little confused. When I was...

Day No. 130 - Playa de Camposoto - Just alone...

Day No. 130 - Playa de Camposoto - Just alone...

Do you know such days, in the aftermath you just have the feeling to have done everything right? - Today seems to be such a day. - Yesterday evening we have looked for us later still a parking lot behind a dune. And when the sun wakes up this morning, we stand...

Day No. 129 - Full Moon - Off to Novo Sancti Petri

Day No. 129 - Full Moon - Off to Novo Sancti Petri

Today I wake up in the middle of the night. - The full moon is in the sky and animates me to get out. I stand outside for a moment and try to collect my impressions. - The moon seems to shine literally. He reflects the light through the branches and...

Day No. 128 - Expulsion at Camping La Rosaleda

Day No. 128 - Expulsion at Camping La Rosaleda

Torgit: The weather forecast promises 14 degrees and clouds. The perfect weather for the gym. If you are already on a campsite, you should also use the animation program. Unfortunately we missed the massages yesterday. The lady always comes...

Day No. 126 - Communication at the campsite

Day No. 126 - Communication at the campsite

This morning starts much warmer than yesterday. In the night, it was 10 °, thus directly also 10 ° warmer than yesterday. We were only about 50 km away. Since we belong to the WAGENVOLK, we prefer to drink Coffee on Wheels. But only standing, sitting or...

Day No. 125 - Jerez de la Frontera

Day No. 125 - Jerez de la Frontera

This morning we wake up around 7:00. Outside it is still pitch dark. But most of all it is cold, very, very cold. - We have 1°. How was that? How do you winter in Spain, it's nice and warm there? - Whereby we want to point out for the sake of form that it...

Day No. 124 - Day at the lake - Laguna de Medina

Day No. 124 - Day at the lake - Laguna de Medina

When we wake up this morning, it is very cold in the car. No wonder, it's three degrees outside. - We had turned off the heater during the night. We enjoy the luxury of turning on the parking heater and shortly thereafter it is toasty warm. Even though we are not very cold with our...

Day No. 122 - World Braille Day - Area El Picacho

Day No. 122 - World Braille Day - Area El Picacho

As I always say, "among the blind, the one-eyed man is king. "Have you ever wondered what it would mean for you to be blind? - I had to ask myself this question. - Because after my eye accident I was blind for several days. Only then did my eyesight come...

Day No. 116 - Seville - no reason to stumble

Day No. 116 - Seville - no reason to stumble

This morning we wake up earlier than yesterday. Apparently we get used to the time change. Also today welcomes us with sun and pleasant temperatures. We enjoy a little the atmosphere in the harbor. But in the late morning we move off, the...

Day No. 115 - The sky is blue ...

Day No. 115 - The sky is blue ...

   "... and the rest of your life lies ahead of you..." When I wake up in the morning it is much later than expected. - The time change from Portugal to Spain has not yet arrived in our country. The first thing that comes to my mind today are the first lines of the...

Day No. 114 - Puerto Gelves - marina and pitch near Seville

Day No. 114 - Puerto Gelves - marina and pitch near Seville

When we wake up in the morning in our marina, not only is the sun shining through the window, but we are looking directly at a bit of greenery, a palm tree, and behind it some sailboats. The marina of Gelves is located on the west bank of the Guadalquivir River. Here is located...

Day No. 39 - First the work ...

Day No. 39 - First the work ...

...then the pleasure. Even far from home, work catches up with us in between. - At home in Cologne, a bit of mail has accumulated. That's why we put in a working day. Above all, I'm pleased to receive a letter from the pension insurance company about an audit that has been scheduled. - The...

Day No. 37 - A day in the park

Day No. 37 - A day in the park

We decided to spend another day in "our" park. - What is there to report? Maybe, one or two hints about this campground: There seems to be an airport nearby. So you hear from time to time a plane landing,...

Day No. 36 - Day in the Park - Oleiros

Day No. 36 - Day in the Park - Oleiros

Although it rained overnight, today promises to be sunny. - At least, that's how the weathermen see it. But they are once again at odds. Now we not only have two different weather apps, but also two different information sources.....

Day No. 33 - On the Way of St. James - Oviedo

Day No. 33 - On the Way of St. James - Oviedo

As the days before, we are awakened by the rain. Today it is a gentle pattering. - Since no improvement is announced for the entire day, we decide to do the same to the migratory birds and move on. - So we say goodbye to San Vicente de la...

Day No. 32 - Day by the sea - San Vicente de la Barquera

Day No. 32 - Day by the sea - San Vicente de la Barquera

"There's nothing to improve - Nothing that would be even better - Except you in the here and now - And the day by the sea" - Fanta 4 The weather is not great today, but much better than yesterday. Again and again the sun blinks out in between and we stretch out ....

Day No. 29 - The world is ending ... Cantabria

Day No. 29 - The world is ending ... Cantabria

... one could think, after this night. - No sooner were we in the bunk than a storm was brewing outside. The wind was getting stronger and brought first rain, then torrents with it. The wind howled more and more, the roof tent, our Hector...

Day No. 28 - Guggenheim- Bilbao

Day No. 28 - Guggenheim- Bilbao

Wow, what a night, the topic of computers accompanied me for many hours. Especially the Spanish keyboard. Z and Y swapped, ü, ö and especially my beloved ä not present. Also our beautiful German ß not to find. All surely only a question of...

Day No. 27 - ... and it got worse - Bilbao

Day No. 27 - ... and it got worse - Bilbao

Do you know such days, you think it can not get worse and yes, of course it came worse. The day had actually started well. But actually it's like the little sister of shi... You know what I mean? But our today's blog should...

Day No. 25 - Donostia-San Sebastián

Day No. 25 - Donostia-San Sebastián

As planned, today we made a trip to Donostia-San Sebastián. Our first destination, the Apple Shop. But this has unfortunately no workshop. So we stroll first through the surrounding shopping streets. Good that Hdctor no more excess baggage....

With the camper van through Spain - from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea

 

Spain Part 1: VanLife in Northern Spain

The destination firmly in sight - camping on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts

From September 2019 to March 2020 we were, with our camper Van Hector, on the road in Spain and Portugal. We spent the days from 27 September to 13 October in Spain and returned, after our tour through Portugal, on 27 December back to Spain, where we stayed until 14 March. There were many wonderful experiences during this travel period, from visiting the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, to the spring awakening in Ibiza. For us, camping and the VanLife itself, is and remains simply incomparably beautiful, we would even say, our great love.

 

The first part of the trip in Spain - camper van and northern Spain fit well together

One of the first stops in Spain was Donostia-San Sebastián a city in northern Spain, near the French border. It is known for its shell-shaped bay. In the old town, we met many friendly people standing on the streets with tapas and wine. A great atmosphere! We continued on to Bizkaia, which could well be called the "South Tyrol" of Spain, at least in terms of scenery. One lesson that this stage taught us, I will not forget so quickly: "Good things take time". Because from a planned hour, on the way to Bilbao, became very quickly six hours, thanks to the hills or mountains that Hector, our camping van, with us and our luggage on board, had to conquer. My tip for you, if you are also with camper, motor home or similar vehicles on the road: Be careful to better calculate too much time, then nothing can bring you so quickly from the rest and you save unnecessary stress.

 

With camper van directly along the sea to the Guggenheim Museum and much more...

One of my highlights on our tour of Spain, was our visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The modern art museum opened in 1997 and both the building itself and the exhibits are very impressive. On the way to Cantabria we passed by the oldest floating ferry in the world and didn't want to leave it at just looking at it, so we decided to "travel" a little bit with the ferry as well, so that our Hector, the camping van, could get to know it once as well - and what can I say? - He liked it very much. On a later leg, we encountered hikers in colorful rain ponchos who were "pilgrimaging" their way through northern Spain. I was glad that we were able to spend our Spanish days in the van at least a little more comfortably, even if our rolling one-room apartment is a constant challenge, especially in terms of space.

 

Storage, order and organization in the camper van - fortunately there are Delta Bags and Co.

The VanLife is characterized, among other things, by the fact that many things must be transported in a confined space and ideally so that they are always quickly at hand.  

That's why I'm very happy about our little organizers. We particularly like the supplier Delta Bags with its organizer products, for equipping camping vans. Delta Bags offers items for hanging storage or Velcro, for example. Good fastening, storage space, clever organization and secure protection of the equipment, are always the focus of the products. We ourselves have the Litter Holder S and M, designed for litter storage. We also own a Spare Wheel Cover from Delta Bags. If you'd like more info on Delta Bags' offerings yourself, just check out their homepage, you'll find all the answers you need there.

 

 

Spain Part 2: VanLife in Southern Spain

Hector takes us to southern Spain - Van life can be so beautiful

After Portugal comes Spain again, southern Spain to be more precise. Here we discovered the wonderful Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos in Andalusia and paid a visit to the hot springs near Santa Fe. A very special treat with music and the smell of cannabis. Also part of the exploration of these southern regions of Spain, was the stay in Valencia, the third largest city in all of Spain. And what better way to use our visit there than for a little haircut? After six weeks, without having the hair cut, this is especially for short hairstyles, usually a good decision.

 

Ibiza - camper van meets Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea

If I could choose, I would definitely choose again to welcome the spring of 2020 in Ibiza. Swimming and bathing in the sea and relaxation I particularly enjoyed there. And as an interesting experience I would also chalk up meditating, with instruction in English. On March 14 we leave Ibiza and with it Spain, overall really a top experience.

en_USEnglish